Skyler froze on the spot, stunned, in disbelief at what came out of Benson's mouth. It was like she had received a strong hook in her head.
"Dead? No, wait! But how is that even possible? Don't tell me it's Ruby…" She thought.
Without even waiting a second, Skyler took the silver house key that was placed on the table and walked hastily towards the entrance. She pulled on the black boots she'd left by the door the night before, her teeth gritted strongly while she put on a black overcoat.
"I'm going out for a moment." She exclaimed.
Upon saying this, Benson approached Skyler with heavy steps, his eyebrows furrowed, trying to figure out what was happening.
"Where are you going?" He asked with a worried look.
Skyler hesitated. She wanted to open the door, but she felt the weight of her uncle's worries on her skin, though they'd crush her at any moment.
Skyler couldn't afford to hesitate for long, therefore, she placed a hand on the handle. "I won't be long, I'll just go check."
"Skyler, wait!" Benson's voice cracked.
Skyler turned just enough to see the anxiety in her uncle's eyes. "Don't worry, Benson, I'll be back as soon as possible."
With a decisive move she opened the front door and then nervously closed it with the key.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Stepping down the short steps, she saw that the street and terraced houses were shrouded in a light fog, a breeze of wind blew through the air whilst walking slowly with narrowed eyes.
"Is it really Ruby the one who died on the bridge? I really need to see clearly." Skyler thought to herself.
As she continued walking, a public carriage parked near a gas lamp came into her line of vision, and with her lips curling, she approached the driver. Just as a cold breeze cut through her skirt, seeping into her bones, Skyler paid two pennies to the driver and hastily entered the carriage.
She hugged tightly her shoulders, seeking some warmth in her body, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Take me to Jewel Street, please." Skyler said to the driver.
The carriage drove off, the horses neighing hoarsely, and Skyler looked up at the sky. The sun shrouded in clouds, birds fluttered across the sky chirping in the middle of the morning. Not being far from the area, Skyler breathed a sigh of relief, staring at the street and sidewalks that were completely devoid of pedestrians.
Whilst the hooves thundered exhaustively, her sight would occasionally blur over. Maybe it was a combination of exhaustion from her nightmares and anxiety. She felt her head get heavy, causing her to shake her head repeatedly. This wasn't the right time to give in to tiredness. After all, the girl found dead in the Ancient Path Bridge could have been Ruby.
The carriage reached Jewel Street. Skyler stepped out of the carriage, the cold biting sharply and walked down the sidewalk. The street around her was shrouded in thin fog, her lips became moist, and she couldn't help but hug her shoulders as she tilted her head. Narrowing her eyes, beyond the fog, there was a long bridge with lamps and a huge clock tower at the bottom.
"Here's the bridge… I'm finally here." Skyler reached the Ancient Path Bridge.
The long bridge was crowded with locals murmuring and whispering among themselves. The tension became palpable with each step she took.
"It's terrible, who would've expected that there would be a murder in the city."
"How do they kill a poor, loving and kind lady like Ruby?"
"First Ravenport, then Blackley, and now here…"
"May the Son of Nature watch over Ruby."
"I can't believe it, so… it was really her…" Skyler was stunned from what she heard.
She thought she was rambling, felt like she was falling downward from somewhere high up. But in reality, she was standing on the bridge, staring in amazement at the people around her.
The revelation petrified her on the spot. Although she didn't have many opportunities to talk openly with Ruby, she couldn't forget her sweet smile when she passed the bakery in Center Borough. It was the kind of smile that could warm even the most turbulent soul.
"Poor Ruby, how will her parents feel after the horrible tragedy?" Skyler's cheeks stiffened.
Walking slowly, she saw an elderly couple with brown hair crying to each other. Next to them was a medium-sized man in his twenties. He had a hat on his head, and a long gray overcoat that reached his knees, giving him a mature and professional air. The visor that covered his forehead and his limpid blue eyes gave him a mysterious touch along with the black cane he held in his hand.
"I feel sorry for them, I can understand how it feels to lose someone close to you." Skyler thought, looking at them carefully.
She'd understand more than anyone what it felt like to lose someone you love, because she too had lost people dear to her. A mixture of emotions was growing inside her. She wanted to console them, but the only thing she could do was watch, praying inside herself that something like this would never happen again. Maybe it was a stupid and baseless prayer, but she couldn't help but cling to it.
While her blue eyes locked with the man's eyes, he calmly approached her, pulling a photo out of his overcoat.
"Sorry if I'm taking up some of your time, but I can see that you were quite upset. Did you happen to see this lady before the murder?" The man showed Skyler the picture.
His voice was deep and soothing; it resonated in Skyler's eardrums until it reached her brain, which calmed her turbulent soul. Skyler glanced at the photo, seeing a young woman with long wavy brown hair and black eyes. Her facial features were soft, and she wore a long pink dress with yellow embroidery. She had no doubts, the girl in the photograph was Ruby McDemort.
"Yea, I saw her last night on the bridge while I was in the carriage," Skyler replied. "And she was… how to put it… dull, like she was possessed."
She absently stroked her chin and narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of what she saw the previous evening.
