Consequences || Simon Ghost Riley

Chapter Fifteen || Plush Bunny

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7:36 PM

29.03.2023

Location: 141

Two tireless weeks had passed, and the vivacious beacon that was Sky had vanished, her absence leaving a conspicuous void. Her name seemed to linger on everyone's lips, becoming an incessant echo reverberating through hushed whispers and flustered conversations. As she remained absent, life unwaveringly continued its steady march forward, undeterred and relentless. The pendulum of time swung with unwavering certainty, casting the cloak of countless nights, each slipping seamlessly into the hopeful light of new days. And with each passing day and night, the weather danced its eternal waltz, shifting effortlessly with each beat, each cycle, painting the canvas of the world with its countless hues and moods.

     As the days went by, the knot of anxiety in Simon's chest tightened, holding on to the slim hope of getting some news of her safety. Each time her name was mentioned, his senses would heighten, and he would tirelessly hunt for any signs or hints of her whereabouts or fate. Unfortunately, every trail he followed came to a frustrating halt.

     It seemed as if she had disappeared completely, evaporated into the ether, leaving no shred of evidence of her existence anywhere he relentlessly searched. All that lingered as a silent testament was her room, a melancholy time capsule, untouched and perfectly preserved. It stood there as if she had simply stepped out for a moment, rather than mysteriously dissipating into the vast expanse of the universe that swallowed her.

     With his head sunk in his hands, Simon found himself lost in a whirlwind of self-doubt, sitting desolately on his worn, complacent mattress. His thoughts, brimming with bare emotions, whipped around his mind at an unnerving speed, so profound and tangible, that it appeared as if his very core was gradually eroding. He was succumbing to the vagueness and emptiness her unexpected absence had left behind.

     When a soft rap at the door reached his ears, he instinctively turned his head towards the source of the noise. Swiftly, he grabbed his balaclava which was neatly placed on the bedside table. As he donned it, he made certain it sat perfectly aligned on his face before proceeding to the door.

     Initially, he thought it might be Price or John, however, the moment he grasped the doorknob and turned it, there was Madilyn. She barged by him, parading into his room as if she were the proprietor.

     "What do you want, Madilyn?" He inquired, his voice barely above a whisper, which only seemed to stoke her irritation even further.

     "Why do you care about her so much? She's just a girl." Maddeningly, Madilyn released a sigh, irked by the reality that his affections were directed towards someone other than her.

     "Because I do," He stated straightforwardly.

     "You have me right here, Ghostie," She responded, extending her hand to gently cradle the contour of his face. 

     "Let me take care of you." As she began to bridge the gap between them, she interjected, "I'll make every worry in the world disappear."

     Briefly, Simon closed his eyes, only to repel her advances firmly. "No," was his blunt response, "I don't believe you can." His words held such an undertone of strength that it pushed Madilyn to step back, exposing a side of him previously unknown – a side she wasn't completely sure she admired. 

     "Go back to your room, Madilyn" he insisted, his tone unyielding.

     With his words hanging heavy in the air between them, he spoke sternly, "If you had listened and taken the shot, she would be here and that's on you,". His statement, cloaked in a shroud of contempt and disappointment, was as much a heart-wrenching confession as it was an unequivocal rebuke. His tone was leveled, yet there was an underlying tremble that hinted at his desperate attempt to hold onto his composure.