━━━ ꧁ད ✶ ཌ꧂ ━━━

CHAPTER 25

━━━ ꧁ད ✶ ཌ꧂ ━━━

When I looked up, I knew I was back in reality because the puppeteer and the gymnasium had disappeared. In their place, a small golden silhouette moved on a table. Then, the heavy scent of rose incense filled the air, making me wrinkle my nose at its pungent fragrance."Are you awake?" Mikkel asked, crossing the small room hurriedly. The floor trembled with each step he took, and I stopped looking at him because it made me dizzy."Perfect," he commented, and he walked over to the table. The golden silhouette was now clear. It was Mango who watched his owner while sitting there, tapping a couple of toy carts.I rubbed my temples. My head hurt, and recalling the memory of reliving Ashton's last moment alive made me feel even worse.According to Thomas, Ashton died first, followed by a trapeze artist. I wondered if Ellinor was the one who saw him die, but it wouldn't make sense to see her memories since she no longer had her music box.The yellowish light coming from the scattered candles on all surfaces, even on the floor, made me think of a horror movie.Mikkel hurriedly crossed the small room, knocking over a couple of bottles as he searched for something."It must be around here... Ah, got it." He returned to me and touched my shoulder.I looked at him with not so much pleasantness. He placed a flask containing a liquid with a terrible appearance in front of my eyes. It was blackish, and greenish, and had a smell of herbs mixed with something likely rotten."What is this?" I asked disgustedly, swallowing the bile that suddenly burned in my throat."It helps with hangovers.""I'm not drunk," I protested indignantly. I had never even tasted a drop of alcohol."It will help, and that's what matters," he insisted, and I could do nothing but accept it. "I don't intend to poison you if that's what worries you. Now, drink it."He saved us from the shadows at the station, so it wouldn't make much sense for him to suddenly decide to get rid of me.I took two sips and choked on the bitter taste. I was lucky not to vomit and managed to swallow it with great effort."What is this place?" I decided to leave the rest of the content on the floor. If I tasted it again, I wouldn't be as lucky as the first time. I'd return it all."I saw you this morning while you were walking and followed you. Now, I must get more of this," Mikkel replied sharply, showing me a bunch of herbs I couldn't recognize.Mango howled and leaped to his feet. His unexpected restlessness alarmed me, but his owner seemed to take it in stride."He's a naughty monkey," he told me. The primate, as if understanding him, screeched and showed his teeth. "But I'll leave him with you in case you need anything else. He's very helpful. You'll be safe here for now," he said, broken as if his thoughts stumbled over his words. Mikkel waved his hand, and the candles reduced their intensity slightly. It almost seemed like dusk."Sleep, if that's what you feel like doing." He opened a hatch on the floor next to the table and hurriedly descended.I was surprised. I thought he hated me enough not to worry about me.I settled as best I could on the couch while making sure I still had the medallion in my pocket. The walls of beams formed a triangle over my head, serving as both a ceiling and an attic. The place was the closest thing to an attic; there were no windows, just a cot behind the couch, a table with a couple of chairs, and a little kitchenette on a board.Despite everything, it was quite pleasant.Mango jumped from the table to the floor and ran to the kitchen. At the foot of the latter, there was a cardboard box. He stuck half of his body inside, with his hind legs hanging funnily, and pulled out a bag. I followed its trajectory with my gaze until it reached my feet, and then he offered me his treasure.I didn't think much about it and accepted it. He tilted his head and stared at me uncomfortably as if expecting something or an answer."Thank you," I muttered, and only then did he go back to the box.I opened the bag of cookies. They were shaped like animals and were chocolate-flavored. My stomach welcomed the food with satisfaction until Mango came to sit beside me and observe me intently. I couldn't bring the last cookie to my mouth. He made me nervous. Every time I brought it close to my lips, he made faces. I had the idea to look at it, and that's how I discovered it had the shape of a monkey."Do you want it?" I asked. I knew that sweets, and especially chocolate, were harmful to animals, but I sensed that Mango would pounce on me if I didn't give it to him.Happy with his chocolate monkey, he moved away and sat on the table, and at that moment, I thought I saw something moving on it.As I finished chewing the last cookie, I approached to investigate. I fixed my gaze on the small cloth bag as it shook again. They didn't look like simple grasshoppers, and