m******e Mansion

Chapter 18- Sunday: What Remains

       "Isn't there a way to undo it?!" I frantically asked while staring wide-eyed at the screen.

       "I warned you to not press any buttons, my dear," Olivander replied.

       "That doesn't answer my question!" I exclaimed. I tried turning around to face him, but any movement seemed to change the position of my wrist causing shockwaves to run up my arm.

       "No, there isn't. That's why I told you to leave the buttons alone. Now look what's happened. You're sitting in pain on a cold, hard floor in tears. Let me help you up," he offered while making a move to pick me up.

       "DON'T TOUCH ME!" I screamed, attempting to scramble away. I forgot about my wrist in my small moment of panic causing me to fall backwards after landing on my injury and to release a yelp.

       "Why must you make this so hard? I'm trying to help you, please stop pushing me away," he pleaded.

       "I've had enough of your help. Just leave me alone!" I wailed. It hurt me emotionally to know that I couldn't help myself, let alone save everyone I had left. I was useless. Now with a sprained wrist there was even less I could do. Completely broken at this point, I didn't react when Olivander came into my peripheral vision. My shaking form was pressed against the wooden floorboards as my teary gaze stared into the darkness. Silent sobs wracked my body as Olivander looked upon me with sorrow.

       "Let me help you, angel. I won't do anything, I promise," his smooth voice filled the darkened void. Closing my eyes, I decided to stay quiet. No matter what I said he would 'help me' anyways. As I had expected, his arms wrapped around my back and legs before I was carried and laid onto the bed. 

      "I'm sorry about your wrist. That was wrong of me. I could have just as easily removed it from your hand. Can you forgive me?" He pleaded once again. I kept my eyelids shut as a sigh rang out. Dealing with this was slowly killing me. I was never even able to see Caspian in person one last time. We'd known each other since we were little babies. Our parents were friends so we basically grew up together. My mom even told me that our first words were the other's name. I always thought that was just something she told me, but it always made me smile.

      "What are you smiling about, my love?" Olivander asked in a confused tone. I hadn't even noticed that my face wore a small smile until he brought my attention to it.

      "Memories," was all I replied with. I remembered a particularly happy memory of us as children.

       At that time I was probably six while he was seven. Our families had gone on a vacation together to Colorado, and we had gone to a little park. There was a little, wooden-seated swing attached to a tree branch. I'd called Caspian over to come push me, and I kept swinging higher and higher. The sun had been shining brightly through the green tree leaves, and it shined perfectly down on us. Giggling while telling him to push higher, I hadn't realised that the rope attached to the seat was very old and frayed, and it eventually gave away. I remember while falling that I thought I was flying. Strangely, I wasn't scared. I heard my mother screaming far away while I fell, as well as Caspian, but at the same time I wasn't paying attention to it.  Part of me knew nothing would happen. Before my mind calculated that I would hit the ground, small arms caught me. With my sudden weight we fell over, but he'd stopped my fall. I remember looking at him as he did the same, then laughing. We both couldn't stop until our mothers eventually made it to us. Shortly after, we went and got ice cream.

       I had been a devious child at that time, and so was Caspian. Stealthily scooping a bit of ice cream off the cone, I called Caspian's name. When he looked at me I had shoved the melting liquid into his face and laughed hysterically before he did the same. It ended in a huge ice cream fight in the back of the car. Even our moms were laughing at the mess we had made. 

       After we had gotten back to the hotel and taken baths, we went outside to look at the stars. Our parents were pointing out the constellations, but we didn't understand what they were showing us. Caspian and I decided to make up our own constellations. We saw dogs playing, birds flying, food, kids laughing, and flowers amongst the darkened sky. At one point I had gotten very tired because of the day's events, and I rested against my best friend. We were children at the time so we saw nothing romantic about it. I eventually fell asleep, and apparently so did Caspian. My mother took a picture of us and put it in a scrapbook, and to this day she won't let us live that moment down. 

      After playing that moment in my head more tears filled up my eyes. We would never experience another moment like that together again. I would never even see him again. Olivander's thumb swiped away a salty tear that had left my eye before he started stroking that cheek.

     "Is there no way to get him out?" I quietly questioned. I opened my bloodshot eyes to see the saddened face of the blonde before me. He shook his head, and I glanced back to the tv screen.

