I was getting ready to start heading to bed when Jarec remembered to bring up the Metallica record.

"So, can we talk about the fact that you now have the song that Red mentioned? Did you say something to someone or is that a very suspicious coincidence?" He asked.

"I have said nothing about that to anyone. I think it's weird, but I have no idea if it means anything or what it could mean."

"I don't suppose you could ask her next time you see her?" Fethris suggested. "Since she hasn't spoken to any of us."

"Nor does she appear when you aren't around, I think. Or for some reason she hasn't done so," Russel commented.

"Wait really?"

Jarec nodded.

"Huh. That's weird." I wondered if that meant something. I thought it was likely, but like the record I had no idea what it could mean.

But just as strange was the sudden arrival of knocking. One, pause, three, long pause, two. It seemed to reverb through the room. At first I couldn't tell the source.

"It's the attic. Someone else can go check that out," I told them.

Celica rolled her eyes as dramatically as possible. Was everything a show with her?

She walked up the stairs looking very put upon and I was certain it was mostly fake.

She waved her hand and purple vine-like growths came out of the ground where the rune was. They formed a ladder up to the hatch that lead into the attic.

She climbed up and reached her hand towards it. A flash of light, that familiar Echo blue. She recoiled back. "Nope. It's got to be you, fearless Tower Representative Stewart."

"Says who?" I demanded.

There was some kind of rumble from outside.

That's probably who.

"I hate all of you. Especially the big guy outside."

Another rumble.

Celica stepped down from the ladder and the look on her face made me worried she would try and manhandle me up there if I didn't go willingly.

I climbed up the stairs slowly. In protest to whatever the Tower had planned this time.

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"Don't get eaten by anything," Celica teased as I touched the first rung on the ladder.

"If I do, you'll have to explain."

She laughed as I reached up for the hatch.

It opened without a problem.

I lifted myself up into the attic.

Nothing. Again.

I turned back towards the hatch to explain. It closed with a loud bang. I stopped at the sight of a red overcoat. Red was standing in the back of the room. Just as obscured as the first time I saw her. But she was shaking.

"Are…are you okay?"

She let out a huff. It sounded nervous. More nervous than I had heard her before.

"It's…been a while." I wasn't sure what time felt like for her, but I hadn't seen her in nearly two weeks.

"Has it?" She finally spoke. There was a slight tremor in her voice.

I took a step around the hatch.

"Stop!"

I froze.

"Don't. Don't come closer right now. Please. It's not…you can't see me. Not now."

"Those rules I assume?"

"Something like that."

"You don't sound like yourself Red."

She let out that hysterical laughter that reminded me of my mother. "Sorry. It's…today's a day I've known was coming and now that it's here I…I don't want…I'm scared."

Scared? Scared of what?

"I mean…you've already seen it, right? The…the Scarred Wraith. The attack."

That's when I remembered the day we saw Red get murdered downstairs. "That wraith is the thing that…"

That killed her. Or will kill her, from her perspective it seemed.

"It has to. The others are in danger. I can't… I won't let it hurt them. Like I said, I've known this was coming. I just…thought I had more time. I'd have liked to have graduated, you know?"

"For what it's worth…I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You're not…this isn't your fault. It's…someone's. But that's what the others are dealing with."

"The others…your Towermates?"

"Yeah. We…they have a plan. They don't know that this is it. Or…I haven't told them. I think…I think one of them has figured it out though. I just hope he isn't too mad at me for dying on him. Of course this means I win a…certain argument of ours."

"Nothing wrong with getting the last laugh."

She giggled. She seemed calmer now. "I've made peace with my fate. And it's time for you to go. But…thank you. For being here. At the end. I hope Dragon Tower keeps your memory until its walls crumble."

An odd turn of phrase, but the tone of her voice was filled with a very strange emotion. "You too," it was the only response I could think of.

"Don't sound sad. You'll see me again. And we're going to see each other again. One last time for me and plenty more times on your end. You should get going though. I have a few more things to do."

She snapped her fingers and the hatch opened. Then she was gone. Off to fight a wraith and die, apparently.

I went down the ladder. It was my turn to have shaking hands.

"Well? I heard you speaking, couldn't tell what you were saying though," Celica commented.

"It was Red up there. We talked. I'm…going to bed. Goodnight everyone. And…thank you for the help Celica." I went into my room and closed the door.

It was going to be a longer night than I thought.

(*********)

I dreamed of pink flames that night. Dancing in the sky like the aurora borealis. It was pretty. Behind the flames were endless stars and a deep blue sky.

But my dream changed. Threads. Like a spider's web. Dark green and filling the sky above my head. What was happening? A snarl from somewhere. A growl that reminded me of late-night horror movies.

I awoke with a startle.

Sunday. Meeting with the Representative Council. Right.

No time to think about…everything.

The curse was already starting to itch. The feeling persisted the entire morning.

Next week was the dance. Or to use its proper name: Fall Harvest Celebration.

Then it was back to business as usual. I think. Or whatever it was we were supposed to be doing.

All I knew was that I had to wear my full uniform. Whenever I saw the badge in the mirror it felt like I was being taunted.

I would have to worry about last night later.

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