CHAPTER 12

I was paralyzed.

I couldn't move.

I saw Xavier take that blade as I screamed..

I begged him to stop but he didn't listen. My voice failed to reach him.

I failed to reach him

I heard a booming laughter and saw Azrail standing in front of me.

"I told you to let go of Xavier. He had to die. He had to return to where he belonged and he belonged with me.."

The sky thundered. This world had lost yet another pure soul.

The sky cried along with me -

I woke up abruptly and gasped for breath. I wanted to scream but I knew my sister would hear it. My hands muffled my sobs as I tried to calm down. My panic attacks and nightmares had stopped a few months ago. That's why I stopped taking my pills.

Was this Azrail messing with my head?

I got out of bed and took a long shower. I loved my showers. It was that one place where I could feel like myself.

I got out of my shower and went towards my mirror to brush my hair. As my eyes met my reflection, I touched my face.

I was a pale kid since the beginning. I hated that about myself. My nose was thin and slender. One of the favorite parts about my face.

My brown eyes were dull. Just like my heart.

I shook myself out of it and quickly brushed my long hair.

I had to get to school now. It was already 6:45.

My school started at 7.

My mum was again in the kitchen, cooking for Luna and dad.

I bade her a goodbye and left for school. I didn't wait for a response because I knew I wouldn't get one.

I got into my car and turned on the ignition. I looked into the rear-view mirror and almost jumped in my seat when I saw Azrail sitting in the backseat.

"How was that little nightmare of yours, Ophelia? Hope you enjoyed it."

His awful laughter made it so much worse. I couldn't believe how obnoxious he was acting.

"Azrail, thank you for that choice, yesterday. But I think I am going to pick Xavier. You can keep Preston. I hope you understand my choice."

I had to remain calm. I had to act like demon wasn't just sitting in my car.

"Isn't that really stupid of you, Ophelia? I am ready to give your brother back. This way you can fix your relationship with your mother too. But you are choosing a random boy over everything. Your loss, Ophelia. But remember, Xavier will return back to me. Just wait."

And just like that he disappeared.

I sat there holding the steering wheel, waiting for all the rocks Azrail was going to throw at me to hit me.

Xavier's POV

The sky was dark.

What did I expect, any way?

If the world was this dark then why wouldn't the sky be?

I lifted my arm and inhaled my cigarette. My lonely lungs finally got a blanket as they felt the warmth.

I exhaled the smoke while looking up at the stars.

I wondered if Ophelia would want to be friends with this version of Xavier.

Of course not, who was I kidding?

I blew another puff and chuckled as Ophelia's image came into my head.

Her cute little nose scrunched up as she laughed at a joke I'd made. Little did she know I only made that joke to see her laugh.

It had been a while since someone's image had come up in my dull mind. They were mostly black and white paintings of everything my eyes saw.

I got up from the roof and almost tripped. I wish I had.

I got back into my room and threw away the cigarette. My mom wold have a fit if she saw one.

I heard a knock on my room and yelled come in.

Hazel came in while walking with her tiny feet.

"Hi, Zavy. I couldn't sleep. That bad man was chasing me in my dreams again. Can I sleep here?"

I picked her up and got her into my bed. I warmed up her little feet and wrapped the blanket over her.

I got next to her as her tiny arms tried to wrap around me. I patted her back as she finally snored away.

Her innocent face looked so calm as she slept.

I sighed to myself, "Oh, Hazel; Life is that bad man. It's always gonna chase you until you outrun it or give up."