     "Could I talk to him one last time?" I decided to ask next. I couldn't bear to watch his death with not being able to speak to him once more.

      "Would that make you happy?" He replied. I finally looked into his purple eyes as I nodded my head. A sigh left his lips as he pulled a microphone out of a different pocket. His long fingers tapped different buttons before he handed it to me. Carefully moving myself into a sitting position, I brought the device to my mouth.

                                                 ~                                         ~                                         ~

     I don't know how long I've been down here. After the fall, I'd landed on a mattress to insure that nothing broke. It wasn't the most comfy one in the world, but it was better than landing on a solid ground. The area was pitch black, and I had already tried moving around. After I had discovered that there was no exit, I went back to the mattress and sat down. All I wanted was to find Klarissa. If Olivander hurt her I swear I'll kill him. Where had they gone? 

      It felt like ten minutes had went by, but who could tell. At one point I heard a creaking noise as if something was moving that had been motionless for awhile. Moving from my sitting position, I looked up. There was still no light. I placed my head back in my hands. Images of Klarissa ran through my head. Childhood moments turned into more recent ones. I don't know at which moment I started having feelings for her, but it may have been that one night in Colorado. 

      People may say that children don't know the meaning of love, especially at the age of seven, but with her small head resting on my miniature shoulder, something just sparked. After that day we grew even closer. Often our parents would joke about us getting married when we were older. She would always giggle about it and hug me afterwards. As our years together grew in number, so did my feelings. 

      I remember the first middle school dance we went to. We ended up going together, and Miranda and Lewis went together. It was a little friend thing we did. Klarissa was never one to dress fancy for any occasion. I can still recall what she wore that night. She went in skinny jeans and a red, sparkly shirt with her hair waved. Even though it was a simple look, it stuck. It was just so...her. Beauty radiated off of her. That was the night I realised my feelings. 

      Another noise snapped me out of my thoughts. The scraping noise had grown closer, but I still couldn't see the source of it. That wasn't what I heard though. It was more like a crackling noise. Almost like those intercom systems throughout the mansion, but I had to be hearing things.

      "Caspian?"

      I immediately recognized the angelic voice. I'd heard it all my life. My mind must have been playing tricks on me. I was thinking too hard, and it was dark. Imagining another human beings presence must have been a cause of an overactive imagination.

      "Can you hear me?"

       Since I was alone in this room I decided no one would think much about me speaking with myself.

      "Klarissa, is that you?" I decided to ask.

       "Yes! Caspian, listen to me. I'm sorry for what's about to happen. I never meant to do it," the auburnette's voice echoed against the walls.

       "What are you talking about?" It was confusing me. What was my mind trying to tell me?

       "I'm so sorry....I pressed a button....and....and...I don't know how much time you have left," came a sorrowful tone from the intercom.

       "What? Klarri, speak English," I said in my normal joking tone. A small chuckle was heard before she spoke again.

       "This isn't a time for joking around, Cas. I'm being serious. I tried to save you guys, but it didn't work. I failed! And now.....now....you're not going to make it," a sad voice said. It sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

       "Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay. Are you saying I'm going to die?" I straightforwardly asked.

       "I'm so sorry...." I took that as a yes.

       "How much time do I have?" I questioned. If I was going to die, there was nothing I could do about it. There was no use trying to fight it and worry my friend any further.

       "About four minutes," a manlier voice replied.

      "Is that Olivander? What has he done to you?" I asked demandingly. I could deal with dying, but only if I knew the love of my life was safe.

       "Nothing, Cas. I'm p-perfectly fine. There's no need to worry," she replied. I could hear it in her voice that something had happened. She tried reassuring me, but I finally realised why she sounded off. When she had stuttered I caught what it was. At first I thought she was just sad, but the sadness was combined with pain. I knew there was nothing I could do, but that didn't stop me from silently seething.

      "Klarri....I have something I have to tell you. Over all the years I've known you, I never regretted a single moment I spent with you," I decided with only three minutes of life left I had to tell her. I didn't care if Mark already stole her heart. She had to know.

      "This sounds like a goodbye...please don't. You know how I hate goodbyes," I heard the sadness once more. It was so strong the room felt drowned in it.

       "That's...that's not what I'm trying to say. Klarissa, for years I've felt more for you than just a best friend," I said. I had to pause because it was surprisingly hard to confess. Even minutes before death.

