Diary of Ivory Black

Chapter 18: Demented

    Olive sighed as she slumped down onto her bed. It’s been a long couple of weeks.

    She looked as though it once again was the night after the crash had happened. The lines in her face showed the hurt on her mind, suffering every day as though it were happening again. Her face was dull and pale, with an almost ghostly pallor. The life in her eyes had been fading every day since the dark circles beneath them showing her obvious lack of sleep.

    Her body as a whole had lost itself, hunched over, retracted, and thinning day by day. The stringiness of her hair made it obvious that she hadn't bothered to have a legitimate shower in a few days, unable to find enough reason to do anything at all. Her clothes were wrinkled, her eyes lackluster, and the lines around her mouth had vanished from the absence of a smile for so long a time.

    She was tired. To say the least.

    Ever since the nightmares...or the incident to be true, she felt like she was falling down a dark bottomless shaft, wondering if and when her fall will ever be caught. And as she occasionally looked back to where she fell from—which was where she knew you need to get back to—she could always find it receding further into the distance, the proverbial light becoming dimmer and dimmer, while the shaft into which she was falling becomes deeper, darker, and all the more enveloping.

    And much less to her delight, her lack of sleep had seemed to be resulting in some...unwanted symptoms.

    Shadow people.

    She knows very well that they’re purely hallucinations from her lackluster sleep schedule. Though it wasn’t enough to change the fact that she was very much afraid of them. She constantly felt watched, though she tried her best to mask it whenever she was around other people.

    These figures, roam everywhere, giving her much less privacy then she would’ve preferred. Thus lacking more in sleep. It was an endless cycle of torture. No sleep, more shadow figures to help her sleep less.

    But then she reminds herself that she isn’t the only one. In fact, Mei and Violet were most likely having it worse than her. She isn’t really the one to complain anyway, with what everyone else was dealing with.

    So, she persisted.

    Olive sighed and ran her hand through her hair. She felt the need to catch up with the reality everyone’s currently living in because she seemed to be so distant from it all.

    She slowly got up from her bed and approach her wardrobe, determined to put on some clean clothes at the very least.

    “Should I visit Mei again?” She thought to herself, “I did visit yesterday, but she seemed to be hit pretty bad. Maybe I should visit her again?”

    Olive sighed once more as she finally settles over comfortable pants. She got pretty tired of wearing jeans for the past few weeks, so maybe this would be a better suit. She then packs her favorite bag with a few light snacks and a bottled water to bring to Mei’s house.

    “I’m still pretty tired, maybe this isn’t a good idea.” She mumbles.

    “No, it’s fine!” She quickly reminded herself, “I’m fine.”

    She then swiftly jumps out of her bedroom window and slid down the pipe as usual. Paying no attention to the pugs nor the sleeping guard outside the gates.

    “Right! Off to Mei.” She tells herself, unknowingly forcing a smile up to her face.

    “Miss Olive wai-” The guard yells just in time as a random motorcycle passed by Olive, prompting Olive to went out of its way as to not get hit.

    “Holly s**t!” Olive cursed in panic. “Thank you, but I thought you were-”

    “You have to be more careful while you’re crossing the road.” The guard replied anxiously, hoping Olive hasn’t gained any injuries from the occurrence.

    “No, yeah I know that,” Olive explained, “But I just thought you were asleep just now, is all.”

    “Miss Olive, I was bidding you goodbye as you exited the gate just now. I was never asleep.”

    “Hallucinations.” Olive quickly thought to herself. Most likely the only good explanation for this occurrence after she has gotten barely any sleep for the past month. Olive sighs in annoyance then faced up the guard, who was still staring at her in minor confusion.

    “Never mind,” She promptly said with a smile, “Just don’t tell mom I’m sneaking out, okay?”

    “I cross my heart.” The guard said with a smile as he made a crossing gesture across where his heart lays. Olive smiles at the guard before taking her leave.

    “Oh, and another thing!” The guard half yelled, “Just...Be careful, okay?”

