The Butterfly Girl: A Star is Born

Calling Into Darkness

[Sophia]

I was laying on the couch for so long, I almost took a nap with the TV on. I didn't realize I was that exhausted. I hardly paid attention to what was even on. I didn't even realize how much time had passed until I grabbed the remote to change the channel, forcing me to look at the clock on the cable box. I quickly found something different to watch before carefully getting up and walking over to the kitchen where I could see the sun setting through the screen door in the distance. The skies were getting darker by the minute. I just stood in the kitchen entryway, thinking.

They said they'd come back if they found anything. They said they'd be back before the sun went down. Well, there's still light, but it won't stay that way for much longer. They'll be back before it gets dark and they'll tell me if they found anything. Teri's gone after the twins and they'll be fine. Everything will be fine...

I noticed a familiar emptiness in my stomach and I decided to make something to eat. Might as well get all the energy I can. I just reheated a bowl of pasta in the microwave and sat back down in front of the TV. I couldn't help but glance at the clock every other minute or so. I half expected someone to walk through the backdoor at some point. But no one did.

When I finished eating, I put my bowl in the sink and leaned against the kitchen counter, staring at the light outside. I could practically see the stars slowly revealing themselves. I stood there and thought for a long time...

And then I put my thoughts into action.

I went back upstairs and grabbed my jacket, putting it on and fishing out my crystal from my bag and shoving it into my pocket. I brought nothing else with me as I walked out the backdoor, leaving the TV on and carefully making my way back through the darkness of the grove. I knew my back had to have been bruised pretty good because I could feel the soreness every time I took a step or leaned forward too far. I tried not to move my wings around too much. I walked all the way back out to the tree house, the fading light making it slightly more difficult to see where I was walking. I stepped underneath the platform of the tree house, but I heard no sound coming from it. I looked over at the cold pond beyond me, but I saw no movement. I walked over and peered into it, but there was nothing.

I'm sure they'll be back before it gets too dark. They're doing everything they can. They said they'd come back if they found anything. And if they don't, they'll come back and we'll try again tomorrow. Apollo's strong, I'm sure he'll be okay if it comes to that. Everything will be okay.

Something within propelled me to move forward. Maybe I'll just go over to the edge of the cliff and see if I can't see anything? That's what I thought as I walked slowly into the dark. The bright orange glow of the sun was being replaced by the cool blue darkness of the night. I could've walked faster if I wanted to, but I just kept going at a steady pace. I guess I was still a bit dazed because within the distance, I thought I saw something... glowing. I froze in place, trying to focus my eyes on it to make sure what I was really seeing was real. I cautiously stepped forward, approaching the glowing object until I finally recognized a strange shape from within. I suddenly remembered that this is where the twins planted the Moonflower. Underneath the shrub where I made that makeshift tent to protect it from the sun. With relief, I walked towards it and stopped just inches from the bush, staring down at the glowing flower. I could see its light through the leaves of the bush. It looked... a bit brighter than when the twins had showed it to me the first time.

I just stood there and stared at it. I don't know for how long.

"He's okay."

I snapped out of my daze when I thought I heard a voice. I looked around, trying to figure out if I just heard... What was that? Where did that come from?

I looked back down at the Moonflower under the bush. I guess if it was glowing brighter than before, it must mean that it's doing well. I wondered if the twins had come out here recently to check on it.

"Everything is okay. Go home."

"What?"

I whipped my head around at the sound of a voice, but I didn't see where it was coming from. I know I heard something that time. But I didn't see anyone around. But there had to have been...

I looked back down at the Moonflower and stared at it. I stared at it in a long silence.

"Everything is okay. Go home. Rest. Be well. Go home to safety."

My eyes widened and I stepped back from the bush. I stared at it for another long while before looking around again. There was nothing else around me. It was just... me and the flower. I turned away and went back home without a second thought. Before I knew it, the sun was already gone, night had overtaken and I was upstairs in bed. I was too exhausted to wait. I was too exhausted to think. Sleep had easily taken me. Dreams easily found me.

But I didn't even realize I was dreaming until I found myself being pushed and nudged and my consciousness came back to reality. I was deep in my blankets when I heard familiar voices calling out to me and I rolled over to face them.

"Sophie... Sophie... Hey, wake up. We need to tell you something..." said the voices.

I opened my eyes and through my blurry vision, I recognized the figures in front of me. I quickly sat up.

"Huh? What? What is it?"

"Are you feeling any better?" the twins asked me. They almost blended in with the darkness, only able to be recognized by the sound of their voice and the bright color in their eyes.

"Um... y-yeah, I'm okay. Wait, look..."

I pulled up the legs of my sweatpants, reavealing the wounds I had before were almost completey gone. No scaring, just faint white marks and the skin itself looked a bit rougher than usual, but it almost looked like it hadn't been scratched at all.

"Teri gave me some medicine that helped heal the wounds. It definitely feels a lot better. Wait- how long were you guys out? What time is it?

"Oh, we came back just before it got dark. But we had to wait until the light came back so we could come get you."

"Okay, so... did you find anything?"

The twins explained that Teri had found them shortly after leaving me, who also told them I was okay and they all went back to the area where Apollo was taken. Together, they found evidence of more tracks left by the beast and Apollo's struggling that lead deeper into the forest, but they had to turn back as the sun went down and it got too dark to see any further. Teri made it home safely and she said she'd come back as soon as possible to join us again to continue searching.

I pulled back my curtains and a flood of light hit my eyes and brightened my room. It was early in the morning, and for once, I was actually glad to be woken up early.

"So, if you're feeling any better, you think you can come out with us so we can go find Apollo together?" the twins asked. I smirked and leaned over my bed, my messy hair flopping over my eyes, hiding my expression.

"Tch. As if anything was going to stop me... Um, but give me a sec to put on some clothes, I'll meet you downstairs."