      "Like a sister? I've always thought of you like that, Cas. Don't worry," she naively responded with a small laugh. 

       "Ouch. That hurt a bit," I said with a chuckle. I had to keep up my joking, happy facade for her. If she knew how much fear I had in this moment, she would be a mess. I couldn't let her be that way.

        "Wait....you mean...?" her voice trailed off in realisation. A small noise between a sob and laugh was heard.

        "Yeah, I think? If you're thinking I love you, then you'd be right," I decided to say. There was no point beating around the bush. I started to feel small prickles all on my skin. I didn't know what it was, but it wasn't pleasant.

        "N-no....Cas! I'm so sorry for everything! P-please, Olivander! There has to be a way to save him!" she yelled in desperation to Olivander who I assumed was near her. A slight murmur was heard before a sob rang around the room.

        "It's okay, Klarri. I'm happy I got to talk to you one more time at least," I told her with a meloncholic smile. I felt the pricks harder. I guess this was what would kill me. Tiny spikes would be the end. They started to pierce my skin, but I held in the painful noises for Klarissa's sake.

       "No! It-It can't end this way!" she cried. If I was to be truly honest, what hurt the most was hearing her heart wrenching sobs. I could deal with the pain, but not this.

       "I'm fine with it. I'm happy to die as long as you make it. I just had to make sure you knew how I felt," I confessed. The pressure on my body was increasing at a rapid rate. A few more words of discontent were heard from the intercom before I spoke again 

      "Remember that day in Colorado? I loved that day. It's easily the best day of my life," I said happily. Reminiscing my times with her helped in this moment.

      "Y-yes...I remember it perfectly, C-cas," she said through gasps of breath. I could practically hear the tears.

      "Just like that day, I'll always be there for you. Remember that. I'll protect you no matter what," I said. The pain was building up. I could feel the spikes near my heart. It was almost over.

       "I-I'll remember...I p-promise. I won't ever f-forget," she said. Her voice was music to my ears.

        "Maybe we can start again in another life. But that time, we'll remain together. We'll grow up, get married, and start a family," I imagined. 

       "Th-that sounds wonderful. W-we'll do that. I'd l-love that," she told me through sniffles. I was nearing my last breath. A spike had broke the skin above my heart. I had to say one last thing before I went though.

      "I love you, my sweetest friend. I'll see you again in another life," I said. My last few, shaky breaths eventually left my body, but not before I heard her speak once more.

       "I l-love you too, Cas. I-I'll wait as l-long as I h-have to for you," I heard. Every memory I shared with the love of my life flashed through my head. No matter how small or monumental they were, I saw them. When that spike finally did pierce my warm heart, I had a content smile even through the pain. 

      It reminded me of how Lidia died. Happy, content, and waiting for the afterlife. Looking up I saw a woman bathed in white. She had golden hair, and glowing amber eyes. Her body was covered in veins, but she remained beautiful. She outreached her arms in an awaiting hug. 

     "Would you like to help save Klarissa?" A high pitched voice came from the lady's full lips.

                                                        ~                                    ~                                  ~

     "C-cas..." I whispered out. My body was shaking with the sobs escaping my throat. My throat was raw from everything that was happening. I hugged the microphone to my chest as I continued to bawl. I always thought that love was some magical feeling that struck you at once, but with what Caspian just said, I realised something. Sure, I felt 'love' with Mark, but that was a non-relationship built love. With Caspian, it grew without me noticing what was happening. It was amazing how one phrase from someone could make you understand so much.

     I knew I couldn't give up now. I had to save Mark and Kadince. I'd wasted enough of my time being a useless girl. It was time to finally fight for their rescue. Tears continued to leave my blue eyes as I was pulled into a sturdy chest. My sprained wrist was pulled against him as well sending another shock of pain through my body. Maybe I could use it to my advantage. If I pretended to like Olivander he would bend to my will. He admitted it himself. He'd give me anything, and without realizing it, he was going to help me escape.

      I nuzzled my face into his chest as he pulled my form closer and wiggled my uninjured arm out, placing it around his lean body. As hiccups continued to leave me, and salty tears left me, I smiled widely for the first time in Olivander's presence. Of course he couldn't notice it, but it was there.

       "H-hey, Oli? Can I r-request something?"

       "Of course, Princess. Anything."