Page 72 of A Ballad of Phantoms and Hope

I dared a glance back as I reached the end of our driveway and saw the two of them staring at me like I was a disappointment. Something that embarrassed them. Something that the neighbors should shake their heads at. Their frowns were heavy with disdain and weariness.

They were sick of me.

But what did I do wrong? What did I do?

I ran until I reached the library, making sure to pull my hood up so no one saw my puffy eyes. The bottom floor was always vacant, and today was no different. The desk in the corner was dark, and I decided that I would stay there for as long as I could.

There I remained, curled under the particle board with my backpack tucked tightly between my chest and thighs.

I cried loudly. Uncaring. The sobs filled the dark room, and no one heard the words I said.

No one heard me.

“I want to die.”

Waves echo somewhere distant. Crashing on the sand and sounding angrier than I’ve ever heard the sea.

My eyes open dreadfully. Why did I dream of them? I shake my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts of the horrors of my past.

A shudder runs down my spine and I blink a few times as I try to remember where I am. Sand is cold beneath my fingertips and the sky is bright with clouds separating above. It comes to melike a freight train. Those Who Whisper, the darkness, my rose running away.

Ophelia.

32

Ophelia

The darknessand whispers fade once the dawn breaks the edge of the sea, brightening the sky and signaling safety.

I fall to my knees on the black rocks lining the cliffside. My breaths are labored and hard, pulling air in with raspy, dry inhales.

Tears drip down my nose and I want to scream.Why?Why have they followed me this far? Their hunger is stronger than before. They’ve never chased me with such fever and desperation.

Why can’t they just leave me alone?

A cold breeze slips beneath my coat, chilling the sweat on my skin. I fist my hands in the dirt, gritting my teeth and shutting my eyes.

I don’t want to stop our adventure together; it’s too soon to go our separate ways. But I can’t let him be in danger because of me. A twisting sensation swirls through my stomach and makes me wince.

The beach is visible from this cliff. Lanston has already vanished, searching for me, perhaps.

“You won’t find me,” I whisper to the open air beneath my bare feet. I stare down at the ocean, dark and foreboding, lapping furiously at the ebony rocks.

I will keep the whispering darkness away from him—away from my love.

My arms spread and the wind lifts the sleeves of my black coat. I’ve fallen many times into water as dark as this. Darker even.

I lift my foot and step toward the sky. As I fall, I shut my eyes and think of him, always him.

Lanston.

I’m sorry to have to break our promise.

The water consumes me, devouring my soul and hollowing out every thought left inside me. I surrender to the whispers and finally listen to their words.

Until I’m nothing. Until I am darkness.

“Do you love me?” he whispered to me sweetly.