"Mm, could you tell me what time you saw Miss Ruby walking on this bridge?" The man looked at Skyler, wanting to know more about the matter.
"I don't know exactly… maybe half an hour after eight." Skyler still had the image of Ruby in her mind.
She struggled to understand why Ruby had a dull expression on her face. In her eyes, it was as though Ruby was no longer in the world of the living.
"After eight… interesting…" The man smiled at Skyler. "Thanks for the information, I hope you will have an amazing day."
Skyler eyed carefully at the man, and saw the reddish badge of a crow attached to his shirt.
"He's a Wraithcrow… why is a paranormal detective here?" She was dumbfounded by what she saw. She took a deep breath and said. "Thanks, er, I hope you'll solve the case."
The man bowed his head to Skyler, and walked away putting the picture of Ruby in the pocket of his overcoat. As she watched the man walk away, Skyler tilted her head slightly, thumb and forefinger resting on her chin, a small frown creasing her brow.
Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. "Why was a paranormal detective at the crime scene? Well, It's true that they collaborate with the police, but this doesn't happen very often… Wraithcrow usually works on cases related to mysticism and supernatural incidents, so does that mean the murders that have happened so far are linked to supernatural elements?" The idea sent a chill down her spine. "I can't say for sure, but it's not a hypothesis I can rule out. If it were linked to mysticism or Daredevils it would explain why Ruby had a dull expression…"
"I wonder how her parents shall feel."
"It must be tough to lose a daughter at a young age."
"We hope they sentence the culprit to death."
Despite the whispers and murmurs of the crowd nailed her body to reality, Skyler's mind was far from reality, trapping it in her thoughts. She walked through the crowd, lips pursed and head lowered as she crossed her arms.
"If the recent murders were linked to supernatural events, then the situation is much more serious than I thought, maybe Hermit Exorcists or the Marauder Association will also get involved… I'm such a daft, why did I just stand there and stare instead of actually doing something?" Skyler's thoughts become turbulent.
She couldn't shake the fact that she'd been staring at Ruby in amazement just before she died. She bit her lip, guilt gripping her tightly.
What if she had shouted Ruby's name once more? Would she have been able to save her? Would she have been able to stop the series of murders?
Just as she continued walking along the crowded bridge, she spotted someone who was waving at her.
"Hi Skyly!"
It was a girl with long wavy brunette hair and brown eyes that shone with intelligence. She was wearing a beige tunic that reached her legs with a hood on her head. Skyler had no doubts about the woman's identity, it was really Evelyn Throne.
Evelyn was running towards her, looking around cautiously as she moved.
A warmth blossomed in Skyler's chest, melting away the darkness that had gripped her. Her lips curved into a small smile, and she felt a sense of peace wash over her.
As soon as Evelyn closed the distance, Skyler wrapped her arms tightly around Evelyn, breathing in the familiar scent of perfume. The warmth of Evelyn's embrace seeped into her. Skyler closed her eyes.
"Evelyn… how come you are here?." Skyler asked.
"My aunt told me that a lady perished in the area where thou live, so I came here. Ah, I put on this tunic so I wouldn't be recognized. I really have to thank Agnes for helping me, I daresay," Evelyn sighed. She placed both hands on Skyler's shoulders and looked worriedly into her eyes. "Skyly, art thou alright?"
Skyler looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm fine, but… I wonder what will happen to the city from now on."
Evelyn's eyes searched Skyler's face. "Mm, thou art not hiding anything else from me, art thee?"
Skyler's heart skipped a beat at her friend's question. It was as if she had literally read her mind. She waved her arms defensively. "W-what are you saying? I would never do something like that!"
Evelyn sighed, a look of disappointment crossing her face. She took Skyler's hand gently. "Alright, let's go to the park together. It's been a while since we went there."
"But isn't your aunt, er, worried that you came to the place where a lady was k-killed?" Skyler asked, swallowing hard her saliva.
"I have a dance lesson in the afternoon, and the carriage shall pick me up at the park. So thou shall keep me busy until then." Evelyn replied, her look a mix of hope and disappointment.
Skyler walked beside Evelyn with hands together, and left the Ancient Path Bridge with guilt plaguing her.
"Maybe I should have told her the truth… but how could I even explain what I saw?" Thoughts raced through her mind.
The lifeless look in Ruby's eyes, the crimson moon—it was all too strange for her to explain.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
North Borough, Red Tail Park.
Skyler sat on a woody bench next to Evelyn, a breeze of light wind blew through the air as the distant laughter of children rang in her ears.
Green leaves fell from the nearby trees in a graceful dance, children ran happily around the park, and Skyler looked at Evelyn with a worried expression.
Evelyn's brown eyes shone, staring blankly at the sky with twitched lips, her sighs seemed to be filled with melancholy. Skyler's chest tightened, guilt plaguing her. She realized the disgrace she had committed, and the consequences were vivid.
"It's always the same story every time… Why do I never learn?" The memory of her disappointment gnawed at Skyler.
It seemed like accusatory fingers were condemning her for making her sad.
Skyler tightened the hem of her dress. "Uh, um, I'm sorry! I'm really hopeless!"
