the room
She let go of Rio’s hand and started slowly climbing down the stairs, shaking with every step, and Rio shook away the pull of the afterlife before following. As they climbed down into the endless abyss, Rio wondered what kind of monster would force their kid to live somewhere this far away from… everything.
“Here we are,” Agatha said when they finally arrived at a broken old door that creaked when it opened.
The inside of the room was no better: Parts of the wall were broken. Mold and bugs were everywhere. Exposed screws were sticking out of what looked like something that was meant to be a bed.
“Home, sweet home.” Agatha joked, trying to relax her shoulders.
“This is where you grew up?”
She forced a smile. “Yeah. She– she wouldn’t let me out of here ‘till I was 17. After that, I had to learn magick secretly and on… my… own.” She stopped when she saw Rio, listening in horror, her breathing unsteady. “What’s wrong?”
“I– I don’t understand how anyone could do something like–”
“Hey,” Agatha put her hands on Rio’s arms. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. It’s not fair, it’s not–”
She hugged her. “Not much in this world is fair.”
Rio let go when she saw a photo of a little girl with a huge smile, her curly dark hair braided unevenly, and one of her front teeth missing, but her eyes were the same sapphire-blue Rio knew all too well.
“Is this…you?”
Agatha shrugged. “Maybe.”
Rio smiled. “You were cute.”
Agatha came over and put her hands around Rio’s neck. “Were?”
She chuckled. “You’re still a little cute, I guess. Maybe… maybe I’ll be sure if I get a kiss.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She kissed Rio.
“You sure now?”
Rio paused to think. “Not entirely. I think I need another one.”
“Well, how could I say no to you?”
They kissed again.
“Is this a regular thing for us now?”
Agatha smirked. “Why, does it bother you?”
Rio shook her head no before they kissed again.
Agatha put her forehead against Rio’s. “‘Kay. Let’s get out of here.”
“Okay.”
Agatha moved to the door, and Rio followed after grabbing the photo of young Agatha. A sharp jolt of pain hit her, making her lean on the doorway, but she pushed through it. She couldn’t leave Agatha, not yet. Not now.
Agatha sighed. “Ah, shit.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Stairs. I have to climb that now.” She groaned. “I really didn’t think this through.”
“I can help–”
“Nope, I got it. I got it.”
Rio tilted her head, then let her go, watching Agatha struggle for a few seconds before helping her up.
“You have trouble asking for help,” Rio noted.
“It’s not not true.” Agatha put her head on Rio’s shoulder. “You’re very strong.”
“Comes with the job. Come on, we’re almost there.”
Rio winced as another jolt hit her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, let’s just get you–” She winced again. “–back up.”
“Do you have to go?”
“I have to– I have to take care of you.” She whimpered, hanging onto the wall for balance as the voices started whispering to her.
“I’ll be fine, we only have a few steps left.”
The whispers soon turned into screams, and Rio fell to the ground, covering her ears.
“Rio!” Agatha dropped to her knees, her hands on Rio’s arms.
“I’m sorry—“
“Don’t be, just go!”
“Te veo.” A tear streamed down Rio’s cheek before the ground swallowed her whole.