suspicion led me to think of Ashton and remember his death and a terrible and unexpected fear emerged.I immediately rushed to the cot. From there, I explored the room, blowing on the candles and extinguishing them gradually. They were everywhere, illuminating every insignificant corner. It was evident that Mikkel also feared the shadows.Exhausted and dizzy, I took the cot's sheet and shook it, managing to extinguish a great number with just one move.I inhaled and exhaled softly through the small opening between my lips. My heart was pounding; I had never felt so anxious to lift my gaze from the ground.Time seemed to stretch, and each second became eternal. I didn't remember ever feeling so anxious while waiting for him to call my name, but there was nothing, only silence.I turned, and in his eyes, I not only perceived the concern reflected in my face but also understood many other things.The tension in his body was evident as he stood there, looking at me without speaking. He seemed to understand that something was wrong.He reached out towards me as if waiting for me to take the next step, but I couldn't move. My heart struggled between the need to reach for his hand and the fear of losing him that emerged with that infernal memory. Each beat felt like an internal battle between the desire to be with him and the anguish of facing the possibility of losing him. I didn't doubt whether to take his hand or not. I had a presentiment that, by touching him, he would suddenly disappear, and then I would find myself trapped in a new reality, one that would confront me with great truth: sooner or later, he would have to go.One has to take risks, right? That's what he said in the booth, shortly after daring to kiss me on the nose. The voice trembled in my mind as I struggled between the desire to be with him and the fear of facing uncertainty.With an unexpected lump in my throat, my legs threw me into his arms.I perceived his cinnamon scent and pressed my face against his chest. I was so afraid of suddenly finding myself alone in the darkness that his company became a crucial part of my life. His presence turned into a beacon of light amid the uncertainty, a bond that connected me to hope and gave me the strength to face the unknown."What happened?" he asked, offering those gentle pats on my back that comforted me but also broke my soul. "It's okay; you can tell me what happened."A rush of sweetness invaded me, but at the same time, I worried that he would feel guilty."I saw..." I let out a thread of air, taking a step back to distance myself from him and leaving my hands on his chest. "I saw you die."Rejecting the repetition of his death in my memory, I looked down at the floor, trying to avoid his gaze."It's okay," he whispered calmly, showing understanding when I thought he would be affected or interested. "I'm sorry you had to see that.""Don't apologize. I couldn't do anything.""That's something that's already happened." A thump on his chest made me aware of his heartbeat.Under the touch of my hand, he didn't feel like an ice cube anymore. I realized that coldness wasn't always cold; it could hide warmth inside. That's how things worked with Ashton."I don't need you to do anything else for me," he said. His voice conveyed gratitude and concern. "Considering that, you're already risking your life. I've developed a fear that you'll fear me for what I am."The popping of a bag made me look at Mango with horror. The little scoundrel on the table laughed at us and then sat down to eat what looked like dehydrated fruit."You were right," I commented. "For a monkey, he's too perceptive."I received a kiss on my temple that left me stunned."At least I know there's something he can't take away from me," he said, not removing his gaze from me.Mango, as if to get me out of the mental stumble, hit the bag against the table and then started jumping.Ashton decided to move away and walk in that direction, but I couldn't follow him. I was forced to stay still because of the unexpected dizziness.When he got there, Ashton's back multiplied. I shook my head when he was near the table and took the cloth bag, spreading its contents on the surface. The rings couldn't even roll properly due to the weight contributed by the stones. At the same time, the trapdoor opened and hit the floor with force."Ash..." I couldn't finish; my legs gave way. In that same instant, Ashton was back beside me, preventing me from collapsing completely. On the other hand, Mikkel, who had just arrived, saw me in the eyes and let out a swear word, followed by several words I didn't understand because he was speaking in another language, but they seemed important."What does it mean?" I snorted, not understanding why he took so long to answer me. "Ashton?""Guardianship. The puppeteer, at some point, bestowed all his rings on you."

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