Chapter Text
Sincerely, Yours | Chapter One: It’s Been Too Long
It’s been too long.
There was no point in denying her morbid fascination, everyone is entitled to their own interest; but forcing it upon on others, not. To make one's Hell to a personal Heaven, they have their own means of making it viable. Now, with that being said.
Something was about to come — perhaps a premonition of some sort, that she can’t help but feel unease since the beginning of day.
Would it be appropriate to describe such as a nightmare? Though she felt no fear; no other than the feeling of as if being repressed. It was no more than that, odd; on such beautiful morning, no crack-whore to give her a headache, none the latter.
Humans. Vile creatures. A life form that revels at nothing but another's misery. The world, in which where they reside, had always been such a place that invites chaos to wreak havoc.
A playground for those who loved to play God. A haven for false peace that their ruler instilled.
If anything, they bare no semblance to the Almighty's image. Nothing. If they were, then another's life wouldn't have perished for temporary pleasure — instead, they would've preferred if they died in their stead as a form of sacrifice. Just like their God.
Inviting you to join his kingdom, though you fear death itself. Wanting. Begging. Asking to give back your life that has been taken from you. Too bad, life doesn't give you second chances. Once you — or they expire, nothing is left but a hollow shell of the body where you used to be. And the scariest part; watching your body decay, unmoving and unresponsive.
All while being helplessly devoured from flesh within.
A year, perhaps millennia. The whispers; they became loud and clear. Full of hate. Malice. They were filled with words of wanting to drag you down. It wasn't a rare occurrence anymore, it became frequent rather than the supposed ‘fleeting dream’.
Would it be appropriate to describe such as a nightmare? Albeit her eyes were open, she can't think of why; her chest pounding, mind empty as her self strain into utter darkness. The silence caressed her skin with gentle touches, smoothing her soul.
It had been one hell of a rough awakening, all she can hope was for the soft and quiet impact that the comforts of her bed had provided.
“Dad!” A frowned settled on her lips, “what the hell?”
“You were taking too long, apple pie. What the hell indeed!” He chuckled, his razor sharp teeth dangerously glinting. “Perhaps, you wished to remain lurking in the dark. But your mother and I. Mostly me, darling!”
He flashed her a smile, “I was starting to get impatient that I decided to fetch you, otherwise I wouldn’t have awoken up you from your slumber.”
“Dad, please.” She buried herself further, “just leave me alone. For eternity, if you can.”
“I believe that is an impossible feat, apple pie. We have all eternity, as you see.” He jested. “You don’t have much time. Do move quickly as you can, we can’t have you missing breakfast now, do we?”
He lightly tapped the floor with his staff, “your mother would have my head on the table.”
“That sounds lovely dad.” A glare was thrown in his way as his smile extended, “now, now, is that how you greet your father?”
She was stuck in a deep, forgotten limbo; thick nimbus that mimicked ennui. It felt like as if she was in one of those nineteen-thirties cartoons.
Panting. Wheezing and clutching her chest. She tried to make sense of the reality. It was all a dream, she say. The rambunctious blaring and her father, they were rude, so, so rude. From the middle of her dream, the sound jarred and brought her sharply to the real world.
It’s okay. You’re fine. You know you were, but her mind was telling her otherwise.
"For heaven's sake, would you please — " She groaned.
“Now, what did I tell you about cursing, darling?” He turned his head to look at her with a reprimanding tone.
“—that it is taboo and that is not how a proper lady acts.” Dropping the last three words of the sentence to a grumble, there was no point in denying that her senses were brought back to life. He hummed in satisfaction.
“Very good, apple pie! Next time, don’t mention such atrocious word.” He made a swift turn. “We will be downstairs waiting, hurry now.”
Often she wonder how she managed to get her hands on such anomaly. A sigh could only escape her lips. She breathed low and slow, early time — must've been important. Slightly pinching the bridge of her nose as she stalled for a few more minutes.
The dream. Thought it was inevitable to avoid fate, the affliction on grew further till her heart recognized no pain. It can't be helped, ever since that reoccurring dream whom a person she never met, it was odd even. Why bother?
They float like an unanswered call, but only a faint of echo of what they had been. Normally, it was twisting and turning that suffocated her in her own whispers. There was a time that they became nothing but tormentors which became fleeting.
Her hands travelled towards the nightstand, blindly searching for something. Where is it? She tried to find the book. It was more of like a personal diary that she had. She never knew why, reading and writing have always been a way for her to relax — ever since as a child, even today. The solace it brought her was unmatched.
The first time she opened a page ever-so-lightly with her hands back then. She was greeted by a small narrative, filled with raw passion. Though, she were built to be insensitive with any affliction of life.
