T W E N T Y - F O U R
Have Faith

I JOLTED AWAKE with a start, my body bolting upwards as I gasped hungrily for air. My vision was poor, dots swirling around whatever was in my line of sight as I grasped the air around me frantically. Thankfully, much like the other times in which I was caught in the painful hands of a trip down my past lives, Dimitri was right there by my side when I finally returned to reality.

"It's okay, Addison. It is alright. Just take in deep breaths." Dimitri cooed, a hand placed on my back to support me into an upright position. I could feel his fingers dancing across my skin, a light tingle as my mind placed the imaginary feeling of his cold skin against my back. His words soothed me greatly, ensuring that I wouldn't frantically kick around in fright.

Once I finally properly regained my axis on the world, the world slowly blending into view and the darkness no more, I grabbed Dimitri's left hand. Ignoring his questions targeted about my wellbeing, my eyes searched for that ratty wire ring that I knew would be on his finger.

"Are you alright? What's wrong?"

Though he was filled with questions, Dimitri did not stop me from pulling his hand over. I could feel his eyes trailing my every move, scorching a trail down my skin as my own eyes rested on the smooth curves of the worn-down ring. I sighed in relief when the familiar sight of the ring greeted me, adjusting myself so that I now held Dimitri's hand tightly close to my heart.

"I was right," I murmured under my breath to no one in particular. "Lola, that little-"

"You saw Lola again?" I was cut off mid-sentence. In an instant, Minnie was right by my other side, her body resting on the grass as her eyes widened in surprise. "That little girl that is your past life?"

"Unfortunately," I confirmed, nodding. "She was trying to trick me into staying in my own mind again. She used another illusion and I was so worried that it was the truth."

"What did she make you see this time?" Dimitri tried to pry.

My face crumpled at his words, the image of Dimitri and Minnie pressed closely together burning my mind and reducing it to ashes. I could feel the hair on my arms coming to a stand, my skin tingling in petrifying fear all whilst my heart dropped to my feet and maybe even below ground. I hated the thought with every fiber of my being.

I tried to convince myself that the illusion in which Lola had provided was just about as harmless as a dream and that a dream - no, a nightmare - was all that Lola was. She would not be able to harm me as long as I was awake and well. Reality was not hers to manipulate; it wasn't anyone's to do so.

Dimitri must have noticed my reluctance in answering for he pursed his lips tightly. "I'm sorry. You don't have to share it if you are not comfortable with doing so."

"No," I forced myself to reply, swallowing the bile in my throat as my gaze fixated onto the view in front of me. I refused to meet both Dimitri and Minnie's eyes. "No, I am not comfortable with it at all."

I could only imagine what the possibilities in which they could have come up with in their minds. There could be many different alternate illusions that would have done enough to stir me up. It was only the matter of which would do so the most. At that point, I wondered if the illusion that Lola had provided me with was the worst one possible or was there something else that would've brought me down to my knees. Whatever it was, however, I prayed to never find out.

The sun had long risen, the night passed in the time that I was asleep. It dazzled brightly in the sky with the might of a million stars, shimmering in golden splendor like I have never seen before. Rightfully, of course, since the sun was the greatest star of them all. It hung along with the fluffy white clouds in the sky, filling the world with so much brightness that it seemed almost difficult for me to frown.

"Mornings are deceptive," I chanted to myself, ensuring that my voice was near inaudible. "Don't trust the day just as how you would not the night."

The first light of day signaled the coming of a fresh new start. However, whether this new beginning would be a great adventure or a sorrowful downfall would all but depend on the coming events. With how the fate of the world rested on our shoulders and the success of this mission, I dare not hold too much arrogant hope in case karma decided to hit me where it would hurt the most.

"What time is it?" I asked instead, still unwilling to tear my eyes away from the sight of nature to meet either Minnie's line of gaze or Dimitri's.

"By my calculations, it is a little past noon as of now."

"What?!" I turned immediately to face Dimitri, my eyes widening in horror. He sat there, eyes glued to a watch-like contraption that rested on his wrist. I knew that it wasn't an ordinary watch; my own didn't work properly that last time I was here.

"Time doesn't work the same here as it does in Heaven or Hell, or just anywhere else for the matter. In other words, we are already halfway through our fourth day."

"I couldn't possibly have been asleep for that long," I mumbled, hands reaching up to cup my cheeks in denial. "We wasted so much time all because of me."

The sun was still shining brightly in the sky, dazzling with rays woven from pure gold. It was situated far away from the peak and if we had been on Earth where time was normal, it would perhaps be no more than nine in the morning as we spoke. However, I should have known better than to trust the long days of Paradise.

Days lasted longer than normal here in this realm while the nights lasted just the same as usual. We could no longer depend on the positioning of the sun and the moon as long as we were in Paradise. If we did not work quickly, that would also mean that I would not live long enough to even see the next nightfall.

"Are you sure?" I asked Dimitri again. "Watches don't work here. The last time I was here with Lucius, mine went haywire and the hands of the clock weren't turning right."

"I'm sure, Addison. This isn't a normal watch. My brothers and I created it long ago with the concept of using ropes and a burning candle's flame, the traditional way to tell time. We read the diagram instead of the numbers of a manmade clock. Nevertheless, it works the same as its counterpart."

