Page 47 of Taken to the Deadlands

I remembered the smell of the house. The smell ofhersurrounding me as I cuddled underneath the blankets.

I let out a shuddered breath and turned to look at my room.

The small space could only hold a bed, a small dresser, and a closet. The rickety window was closed, but the wind outside could be heard pushing against it.

Besides that, it was silent, and I was back to the lonely life I had once lived.

It was real.

I gripped the robe I had stolen from Aris’s closet. It was the only thing keeping me from spiraling. Because it didn’t belong here. Because it still smelled like her.

It reminded me that everything that had happened in the Demon Realm had beenreal. ThatAriswas real.

But then how was I…

“Aris?” I called into the darkness. Cautiously at first, then when no one answered, I tried again, louder. “Aris!”

For a second, I thought that maybe she could be there with me. But there was no reaction from the darkness.

I pushed myself up and bounded down the steps and into the shop below. I stopped in my tracks when I took in the sight of it.

Not a single thing had changed.

Maybe there was a paper or two out of place, but it looked like I had never even left the place.

Another, smaller yet just as painful emotion filled me.

No one came to check on me.

I wasn’t super good friends with anyone in the town, but I had been providing services to each and every one of them. Noneof them thought to come take a look?

I walked to the front, my bare feet slapping across the cold wooden floors.

Just outside my door was a pile of mail. Small for the time that I should have been gone.

Even the mailman didn’t care about me.

I fell to the ground, my eyes fixated on the empty street outside. There was not a single soul out there.

Frustration, pain, and loneliness built up inside me.

I wanted to push open the doors. Scream at the top of my lungs. Beg foranyoneto pay attention.

Though I knew inside that no one would come.

To them, I would just be another person, unable to deal with the harsh realities of this world.

Momo’s high-pitched meow caused me to jump. She brushed across my side, causing my attention to turn to her.

With a small, sad smile, I picked her up and held her close to my chest.

“How did you survive without me?” I asked, knowing there was no way the food she had would have been enough.

She blinked up at me but didn’t answer. Not that she could anyway.

“Was it the rats again?”

This time her head tilted to the side. I forced myself to let out a laugh, but it was short lived. I buried my face in her soft fur just as tears started to prick my eyes.

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