Different Yet The Same

Chapter Twenty-Five

-Ember-

I hate portals. They mess up your hair, and give you a terrible nauseous feeling. As I tumble out of the portal in a flurry of hair and limbs, I suddenly am hit full force by...a person? All I see is a mess of tangled black hair, and long slender arms...no...it can't be...it's..."Spark?!"

-Spark-

I hate portals. They mess up your hair, and give you a terrible nauseous feeling. As I tumble out of the portal in a flurry of hair and limbs, I suddenly am hit full force by...a person? All I see is a mess of tangled black hair, and long slender arms...no...it can't be...it's..."Ember?!"

-Ember-

"Spark! What are you doing here?!" I screech.

-Spark-

"What are you doing here!?" I reply, completely confused.

-Ember-

"I'm here to see mom!" I say, defending myself.

-Spark-

"That's why I'm here!" I retort.

-Ember-

I let out a roar of frustration. Flames licking, around my body. I hastily control myself and head towards the house, never taking my eyes off Spark.

-Spark-

I can't believe she's here! This is insanity! I haven't seen her in weeks and now suddenly here she is, flesh and blood. Not only that but she's mad, at me! What did I do wrong? She starts heading towards the house, and I'm close in pursuit, never taking my eyes off of hers.

-Ember-

I open the door, as it creeks like something in a horror movie. I can feel Spark trembling behind me, but right now I just don't care. I slowly walk inside and search the dark, dreary house for any signs of mom.

-Spark-

Ember and I have been searching for a good twenty minutes, but we still haven't found her. "Mom!" I yell but there is no answer, my call echoing around the destroyed and abandoned house.

-Ember-

We stalk into the kitchen to see the cupboard doors ripped off, tables and chairs turned over, the back door broken, glass shattered everywhere. The house was invaded, but by who?
"Spark..." I whisper. "I don't think mom is here."

-Spark-

"You're lying." I spit, tears clouding my vision.

-Ember-

"No I'm not. She really isn't here."

-Spark-

That's when I breakdown. I've already lost any chance at a normal life, I can't risk losing my mom as well.

-Ember-

"Come on." I whisper to Spark, holding her close. "Let's go grab some coffee."

We walk down the Herringdale's Brew, and get the usual. Sitting by the window, we are silent.

So much has changed since we were here last. Nothing can ever be the same again.

-Spark-

I sip my hot chocolate in silence, letting the warmth seep through me, getting a break from the cool winter air.

Snow is now lightly scattering the ground, not enough to make a snowman but still enough so most of the town in covered in a soft blanket of the white powder.

I look at Ember. Neither of us willing to break the silence. You can feel the tension hanging in the air, I can't take it anymore, so I speak up.

"I really don't know how to say this but..."

-Ember-

"They're trying to kill you," I say bluntly, knowing exactly what she is about to say.

-Spark-

"Oh...ya...they're trying to kill you too." I mutter, as the tension begins to rise.

-Ember-

"Ya. I guessed that." I say, taking a sip of my hot chocolate.

-Spark-

"How have you been?" I ask trying to break the awkward silence.

-Ember-

"Great. Never better." I reply.

We spend a few hours talking about the usual things, with thankfully very few awkward silences.

At the end of the conversation, we walk home, talking about more serious matters.

-Spark-

"So what do we do about mom?" I ask, my throat closing at the mention of her.

-Ember-

"I don't know. I promise I'll try my best to find her." I try to comforting her.

-Spark-

"I will too. We'll find her." I say, partially trying to convince myself.

-Ember-

We both open portals, side by side and I pull Spark into a hug.

"I love you Spark, be safe ok?" I say, with concern.

-Spark-

"I will be. Can we meet again?" I ask.

-Ember-

"Sure, three weeks?" I propose.

-Spark-

"Sounds great Ember." I say, a smile covering my face.

-Ember-

"I'll make sure you're safe ok? They won't get near you." I promise.

-Spark-

"You've always had my back." I reply with a smile.

Then we part ways jumping through our portals and back to our other dimensions.