High above the ground, the wind was cold, whistling in Ann's ears as they soared over the mountain tops. Theo's arms wrapped around her from behind, radiating warmth that chased away the chill. Being close to him like this made her forget about everything – the guilt, the urge to confess her sins. Also, it was a spectacular trip, and she didn't want to ruin it. Maybe I must confess after we return home? It seemed like a reasonable solution, and Ann leaned back into him, savoring the moment.
As they reached the flat mountain top, Rei swooped down, his paws gracefully landing on the rocks. He ran a few more steps, gradually slowing down before coming to a stop at the edge of the abyss. Ann instinctively covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a scream.
Theo dismounted and extended a hand to help Ann down to the ground. As her feet touched the hard surface, they momentarily gave way beneath her.
Quickly, Theo caught her in his embrace. "Careful."
"I'm okay. My head must be spinning from the flying, but I'll be just fine." She locked her eyes with Theo's, unable to shake the desire to taste his lips. Perhaps that was the real reason behind her dizziness.
His hands gently pushed her away, forcing her to regain her composure. "Feeling better now?"
"Yes, a little bit."
Theo nodded in understanding and walked towards the edge, allowing Ann to take in the surroundings. Standing on the giant flat rock, she couldn't help but suspect that this was the very mountain where she had tragically lost her mother five years ago. She hadn't returned to this place since that fateful day, but now, all of a sudden, painful memories flooded her thoughts, tearing her heart apart.
Ann clutched the red shawl tightly, its lingering scent of peonies providing a small comfort. Fearful of what she might discover, she cautiously approached the edge, holding her breath. And there, below on the trail, lay her mother, her limbs twisted at unnatural angles.
Driven by her instinct to help, Ann hurried down the mountain, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mother's eyes were wide open, filled with fear, as the wind gently tousled her fiery-orange hair. Ann sank to her knees, embracing her mother, but it was too late – she was no longer breathing. Her frozen gaze stared into the cloudy sky. Her skin, once warm, now felt cold. Too cold. Ann tenderly closed her mother's eyelids and draped the shawl over her lifeless form.
In a state of prostration, Ann tried to calm her trembling body, but her mind refused to fully grasp the reality before her. Her mother's last words echoed in her thoughts, "The pointless usage of power might have terrible consequences." If only Ann had known the price she would have to pay...
Lost in her sorrow, Ann had no sense of time passing. The sun was now descending towards the horizon, casting elongated shadows. But none of it mattered to her. There was no way she could return home, not after the unforgivable act she had committed...
"Annie?" The sound of approaching footsteps startled Ann, causing her to wipe away her tears and turn around. It was John Ruswelt, her classmate whom she had once danced with at the winter ball. She had pushed him away afterwards, but he had clung to her like a baby duck following its mother. At times, Ann felt a twinge of sympathy for him and tried to be friendly. She had even invited him to her house for her birthday party... It all seemed like a distant memory now.
"What are you doing here?" Ann asked, her voice barely audible.
"I was invited for dinner, remember?" John furrowed his brow, his gaze falling upon the shawl that covered Ann's mother. "What happened?"
Ann continued to stare at John, her mind consumed by thoughts of her friends she had invited to her birthday. Among them, only John had made the effort to come and check on her. She couldn't deceive him. If he despised her after learning the truth, she believed she deserved it.
"I... I killed her," Ann whispered.
Without pressing for more details, John approached and gently touched her mother's body. He checked for a pulse on her neck, then let out a heavy sigh.
Ann watched him in silence, unable to find the words to express her guilt.
Turning to face her, John spoke. "Listen, I trust you completely. I know you would never do something like this intentionally. It must have been an accident, right?"
Tears welled up in Ann's eyes as she shook her head, her vision of John becoming blurry. "I... I caused the rain... The trail became slippery... And she fell..." Her voice cracked, and Ann buried her face in her hands.
John's hand on her shoulder offered a comforting presence. "It's not your fault, Annie. I'll be there for you."
"I don't need your help. I did it! I'm the murderer!" Ann shouted, her hands flailing in the air, the wind around them intensifying. The sound of the wind drowned out John's voice.
John grasped her hands. "Please, calm down! Your Gift can harm me!"
Exhaustion etched across her face, Ann reluctantly forced her hands to relax, allowing John to continue holding them.
"You're in shock right now, and that's understandable given what happened. Let's go home and talk about it. We'll face this together. I promise, I won't leave you alone," he pleaded, pressing a gentle kiss to her hands. "Please, say something."
