"You need to die."

Micah's words replayed in her head as she stood in the shower, washing the night down the drain. 

"Once you die, you can cross leylines and enter the different planes. We can use that to get rid of the Demons that wish you harm, and when we're done, you can shed your demonic blood and ascend with me, restoring the balance." His words made no sense. She didn't even know what a ley line was. "Say you're goodbyes today and meet me here at seven p.m."

She begged for more time, but he was firm. "If you don't do this, you will be the one saying goodbye to your family as you bury them one by one. I'm sorry, Nyx. There is no other way."

Nyx's back hit the shower wall, and she slid down onto the floor. Her eyes felt swollen, and her skin was blotchy. To save them, I have to die. I'm going to die.

It was Sunday, so at least she had all day to spend with the three people she loved the most before leaving them forever.

She dried, dressed and did some damage control with her makeup and eye drops before facing the day. It was six am, and her family's soft snores still rumbled through the walls as if she had never left.

When she thought her tears were under control, she went into the lounge and grabbed a bite to eat before sneaking into her parent's room and flopping between their warm bodies over the covers.

Their deep inhales signalled their consciousness, as did the arms that looped over her shoulder from either direction.

She let their embrace lull her into a peaceful state of drowsiness when her Dad poked her ribs. "What are you doing in here, button? You haven't done this since you were a kid."

Her mum mumbled her agreement and snuggled her tighter.

Nyx buried her face in their pillows to smother the tears, but her breathing quickly became uneven, and her sniffles could be heard through the fabric.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"I'm just sad today, mum. Can we spend the day together?" Her sniffles threatened to turn into sobs when she felt the anxiety come from her Dad.

"Of course, we can. You want to go out for breakfast?"

"Mhmm." She nodded her head, sure all the hard work she put into her makeup earlier was now smeared across their satin covers.

"Alright, shoo, bug. We'll get changed, and I'll call you when we're ready, okay?"

Her Dad's smile was warm, and his tender kiss on her forehead made her squeeze him hard once more before she flitted from the room.

She stood, taking in the room. Its homely knickknacks and mismatched furniture made her smile. The dining table was the same one from her childhood home, albeit half the size after her mother attacked it with a skill saw. Then, blinking as if committing it to memory, she turned to the adjacent bedroom and pushed past the door. Selene's drooling mouth hung ajar, and her messy bun flopped across her forehead like a hairy headband. I'll say goodbye later.

After swallowing another wave of grief, she closed the door and left her resting friend in peace. The shuffling and mumbled voices from her parent's room simultaneously warmed her heart and froze her to the bone. Our last breakfast together. But I'm doing this for them. I can't forget that...

Her bottom lip wobbled as she pulled out her phone and tried to control her emotions with research. 'What are leylines?'

When google offered explanations about straight lines between archaeological sites, she frowned, typing again. 'What are leylines- angel?'

'Ley lines are a series of metaphysical connections linking sacred sites around the world. These lines form a grid composed of the earth's natural energies.'

Nyx grimaced as the answer didn't seem to help her frazzled brain either. How would dying make me able to cross these?

When her father's voice called from the doorway, she quickly buried her phone in her bag.

"Jesus, Nyx. You haven't hidden anything from me since you were thirteen."

The room suddenly felt hot. "I'm not hiding things. It was just a dumb meme."

Daniel didn't look convinced; his forehead furrowed, forming two perfectly parallel lines. Ley lines of the face?

"It was about sex, alright? I'm sure you aren't interested in my sexy memes."

Daniel scoffed, "I'll have you know, we have always strived to be a sex-positive household, button. You know this."

"Daniel," Kathryn nudged his shoulder. "Leave her be."

He raised his hands placatingly and smiled. "Alright, let's go eat."

The trio enjoyed a quaint meal at their local cafe and chatted long into the morning.

By eleven o'clock, the conversation turned solemn and the depressing energy lingering around Nyx seemed to affect everyone.

Before Kathryn asked a question that Nyx could not quickly answer, she paid the bill and made excuses to find her own way home.

"I'm gonna go for a walk." 

Cars sped past as Daniel unlocked the car and threw his leftovers in the centre console. "You sure?"

"After that meal, I need to help my digestion," Nyx said, laughing at herself half-heartedly.

Her Dad's brows furrowed, but he smiled. "Interesting way to say you're gonna walk your poop out."

"Dad!"

"Daniel!"

Both women stared at him with red ears as half of the people walking past them pulled faces or snickered under their breath.

"Alright, button. See you at home."

"See you. Love you both."

Kathryn grinned. "Love you too, baby." They climbed into their car, which had miraculously returned after being left in the middle of nowhere the night before. Nyx thought the battery would have died, but it seemed like she had never taken it in the first place.

The walk home took twenty minutes. Before facing her friend, she veered off into the nearby park. The park had an old playground, rusty swing sets and splintering bark for soft fall material and was probably the culprit for many of her accident and emergency patients. A two-seater bench sat facing the slides beneath an overgrown maple, and Nyx hovered over the shit-stained wood before shrugging and sitting on it. Not like I'll have to wash it out anyway. She sighed and gently rubbed her eyes. They weren't as swollen anymore, but they stung along the waterline.

While no children played on the desolate playground, people's energy around the park felt tangible. Nyx let her mind wander. Will I become a ghost? Can ghosts see demons? I wonder if I'll ever see Neo again...

"Nyxie, you okay?" Selene appeared at her side, her arm wrapped around Nyx's tense shoulders.

"You snuck up on me," Nyx replied accusingly. 

Her friend smiled. "Sorry," she planted a kiss on Nyx's temple and nestled her head on her shoulder. "Your parents told me you were feeling sad. So, I just wanted to tell you I love you, and I bought you some of your favourite food!"

Nyx pulled a face as a smile crept across her lips. "What is it?"

"The Butchers' Daughter."

Nyx gasped and wrapped her arms around Selene. "Thank you! Where is it?" She looked around their feet, thinking Selene must have brought it with her and squealed when she spotted the familiar brown bag next to the bench.

"Here ya go, babe." Selene deposited it on her lap and crossed her arms as if pleased with herself.

Despite eating a massive breakfast, Nyx was starving. Impending doom cravings? She swallowed down the memories of Iris and the fries she shovelled into her mouth while offering some to her laughing friend.

"Uh, no thanks, hun. I'm too scared my finger will get bitten off. I thought you just left breakfast with your parents."

Nyx shrugged and continued her munching before checking her phone's time. 12.30 pm. Six and a half more hours of life, and she was mucking around in a shitty, empty park.

"Wanna come shopping with me?" 

A/N

A little bit of retail therapy, anyone?