"Er, what art thou talking about, Skyly?" Evelyn's eyes widened in amazement whilst gazing at her.
Skyler looked up into her friend's eyes, her lips trembling. "I lied before... I... I'm scared of murder. Yesterday I saw Ruby walking on the bridge, and now she's dead. It's my fault... maybe if I had done something she'd still be alive by now. It's like I killed her with my own hands–"
Just before she finished confessing her sins, Evelyn, having anticipated Skyler's behavior, vigorously cupped Skyler's cheeks with both hands and looked directly into her blue eyes.
"Skyly, I shall not allow thou to take blame that thou don't have. Um, it's true that Ruby unluckily left us, but thou mustn't take on a problem that is not thy. Don't ever do it again."
Giving it her all, Evelyn turned towards Skyler and continued to speak. And just after that, she took her hands away from a stunned Skyler's face, and gently pulled her head over to herself. She held Skyler's head against her chest in an embrace and started gently to stroke her black hairs.
"Skyly, we art all afraid of something. It's a normal emotion that we all feel at one time or another. I have my fears too, and thou shouldst know that." Evelyn added, voice soft.
Skyler could feel the heat emanating from Evelyn's body, along with her heartbeat. Each heartbeat slightly dispelled the guilt she had, and she closed her eyes, abandoning herself to Evelyn's comfort.
"Thou must not let thy fears get the better of thou. I'm scared both for what happened to Ruby and for what happened to my parents, but I share these fears with the people dear to me, like my uncles, Agnes and thou," Evelyn's voice sounded like a lullaby. "Thou don't have to keep everything inside. I shall always be there for thou, always."
Skyler felt the warmth of Evelyn's heartbeat every second, and for a moment, her fears, her insecurities, and everything was gradually fading while she opened her eyes.
"Thank you, Evelyn… uh, you are right. I just… I didn't want you to think I was queer."
Evelyn looked at Skyler dumbfounded. "Queer? Thou art my best friend. I love thee just the way thou art. I know that sometimes thou art in a difficult place, but I really want thee to confide in me. That's what dearest friends art for, right?"
Skyler smiled, her heart swelling with gratitude. "I wasn't wrong… bonds are what shape people."
"What was that?"
"Nothing important, just one of my silly things."
"Uff, thou art truly incorrigible, thou know?"
"Yea… I'm really incorrigible."
Skyler and Evelyn laughed. They laughed and laughed again, Evelyn gently releasing Skyler's head, her lips curling as she looked up at the blue sky. Skyler sat composedly, a faint smile forming on her lips as she smoothed her hair through her fingers.
"Thou know Skyly, yesterday I dreamed about the first time we met." Evelyn said lightheartedly. "It was a beautiful dream, as if everything happened yesterday, though years had passed."
A warmth grew in Skyler's soul. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Evelyn in amazement. The long years she spent with Evelyn were passing before her.
Then, she relaxed her shoulders. "That day is truly unforgettable. A visit to this park and a scraped knee were enough for us to get to know each other."
"Yeah… well, thy tears were flowing, and I immediately gave thee my precious handkerchief. And then from there, we got to know each other," Evelyn admired the view of the sky. "We started going out together, and we even played the piano together, I daresay."
"With the difference that you were a prodigy at the piano, while I, um, wasn't."
"Well, it's not my fault thou were showing the worst of thyself, I daresay."
"Honestly, you were the worst. I remember that every time I came to your mansion, you started telling scary stories on the piano. My goodness, I almost feel sorry for Agnes."
Evelyn clasped her hands in disbelief. "Eeeeh, I thought Skyly and Agnes liked my stories so much. That actually makes me sad."
"Well, sorry. I would have liked them more if you didn't put too much emphasis when you told them" Skyler advocated, waving her hands.
As a light wind blew her hair in mid-air, she couldn't help but laugh softly. Evelyn placed both hands on her thighs and looked at Skyler with a smile on her face. She then raised her index finger as though she remembered something.
"Ah, right, I almost forgot. There was a story I wish to share with thou. It's called 'The Lush Girl' and it's a very popular story among the citizens of Keswick." Evelyn paused, her once happy face turning serious. She looked up at the sky, her eyes were full of sorrow. "It's a tragic tale that dates back a long time. It's about a little girl with long hair who lived with her parents in a small village. The girl had the gift of talking to animals and making the vegetation lush, which is why she was loved by the village. The villagers loved the little girl so much that they built statues for her."
Skyler listened to Evelyn in silence. The words that came out of Evelyn were filled with sadness. She watched as the children ran happily, her vision blurring while she twiddled her thumbs with her lips tightened.
Evelyn sighed and continued. "However, over time her power became much more distorted. The animals she spoke to died one after another, the villagers were struck by odd diseases, and the vegetation withered. The girl was confined by her parents, everyone started to hate her, and a few days later they threw her in the well and perished. Despite the suffering, the girl felt no resentment, and forgave the village for killing her. The story ends with the girl freeing herself from her sins and returning to the afterlife."
After Evelyn had finished to convey the tragic tale, Skyler felt something unease growing within her. The children's laughter rumbled in her eardrums as she lowered her head.