The Partisan Chronicles [Dystopia | Supernatural | Mystery]

Everleigh

I was alive but the world was dead again.

Rotted wagons, toxic mushrooms, and skeleton trees.

His body at my feet, my empty violin case by his side.

I fell to my knees where he lay.

Not too late, not too late.

But he was still,

and he was cold,

and it was too late.

A mistake, a mistake.

We made a mistake.

The photograph in my hand. The hole in my soul. For a while, I curled up beside him. His hand in my hair. His jokes in my ear. Never again, never again.

It wasn't fair—

It wasn't fair—

I climbed to my feet, tucked the photograph in my dress, and put my hat on my head.

BECAUSE IT WASN'T FAIR.

I swiped my left arm inward, outward. The lightning struck once.

I swiped my left arm inward, outward. The lightning struck twice.

"Oh, now you remember me."

I raised both arms in the air.

The lightning struck thrice. The earth trembled under my feet.

"Whatever you are, and wherever you are," I shouted. The lightning struck a fourth time. A skeleton tree on fire. "Come on, let's have a chat."

He wasn't a mad guy.

I wasn't a mad girl.

But I wasn't mad.

I was drunk on despair,

and I was Everleigh Gloom.

The crowd adored me—they always did.

It would have no choice but to listen.

I walked the cobbles and conducted the symphony of a lifetime.

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Downbeat and the thunder roared. Crescendo and the lightning raged.

A thunder roll. A lightning crash.

A heavy cloud, and a soft percussion from the shower to my left. A graveyard of trees in a roaring blaze of chaos to my right.

Staccato, staccato, staccato until the wind wrapped around me.

Downbeat and the thunder roared. Upbeat and the lightning cracked.

And then nothing.

But something.

One can't help but feel It.

Time stood still for all but It.

For all but us.

"Bring him back," I said.

It looked like everything and like nothing.

It spoke without speaking.

He made his wishes clear.

"Well, he made a mistake."

A sacrifice must be made.

"Fine, but he was wrong. I'm the one who should be dead. Everything keeps reminding me that I'm the one who should be dead. I was never meant to be long for the world, and I cheated. Twice. Three times now. He's the one who should be alive."

Why?

"Are you kidding. Have you met the man. All he's ever done is help people. Like his mother when she was sick. Everyone he ever transported safely. Sebastian. The Animals. Rhian. Andrei. Kids, and people he barely knows. Me. And all he wanted was to be loved, for the people he loved to be happy. Like him, like him."

Like Sebastian?

"Sebastian never would have let any harm come to you. I know that. My father can't even swat a fly. He'd sooner name it and give it a home. And Zacharias—no, there's no way he would have ever released your secret."

Because he's so selfless, too?

"No, because he needs to be in control. But he can't help it. He's scared all the time."

And Avis?

"Why would Avis release your secret. She's not trying to make more monsters. Avis Adler was too soft and sweet for the world but not for the Anima that ate her. The Six are the ones who exploited you, not my family."

It was quiet.

"Please."

Bound, I've been alone for centuries. The world, the same but changed. And you, Everleigh Gloom? The same but changed?

"Endlessly spinning, and now I'm the same but changed."

It was quiet.

It looked like me now.

Because of him?

"No—aye—I mean, every day since I met Matteus has been amazing. I got to travel. I was able to eat again. Do all sorts of things I'd never done before, like have lots and lots of sex. I fell in love, I had my heart broken, and I sang about it. I got to spend time with my father before his Anima, and meet my uncle and my aunt before theirs. I got to perform with the Vonsinfonie troupe. So, it's okay. Bring him back. You can have me."

It was quiet.

A final plea.

"He's got five kids who deserve to be loved by him."

It looked like him, and It floated toward him.

I walked with It.

His body at my feet.

My heart in monochrome.

My heart into dust.

A sacrifice must be made.

"I know."

Bound, I've been alone for centuries. Everleigh Gloom, the same but changed. Matteus Rizik, the same… but changed. For one to exist, another must not. A sacrifice must be made.

"I know," I repeated.

Very well.

A borrowed beat. A bated breath.

The acceptance of it all.

A sudden light,

blinding me,

basking me in the heat of a thousand enemy suns.

How I should have died,

in the fire all those years ago.