Chapter 35: Emotions over Duty
Terrchel burst into the hideout doors, his speed a desperate blur through the dimly lit tunnels. His heart, already aching, pounded with a furious rhythm against his ribs as he sped down the hallways, searching for the room where they had placed Meriella. When he saw her, still laying there, lifeless on the makeshift bed, his breath hitched in his throat, and his world seemed to tilt. His vision blurred, not just from the exhaustion but from the tears that welled, blurring the edges of her still form. He had thought by now she'd be awake, greeting him with her sparkling bright eyes that seemed to hold the hope of the world in it.
He walked over to her bedside, each step a leaden weight, crushed by his own lack of acknowledging this beautiful woman who he loved dearly. Instead of facing his feelings for her, he had spent all his time avoiding her, always thinking she would still be here whenever he felt ready to face his emotions. A wave of bitter regret washed over him, chilling him more profoundly than the cold desert air.
He made his hands into fists, the veins exposed and throbbing in the morning moonlight that filtered through a high vent. His head tilted to the ground, and tears, hot and stinging, sparkled as they fell, splashing onto his worn boots. He trembled in his skin, not saying a word, just feeling the suffocating guilt of neglect, the gnawing regret of not pursuing the one woman he had ever truly fallen in love with. He thought about all the women who had thrown themselves at him, their fleeting attractions. Not one of them compared to Meriella. Her unique spirit, her fiery hair, the depth in her golden eyes – she was an irreplaceable beacon in his chaotic new existence.
He climbed onto the bed, his body feeling heavy and foreign, and cozied up next to Meriella like a lost little boy, burying his face into her shoulder and crying. Her lifeless body remained utterly still, not making a single movement or sound. Not even his own body heat seemed to warm the cold beneath her skin, a chilling testament to the finality he refused to accept. He knew, intellectually, that he needed to get to reality and help Emerson with the chaos outside, as he had promised. But the thought was a distant echo, drowned out by the overwhelming grief. He ended up staying in bed with Meriella, consumed by sadness.
He decided to take his MP3 player out and play various songs aloud for Meriella, a desperate attempt to fill the silence with something beautiful, something alive. He closed his eyes, blocking out the brutal reality of the situation and the raging chaos outside the hideout. He allowed himself to be delusional, filled with feelings of warm love and bittersweet joy as he listened, tears silently streaming down his face, staring at the dimly lit ceiling. He wasn't really understanding the emotions or the situation, just being present in the agonizing beauty of it. He told himself he would do better tomorrow, he would face the world, but right now, this was where he needed to be.
Terrchel's Grief Playlist:
Current Track: 🎵 "Gravity" - by Sara Bareilles 🎵
* ıllıllılı.ıllı. [Gravity - Sara Bareilles] 3:52 ━━━━⊚──── 4:00 ⇌ ♡ ≡ ◁ Ⅱ ▷ ⟲
Upcoming Tracks:
* "Hallelujah" - Leonard Cohen
* "Fix You" - Coldplay
* "Someone Like You" - Adele
* "I Will Remember You" - Sarah McLachlan
* "A Thousand Years" - Christina Perry
* "Unconditionally" - Katy Perry
* "I See You" - Leona Lewis
* "My Heart Will Go On" - Celine Dion
* "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
* "All of Me" - John Legend
General Leghorn's Point of View
From the ethereal expanse of the Light Realm, General Leghorn kept watch over the human realm through a celestial orb mirror. The mirror, lengthwise and framed by a beautiful, shimmering merge of crystal rose color, presented a clear, albeit distant, view of the Undergrid's turmoil. She saw Terrchel, the chosen one, had stirred off his destined path, knowing he was supposed to help Emerson in the ongoing riot. Instead, he was cozied up to Meriella's lifeless body. Her spirit, she knew, was yet to return, still undertaking its spiritual journey back to the human realm from the Light Realm's threshold.
General Leghorn's usually serene composure hardened at the sight, a rare ripple of anger crossing her features. She had always believed that unnecessary emotions were inappropriate when a mission was at hand. "I guess I'll have to just do it myself," she murmured under her breath, a steely resolve in her voice. She called one of the celestial creatures, a shimmering being of pure light that floated silently beside her.
"I'm leaving at once to the human realm," General Leghorn commanded, her decision firm.
The celestial creature, its voice a soft echo of cosmic dust, questioned gently, "But ma'am, The Light won't be pleased with your sudden departure. It was written, 'a helper will be sent when need be'".
"I'm aware," General Leghorn replied, her gaze distant, fixed on the chaotic human world. "And now I understand why Commander Leghorn also once did as he needed in that time with the celestial orb and Meriella, despite his instructions given". A flicker of understanding, almost empathy, crossed her face.
The celestial creature persisted, its concern palpable. "The scales are in danger, we still haven't found the source that leaked the celestial energy to the human realm besides the star which this Meriella human now possess".
General Leghorn turned, her eyes burning with an ancient wisdom. "Sometimes you need to use wisdom, and I'm sure The Light knows every outcome before it happens". With that, General Leghorn proceeded to open the Supernatural gateway, using the celestial mirror. The crystal rose hues of the mirror swirled into a vortex, and she stepped into it, her form dissolving into pure light as she departed for the turbulent human realm.
Not long after, Emerson burst into the hideout, running on foot, his face grim. He immediately rushed to the base alarm button that was used only in times of emergency. His hand hovered over it, the weight of the decision heavy in his gaze.