A smile graced her lips.
He was such an odd fellow. Oh, how his eyes spoke all of the newborn spring; green hues of the forest in summertime, they were alluring in a way you couldn't understand. Perhaps his smile, it was unsettling, as if it was permanently embedded on his face.
Who would've thought that you’d be stuck pondering over a dream? Her heart and mind must've been in a gutter to let time pass on such indecent speed with just overthinking. While the silly little banters in her head lasted, need I remind you?
Your mother and father were waiting, downstairs.
The vicious cycle she was in was no more than a mere sick joke. Bestowed upon her stasis heart; unable to feel like normal. If it weren't for that protective layer. Who knows what might've been; her weal strong as a meek kitten. She wouldn’t be able survive the harsh conditions of the world.
Time to get up. She shot up from bed. Another day at living life.
It was already morning, sunup; red skies diffused the red lights into a kind welcome. Calming. She basked in the pentagram’s warmth that trespassed through the giant windows, despite the tranquility it relinquished, her mind was in a very dark place.
It was bleak, dreary and ominous, the random thoughts that popped inside her head weren't normal — in fact, peculiar and disorientating would be the right words to describe such.
"I can't believe this is happening right now." She murmured under her breathe, rubbing her temples. From the windows come a refreshing blow of air, enlivening her senses with a gentle ease.
The sunlight is ever-warm and the thing about life. It pushes you until you yield; just to see if you can put yourself back on together.
“Life is nothing but a fleeting dream,” brushing her hair gently. “The world is a stage. And a stage is world full of entertainment.” Society its director, and humanity its actor and actresses. It’s about time she finished preparing what was about to come.
Forever, it might strike fear in people’s heart; specially death. But for her, that wasn’t the case anymore.
“So – uh, what’s up?” She began despite being disoriented, “that,” she looked up to meet their eyes, “you woke me up?”
“Oh, I was bored, apple pie.” For a moment, she felt her heart come into a halt. “Your mother and I wanted to see you, is all. You have succumbed to quietus for quite a long time, almost like as if you’re dead, sweetheart.”P
erhaps it was the growing irateness that caused such effect. She wanted stay straight-faced.
“But, I’m dead. The very definition of death.”
What unforgivable sin did her soul commit; that she suffers such infernal damnation. He merely laughed like it was a joke, “Do you feel guilty? Like, at all?”
“Eternal slumber could only do so much.” He hummed, seemingly satisfied. “Believe me, apple pie. I’ve tried. Your mother made it an endeavour to dominate me during my years of torpor,” his eyes flickered to her in a mischievous manner, “it was interesting experience might I add.”
“Was that information necessary?”
“Luci, dear. She just woke up, give our little darling a break.” She gave her mother a knowing look. “It has been quite a while indeed. She still must be disoriented.”
Her mother continued. “Don’t mind your father, dear.”
She pinched his cheeks in the process including hers, ever-so-gently with a felicitous expression.
“Mom – not you too.” Her mouth twitched upward. There wasn't much to say about the place she grew in, other than the rising crime rate in the past decades, it was another story, for another day — let's just say that it didn't sit right in her stomach, it left a bitter taste in her mouth despite being exposed to such.
“I don’t have time to feel guilty, apple pie. And neither do you –“ He stopped short, momentarily narrowing his eyes at something.
“How long had she been sleeping again Lilith, darling?” He finally found the right words, after stalling for a few minutes. His wife looked at him, pondering; trying to find the right words as well.
“I believe, it’s been seventy-one years since?” He choked, “that long? My, my it has been quite a while.”
“It’s twenty twenty-one! You sure missed a lot, might as well compare you to a toddler, apple pie!”
The anger that resided inside her heart long dissipated. It has been an hour since the eventful incident passed, whatever silence can be — she can't pass a few moments of torment that she knew. Mischief is the eye of the beholder, as what others may say.
She knew what was coming but the severity of such was always unpredictable; at least when it came to her family, the Magne.
“Please, just let my soul be at peace.” She covered her face with her hands, “if you have naught important to discuss, I’ll be going up in my room, sleep for another hundred years or so.”
“But, darling. You don’t have a soul.” He retorted, a smile adorning his face. “Oh, don’t go acting like a teenager now. There is an important matter that we needed to discuss with you,” his voice became low.
“You have no say in this whatsoever, daughter.” Just great. The intention behind his eyes wasn't something that could easily be ensured. Despite his obnoxious and exuberant personality, everything was in place; a fine and peaceful ambient. How she wished.
“What would that be?” She asked.
“As you know, princess. It’s about time hell should know the next heir to the throne — that your sister had long abandoned. Sounds fun, apple pie?”