    “Yeah, sure,” Olive replied before jogging off.

    “Violet! Honey, you’ve been in your room for days now.” Violet’s mother said softly from behind the door, unknowing of what Violet’s actually been doing for the past few days.

    “No!” Violet shouted quickly as she flips to the next page.

    “Violet! Come out of your room this instant!”

    Now it was her father’s turn to yell at the door. Violet sighed, and grabbed her phone and headphones, promptly playing out a random song to tune out her parents. At least it was better than lashing out at them, to quote Mei’s advice.

    She flips to the next page.

    “Violet! I know you have your headphones are on! Just come here for a sec and we could...”

    Her father’s words became inaudible as Violet turns up the volume on her phone. But as much as she truly wants to drown out her parents, she quickly became agitated as the knocks and shouts begin to grow louder over time.

    Violet sighs and slumped down her chair, emitting a light squeaking noise from the old worn out chair.

    Mortals are

    Finding love,

    falling in love,

    savoring love,

    as they try to forget

    how hard it really is

    And that may cause

    the most wonderful

    or melancholic thing

    that can ever

    happen

    to them

    and us.

    Violet laughs at herself, finding irony in reminiscing Ivory’s words.

    She sighed in frustration. She couldn’t help but to keep reminding herself about what had happened for the past few weeks.

    About Ivory’s death...

    About everyone’s handling it, especially herself...

    About Mei...And Olive, of course...

    About Ivory and her diary...

    And most prominently...What her friend had done with Camilla.

    “At least it’ll be over soon.” She said to herself.

    How long has she been saying that to herself?

    Olive rapidly tapped her foot on the firm sidewalk, agitated.

    “Come on Violet!” She grunted, “Pick up your phone!”

    Finally, a familiar clicking sound came from the other side of the call.

    “Yeah, what’s up?” A familiar voice echoed from the phone.

    “What’s up?” Olive repeated, unbelieving, “What’s up? What’s up!?”

    “Where the hell have you been for the past few days!?” Olive screamed in frustration, resulting in some curious onlookers from the neighborhood—which was odd enough on its own considering everyone was usually inside watching tv at this time of day. Good thing Olive’s still a couple more houses away from Mei, she wouldn’t her knowing this.

    “Adriane hurt Mei for some stupid reason, so now Anna’s beat her ass into a pulp as a revenge. But now Mei’s f****d up and sick, and everyone’s worried and scared!” Olive quickly blurted, trying to get in as much explanation as possible in one breath.

    “Olive, breathe,” Violet replied calmly.

    “And now Mei’s all cooped up in her room trying to find some sort of grand explanation for why all of this is happening, while her dad and I just wait desperately until she decides to come back from her room.” Olive blabbered, finally out of breath.

    “Relax,” Violet said simply.

    “Relax? How are you so nonchalant about all of this?” Olive grunted in frustration.

    “I just am?” Violet replied.

    “Look, just tell me where were you these past few days,” Olive said in a worried tone, “I’m genuinely worried about you.”

    “I can’t,” Violet said with a defeated sigh.

    “Why!?” Olive exclaimed.

    “I just...I just can’t, okay!” Violet replied, distraught.

    Olive took a deep sigh. “You know I can’t always file in whenever you’re not here right?”

    “I mean, I know half of what you’re doing and I’m not even sure if I should be helping you with it.” Olive explained.

    “I promise you, I’ll be done soon.” Violet disclosed. And with that, the call ended.

    Olive roughly stuffed her phone back into her pocket and continued her journey, ignoring the confused onlookers.

    “What?” Olive hissed at them in frustration. Everyone around her stayed silent, but they kept on staring. Still as a boulder.

    “What!?” She grunted once more, her voice deep and cautious. Still, the crowd stayed silent.

    Olive stared back in confusion, watching each character slowly approach her. Their figure slowly became blurry, the color in their face fading to black.

