Rise of Calamity: Chapter 16

Chapter 16

“Anya….Anya…Anya!” Anya jolted awake, sweat falling down his face. Anya looked around quickly. His roommate he was rooming with looked at him with a concerned look. “Anya. Hey, we got-” Anya jumped up and ran down the hallway. He ran into the lobby scanning the crowd, seeing Adeline and Will looking at their phones with concern on their faces. He bolted towards them and wrapped Adeline in a tight embrace. Adeline cried out in surprise, “Anya! What are you doing?!” She looked down at his face, tears already streaming down it. Her shocked expression melted into that of concern, “Anya? Anya, what’s wrong?” Anya, between tears, said, “I had this terrible nightmare, y-you got killed right in front of me! Please don’t leave me! Please!” Adeline stood dazed for a second but regained her composure and hugged him back, “Oh Anya… It’s okay I’m here. I promise I won’t go.” The whole room had turned and noticed the scene unfolding before them, a few laughs echoed through the room before Adeline shot them a glare and it was quickly silenced. A teacher came walking over. Anya looked at her face and saw a flicker of her body lying motionless on the ashen marble. He yelped when she got closer. The teacher stood before them, “What is happening here?” Adeline looked up to the teacher, “Anya isn’t feeling well. Is it possible I could stay here with him?” The teacher looked them both over, “Not without another teacher present. But I know you three well enough. I’m going to tell the staff that if they see you leave your floor there will be consequences!” Adeline nodded her head, “We promise not to leave.” The teacher nodded and turned to corral the class towards the buses. Anya hugged her tightly, not daring to let go. He squeezed his eyes shut and opened them in his room. “So that’s what happened?” said Adeline. He nodded, tears still falling slowly down his cheeks. “That must have felt terrible…” She reached over and wiped his tears away. She pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly. He mumbled under his breath, “I love you…” She tensed; she had heard. She pulled away and held his face in her hands, “I love you too.” As she got closer to his face, his vision blurred and when it cleared he was standing on a podium at their graduation day. He, Will, and Adeline stood together holding their diplomas. Their parents take photos with teary eyes. His vision blurred again. He was in college now. He had long forgotten his little nightmare that brought him and Adeline together. He knelt before her in front of the school they had met at, “Will you marry me?” Adeline laughed, “Yes!” They hugged tightly and his vision blurred once again. He opened his eyes, he was standing in front of Adeline in a beautiful white dress. “Do you, Anya, take Adeline as your loving wife until death do you part?” spoke an invisible voice. “I do,” Anya said eagerly. Adeline was asked the same question and she responded, “I do.” “Then you may kiss the bride!” They moved closer to each other and his vision blurred again. He opened his eyes again as he walked into a house he knew as home. Adeline came rushing in, holding an ultrasound photo. They held each other and cried tears of joy. His vision blurred again. He saw Adeline suffering to bring life to their young child. His vision blurred again. He saw his child walk for the first time. His vision blurred again. He saw his child going to school for the first time. His vision blurred again. He saw his child graduate from college. His vision blurred again. He saw his child wed to another. His vision blurred again. He saw the birth of his grandchild. His vision blurred again, and again, and again, and again. Millions of moments of love, comfort, and happiness. His vision blurred again. He stood in a small church. His body felt brittle, broken. He walked forward towards a small box in front of him. His breath caught, and he stumbled forward. His child holding his arms and keeping him steady. Adeline’s aged body lay in a coffin. Her body finally gave way to death’s embrace. Anya held her cold hands, crying into her like had once had. As he held her cold hands, he was reminded of what brought them together. That dream. His child hugged him tightly, their tears shared. He turned to look at his child. A tall woman with black hair held him in an awkward side hug. She got closer to his ear and hissed, “Are you done playing make-believe?” Anya pushed her away and turned towards her, but no one was there. He turned again, his body screaming in protest. Everything else faded to black, except Adeline. He stumbled towards her, his body giving out on him. He leaned against the table holding her coffin. He grabbed her hand once more, “I’m so sorry Adeline.” He sat there in silence for a moment before letting go of her hand and beginning to turn away. A noise caught his attention, and he turned back towards Adeline. Her eyes shot open, a deep black-purple liquid leaking from them. Adeline’s body shot up quickly, wrapping her hands around Anya’s throat. She looked at him, her pitch-black eyes continuously leaking fluid. “IT’S YOUR FAULT,” she screamed. She took her cold, dead hands and shoved him backward. He tripped and fell but never met the ground. He continued to fall, his surroundings turning pitch black, as maniacal laughter filled the air.

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And then poor Themis woke up.