Ann nodded. "Okay."
As the wind brushed against her face, Ann's attention was drawn to Theo, who stood at the edge, observing her. Why has he brought me here? She approached, maintaining a safe distance. She reminded herself once again that Theo was a guardian on duty, and it was best not to test his patience, especially after John's promise to file a complaint against him.
Instead, Ann focused her gaze on the horizon. Despite the somber memories that haunted her, she couldn't deny the breathtaking view from this vantage point. The distant mountain peaks, adorned with a delicate layer of snow, resembled fluffy marshmallows. Waterfalls cascaded below, creating a multitude of shimmering rainbows. Rei gracefully soared between the rocks, his powerful wings propelling him upwards, only to swiftly descend with the speed of a predator when he folded them against his sides.
"Is he hunting?" Ann asked.
"You seem to know a lot about dragons," Theo remarked. "You're quite smart."
"Oh, please." Ann waved her hand dismissively, attempting to alleviate the mounting pressure within her. Theo's flattery was evident, but she couldn't understand his motives.
Suddenly, Theo reached out and touched her chin, causing Ann to look up at him. His deep, sky-blue eyes bore into hers. "I know that you lied to me. About the antidote bottle."
Her breath caught in her throat. Last night, as they sat by the fireplace, she had shared everything she could recall about her time with Uncle Greg. Everything except for the part where she had taken the cursed antidote bottle. Ann had numerous opportunities to reveal the truth, but she had let them slip away. Now, she was backed into a corner.
"Why did you lie to me?"
Theo's question sent a shiver down Ann's spine. The sight of his deep disappointment was unbearable, causing her physical pain. She couldn't bear to meet his gaze and lowered her eyes.
"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She made no attempt to wipe them away. Once again, she found herself in that dark place, uttering the words that had tormented her for the past five years. Now, she was saying them aloud. "You're right. It was me who killed them," she sobbed, unable to contain herself. "I just bring death to everyone I love – my uncle, my mother... I don't know who else will suffer because of me, so I must be stopped."
Theo took a step back, his silhouette becoming blurred through the veil of tears.
"Will you... arrest me now?"
"I will," Theo replied, stepping back but stumbling over a small rock. He began waving his hands, his body tilting at an awkward angle. Before Ann could react, he lost his balance and fell backward into the abyss.
"Noooo!" Ann's voice cracked as she fell to her knees, her hands reaching out towards the sky. She summoned every ounce of her strength to control the cruel wind that had just snatched Theo away.
Consequences be damned, all she wanted was to bring him back. She refused to let him meet the same fate as her mother, who had fallen and perished on these very rocks. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, her desperation pushing her magic to its limits.
The air around her twisted and screamed, echoing the pain in her heart. A tornado began to form, swirling around the mountain, capturing smaller rocks and clouds of dust in its vortex. The wind grew stronger, causing larger rocks to fly overhead. Sitting at the center of the tornado, Ann pushed her powers higher and higher, battling against the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her. She didn't relent, even as warm blood trickled from her nose.
Finally, the tornado lifted Theo and gently placed him at her feet as if answering her desperate plea.
Completely drained of energy, Ann allowed her hands to fall and closed her eyes, seeking a moment of respite. The weight of exhaustion made it impossible for her to open her heavy eyelids again.
"Annie!" Theo's voice was filled with urgency as his warm hands shook her shoulders.
She managed a weak smile. "You're alive."
"Yes, but we need to leave this place. Now!"
The once tumultuous air around them began to calm. The flapping of the dragon's wings nearby stirred up waves of dust, causing Ann to cough. She blinked, attempting to focus her vision. The tornado she had created had transformed into a raging hurricane, swirling the clouds high above their heads with the same intensity her mother used to mix cream in a bowl to make butter.
"I couldn't save my mom, but I saved you," she murmured.
"Alright, I see. This ordeal has taken a toll on you," Theo said, his gaze filled with concern. "Please, try to rest now."
With gentle strength, Theo lifted Ann and climbed onto Rei's back. Cradled in his arms, she allowed herself to surrender to her weariness, letting the battle against exhaustion be won by sleep.
~ • ~ ☆ ~ • ~ ☆ ~ • ~ ☆ ~ • ~
To be continued...
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P.S. Theo is safe, guys 😊. But what do you think will become of Ann? Will she be arrested now, after she hid the truth?