17 OVERCOMING THE FEAR ( PT.1)

A total disaster - That's how bad it could be .

The morning was filled with a lot of rufflings and shoutings from Aastha who as always took it as her role to stay productive and get everyone ready . Aastha , Mia and Carlos are having breakfast while waiting patiently for Emily to finally descend the stairs .

" How are we reaching there ?" Mia asks Carlos who is sitting beside her on the dining table .

" A good friend of mine so graciously accepted the offer to tag along . Merlin knows , I'd be half mad by the time we returns . Spending a day with three crazy girls , what was I thinking " He jokes .

" You know , my hand is itching from the morning , Don't know who will earn a slap "

" Oh please, you wouldn't dare slap this handsome face "

" Oh , she so would Carlos . Stop dreaming !" Aastha replies casually .

" Shall I , A ?"

" Would love to see that "

" Okay - okay , I get it . Damn woman !" He sighed defeated and both the girls high - five happily .

" EMILY , GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE , OR I SWEAR I WILL CARRY YOU MYSELF " Mia shouts from downstairs .

" COMING IN A SEC , DON'T MISS ME MUCH "

" IN YOUR DREAMS , BABE "

A faint honk sounds in the background bringing them out of their playful chatter .

" I better go and greet my best mate , Girls come fast " Carlos takes his leave but not before giving Mia a wink .

" What was that ?" Aastha questions the almost beet-red Mia

" What was what ?" A new voice asks .

" Nothing , now come on !" Mia squeaks out nervously.

" Alright !"

All of them are dressed in casual shorts paired with t-shirts and have a ready medical-kit with them for any minor cuts , you never know .

Outside the door stood an expensive looking black customized shiny Jeep . Not a single ounce of dirt could be seen on it . Leaning on the side were two jerks laughing uncontrollably , that dimmed the magnificent car's look .

" What the hell is he doing here ?" Emily screeches out in horror .

" YOU HAVE A BLOODY JEEP " Aastha and Mia shouts completely oblivious to Emily's horror .

" Now that's no good manners to speak to guests , cousin ." Carlos teases Emily but shuts up seeing the glare and continues " Girls , meet Li- "

" I will do it myself , mate " The other guy says hitting Carlos in the chest .

" I don't think we have formally met , young ladies " He continues in the professional manner " I am Liam O'Brien, call me Liam "

" Hii "

" Hello " Both the girls greet him whereas Emily just glare .

" Let's GO " Aastha squeals excitedly .

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Emily is pushed between Aastha on one side and Liam on the other and the two lovebirds are in the front seats . They say the seating arrangement was just a coincidence though Emily knows better to believe them .

" Wait , why are you both ignoring each other ?" Carlos asks the two grumpy couples in the back seat . They both look to each other for a moment, before replying

" She blocked me "

" He was spamming my phone "

The lovebirds laugh while muttering , " Sort it out , kids "

" Look , let's behave like mature people and call a truce " Emily says turning to face the jerk , she decides to be the bigger person and not to hold any grudges .

" I'm up for it "

" It's simple , we become acquaintances for the time being "

" Sure , lilyana "

" Lilyana ?"

" My new nickname for you "

" You won't stop would you "

" Of course not , Lilyana" He bows dramatically hitting his head with Emily's.

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After half an hour of drive which was spent in a comfortable silence , the Jeep slowly came to a halt . Everyone stepped out and look at the woods in front of them .

" Why are we here ?"

" The way to the Castle , Lilyana " Liam states and hit Emily on the head .

" Keep you hands to yourself , buddy " Carlos says his overprotectiveness coming out .

" Be glad I let you sit with her " He continues strictly .

" Yeah , Yeah , Sorry mate !" Liam apologizes seriously .

" WOODS HERE I COME " Aastha yells already departuring for her adventure with a book bag clutched to her chest .

" WAIT " Mia yells , stopping everyone .

" What ?"

" We still have to take pics before entering "

" Yeah . Let's take lots of selfies . SO FUN " Carlos sarcastically replies .

After around 170 photos , we all were ready to step in the woods . The forest is dense , and the sunlight barely reaches the ground as thick leaves covered the pavement .

Taking steady and slow steps everyone entered one by one . The order is : Carlos , Mia , Aastha , Emily and Liam .

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" Keep moving , Aastha " Liam points out to her as she came to a stop few seconds ago while rest were going forward .

" Aastha " Emily yells once again to her friend .

When Aastha doesn't respond they all step back to see what is she busy with .

