Isolophobia: Fear of being alone

"Caeli"

My head snapped towards a very familiar feminine voice.

It came again and this time, it felt like it came from a distance.

I couldn't see a thing aside the green trees and tall thick grasses.

Everything was blurry and faded, I couldn't make out things by a single glance. Even I couldn't see myself properly or walk properly.

I felt a bit dizzy, groggy and with every step I took, It felt like I was about to fall down.

"Caeli"

The voice became more audible and clear. I could hear it come from behind me but I couldn't move without having a feeling I'd fall if I tried to.

"Caeli"

It was then I noticed a pair of hands hold me by my shoulder and slowly turned me around.

It was her.

I couldn't see her clearly but i could see her sharp blue pair of eyes as they starred at me with so much happiness, even I had not been so happy before.

Her birthmarks was simple, black and engraved in her cheekbones.

She was in a simple silver colored turtle neck dress that completely covered her whole arms excluding her fingers. The sleeves were so long, it almost reached tye ground. The dress itself was long enough to reach the ground.

Her hair was down and extremely long. It almost reached her knees. It looked so soft and light cause it moved with the wind.

She was right in front of the sun's reflection so I couldn't quite make out her facial structure.

"Mom?" I said, just a little above a whisper. "Is it you?"

She nodded and said "I've always waited for this day"

"You shouldn't be able to do this, you're dead"

"But you can see me and that's the only thing that matters"

"No, this isn't real. You're dead"

"To the world i am. To you I'm not. I'll always be here for you no matter what."  She held my hands in hers and for that moment, I could feel her like she was truly in front of me.

Her hands felt so soft and warm as they wrapped around mine so protectively, I couldn't have felt more safe.

She was in front of me, I could feel her, I could see her yet something told me it wasn't real. It looked like it was as a result of me thinking so much.

She was dead and the same words kept running through my head repeatedly.

She isn't real. This isn't real. It's just an imagination.

"I am real Caeli, you can feel me, can't you?"

"But_"

"Shh" She hushed me "They're some things you need to know"

"If you're real then they're some things I need answers to. You're the goddess of time and your linked to fate. You should know what would happen in future right?"

"I will give you answers to your questions but some answers are better left unknown"

"What's gonna happen when I meet Xelexia? How am I gonna start it? Should I just walk up to her?"

"You will meet Xelexia but bare in mind, it would be at the most unexpected time"

"When?"

"You'll know when it comes" She said "But get prepared"

"Aren't I strong enough? I've learned a lot from Lux and Ignis. They're good people"

"You are strong but not strong enough to go against her. You have some capabilities you still know nothing of."

"They've taught me all they know about me. There's no one with more knowledge about me than them. They've tried their best"

"Fatum"

"What?"

"Blood is thicker than water"

My eyes snapped open.

I let out a loud sigh and sat up, rubbing my eyes in the process. I still felt a bit sleepy but with what I saw, I couldn't close my eyes without thinking about it.

It was still two fourty six in the morning and the boys were probably still asleep. Besides food, sleep was their next escape from everything.

Well, for Lux and Ignis, yeah bit for Axel, I didn't know of.

I stood up and placed my feet in my fluffy bunny slippers and made my way over to the kitchen for a glass of warm water.

The moment I opened the door, I could smell the aroma of cake. Chocolate cake to be precise.

Who would wake up so early to cook?

It couldn't be Lux cause he was a log of wood in sleep mode. No one could wake him up till he he wanted to and no aroma could wake him from his slumber.

Ignis was far worse than Lux. He made it look like he was in coma as soon as he went into sleep made. No tapping, slapping, biting or smacking could wake he up.

The most impressive thing you could do was to make him move a muscle.

So yeah, it had to be Axel.

My suspicions were correct. Axel was in the kitchen with a lot of cooking materials and ingredients scattered around him.

He had a blue apron on with a funny looking chef hat. His apron was smeared with flour and other things I couldn't identify. He also had some on his face.

Right beside him were jars filled with cookies. Very sweet looking cookies.

The sight made my mouth water without moving closer to it.

In one jar was chocolate chip cookies. I could identify that cause Lux and Ignis ways had their cookie challenge and Lux, most of the times, always ended up making chocolate chip cookies.

The other jars we're filled with cookies I couldn't identify.

Don't blame me, I spent eight years in a messed up asylum and even before that, I didn't really get the chance to go out.

"Good morning Caeli, you're up early"

"Yeah, it happens." I said, walked towards the counter and took a seat. "What's this all about?"

"Oh, you don't know"

"Don't know what?"

"It's Ignis's birthday today"

Wait wait wait wait wait wait.

It's Ignis's birthday and no one told me about it? Lux didn't mention a thing about it and even the birthday boy didn't act like it.

It was kind of surprising cause Ignis had a very high ego and it should've been him to have told me about this.

"What?"

"Ignis. It's his birthday today" He repeated. "Didn't he tell you?"

"No, no one did"

"Well, it's July 12th"

"Oh my god. I can't believe I didn't know about this before. I didn't even get him a present"

"He didn't tell you cause he had it all planned. If you didn't find out, he would've made you feel so guilty just to make you do things for him"

"That brat" I said "He would've tricked me into doing things for him if I didn't wake up"

"Remind me why you're up so early"

I wasn't sure if it was safe to tell him about it or not.

Well, he tried to kill me bit according to Lux and Axel, he spent years reading about Anel so if there was anyone that knew about it, it should be him.

On the other hand, he tried to kill me but he also explained that he didn't do it with any selfish intentions. The water would've went still if I just waited for one more second.

Well, it wasn't my fault I thought of him as a murderer for a whole year.

It should be Lux and Ignis's fault for not listening to Axel when he used to teach them about it.

"Whatever you're thinking about, I just want you to know I don't want to get into your head and I'd like for you to tell me yourself" He paused "You do know I didn't try to kill you right"

"Umm_"

"I'd show you the book if you want to and you'd read it out yourself_"

"No, it's okay" I paused "I had a dream about..." I trailed off, zoning out of reality.

My mind was back to the dream. I could still remember it clearly, like I remembered my own name.

"Are you about to say something?"

"Who's Fatum?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"Well, in my dream, I was told Fatum would help me know more about myself, to help me get prepared for Xelexia"

"I don't know who or what Fatum is. However, I'd do some research on it and get back to you as soon as i'm don't"

"Back to the birthday" I changed the topic "How can I be of help?"

"I just need you to go get Lux"