    They walked slowly but steadily to the young teen, not saying a word as they approach. Olive held on tightly to her bag and phone, making a defensive stance on the crowd. The black figures marched towards her, surrounding her, suffocating her. It was a thriving mass of anonymous figures, pulsating with a dark and alien energy that was carried with a throng of people. Olive could only stare, paralyzed with fear and confusion.

    The shadows drew closer to her, she could only hold her breath and watch. Her mind clouded with white noise. And in the back of the crowd, she spotted a familiar figure. Ivory.

    Bloody, ruined, broken.

    Like a rag doll that got tarred apart by a tire. There she was. Standing, silent, without purpose. As the shadow people grew bigger and closer, Ivory stayed silent. And walked away.

    Olive broke down. She bleeds the salt of her soul and as it pours endlessly from her worn out eyes where her clenched fists press blocking all of the light, she could only see the darkness that she knows will soon swallow her and she fears it, yet longs for it.

    “Olive! Olive” A familiar voice soon rang like thunder, slashing its way through her heavy breaths and silent sobbing.

    Through her stream of hot tears, she saw Ivory once more. She watched intently as the shadowy figures began to disappear, leaving only the two of them. Olive was mortified as she Ivory slowly approached her, leaving trails of blood behind her. She flinched when Ivory reached her arm out, revealing cuts and bruises from the crash. Though still bandaged, she couldn’t help but imagine the damage that’s been done.

    “You came back.” Was all Olive could mumble. Her voice was shaky, barely covering the sob that was breaking out of her dry lips. She kept her voice low and spoke slowly to relay a sense of steadiness, like a calm before a storm of grief.

    She could’ve asked why, why Ivory had come back for her when she could’ve left her on her own. But she couldn’t care less about that.

    “Wake up! Wake up!” Ivory screamed, her voice distorted and fuzzy. As if she was in a glass box, together but not quite.

    Ivory’s face was starting to blur even more. “Olive, wake up! Please! Just snap out of it!” The girl screamed.

    Olive suddenly remembered. Hallucinations.

     This wasn’t real.

    Olive stared back to Ivory, eye to eye. She slowly came to the realization that it wasn’t Ivory in the first place.

    “Anna...How did you-”

    “You’re right outside my house, kid. I couldn’t just leave you here for Adriane’s taking.”

    “Where...Ane?” Was all Olive could muster, her voice low and weak.

    “Adriane’s gone, let’s get you inside,” Anna replied as she hastily picked up Olive and carried her into the house.

    Anna carefully placed the young girl on the couch, making it as comfortable as possible despite the torn fabric and the slightly bulging cottons coming from the inside of the couch pillow.

    “Mnhhh...”Olive groaned as she tried desperately to resist to sleep, forcing her body to sit up only to be put back down by Anna.

    “Kid, you need rest,” Anna said with a stern face, “Trust me, I know.”

    There was no way Olive was denying the fact that she needs sleep, and there was no way she could convince Anna otherwise either. So she quickly complied and nestled her head back on the couch one of the pillows, and quickly dozed off.

    Anna sighed in relief and slumped down on the floor, she hated the thought of forcing Olive to take sleeping pills. She was glad that there was no need for that.

    “Jeez, kid.” Anna sighed as she looked up to Olive, sleeping like the most careless baby in the world.

    Anna lazily grabbed her phone and went to her room, just to make sure Olive isn’t eavesdropping. She went to her nightstand, it was completely trashed. She took out a sheet of printed brochure and scanned over it to find a contact number. She then dialed the familiar number and waited.

     One ring...

    Two rings...

    Three rings...

    Click.

    “Hello? Yes, I am here to report a death of a student...”

    “Ivory! Come catch me!” Camilla said playfully, twirling in her moon white nightgown on top of the hill. Ivory chuckled before racing to the top of the hill, not even bothering to catch her breath until she reached the top.

    Camilla giggled as she helped Ivory through her last steps. “Geez, you’re getting old, aren’t you? Grandma.” She playfully teased as she patted her friend’s back. She watched intently as Ivory’s short long dark hair and plated pajamas drifted through the cold night wind, there was a certain, somewhat calming charm to it.

