Eirlys Bakery

This short story is an AU of a series I am working on, it's a bad ending version of the og. Thanks for reading!

By Cypress Ashworth

-

Novai opened up the jar of strawberry jam, dipping a butter knife inside, covering the blade with the sweet, red condiment.

A "normal" black cat hops onto the counter, hooking her teeth into a slice of bread on the marble top. Elias doesn't notice as she assists him, too busy looking out the window into the lush, green forest. 

"Novai!"

The shopkeeper snaps back to reality, locking his gaze onto the feline. To nearly any other individual, it'd look like he got spooked from a cat meowing, but, well, in reality…

"G-Gemini! Sorry," he exclaimed nervously, noticing the bread dangling out of her mouth. "...Thanks? I'll tear that bit off."

 He grabbed the sourdough with his free hand and set it on the cutting board, spreading the jam on the slice. It gleamed in the moonlight, soaking the soft beams up as intended. The two stared at it, mesmerized, before Novai moved to another spot in the kitchen to ground up the mint collected from the garden. Gemini sat down near the sink faucet, which had its back right in front of and facing the window, tucking her paws in. Her pelt gleamed, always looking different under the moon. 

Maybe that's why she lived in the Lunar Lanterns for so long, Novai always thought. 

But it's always a thought he's kept to himself. 

That's why a thought is a thought, right?

* * * 

Huff, huff, huff…

Footsteps pattered across the forest floor, each step uncoordinated and clumsy. It was still chasing her. It would still keep chasing her. All because of one single 'mistake'- More like a stupid choice- 5… or was it 6? 6 years ago. As much as she tried to push that thought to the back of her mind, it was undeniable. 

The canopy of the trees would've been comforting to her and her tribe any other times, but now, it only offered darkness. The best it could do here was give cover from the rain. 

It'll grow from the rain. At least, that's what she thinks. Who knows how much the elders said were lies? Who knows how much what they said was true? 

But it doesn't matter now, and never will, never ever. 

Because I won't survive this thing. I'll give up whether I want to or not. It knows m-

THWACK k k k ! ! ! 

* * * 

Ding~

The familiar soft thud of footsteps hits the spruce floorboards. 

"Oh, hello there Brooke!" The Dutch door's top half swung open, the "STAFF ONLY" sign blurring as it moved. Somebody appeared right behind it, smiling bright and with his sandy hair blowing in the kitchen fan's air. 

"Good morning, Novai. It looks like Mirai helped you with the fan?" The river nymph tilted her head, wavy blue hair cascading down her shoulder. 

Novai nodded, turning his head towards the spellbounded fan with a nod. 

"Yeah, he came in earlier today for breakfast! Before leaving he noticed it was wonky." He explained with a slight tinge of red on his cheeks, looking back at Brooke. "Anyways, what can I get for your breakfast?" Novai smiled wider for his emphasis.

Brooke smiled back anxiously and walked towards the window, lowering her voice to a whisper.

"I need you to come with me. I need to kill it."

Not stopping to think, he was too scared to stop, Novai opened up the bottom half of the door and hurried after the nymph, who had already left the shop. He knew it was dangerous. He knew it wouldn't be good. 

"Gemini, stay here!" He exclaimed over his shoulder as Gemini stared at him with her ever-burning blue eyes, tail hanging over the sink.

But of course, she wouldn't.

Brooke was standing in the garden, arms crossed behind her back as she stared at the bubbling river. This one goes through the whole forest, which makes it cover the entire outskirts of one half of the island. 

It was her river, and right now would be the most useful time for the river going through the whole place. 

Novai rushed to her side, and she strided over to the fence, hopping over the wooden railing and onto one river rock, and another, and another before reaching the other side. He watched her, shoulders sagging. 

He did the same as she did, stopping frequently to catch his balance. She was a couple feet away, looking around with nervousness.

"Soo Brooke, can you tell me what's going on?"

They made eye contact, and there was no response.

Eventually they reached what Brooke knew was the center of the woods. Novai didn't. Brooke didn't know he didn't. After standing in silence for a while, he broke it, tapping her on the shoulder.

"Please, tell me what's happening. The trees are covering the sky, it might rain.. I-I need to get back to Gemini and the shop."

Eye contact. No response.

He eventually stepped out of the tall grass circle, slowly but surely. 

That was a mistake.

He bolted as soon as he saw it.

* * *

CRSHH

CRSHH

CRSHH

The glass slammed against [ _ ], painting it with dark red pulp. Novai's eyes were wild and his apron was torn, and he couldn't find Gemini. It was almost dawn. She never appears goes out when the sun is, she only is up with the moon. Why isn't she here? Where is she?!

The [ _ ] started inching away- or.. was it really? Was it retreating or was it shrinking?

Novai looked away, the jam starting to give off the appearance of blood to him. 

WHERE IS SHE?!

I am here.

Novai's eyes widened and he stopped breathing.

What?

I am here.

He would not be breathing for a while, but he would not be gone. He wouldn't be soulless. He would be just like it. Just like it should be, that's what is best. That's what it thinks.

And whatever it thinks is best.

Whatever it thinks is best for him.

I am here.

It was looking at him.