Aphmau's POV

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Dawn broke the horizon of the sky, and the sun rose, its warmth fending off the darkness.

I smiled, and a single tear slid down my cheek.

As happy as I was to see my sister and nephew, it sent my heart aching to know I would never be able to talk with them properly. Ever.

Picturing their happy faces, smiling and waving at me, I walked up the steps of my porch. Shutting my door, I tiptoed upstairs, sat on my bed, and passed out.

But dreams were never pleasant for me.

*Dream*

A shadowy figure of a young boy with black hair and dark eyes peered up at me. His face was contorted with so much rage, I almost didn't recognize him.

"Andy?"

"Don't call me that." He snarled.

"Wh...what's happening? Why are you so-"

"What's happening? You of course! You should've helped me!"

"I...what?" Utterly bewildered Andy would say something like that, I stepped forward to grab him, but he faded into mist.

Claire took his place, her eyes blazing with rage. "You should've stopped me Aphmau! You could've save me! You could've saved my son!"

"Claire, why-?"

She cut me off angrily. "Don't talk to me! Your not worthy of speaking!"

"Claire, stop!"

"And why should I? It's all your fault!"

"C..Claire, how could you say something like that? I though we were sisters!"

"We were. Until now."

She flashed away, and the ghosts of six children, including Andy, circled me, whispering, "Monster. Your fault. Don't deserve to live."

"STOP!" I screamed, and swiped at the nearest ghost.

A young girl with honey blonde curls and violet eyes screamed in agony as black claws sliced through her, tearing her to shreds.

I stared in shock at the blood dripping from my hands.

Long, puppet fingers, curled into deadly fists were splashed with scarlet.

"Monster." The voices chanted.

Tears filled my eyes as I stared at the motionless body of the girl.

"Your fault."

"No." I cried.

"Don't deserve to live." They hissed.

"GO AWAY!" I shouted.

Red tinted my vision and I lashed out at all the children, not caring if I was killing them.

All disappeared into smoke, along with the girl's corpse.

Suddenly, the floor slid out from beneath my feet.

Falling, I tumbled onto wooden floor.

Getting up, I looked around and had to muffle my own scream of horror.

A few feet away was Claire's body, her chests heaving ever so slightly.

I dashed over, but she bit back with venom.

"Go."

"Claire, I'm so so sorry."

"I....I..." She coughed out blood, before looking me in the eyes, and my heart shattered as she spoke the unforgivable words.

"I hate you."

She went limp, and I was sucked into a spiraling vortex.

*Dream End*

"Aphmau? APHMAU!" Katelyn's voice boomed through my eardrums.

Sitting up groggily, I asked, "What?"

"You were crying in your sleep."

"I was!!?"

Concerned faces loomed above me.

"Yes." Katelyn said crossly. "Now, are you gonna tell me what that's all about."

"No..."

"Aphmau, I know you're hiding something between you and that Jay dude. Cough up."

"No, it's none of your business."

"Aphmau, we're your friends. It is our business to take care of you." Laurence insisted.

"No, its not. I can take care of myself."

"You clearly can't right now." Garroth pointed out.

"I'm FINE! I just need some space, and you guys haven't been giving me any!"

"Aphmau." Lucinda warned. "If you don't tell us what's going on, I swear to Irene I will use a truth spell on you."

"You wouldn't."

"I would."

"...I want everyone out except for Aaron."

"WHAT!?" They all protested, but I managed to push them out the door.

I could tell they were still there, so I guided Aaron into a far corner out of earshot.

"Aaron..."

"Look, Aphmau, I will admit I am rather curious about your relationship with Jay, but I'm not pressing."

"Aaron, I really don't want to tell you guys. I've known them for years, but I've come to learn that not all of them have strong spots at keeping secrets."

"True."

"I just....I need some time. Jay's arrival brought back some buried secrets and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I honestly need time to comprehend with some of them."

He nodded, understanding.

"Aaron...I've been meaning to ask but, will you go to the prom with me?"

He furrowed his eyebrows. "I thought you were going with Jay."

"I am for the talent show."

"Oh, well then, yes."

"R...really?"

"Of course."

"Thank you!" I squealed, and hugged him before getting up.

"I'm going to go look through some of my private stuff...soo....can you um...?"

He briskly stood up and started walking to the door.

"Bye Aphmau." He said softly.

"Bye Aaron." The door closed and I took a deep breath.

Aaron was going with me to the prom.

SQUEEEEE!

I jumped up and down a bit before regaining my composure.

I swung open the closet door and pushed aside a few kitty stuffed animals.

I picked up and old cardboard box where I kept all my precious valuables.

Blowing gathering dust bunnies, I grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped away at the tape peeling.

Opening it, I was greeted with a plume of dust.

Coughing, I managed to blow it all away and stared at the few treasure I'd come to seal away and cherish.

A silver locket with a purple jewel in the shape of a heart was the first.

The chain slunk through my fingers as I cracked the side open to reveal a picture.

Claire and me, wearing ridiculous clothing and fashionable wear, grinning goofily at the camera.

You could make out the small bump at her stomach. Where little baby Andy would soon be born.

A brittle rough piece of paper, sketched with a ridiculous images of me and Claire as stick figures, linking arms with a young boy. Bright green trees and uneven blue lines depicted the outside world.

Sloppy handwriting was at the bottom, and it read.

I wuv yoo!

It might've been a bad drawing, but it was one of the few surviving things left of Andy.

And finally, Jay and Claire's departing letters.

One away, one to death.

Unfolding Jay's I reread it.

His was a rather short script, but it carried so much impact at the time.

Dear Aphie,

I'm sorry I'm leaving you on such a notice, but I can't stand it here. Anymore. May we meet again someday.

Love, Jay

I closed it gently, and slipped it back into the box.

The next one was hard to open.

My trembling fingers and shaking hands didn't speed up the process.

Dearest sister Aphmau,

I'm sorry. I truly am. But he is gone. There's nothing left. Nothing. Just the hungry blackness waiting to consume me. Goodbye Aphmau.

Claire

It was written in unneat handwriting, hastily scrawled the day of her doom.

Sometimes I would wonder if she was really that eager to end herself.

I'd put the remains of my broken past into the old box, promising I would never open it again.

Yet here I was.

Sunlight split through the blinds, and sent dazzling sparks reflecting from the locket.

I shut the box flaps, drowning out the light and placed the box back under my plushies.

Tonight, would be the night to forgive and forget.

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Oh my Irene. Nearly 300 freakin views.

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