    “Pfft! Shut up.” Ivory huffed through her heavy breaths, letting her long ebony hair draped over her figure.

For a while, they didn’t say anything to each other. They just lay on the ground and watched the full moon shine brightly through the dark and motionless night. Camilla could hear Ivory’s breath right next to her, deep and heavy. Yet calming.

    “So, I read your secret glow-y note. Why am I here again?”

    “Just to talk,” Camilla cooed, “That Mei of yours is taking way too much of your time.”

    “Camilla, we are not about to talk about this again.” The older girl groaned in frustration.

    “You’re right,” Camilla replied, “It’s Camilla and Ivory time now.”

    The conversation paused as they stared back at the bright moon. The lingering light was beautifully illuminated by the lustrous night. The once salmon and purple sky transformed into a vast expanse of an almost suede like, a jet-black void that engulfed the small hill. A vast cluster of luminous stars materialized among the deep ocean of cool-black. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence every now and then, but there was an adequate amount of shimmering stars to illuminate the calm night.

    It was all so beautiful and familiar with its borderless flow of clarity: The vast, seemingly empty sky stretched out for more than infinity. It had a smattering of low-level flat clouds that were spread-out to the horizon. The soft and milky cotton ball clouds obstructed portions of the endless sky that showed off its incomparable beauty.

    This was just them. Just Ivory and Camilla, and the rest of the world went still. Camilla instinctively nudged closer to Ivory, Ivory reciprocated by holding her hand. They locked eyes, it was as if that was the only thing left in the world.

    “Camilla,” The raven haired girl huffed, “What are we-” Ivory’s words were lost to the sudden kiss.

    The blonde yanked Ivory close to her and covered her mouth with hers in a hungry kiss. Ivory responded almost immediately, surprising herself. Camilla tasted tentatively with her tongue and quickly forced Ivory to open her mouth, prompting Ivory to let out a low moan.

    After a long while, they both parted to breathe.

    When Camilla looked up into her eyes once again, her expression was intense, almost threatening. Ivory was angry, but they both know that she still somewhat want this.

    Camilla absentmindedly touched her lips, feeling the warmth of their kiss. Ivory’s mouth was so warm, the caress of her lips softer than she could have ever imagined.

    Suddenly, the dark haired girl pushed away as if she'd been burned. She hastily jumped up to her feet and started pacing back and forth with her hands on her hair. Frustrated.

    "I'm sorry, Camilla," She said in a strangled voice. "That wasn't right."

    "It's fine," The blonde said, looking at the ground. She was afraid of seeming too eager or disappointed. In fact, she wasn't quite sure how to react, to the kiss or to her friend’s sudden show of regret.

    But of course, this is no time to stop trying.

    "That wasn't right," She said again as if it was a mantra. "Come on, let's go do whatever the hell you wanted me here for.”

    She took her friend gently by the hand and helped her up, avoiding looking into her eyes. Though Ivory knew that there was already a smile creeping up Camilla’s face. It wasn’t new.

    “Can you carry me?” Camilla inquired with a sweet smile. Ivory knew that there was no avoiding her, so she simply complied with a smile.

    “Where to?” Ivory said in the happiest tone she could manage.

    “The hideout,” Camilla announced. And with that, they were off.

    As they made their way deeper into the trees and up the hill, Camilla couldn't help but wonder if Ivory's heart was beating as fast as hers, or if she was feeling anything akin to the hot fire of desire that had settled in her belly.

    Mei couldn’t help but wince at her own imagination, from what she’d gathered so far from the entries.

    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and kept reading.

    And reading...

    And reading...

    And reading...

    Until her eyes grow sore and her mind grew tired of it all. She could feel her life, energy, and passion slowly drain away as she flips the pages over and over again, the sound and smell of the book becoming more familiar and tolerable with the passing time. She’s grown tired.

    But every time she’s the slightest discouraged about her search, she reminds herself what she was searching for—and what it meant for her.

    She needs to know.