Leaning into Fantasy with River

Welcome to the world of fantasy with Freshman Media Communications major, River. Each week they will immerse you in a new world with anecdote that will transport you somewhere you've never been!

I Couldn’t Protect Him Pt.2

By: River Porter

Character: Ghost/Valdis Vespertine

Part 2 of the story. After Valdis holds her brother, Ody, till he dies after he is shot by a criminal organization, The Advis. Now, she is out for revenge. Content Warning: Mentions of Death

Journal Entry #1 of being something

I haven’t written in a while, I’ve been with my family, crying our eyes out and going over the memories of the youngest in the house.

I don’t know what I am anymore. I don’t know if I’m a villain or a hero. I feel like I failed at being both.

But I didn’t know that Carnival tricked me into being a villain. And I was alright at being a hero, but I don’t know anymore.

It’s been two weeks since Ody died, I miss him.

The media keeps slandering me for not being there for the families of the dead kids. I told Eminence this morning that at the next conference they do and they ask about me, to tell them why I’m not there.

I’m tired, but something is telling me to burn something. I know what I want to burn.

Present time

I close my journal and set it down. I looked around the secret treehouse Mr. Cal helped Ody and I built together. I’m now the only living one who knows about it. Mr. Cal died six years ago, maybe he’s helping build a treehouse for Ody in the afterlife.

I’ve known about every Advis base around. I eliminated all that they weren’t at, down to one location left. An abandoned mall in Trickard, which is twenty miles away.

I look around once more. At the paintings Ody and I did together, our own teepee tents, the crazy pictures of us, and the costumes I made him. My eyes started to water, a tear rolled down my face. I wiped it away and left the treehouse to head to Trickard.

MallTrickard

“We are safe here! Those heroes won’t find us! Stop worrying!” A man yelled at one of the other guys. It was quiet, the living kids sat on cots around the room, looking towards the argument going on.

“But we know nothing about that kid that was running at us! What if she has a tracking power of some kind!” The other guy argued.

“I have no power of such sorts, but I do have the power to burn, possess, raise the dead, make you go insane, etc.” I said as I walked around the corner. They turn around to look at me. One ready to fight, the other scared.

“So how did you find us then, little girl.” He asked as he walked toward me and pulled out his weapon.

“I know every base you have, all of the ones I went to, no sign of living there, but there were plenty of signs of death. Also, you're calling me a little girl, when I’m much older than her?” I point to the youngest girl they had, she looked eight and scared.

“Why are you here?” The scared guy asked, while hesitating to pull out his weapon.

“You all have killed kids for way too long, this time you have crossed the line. And you will kill no more.” My mask began to burn as I spoke, rage and hatred overwhelmed me, there’s no going back.

“Those kids became friends, they had a weakness, each other. Also, they knew too much about what we did and what we were going to do. It was the right thing to do for the future of The Advis. You understand, right? I mean The Circus had to have executed people.” He signaled the scared guy to stand down, while he kept his weapon ready to fire. He has to be stupid if he thinks I’m going to understand with my past as a villain.

“They did. But not children, never children. If they were going to kill someone and they had kids, they would make sure if someone was there to take care of them. They cared for kids. So do not compare The Circus to you guys, you are nothing like them. The only reputation you have is this, killing kids. They have got more under their name.” I responded. He looked surprised at my response.

“Why are you here without your team? Don’t you guys stick together?” He asked, with a smirk on his face. I’m going to burn it off.

“You killed my brother, Ody Vespertine. No Elements member has dealt with that. I had to hold my little brother in my arms, as he apologized, cried, and bled out. They don’t know what I feel, they’ve tried, but they can’t.” The sound of rage in my voice was clear, it overcame the sound of sadness. “You all will burn for what you’ve done.”

“If you care about the kids so much, then why would you burn the kids too?” He smirked bigger than before, he thought he had me, like I didn’t plan this out.

“I never said the kids will burn, I said you would.” The smirk on his face went away, and one on my own formed. Fire, smoke, and screams, all those things brought me satisfaction. The kids looked at the bones, terrified. More screams are heard throughout the building. The kids run, terrified as the other members burn. I turned around and left.

Rooftop of abandoned lighthouse in Trickard

I stood there, eyes closed, thinking about Ody. The breeze felt good on my face, especially since it got my hair out of my face. It was quiet, calm, and relaxing. I don’t think I've had a break for a while.

I hear footsteps behind me. Boots, with metal attached, at a slow easy pace. I know who it is.

“How have you been, Ghost. It’s been a while.” Carnival asked. He put his shoulder around me. I open my eyes to look at the sunset. Every color of the rainbow was present.

“I could be better. I’m still sad about Ody. But I feel good knowing that they won’t kill kids again.” I responded. I could feel him looking at me. He shuffled in his jacket and pulled something out.

“This was given to me by an old friend after I had been through something that really messed me up.” He said, while he handed me a saxophone plushie with cat and dog prints on it. I stared confused, and looked up at him. He smiled and hit in the middle of the plushie. A Careless Whisper by George Micheals cover played by cats and dogs. I laugh, I’m definitely keeping this.

“Thanks Carnival.” I said.

“Welcome kid. Come on, I’m going to drive you home because I bet your parents are going crazy right now.” He said.

In the car I was thinking about something. Those kids became friends, they had a weakness, each other. Is that why all those other kids died? Because they became friends and made alliances. My brother was killed, because he made friends.

Well, according to them, my brother was my weakness, and now they're dead. I wonder what they think care for someone and weakness have in common. I keep thinking about Ody, Star, the other dead kids who became friends with each other.

“Ghost! Head down!” Carnival shouted. I duck my head down.

CRASH!

To Be Continued