Day 6: Year C - 009.

III – Pesticide

In retaliation, the Goddesses used their celestial magic to rid the demons from Grand Island.

Chenille patiently stood in front of the mossy cabin, briefcase in hand and a frigid expression on their tanned visage. This particular dawn’s winter current was peculiarly mild, though its chill would bring anyone under-prepared to their knees. Luckily, the Guard had been busy reassembling old clothes, adorning fur within the insides, to protect the group’s fragile skin from winter's silent wrath.

Just as Chenille momentarily closed their tired eyes, the cabin’s front door was opened by the one and only Lady in green. The Guard slightly turned their head for subtle, yet caring eye contact. The ex-Priestess, who proudly wore green winter apparel, thought the Guard, adorned in dark shades of purple, appeared striking, blushing at the thought of holding their rather gentle hands.

"...Are you ready, Zanna? Once we sneak back into the city, we'll need to be on a constant watch for anyone associated with the Royals."

T"...I am quite nervous, but it seems we have no choice but to move forward." She gently replied with a whispery tone.

The Guard slowly turned around to glance at Billiam and Mikey with their new winter clothes and small, unsuspecting briefcases. The medic’s false glasses were no more; he wore all black, and the scar on his left eye was more visible. Mikey had chosen to adorn lighter shades of grey, with his only standout trait being his crimson eyes and bulky white hat. Zanna adjusted her faux fur hat and warmly smiled. Their expressions were filled with excitement, curiosity, and attraction, respectively.

"Focus, you three. Remember, it's not everyone for themself, we’re to increase our chances of survival." The Guard sternly warned, apprehensive about the team's synchronization.

"Yes, yes, we know, Lone Wolf. We'll be most careful and not get caught by the Royal Guards," The surgeon casually nodded as he brushed his newly crafted goggles.

"Y-You make it sound as if the task at hand is uncomplicated," Zanna shakily remarked as she floated closer to Chenille for comfort.

The Guard couldn’t help but hold Zanna’s hand and smile for the moment.

"Remaining uninjured and alive to visit Annie's Road should be our priority! No slacking off, give out fake names, magic needs to be limited, and don't push your luck with the Royal Guards," Mikey lectured with a straight face. However, his eyes harboured a curious twinkle; thus it was challenging to take him completely seriously.

“I agree with Mikey. Pushing your luck at all will throw us off in a harmful scenario. So don't you dare test loyalists, even if it's for something mild...” Chenille's plum hair flowed in the gentle breeze as they positioned their sight for the northeast. “Let's go. We'll meet at Fennec Street once the sun begins to set. It's the second most western street, so it should not be difficult to infiltrate at this time of day.”

“Very well, we shall safely reunite with you two. May your paths be overflowing with the Goddess's faith and light, everyone,” Zanna shakily expressed as she and Billiam headed back toward the Island’s only city.

Mikey was ready to follow suit, but Chenille stopped the young Medium. They silently but gently shook their head.

“It'd look suspicious if we all came out of the woods together. Let's give them a three-hour head start.”

“Right...”

Mikey silently stepped back into the cabin. His eyes wandered for a moment but quickly hyper-focused upon the fireplace. His bat-like wings twitched underneath his new woolly grey hat, as he heard minute whispers echo from the seemingly normal spot.

At first his expression appeared confused, but his crimson eyes quickly flashed with anger. He gritted his teeth as the unintelligible whispers formed into taunts.

‘It seems you still are in the comfort of your disguise, and here I thought you were brave to casually mention Annie’s Road. How long will you live in your lie, Medium?’

Mikey shut his eyes and attempted to quiet the croaky voice emitting from the fireplace through repeated slow breaths. He adjusted his expression as he sat down and looked to the cracked ceiling.

‘It’s impossible to withdraw your true identity from the dead. Your scent is similar to that of my one and only daughter. What did she call herself again?...’

The spirit’s voice dissipated into the rugged coal as Mikey let out an annoyed sigh. “...What a bitter old woman.” He couldn’t help but whisper out loud with disgust.

“What old woman?” Chenille quietly asked, appearing in the corner of Mikey’s eye.

The young Medium let out a high-pitched yelp, as he was rapidly pulled out of his train of thought.

“D-Don’t scare me like that!”

“Sorry, Mikey. Didn’t know you were talking to yourself,” Chenille shrugged and sat by the fireplace. “But if I had to guess, since we’re specifically here, you were referring to my Mother, right?”

“...How did you know?!”

“Well, it was the only logical explanation. She and I once lived here, and she used to ramble about the dead all the time. So, knowing her, even in death, she’d still be madly rambling.”

Mikey approached the Guard and sat by them. His expression was nervous, as his hat twitched from his wings underneath.

“...Yeah. T-That’s right. But h-how did you know I spoke to the dead?”

“I didn’t, you just told me.” Chenille held back a chuckle and folded their arms.

“O-Oh.”

“Don’t be embarrassed, Mikey. The reason I even know about the few folks talking to the dead is because of that horrible witch. At first, I didn’t think you had that ability at all, until you mentioned that bitter old woman.” Chenille then lifted their hat and grinned, “Now that I think about it, the first big clue was that death glare you gave me when you got back from that fishing trip.”

“I-I did that?”

“You stared daggers at me.” Chenille chuckled, “At first, I thought it was because you had the gut feeling I’d kiss Zanna-”

“That’s not the reason!” Mikey realized he was becoming too worked up and took another deep breath. “S-Sorry. I shouldn’t be yelling at a time like this, especially at you.”

“Eh, just don’t get worked up like that when we’re in public, Mikey...” Chenille reached into their bag and grabbed some dried tobacco leaves to munch on. “I gotta ask, what did that old witch say?”

