The room was hot, small sweat beads formed atop my forehead as I analyzed the situation in front of me. My heartbeat quickened in anticipation, any wrong move would destroy everything I had worked so hard for. Shakily, my hand reached out in front of me; this moment would define it all.
"Draw four, I-" but I'm cut off before I could even continue.
"Really?!" My best friend's delicate features morphed into an angry scowl. She huffs before analyzing the the cards below us, a smirk forming on her face, "What color did you choose?" She asked sweetly. Too sweetly.
"Green," I watch her stack down a card with a devilish smile upon her face "Ava, what the hell? That's an illegal move!" I exclaim, leaning back on my chair.
"Draw six, baby!" she squirms in her chair excitedly.
"Nope," I glare at her, "That move is literally illegal, they've even made a statement about it, you can't stack Draw two and Draw four cards." I retort, thinking about the online statement Uno had made.
After a moment she sighs, "Okay, Miss Uno aficionado." I smile as she draws four cards. Excitedly, I place my last card: Wild.
"Uno out!" I jump out of my seat, twirling around while giggling. Ava huffs and crosses her arms, a small smile forms across her face as she watches me.
"Okay, you've won," Ava laughs, beginning to clean up the cards, "Want to order pizza?"
I nodded, picking up my cell phone and dialing Tony's, probably the best pizza place in all of Hanover. Walking towards Ava, I nudged her over, making her shift from her sprawled out position on the couch and began mindlessly switching channels searching for something we could watch.
Ava repositions her self, laying her head down on my lap, "Did you ever find out who kept sending you those notes?" I slowly place the remote down, my hands begin toying with my necklace.
"Um," I blinked a few times, shifting on the couch, "No, I stopped receiving them after a while, so I kind of just forgot about it" Lie. I still thought about them most nights.
Ava looks up at me, "Thank God, that was weird as hell, I was beginning to get ready to fight someone." I let out a chuckle at her now serious tone, thankful for a friend like Ava.
I had felt bad for lying, but I'd rather lie than worry her any further. It had started a few months ago, small notes would litter my window panel, each reading the same thing: 'Soon'. Freaked out of my mind, I quickly shared the news with Ava, who as I quote said:
"Whenever I find this annoying bug sending you notes, I'll strangle them with my own two hands," I smiled remembering how her eyes twitched furiously.
As months passed, the notes had become frequent. I never could trace them as they offered no valuable information other than a symbol of a wave which adorned each elegant note. The symbol looked unique and if you stared at it long enough- they would almost begin to crash. After mentioning that bit to Ava, she recommend a local psychiatrist. The sound of the doorbell pulled me from my thoughts and Ava quickly got up.
"Finally! My fat ass is starving," she smiled while rubbing her stomach, "Pass me my wallet?" I nodded, reaching over the small wooden coffee table and grabbing her violet wallet. I passed it to her as I walked to the kitchen, pulling out clean dishes and cups. Some rustling was heard from the hallway but I paid no mind to it as I continued out of the kitchen into our living room. I noticed no sign of Ava, 'Probably flirting with the delivery boy' I thought, smiling. Too bad, my stomach was grumbling.
"Ava, I'm sorry to break this up bu-" My voice dies out as I'm immediately frozen and my stomach drops. A few meters away from me stood Ava against a tall man, a sharp knife pressed against her neck. The man had a missing eye with a jagged scar running through it downwards his cheek.
"K-kota,"Ava says shakily. With trembling legs, I take a step forward but immediately stop as he presses the knife closer.
"P-please," I start, my eyes beginning to water "let her go, I'll g-give you anything y-you want!" I plead, but the man only smirks.
"Iris Vulcan," his voice rasped.
'Iris Vulcan? Who the hell was that?' My heart lurched, pounding faster than ever.
"You will watch as I take everything away from you, as you did from me." he snarled. My eyes widened, brimming with hot tears.
"Dako-" Ava sobbed, trembling, but was quickly silenced as the knife begins to draw blood.
A cry slipped past my lips, "Please! I-I'll do anything, take me!" I begged, but it was no use, his smirk grew wider and a sinister look etched upon his features.
He pretended to think for a moment, "Hm.. No," Ava's blood gushed from her neck as he sliced across it. He threw her lifeless body on the ground towards me. I screamed, my knees giving out watching as her once lively eyes become dull. The man stalked towards my sobbing frame, he bent over, yanking me up by hair. I beg for him to let me go help Ava, but those attempts were futile.
"You took everything from me, Vulcan," he sneered, "Now, I take everything from you." I shut my eyes as the bloodied knife came towards me.
But it never did.
Loud screams were heard, I opened my eyes realizing they did not belong to me, but to him. My eyes widened as I watched the fiery flames engulf him, dancing across his body. The man flailed his arms trying to put of the flames but they only grew stronger, livelier. The orange flames roar as he is finally condemned to ash.
Shocked, I took a step back, snapping my head down to my hands, which were smoking. 'Did I do this?' But the thought was quickly gone as it came when I zeroed in on my best friends body.
I ran to Ava, loud sobs erupting from my body.
"No, no, no!" I cried, brushing her hair, "P-please c-come back to me" I repeated that phrase over and over again, rocking our bodies together. Hoping- praying - that this dark dream would pass. But it never did.
"Ava please! We w-were supposed t-to g-grow old together! Y-you were supposed t-" my words cut off as I sobbed harder. Her blood seeped out, soaking my clothes in the process.
"I'm so sorry, Ava. Y-you weren't supposed to d-die!" I hugged her closer, running my fingers through her damp strands; sobs racking through my chest. She was all I had, my confidant, the person I would never get tired of, the person who would stick by my side while watching the world go by. For hours upon end, I screamed and cried until I couldn't anymore, until my throat burned and my voice rasped.
And there I was, the night before my birthday, holding my bestfriends lifeless body.
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Oof, very intense first chapter... hope you liked it! :D
Below is a beautiful drawing by Tasia M.S, this is who I'd picture Dakota as! But you're free to imagine her anyway you'd like :D
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