"From your past experiences, you did make it seem like Lola was not a nice person to mess with. She seemed really desperate in obtaining control of your body. Maybe she purposely sabotaged you." Minnie offered her input, causing me to bite down on my bottom lip.

Sabotage me, that's for sure. Lola had made it very clear that she desired full control of my body and I would bet that she wasn't the only past life with that goal. She was merely the one who was most outspoken about it and actively tried to trap me in my own mind.

"She had been trying very hard to replace me in the material world. I have no doubt that when the next sunset arrives, she will be there to greet me again. And who knows how long of a time she would take."

"That can't be good. We cannot have you wasting so many precious hours because of her." Dimitri was mumbling under his breath, eyebrows furrowed and line of gaze distant. He had already got up to his two feet, pacing around worriedly as he tucked his finger under his chin, deep in thought. "We need something to get rid of her once and for all."

"Is there any spell you know that can help Addy? A potion or amulet of some sort?" Minnie asked, her hands reaching to grasp mine tightly. I could feel my heart warm up.

"The libro vitae might contain some information about this. I copied down a few essential potion recipes before we left so there might be something inside that we can use. Maybe even alter it if the cases are similar enough."

Nodding to himself, Dimitri reached into his pockets before retrieving a few crumpled pieces of paper. The pieces of parchment were all yellowing, fraying at the edges as black ink covered them to form words and diagrams.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go! What are the ingredients that we will need to find?" Asking, I was already preparing myself to get up, palms pressed hard against the soil in an attempt to push myself back onto my feet despite Minnie's protests.

At my words, Dimitri immediately frowned.

"You are not coming with us, Andy. You are still a little weak because of that last ordeal regarding the sunset. Bringing you along will only cause you to be in further danger."

"So you are now saying that I would be a burden?" I challenged, feet wobbling a little. As much as I hated to admit it, Dimitri was right. My body needed time to recuperate. However, I was unable to stop myself from arguing. I did not want to be left behind again. The last few times were in high school where everything was a game of social status. This time, it was a matter of life and death.

"You know that's not what I meant, Addison. I can't have you in danger and I need to..." Dimitri trailed off, running a hand through his hair agitatedly. "I need to know you will be safe and out of harm's way."

"Then I stay here and wait? Is that what you are implying?" I blinked with incredulity for I could not believe what I was hearing. Although Dimitri's words were sweet and honey glazed, I was too far off to care. "Do you even know what you are saying? How am I supposed to protect myself if I really am as weak as you say?"

"Don't take this the wrong way, Andy. It was not my intention to hurt your feelings. The angels are in Heaven and it is much safer for you to be here instead. And as for taking care of yourself," Dimitri paused, digging through his back pockets once more to pull out a sleek black pistol. "Here. It may not be able to kill the angels since they are immortal but it should be enough to harm them so that you could slow them down and give time for you to run. I believe you know how to use one of these?"

I couldn't help but grin when the weapon was pressed into the palms of my hands, the weight sending a surge of power and confidence through my veins. I tested the weight of the gun, fingers curling around the weapon, unwilling to let it out of my sight. It was now my lifeline.

"We'll be back before you know it," Minnie assured, patting my shoulders as a way of encouragement. "Until then, stay safe."

"How long will you be gone?" I asked, watching as Minnie took a step away from me.

"It depends on how far we have to travel for the ingredients but we should be able to get back sunset, standard time, to brew the potion. The actual brewing process doesn't take too much time."

The scene in which I had previously witness flashed in my mind as if Lola was still there to taunt me. I could see Minnie and Dimitri alone and very much together, bodies pressed closer than what friends should be. I shook the images away, forcing my eyelids tightly shut as I willed the thought of betrayal far away.

I had to trust Dimitri and Minnie. They will not do this to me. I had to have faith. Have faith to know that the one I love truly loved me back as well.

"I will be waiting," I promised, eyes opening again. Standing on the tip of my toes, I pushed my body up just the slightest so that I could place a peck on Dimitri's cheek. He smiled softly at my action. "Stay safe. The both of you."

"With you in my mind." Dimitri nodded, taking a step closer towards me to that he could place a kiss on my forehead as well. I squeezed his hand reassuringly, holding onto it until he was too far off for me to reach. Reluctantly, I let go.

With grim nods and a tight-lipped smile, I watched from my spot under the tree as Dimitri and Minnie turned away, walking further and further into the forestation and disappearing from my line of sight. I knew that I could only play the waiting game from this point on so I seated myself back down comfortably into the broad mossy roots of the great tree I had leaned on.

However, not even an hour had passed before I was snapped back to full attention.

In the time alone, I had braided my hair a few times, trying desperately to make time seem to go faster than the slow agonizing pace it was currently going at. When I had tucked the last strand of hair into place and secured everything with an elastic band, there was a shuffle of branches from a close distance away. Something told me that it was in fact not Dimitri or Minnie's return.

I got to my feet, slowly edging away from the moving leaves and growing-loud noises in fear of what was to come. My assumptions were confirmed when I noticed a bright head of gleaming platinum blond hair, causing my eyes to widen with fear and my heart to be caught in my throat.

At that point, there was nothing but one word in my mind.

Run.

[A/N]:

So sorry for being a day late. Hope you enjoyed it.

xx aurora