Shadow Under the Starlight

14. Crown

Eda definitely hated how persistent Layla was, that and how she had the audacity to threaten a ghost! — a dead f*****g human being — it was still scary though, that glint in her eyes at the mention of her torment, was bone chilling.

But as much as Layla was scary and persistent, she wasn't the one carrying around a dagger that would surely get rid of her in this life — probably to hell, that was way scarier.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place indeed.

Yet Eda still gave in. Layla had been comfortably laying down on their couch — yeap, in Isla's home — for the past hour. When she said the girl was persistent every single word she meant it because here they were, in Isla's home uninvited and without the host.

What could possibly go wrong apart from everything and Eda beings homeless the second Isla came back — possibly nothing serious, as Layla put it.

You'd think after an hour Layla would give out on seeing Isla but no, she had made herself quite comfortable — her shoes discarded at the door, her legs resting on the armrest — she was not going anywhere.

Eda knew that hence the pacing back and forth, eyes fixed on the wall clock — 7:30 — it read.

But let's rewind a bit.

The reason Layla desperately needed to see Isla was still undisclosed to Eda, all she knew was Layla had been waiting on Isla to show up at the café and when she locked up without her usual customer showing up — she would have to visit her personally, like a door to door sells man.

Eda had no choice considering she was trapped between a wall and two arms gripping onto her collar, teleporting would mean taking her with her — no exit.

Eda stopped pacing back and forth as she stared at the person standing before her, her mouth went dry and she surely had no words to say as her eyes fell on Layla.

Layla had now sat up, her feet meeting with the floor once again as she studied Isla — the girl looked horrible.

Her usual black dress shirt was slashed horizontally across her stomach, the cloth was covered in blood and with the way her skin was covered in red past the torn shirt, it was Isla's blood.

Her hair was a mess. If she looked close enough she could noticed the red tainted strands on her head, as well as the smeared fading blood trail on her left cheek.

Isla as well looked exhausted, her posture slouched not in her usual head held high posture.

The most noticeable thing that Layla's eyes fell on had to be the dagger. Staring at it made her headache worsen, she had been fine before yet the second Eda took her here she felt rather strange.

It felt like a sense of deja vu as though this wasn't her first time visiting, Eda didn't help because when Layla asked if she had been here before she went on acting weird — that should have been enough for Layla to figure out she had, but her mind felt empty no sorts of images came in.

So she could not back up her claims.

That however didn't mean her headache got better even after Eda offered her a water — well not directly, just led the girl to the kitchen and get it herself.

Layla searched for the dagger Isla was holding once she turned back to her, Layla was sure of it but then it just vanished and now she was puzzled — was she going insane?

"Eda why?"

Isla asked directly the question to Eda yet her gaze had been fix on Layla, who had been cautiously staring Isla — like she knew something.

"She insisted." Eda nervously stared between the two, the atmosphere felt quite tense and she felt uncomfortable.

"Isla." Layla called out her eyes fixed on the wounded house owner, getting off the couch she slowly walked up to her still cautious. "What did you do?" She asked standing in front of her.

"I didn't do anything."

"That night." Layla paused, momentarily closing her eyes before opening them again, "That woman, that was you."

Realisation dawned over Isla's face, her expression held shock as she stared at Layla. She could possibly not remember that night, could she? — searching her eyes Isla nervously pursed lips, Layla's eyes held caution and fear — she knew.

Nothing came from Isla, she didn't know what to say or how to explain it but she knew for certain Layla remembered — which meant she remembered everything she had erased since that night and the first night she came here.

Layla hastily gripped onto Isla's shirt pulling her closer, only a few inches between their faces. "You killed her!" Layla shouted, her cautious gaze turned to a glare.

"Layla calm down." Eda mumbled trying to pull Layla off the girl but her grip was firm and she was determined, her efforts weren't effective.

"I did not kill her." Isla glanced at Layla's grip on her collar tightly holding on, diverting her gaze she met Layla's furious gaze. "Can you let go of me?" Isla asked, her tone dull and tired.

"I saw you!"

"You didn't see everything Layla." Isla hissed grabbing hand, she didn't care if her glove was a bit bloody. With her hand firmly on Layla's hand, Isla forcefully loosened Layla's grip before letting the girls hand drop to her side.

It seemed as though Layla wasn't giving up. Immediately as soon as Isla freed herself from her hold, Layla grabbed Isla's wrist making contact with her skin.

Again a wave of deja vu came over Layla as she stared at Isla's hand. Isla glared at their hands, gritting her teeth Isla looked Layla in the eyes.