Parallel Dreams

Chapter [2]Two.

HAZEN

The dull creak of the door jolted her back to life.
She turned back quickly, mildly surprised at her mother's sudden arrival.

"Mother!" She was quick to rush to her feet, her back immediately straightened to adorn grace. Her mother-the high witch was always one to favor proper etiquette.

"Hazen, be well." She nodded her head reassuringly, but Hazen didn't lose her awry gesture. Instead she nodded in turn, her lips pursed for a moment. Then she turned to her table to resume her work. In tide, she knew her mother had just come to check on her and would fortunately proceed away in a matter of minutes.

But Hazen was wrong. Her mother stood behind her, her gaze head behind Hazen's head.
"Is there something you need, mother?"

Her mother remained silent, furrowed skin slept behind her silver brows. Her eyes, as Hazen further examined, had dark sinks beneath them. The hollow skin darkly prudent below her lashes. She held a strange expression.
"Hazen," She spoke with a sigh, for-done slept in her voice. "What has gone wrong?"

She quivered, like a quick jerk until solemnity. Then she collapsed onto a chair nearby. Her breath recessive and at irregular intervals. She was like an injured animal.
"... Rina's health is getting worse, I-I don't know what to do." She trembled. "What should I do Hazen? The wounds.. . She's dying. Hazen, what should we do?"

Hazen sighed, a lump growing in her throat. As she took a step towards her mother, her sight wobbled slightly. She stopped for a moment, took in a deep breath and instead headed to her table.
"I'm working on a new potion to help her. Don't worry mother, Rina will be just fine." She mumbled.

Her mother steadied her breath, her red eyes shaking in their irises. With a deep breath, she raised her head.
"How do you intend to manage that Hazen?"

Hazen adjust her glasses, a look of forlorn dancing in her eyes. "I will do anything possible to save my sister."

"...Anything,"
She nodded and raised to her feet. Then she turned to the door, her heels touching the floor with a mild clank as she moved to the door. And then she stopped, her head slightly tilted as she gave Hazen a side glance.
"I hope you do not intend to use yourself?"

"...no. I'm doing everything I can."
Hazen affirmed, her back too turned on her mother. She couldn't face her, even if for a moment. Not right now.

"..carry on then. Your sister needs you Hazen, remember that." She slammed the door shut, as she left the room.

Hazen finally crumpled to the floor, her breath ragged, complacent.
She climbed back up, her hands placed on her table, and examined the sheets that lay with hazy sights.

I'm doing everything I can mother..

Her fingers began to twitch, breaking up, severing from within, to a horrid momentum. Then it stopped, and a sharp pain passed through her heart in a flash. She gasped and clutched her chest tight, her glasses tumbling to the floor as her eyes shook within their sockets.

It beat harshly, then slowed down back on its innuendo.
She began to unbutton her shirt, loosing each strap, pulling down the vests that clung to her torso and released the underwear behind her shirt.
There, between her bossoms, a dark patch began to unfurl, spreading quickly across her chest.

In time, her chest had been buried under a patch of black.
She breathed heavily, sweat pooling her forehead.
The dark patch passed her chest onto her shoulders, reaching out to her left arm.

See mother? I'll do anything to save my sister.

"But," She thought, "why don't you seem worried about what I might do to myself mother?"