Douce Dépendouce

Chapter 11

I knew what that meant.

I shut the door and locked eyes with her as she turned, her expression confused. Her eyes widened as she looked me over, then looking back at me.

"What happened?" She asked, turning her body so she sat towards me.

"I um, didn't bring a jacket," I said, taking a seat on the floor.

She simply nodded, looking at her hands for a moment. She then looked up, her eyes reconnecting with mine.

"How are the realms? Without being treated?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"They um-," I cut myself off, swalloing the truth. "They're ok."

She smiled thinly, a sense of doubt on her face. I swallowed again, starting to feel myself get nervous. I knew that she didn't believe me, but I hoped it wasn't for the true reasons.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice bringing me back. "I'm sorry this happened. I had no clue that we had been in Pandora for that long and with none of us having any side effects I thought that-"

"It's fine," I said, cutting her off. "You didn't know that this would happen and it wasn't in your control."

She sighed, looking down at her hands once more. "I just feel awful about it, and that I should take responsibility for it."

"Linda, honestly it's fine, don't stress about it," I said, trying to sound reassuring.

She sighed once more, the sense of doubt and guilt in the air as I looked over her. It was silent for a bit as I looked down at my own hands, knowing that this wasn't the true reason why she wanted to talk. I then saw her turn away, sitting back up against the wall, staring out.

"What did you want to talk about? Or, was that it?" I asked.

I saw her suck in a breath, her shoulders tensing. "I know we just came back from Pandora yesterday, and how much Druid things we've been doing and planning..." she trailed off, my eyes now off my hands.

"Linda," I said, trying to hide the nerves that infused my voice. I knew if I wasn't exhausted I probably would have stood up and walked over, but I couldn't.

She looked away, now back at me, her expression disheartened. "We need to work with Pandora more, and that means possibly going back."

Now my legs worked. I stood up instantly, looking directly at her. I found myself lost on what to say before I spoke, "But we just went there yesterday. Did what we do not work? Why do we have to do it again?"

She rubbed the side of her head. "It's not my idea, its Avalons," she replied. "He wants us to keep working with Pandora despite him saying that he never wants us to ever again."

"Why though?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"He thinks it didn't work, destroying Pandora's Soul."

I froze.

My brain swarmed with thoughts and searched for words but nothing came. My body had gone numb and I felt limp. My breathing was staggered as we simply looked at each other, the only sound of rain audible. After a bit, I broke away, looking back down. The air suddenly felt warm and thick, not comfertating or welcoming. It felt like it was going to swallow me up, and made my body heat suddenly return.

"We wouldn't have to go to Pandora, yet, but it may have to be an option," she spoke, her voice drowning me.

I looked up, not caring if my face showed shock. "Then, what would we do now then if we don't have to leave?"