Aini

"I love you," Harry said kissing the top of my forehead.

Tears of joy cascaded my face, we were fine, all of us! Mom was talking with the witch sisters, they indeed were my sisters, addressing them as such came effortlessly.

"I love you too," I replied happily, he catches the next drop of tears from my cheeks and wiped the face clean with the sleeves of his tee-shirt.

We heard the clear of the throat from the back, "where is my portion of love?" Zara asked playfully and I smiled at her, opening my arms wide for her to fit in, she happily gave in.

Harry embraced us from my back, we shared the reunion hug, happy to be together. We solaced each other with sweet words, mumbling amidst our hug, many of our words were inaudible but those didn't matter, what counted was the love we bestowed upon each other. 

I longed for a savior but I wasn't blessed with one, I was honored by many, my mom, Zara, Harry, my witch sister, and also Avyanna. These people who shared my pain and happiness are my family, and I'm blessed to have them.

We broke apart, and I heard Zara order, "next time when someone summons you to come forward, you go backward, got it?"

I laughed at her accusation, she complained again, "listen dumbjack brain, you need to control your curiosity to survive."

"Alright, mother, got you!" I answered jovially. 

"She's right, you don't know what your absence did to us," Harry responded painfully.

I wondered what happened, I understood it would have been hard, I felt sad for what they went through but the past should be forgotten for a better future.

"Let's not do that to any of us," I promised, both of them smiled at me.

"You better, he turned into a perfect zombie, you should have seen," Ze mocked Harry, they instantly started their usual bickering, I shook my head in disbelief, they will never change. Actually, I don't want them to change. 

I searched for my mom among the sister spirits, she was arguing with them, I walked towards her and hugged her sideways. "It's good to be back, with you mom," I whispered to her.

"I know honey," she answered sweetly, mom was never a woman of many words but I know she would do anything for me.

I thanked the sister spirits, "thank you for helping me, we wouldn't be alive without all of you."

Halina walked amidst them, "sister, it was our responsibility to save you," she answered, but there was something that she wants to confide in but not really tell as well.

"Halina, what is it?" I asked her directly, so far as I know, Halina has helped me come through my witch-hood, never lied to me, and she supported Avyanna with her baby, trusting Halina came naturally.

I noticed that Harry and Zara has joined our group, each standing next to me like shields.

"It's okay sisters, you can tell me," I repeated at them.

"Sister, you raised the dead but where are they now?" Their hollowing voices rang together, none of their lips moved but the voice rang loud.

I looked around me, it was true, there was no sight of the dead I wielded, they vanished. The multiple voices continued together, "the dead remains dead sister, it was the law of nature," they were trying to convey something but I couldn't understand what they meant.

"Leila, I warned you about the consequences, the dead remains dead, forever, you were asked to leave town before sunset but you didn't comply," Halina spoke this time.

It was confusing, so they warned my mother about the spirits, so what? Now, we are safe right, then what else do they mean.

"Hey we won, remember?" I heard Harry remind them, Zara remained seldom quiet.

"Yes sisters, it's all done, we can leave," I added to them cheerfully.

I want to go home.

We were instantly teleported to the borderline of the town, the empty highway few steps away from our reach, an Audi was parked in the opposite, I heard the sister's voice challenge again, "you can try."

I didn't understand the reason why they were telling this, so I took Harry's and Zara's hands in a hold and asked my mom to step out.

An invisible force pushed us inside the town, our backs hitting the solid ground in a hump. "What is happening?"

The sister spirits laughed, they gestured at the borderline and announced, "sister, the dead remains dead," and pointed at Zara.

That was when the meaning of their phrase drowned in me, I uttered in fear, holding Zara in an unbreakable clasp, "not again."

I couldn't lose her again, I knew what her death did to me, I couldn't face that pain again. Harry came in front of us, shielding me and Zara from his body, and announced roughly, "we won't allow it."

"There should be a way," mom pleaded at them.

I heard the wise voice of Halina speak, "sisters, you have only one choice."

"Anything," I declared without hesitation, Harry complied as well.

"This destroyed town will be your home, for the rest of your lives, we warned Zara, but she didn't agree to stay away. So our option to you is, reside here, every dawn the vengeful spirits would raise to avenge their deaths, fight them, she stays alive," She finished.

No, I couldn't do that to my mom and Harry, Zara risked her life for me. My only option was to negotiate with them, I agree to stay here forever with Zara, mom and Harry can go home. Before I could voice out my thoughts they continued their ruthless options.

"Or, follow the rules of nature, the dead should rest in peace. Let Zara go, allow her to rest and all of you can go home," Halina finished.

There is no way in hell will I succumb to their second option, I just got her now, I felt the tears stream down once again.

"No," I fought with my courage and started to negotiate, "I'll stay, it's me you want, I'll stay, let mom and Harry go." 

"I'm staying too," Harry spoke with finality and I shook my head at him in dispute.

"Me too," I heard mom say, why are they doing this to me.

After a long silence, Zara spoke finally, "none of you will stay, it's okay A," and she walked towards the witches, a silent statement that she wants to die for us.

"No Zara," me and Harry shouted simultaneously.

"It's okay guys, it's about time I change this midi dress," she said light-heartedly.

"Don't do this please," I sobbed at her, tried running towards her, but our legs were rooted to the ground, the familiarity of the compliance ached my heart.

"No please, no" I shouted at the witch sisters, they offered a similar knife of Avyanna's, a little smaller, to Zara, a clear indication that a cut would kill her spirit, forever.

We screamed at her to not take it, the action was painful for us to look at, Harry struggled to break free, Zara placed the knife near her chest, smiled at us, and ordered in her bossy tone.

"Aini, it's not your time to die, look for the details in my death, avenge for me, you're not only destined to die, my friend, but you are also destined to save the innocent lives, so save them," with that she stabbed herself.

"Nooo," Harry screamed violently, our hold broke, we ran towards Zara, her vanishing form. When I touched her cheeks, she turned it to stardust and flew in the air.

"You are now free to go," the voices spoke together again.

Halina reminded me again before vanishing, "use your powers wisely, don't let your powers use you, sister."

We lost her again, and a part of my heart.

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