Nightshade: A SimLit | Chapter 40: As Time Goes By

Darkness.

 Nothing felt real. The silence was deafening, the darkness was blinding. It surrounded her, engulfed her. She wasn't just in darkness. She was darkness.

She no longer felt alive. But she didn't feel dead. No, this world was a pure figment of imagination, a product of a deep but restless slumber. It wasn't supposed to make sense. She had been here before. She always ended up here when she least expected it. 

She found the strength within herself to yell out, yet when she opened her mouth, the only thing that escaped was a whisper. 

"Hello?"

As always, there was no reply.

She looked at the darkness below her feet, wondering how long her nightmare would leave her trapped here in silence. "I know you're here. Show yourself," she murmured.

Somehow, she could sense the familiar presence behind her, and she turned slowly to face the woman with the vibrant, golden glow. 

The woman smiled. "Ariana," she whispered. It's the same thing she always said.

"I don't understand!" Amelia exclaimed, her fists clenching. "Who are you? What do you want from me? You won't leave me alone..."

It had been five years since the first time she saw this woman. And since then, it had been endless torment. Was she truly losing her mind?

"You will find the answer," was the woman's response. 

Amelia's eyes widened. The woman had never uttered more than one word, the name she always called her... "No! Tell me the answer!"

The woman's smile faded. "Goodbye."

Amelia lunged forward, her hand reaching out, but she didn't go anywhere. "Don't leave!" The nothingness began to fade, and she felt the tears forming in her eyes. "Please don't leave me!"

Why was she so desperate for her to stay? 

As the woman began to fade back into the darkness, Amelia realized that she was crying, too. "I am closer than you think."

And then she was alone again.

Amelia felt the tears running down her cheeks now, and she began to lose any sense of control. "What does any of this mean!?" She yelled, and it echoed back at her. After that, there was only silence. Defeated, she fell to her knees.

But then a voice cut through the darkness. "Amelia..."

She lifted her head, searching for the only hope she heard. 

"Amelia... wake up..."

Amelia's eyes opened as she let out a choked sob, the wetness on her cheeks still just as there as it was in her dream. But she relaxed when she felt familiar, strong arms around her, though her tears didn't stop falling. "O-Onyx?"

"I'm here," he said softly. "It was just a nightmare..."

Yes, a nightmare. The same one she relived over and over for the past five years. It wasn't scary, but she always woke up in this mess. She couldn't even begin to understand why.

"It felt so real," was the only thing she was able to reply, her voice raw and dry. 

Onyx tugged her even closer, his lips brushing against her ear. "It wasn't real, but I am. So focus on me instead..."

As time goes by, so many things change, and so few stay the same. It had been a little over ten years since they got married, but the things that Onyx made her feel would never change. She still shuddered at his breath against her skin, she was still soothed by the sound of his voice, she still relaxed underneath his touch... so when he told her to focus on him, she had no difficulty getting lost in every sensation. But her mind wandered when she found it hard to believe that it had been ten years. So many things were different then. So many things had changed...

Not letting go of her, he shifted into a more comfortable position and pulled her closer to his side. "Go back to sleep," he said, his voice sounding sleepy. "I'll keep the nightmares away."

Amelia laid her head on his chest and smiled, closing her eyes. 

---

"If you keep sneaking out at night to see me, your husband is going to catch you," Caleb said with a frown.

"I'm not sneaking out. He knows I go out at night," Aubrey reassured him. "I tell him it's for work..."

"Well, it is," Caleb smirked, "since this is a bit of a business arrangement to you."

"You're more than a business arrangement to me," Aubrey said. "Sure, at first perhaps it was only because you were undeniably handsome and I knew you'd do just about anything to turn me and hire me for The Arcane... but... you know I care about you. And once Elias is dead, which shouldn't be long now, judging by his white hair and wrinkles... I'll prove that to you."

"Right. I can't wait," Caleb said with forced enthusiasm. 'How long will I be forced to keep up this facade? When she said she wanted me to be hers, I didn't think it meant for this long... well, at least I don't have to constantly tolerate her romantic advances,' he thought.

As Aubrey leaned in to seal the gap between their lips, Caleb closed his eyes and reminded himself why he was doing this. Aubrey had no idea that he charmed other members of The Arcane into joining, too. She was far from the only person that wound up in his bed. And she certainly wasn't the first he had no true feelings for, but lied through his teeth that he did. If this was really what it took to help The Arcane succeed... well, what else could he do?

---

Amelia walked alongside Onyx into the living room. It was early morning, before the sun was quite up, and she was surprised to see everyone else already awake. But it didn't feel like everyone else. She had watched as the numbers in their household dwindled, as Claire grew up so fast. She had already graduated high school... time flew right in front of Amelia, too fast to even realize it until so much had gone by, and as she looked at the people in front of her, she realized the room had never felt so empty...

She stopped her thoughts from trailing off any further as she noticed the discussion happening in front of them seemed serious. "Hey," she awkwardly interrupted. "Is something going on?"

Claire nervously glanced from her parents to Onyx and Amelia, then back at her parents. "Well... yes. I was just about to explain to them something... kind of important. You should probably know, too."

"Okay," Amelia answered, and gave a worried glance to Onyx. 'Claire seems nervous. What's going on?'

Onyx returned her glance and lead her over to the two chairs nearby, silently, and they sat down. The room was quiet again, then Claire finally spoke up.

"So... there's this guy," Claire began, "and I've been seeing him for a while... um, since like... two months after I graduated? He frequents the burger joint I work at. He's a doctor--"

"Wait, a doctor?" Elias frowned. "How old is he?"

"Twenty-five," Claire looked down. "I know he's a little older, but, um-"

"You haven't even been out of high school a year! You're eighteen, Claire!" Elias interrupted. "I really don't know if it's a good idea--"

Claire smiled sheepishly. "Well, it's kind of too late to express your opinion about that..."

"And how is this?" Elias raised an eyebrow.

"We're getting married next week," Claire finally replied. "And... I..."

His eyes widened. "Wait, can't we talk this over before you go making that kind of decision!?"

She shook her head. "I'm afraid not."

"But why--"

"Because," Claire blurted, "I'm pregnant!"

The room fell to silence again, and Onyx and Amelia exchanged shocked glances. 'So much for the dwindling household numbers,' Amelia thought.