Mikey’s expression filled with dread. The Guard patted the young Medium on the back and shook their head.

“...I get the feeling. She was a monster, so I won’t push you about what she said anymore.” 

“Chenille? H-How could you have lived with someone who sounds so deeply rooted in anger? Her whispers over the past few days were incredibly draining, and reading books was the only way of completely shutting her up on our first day here."

"Uh, truth be told, I didn’t have a choice. All my childhood memories revolved around living here. But I didn't live with her for too long, and I ran away from home the moment I turned thirteen." Chenille's eyes darkened with a bitter nostalgia.

‘And she left me here to die as I suffered a brutal heart attack,’ The voice whispered in hatred as Mikey shuddered.

“...Say, about your question from earlier,” Mikey hesitated before letting out a long and anxious sigh, “...Can I tell you what she said?”

“Go on, Mikey.”

“It was about something personal... She, um. Knows too much about me.” Mikey appeared incredibly nervous; his face was paler than usual.

“Hm? About what exactly?”

“I find it invasive spirits automatically know about one’s true identity.” Mikey vaguely expressed, not wanting to reveal too much.

Yet, a part of him wished he had the strength to.

“True identity?” Chenille sincerely questioned. “It makes sense spirits would know about how you act and what you hide from the people of the Island... I’m sure that alone was what drove that witch crazy.”

Mikey flashed the Guard a look of disappointment and silently huddled close to the fireplace, trapped in a thought-loop of what to follow up the conversation with. But nothing came, just silence. The Guard recognized the young Medium’s gloomy attitude, and spoke up.

“...Sorry if that last comment was insensitive. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Mikey silently nodded and gazed at the tiny embers sparking up. The Medium was met with an awkward but well-meaning pat on his back from Chenille.

“...It’s alright. I was just caught off guard because you were the person from the Temple I got along most with.” Mikey looked over to Chenille, who appeared genuinely confused.

“Even more than Lady Zanna? I’ve known you only for a few months, kiddo,” Chenille questioned.

“That’s true, and many people would think I got along with her best since I’ve known her for roughly four years now. But truthfully, I think you understand me the most, even if your breath reeks of mint and ashes.”

Chenille let out a small chuckle at Mikey’s remark.

“Hah, at least the mint cancels out the tobacco, right?”

“Barely, but in all seriousness, the way she spoke about wishes yesterday was so strangely sincere. It was the first time she didn’t sound like a walking, talking religious Scripture to me.”

“I noticed that too. She seemed at her happiest in that moment... It’s odd, because I know internally, she feels lost without her Priestesshood.”

“As much as you’re right, I believe that Temple weighed her down until the very end.” Mikey gently counter-argued, “Before you and Billiam were hired by Zanna, every week on Sundays, I heard her faintly ramble and cry in the Chapel. She would always say how lonely she was without her Mother, and desperately wished she could "go home" all the time." The choir boy blinked and his eyes widened with a new realization and a hint of guilt. "Looking back, maybe I shouldn't have been so distant with her..."

Chenille’s eyes dulled as they gazed toward the empty fireplace.

“You had to keep your secret about seeing the dead, because it’s strictly against the people’s culture and religion. But I think both of you would be happier if you go forward and try to communicate your emotions.”

‘Or perhaps she would hate what you were truly are...’

Mikey abruptly shot up and glared at the fireplace. His eyes were filled with disdain, and his tiny wings flapped with irritation.

“Say, Chenille, before we leave, I’ll happily remove your Mother’s soul from this cabin.”

“W-Wait, you can do that?”

“I assume all spirits eventually move on, and I’ve never properly expelled one on my own before. But I believe it's time to be rid of a bitter spirit.”

Chenille momentarily paused, wondering what it would be like to speak to their Mother once more. Then they physically recoiled, filled with dread of attempting to reason with such a hateful recluse. 

'Even if that old witch were a little calmer or wiser, I have nothing to say. I don't think I could ever forgive nor forget what she's done... Turning a blind eye and walking forward as a more confident person is the best outcome.'

Slowly reopening their heterochromatic eyes, Chenille silently nodded with approval.

Mikey presumed into an awkward fighting stance as his eyes flashed white, indicating the Spirit made its presence known.

“That ‘thing’ you call Chenille left me to rot alone in this cabin, and you declare my soul is the one to be cleansed from this here cabin? How cruel of you, ignorant child. I shall drag you down with me to the pits of immortality-”

Mikey ignored the unwanted hissing from the soul of Chenille’s Mother and held his hands together. The spirit of Chenille’s mother attempted to lunge at the young Medium, as he clumsily dodged. A flash of white emitted from the former choir boy’s eyes as he swiftly turned around, and transported the soul within the palms of his shaky hands.

Chenille stood back with amazement, witnessing Mikey’s magical ability for the first time as the soul within his hands crumbled like dust and drifted away. The echoes of the screaming soul faded into nothing, as the Guard's emotions wavered.

“...Much quieter, I like it.” The Medium genuinely smiled as he casually removed his woolly hat.

“T-That was amazing, Mikey! Knowing you were this capable would have been handy to know sooner, but I’m sure you had your reasons.”

“I did. But now, it feels like a weight’s been lifted off my back. Zanna’s the only one who doesn’t know I speak to the dead.”

“Billiam knew before I did? Drat... Do you think you’re ready to tell her?”

“What choice do I have? I know once we arrive at Annie’s Road, it’ll be obvious.” Mikey let out a sombre sigh and turned away from the fireplace. “...I just hope she’ll be accepting of who I am.”

Chenille pats Mikey on the head with a confident grin.

“Knowing Dear Zanna, it’ll be quite the shock, but she’ll be willing to listen with that golden patience of hers.”

“...I'll choose to believe that. Thanks, Chenille.”