There she was , standing in a little opening looking mesmerized at a tree . When they looked closely there was a beautiful sparrow sitting there .

" Emily , Mia Look that's Kiwi there " Aastha says happily pointing at the sparrow .

" Aastha, we lost her , it's not her " Her friends say reasoning it out with her .

Aastha had a beautiful small sparrow with her two years ago whom she loved dearly . Unfortunately, she died and knowing Aastha we couldn't tell her the truth and instead settled for the lie that we lost her .

" It's her , Emily . She listens to my voice " Aastha says pleadingly.

" What's happening ?" Liam asks looking at them in concern .

" A , please come here . This is not her "

" No no no , you are lying "

" Aastha , just look at us " Mia pleads .

" We have to tell her " Mia whispers urgently to Emily .

" But that will broke her "

" You know , we have to do the right thing "

They both nod in agreement , hating the very part of telling her .

" A , think logically !" The boys praises still not knowing what's happening .

" We lied to you " Emily whispers softly doubting if she even heard it , but it was confirmeded when Aastha's shoulder tensed.

" She - She .... We couldn't save her . She died " Mia continues a few lone tears escaping her eyes .

" Wha- How " Aastha isn't able to form sentences at the moment .

" You are lying . She is right in front of me " Aastha states in finality slowly baking away from her friends .

" Is she ? It's just an illusion " Emily asks taking steps towards Aastha .

" NO "

Emily just hug Aastha tightly to her chest knowing it pained her to know the truth . Aastha sobs violently for a few minutes. Mia joins in on the group hug as they cried silently .

" I wanna join the hug so badly " The jerk Liam whines .

" She is dead " Aastha mutters , her eyes blood-shot from crying her heart out . She had the sparrow for 6 years with her and knowing she was lost is better than the bitter truth .

The second these words left her mouth , the beautiful bird burnt into ashes leaving nothing but black smokes behind her . It is a miracle how it was all an illusion but how is that even possible ?

Deciding not to talk on this topic any longer , they sat up breaking from the good long hug and give Aastha a kiss on the forehead. Slowly , wiping her tears away , they give her water to drink and wait for her to be alright once again .

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It didn't take a genius to figure out , Aastha wasn't herself . She tried well to remain as enthusiastic as possible but couldn't shake the nagging feeling away . It is probably for the best she knew the truth now no matter how bitter it was .

Right now , they are having a break after walking for 20 minutes . The trio left boys for a few seconds to have a girl's moment when they hear a shrill , unearthly scream " MIA " . Fastening their steps they run to see where it originated and see a terrible sight . Carlos is bending over a cliff while Liam tries to keep him there and not jump .

" MIA , come back !" Carlos shouts once again .

" The hell here I am " Mia says and hearing her voice , Carlos turns around going pale in the skin as though he has seen a ghost .

" Mate , you okay ?" Liam slightly shakes him in panic . This seems to bring the colour back to his face . And the first thing he do is running to Mia and swooping her in his arms , hugging her tightly.

" Ohh, thank God , You are Okay !" He murmurs softly in his ear .

" Not that I am complaining , but what is going on ?"

" You idiotic girl " He says looking at her sternly but his eyes betraying him as tears stream down his face .

" Shhhh , you are Okay ! I am fine " Mia traces her fingers on his back as he cuddles her .

" That escalated from 0 to 100 real quickly " Emily jokes.

" Shut Up " Both of them replies .

" Take it easy , would ya ?"

" Carlos, describe what happened ?" Aastha asks after he is quiet and able to speak again .

" Well , It was a dream , or an ..... illusion , Don't know . It felt way too surreal to be a dream . I just saw Mia falling down this cliff accidentally and , and I couldn't save her . I felt so defeated and tired "

" It is too real to be a coincidence . Guys , it makes sense !" Aastha says confidently . The pieces fitting in her mind solving , one half of a puzzle .

" In what fucking world does this make sense ?" Mia says .

" Pay attention , My fear was to know ..... Kivi is dead and that was what it showed me . I assume , yours was to know Mia is no longer alive ?" A nod from him confirmed her doubt .

" So , you are saying that you both had to face your fear , today " Emily completes .

" Remeber the book , we read ' Magical ' , I didn't thought much of it , though is it possible ?" Mia adds .

" This sure as hell seems like it "

" If this is real , it's not just me and Carlos who had to face their worst fears but "

" Maybe all of us have to " Liam mumbles quietly .

The freaking hell