Chereads / The Well of Wishes / Chapter 20 - The Wishing Well

Chapter 20 - The Wishing Well

The storytelling session continued as Todd and Lucy joined in, eagerly listening to Aria's tale. Aria began, "I've heard countless stories about the rain. Legend has it that rain doesn't just happen by chance. Instead, it's guided by mystical birds from the land of the gods. The more of these sacred birds that take flight, the heavier the rain."

Harry chuckled, interjecting, "So, are you suggesting there might be rain birds here somewhere?"

Aria nodded with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "It's entirely possible."

Harry playfully quipped, "Then why haven't we ever seen one?"

Aria explained, "According to the age-old tales, spotting a rain bird in the human world is an elusive endeavor. They are said to resemble living water, assuming the form of a bird. Their bodies contain no bones, flesh, or feathers, only the fluid essence of water. Even if one were to glimpse one, capturing such a creature would be an impossible feat."

As the rain continued its gentle percussion on the roof, the storytelling session progressed, each narrative a unique gem in the storm's symphony. But with each passing minute, Aria's anxiety grew. She wasn't sure if she would make it to her date on time. In an attempt to notify Holo/Luffy of her potential delay, she reached for her phone, only to discover that the inclement weather had disrupted her internet connection. She moved through various sections of the corridor, hoping to catch a signal, all the while the storytelling session continued.

As she scoured the corridor in search of a phone signal, Aria stumbled upon the section where Kai had been indulging in a cigarette break. Though Kai was no longer present, the lingering odor of tobacco hung in the air, pulling Aria's focus away from her phone. She glanced away from her device, her curiosity piqued by the scent, and began to scan her surroundings, looking for the source. Her gaze momentarily settled on the doorway leading to the garden.

There, she spotted Kai by the wishing well, moving in closer with an expression of sheer wonder on his face. Intrigued, Aria followed his gaze upward, attempting to discern what had captured his attention. All she could see were the raindrops cascading from the sky. Unbeknownst to Kai, he continued to inch toward the well, oblivious to the moss-covered ground ahead.

Aria, however, had noticed the potential danger and hurried to the doorway, shouting, "KAI, STOP! THERE'S MOSS ON THE GROUND. YOU MIGHT SLIP!"

Her words, unfortunately, were swallowed by the cacophony of raindrops and the gurgling waterfall. The group inside the corridor remained oblivious to her cries. All Kai heard were the soothing sounds of rain and the mesmerizing sight of Rain Birds in flight. Aria persisted in her frantic warnings, but they fell on deaf ears.

Kai's inexorable progress toward the well concluded with the very outcome Aria had feared. He lost his footing on the slippery moss, hurtling toward the well in a panic, reflexively extending his hands to break his fall. Aria's voice rose in an anguished cry, "NO!"

Fortunately, Kai's fall was arrested by the well's sturdy wall. His hands clung to the stone, supporting his upper body, and he panted in relief as he peered down into the depths of the well. On the other side, Aria breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that disaster had been averted.

In a heartbeat, Kai pushed himself away from the well and regained his footing, his breath still ragged with fear from the near miss of the accident. He swiveled around, pressing his back against the well's stone surface, and closed his eyes. Deep breaths coursed through him as he fought to regain his composure. His trembling hand slipped beneath his poncho, slipping into his pants pocket, fingers fumbling for a cigarette. With unsteady fingers, he withdrew it and brought it to his lips. A second plunge into his pocket yielded a lighter.

He slowly opened his eyes, attempting to ignite the lighter, only to realize it was a futile endeavor in the downpour. Lowering the lighter, he let out a wry chuckle as he glanced ahead. His gaze met Aria's as she stood in the doorway, watching him. A small smile played on his lips, and he waved a hand in acknowledgment. Aria reciprocated the smile and the wave, both of them sharing a brief moment of relief.

However, their peace was shattered by a faint rumbling, leaving Kai to wonder about its source. The answer came swift and brutal. The upper portion of the well's wall, to which Kai had been clinging, gave way, causing him to lose his balance. The depth he had dreaded just moments ago now beckoned, ready to engulf him. Kai plummeted into the well.

Aria, who had recently breathed a sigh of relief, was now paralyzed by shock. Her eyes widened in terror as she witnessed Kai's fall into the well. With Kai out of sight, her instincts took over. Adrenaline coursed through her veins, pushing her to action. She sprinted through the relentless rain, navigating the treacherous moss-covered ground with care, racing to reach the well.

Upon arriving, she swiftly stowed her phone in her pocket and extended her trembling hand toward Kai. She cried out, "HELP! HELP!" Simultaneously, Kai clung to her hand with all his might, his voice joining hers in the desperate plea, "HELP! HELP!" Unfortunately, the downpour swallowed their cries, and their voices failed to carry to anyone beyond.

Aria strained with all her might to pull Kai from the well, but her strength alone wasn't sufficient. The ground, slick with slippery moss, didn't make matters any easier, and the relentless rain showed no sign of letting up. Desperately, she tugged at Kai while bracing her legs against the well's walls, compensating for the strength she lacked.

Her strategy seemed to be working, as Kai managed to ascend a short distance. However, an ominous rumbling sound reached his ears, instantly triggering a realization. He placed one hand against the well's wall, gripping Aria's hand with the other to alleviate some of the burden she bore.

Meanwhile, Cherry, located in the closest doorway of the corridor, observed Aria's struggle. Without hesitation, she cried out, "ARIA!" and sprinted toward the well. The rest of the group in the corridor, witnessing Cherry's rapid response, followed suit, rushing to the well to ascertain the cause of her urgency.

On the other side, Kai was relieved to hear the approaching footsteps but remained gripped by fear due to the ominous rumbling. Aria, too, found solace in Cherry's approach. Yet, fate had a different plan in store. A substantial portion of the well's wall crumbled and plunged into the depths, depriving Aria of her foothold. With the wall's sudden disappearance, the treacherous moss beneath her, and the weight of Kai pulling her, she too began to descend into the well.

Her mind went blank as she plummeted, still holding onto Kai's hand with all her strength. However, the sudden shock caused Kai's hand to go numb, and he lost his grip on her. Aria clung desperately, but Kai's support was no longer there to aid her. Within moments, her grasp slipped from Kai's hand.

As she fell, time seemed to stretch for Aria. She saw Kai, shouting "NO!" with fear in his eyes, watching helplessly as she descended into the wishing well. Raindrops pelted her body as she approached the depths of Nebula fall's water. By that point, she couldn't think or scream. Her eyes widened, her mouth agape in sheer shock, as she descended into the well.

In the next heart-stopping moment, Aria made contact with the well's water, the impact jolting her senses. As soon as she plunged into the frigid depths, the strong current seized her, propelling her along the subterranean stream. Within the watery realm, Aria's eyes fluttered open, greeted by a dim light filtering through the water. The gradual intake of water replaced the last vestiges of air in her lungs, causing her to release a cascade of air bubbles from her mouth.

Darkness began to envelop her vision, and she teetered on the precipice of unconsciousness, drawing nearer to the inevitable. Despite the dire circumstances, a relentless refrain echoed in her mind, "I don't want to die... I don't want to die."

In the face of adversity, it's said that a person's life flashes before their eyes in the final moments, an instant replay of their happiness, sadness, and regrets. Aria found herself living this age-old adage. As she descended further into the depths of the well, her life story played out before her, each memory a flicker of the life she was desperate to hold onto.