Chapter 19

Adelaide couldn't shake this paranoia that something would go very wrong. She glanced at the other three behind her. She was considering telling them, but it would only worry them more. Her vision went black, and she started panicking almost immediately. She glanced up at the sky in shock. It was the afternoon a few moments ago, and now it was night?

Adelaide didn't know what to do. So she did the only justifiable thing in her opinion. She started clinging to Filippa's arm. Filippa didn't mind and attempted to calm her down by patting her back.

"I-I don't know why I'm so scared," Adelaide blurted, on the verge of tears. She took a deep breath to calm herself, and her stoic expression returned once more.

"I have a feeling this is just a test," Filippa added, trying to be comforting. So this was planned by her father all along?

"But Adelaide has an extreme fear of the dark!" Leoric exclaimed, alert.

Adelaide held Filippa's arm even tighter after her secret being revealed. She attempted to take deep breaths to calm herself down. But it was even harder because it felt like she'd just burst any minute. She wasn't the talkative and outgoing type, no. She was someone who had serious trust issues due to what she had to deal with before.

Upon recalling that, Adelaide clutched her chest tightly, trying to breathe. Tears started pricking the corners of her eyes. It took her every ounce of willpower she had left to suppress the urge to scream.

"I can't..." Adelaide's eyes landed on the three staring at her with looks she couldn't decipher. The attention was overwhelming.

"Breathe, Adelaide!" Filippa instructed, holding both her shoulders. She hated being touched, but this was her best friend, so she let it slide and did as told.

"Does this always happen to you?" Leoric inquired, concerned. Adelaide was sure he already knew the answer to that.

"Anyway, are you feeling better?" Dustin queried, trying not to be overbearing.

Adelaide had no stamina left to speak, so she gave a mere nod. Had she ever felt this tired before? Had she ever felt this played in her entire life? Had she ever felt this much rage ever? At her father, no less. She couldn't even focus on the conversation at hand. Why was she so broken? Why had she been tossed to the side like a broken toy by her own father?

Adelaide vowed to be even worse.

"What if I don't make it?" Adelaide asked, earning more worried looks. She would hate it if it ended like this, but what could she do?

"Don't say that, Adelaide!" Filippa snapped, though the sadness seeping through was as clear as day-- night.

"You don't mean it, right?" Leoric queried, an unreadable look on his features. It was clear that this would affect him just as much.

"I don't think Adelaide would ask a question like that if something wasn't going to happen," Dustin answered, not daring to look anyone in the eye.

So this was the end for her, huh? She wouldn't be this upset if it weren't for those looks. She was almost tempted to walk away. Wait, weren't they supposed to continue on the path? When did they stop? She hated her sadistic father beyond words. She regretted not bringing any weapons along. Not that she could work with one besides Dustin's.

Adelaide now thought of herself as a psychopath.

"Guys," Adelaide called out. All of a sudden, her wings grew in size. She swore that the longer they stayed, the darker it got.

"Yes, what is it?" Filippa inquired. Once she met Adelaide's eyes, she nodded. She took out her quill and created makeshift wings for herself.

"That's not fair!" Leoric cried, not happy about not obtaining wings. He gave a pleading look to Adelaide, and she sighed in defeat.

Adelaide grabbed Leoric by his hands and took off. "You're heavy!" she yelled while Leoric deadpanned.

"Hey, don't leave us!" Filippa screamed, glaring at Dustin before taking him along in the same way. Unfortunately for them, Filippa kept running into clouds several times, which made Dusting lose every ounce of trust he had left.

"Dustin, you're slow!" Leoric called out, while Dustin gasped in mock offense. Leoric, of course, couldn't care less.

"Leoric, how could you betray me like that!?" Dustin cried, amusement seeping through.

Adelaide sensed something strange, so she came back on the ground, scanning the area for any threats. Suddenly, she felt a blade stab her chest from behind. Adelaide didn't have to look back to be able to tell who it was. Adelaide didn't have time to say anything, as she collapsed onto the floor, trying to breathe.

With whatever strength she had left, Adelaide glared at the man she used to call her father. After a while, her vision started blurring and she never got to see the grief-stricken faces of Filippa, Leoric and Dustin after taking her last breath.