She took a step towards him, but the more she moved towards him, the lengthier the distance between them became.
Pain seeped into her joints and her flesh, her head aching suddenly.
“Eli!” She cried out but he was too far away, he couldn't hear her.
She continued to run through.
She just had to get closer.
By Ignas, just closer!
Suddenly the road stopped moving and she was actually getting closer!
A smile crossed her lips, a breathy chuckle of victory.
“Eli!”
He wasn't moving though, but she was so close, so close she could touch him.
Then he turned, his eyes staring right at her.
Cold eyes filled with unfamiliarity.
“Eli–”
“Do not come back.” His lips did not move but his voice echoed all around her.
She opened her mouth to ask him what that meant, to beg him to come with her, to tell him that she missed him but suddenly, a tornado wrapped around her, yanking her away from him and breaking the road into two, violently lifting her off the ground as she screamed. The force of the wind slashed against her skin like blades and an agonizing cry rang from the depth of her throat.
Belladonna jolted back to herself with his name on her lips.
“Nightshade!” Alaris steadied her from falling. Blood was dripping down her nose, her head jamming with a headache.
She was back in the cave, her bloodied hand on her glowing gem.
“We must stop, it is not good for you,” The Priest said.
“No! I saw him! I just need to scream louder and he will hear me. He will come back.”
“No! You will kill yourself, we stop now!” Alaris fired.
“It is my life, I say we continue.”
“It will change nothing if you continue,” Ny'ka spoke and everyone turned to her. “He has gone beyond the path we can reach. He has accepted death, and turned his back to you. His memories and your memories must connect but they don't because he has forgotten you. You may continue though,” she smiled. “Many have died useless deaths, you won't be the first.”
“And you will follow her if that is to happen,” Alaris said with an annoyed smirk and Ny’ka’s smile dropped.
Ny'ka's words made Belladonna balled her fists with fear. He had told her not to come back but maybe it was just her mind, maybe it was residue of Gaya’s tricks still residing somewhere in her mind, maybe it was all just a test.
Whatever it was, she had to try again.
What was the worst thing that could happen? Die, maybe? But by Ignas, she would rather die right now than give up on the way she knew could bring him back.
“Do it again. I was so close. This time, it will work. I can feel it.”
“You must think of more memories. Great memories.” The Priest said.
“I will think of every memory I can remember,” Belladonna promised.
They started again.
Chantings filled the air.
Then Belladonna's screams.
Deafening.
She started to fall as more cuts appeared on her body but Alaris placed himself in a way that ensured that she fell against him.
When she blinked her eyes open once again, she was out of breath.
“Did you see him?” The Priest asked.
Belladonna struggled to sit down, as she looked around.
“You came alone, Nightshade. He is not here.”
She looked back at Alaris, frowning. The look on his face was the most sympathetic.
“Eli is never coming back. It is time for us to accept that he is dead.”
She staggered to her feet, letting the gem drop from her. As her bloodied hands held her head, she fell to her knees, tears rushing down her cheeks.
“No, no, no!” She screamed.
Every memory she had of him turned to a source of pain, they played in her mind over and over again, the voices of those around her trying to help blurring into the background. His voice was the only thing she could hear, his face, his everything in every memory, in every space.
Soon, each that she remembered started to vanish. Her tears stopped suddenly, she opened her eyes and looked around, her face blank.
“Regain yourself!” Alaris grabbed her shoulders on either side, making her look at him. “Eli would never want this?”
She frowned, the taste of blood-consuming her mouth as she slipped slowly into unconsciousness.
“Who is Eli?” That was the last question she asked.