the bar
Rio looked around the bar. “There are a lot of bottles.”
“That’s kinda the point,” Agatha said as they sat down.
“What’s ya poison, love?” The bartender asked.
Rio pulled out her dagger, pointing it at the man’s throat. “If you touch a single hair on her head–”
“He doesn’t mean literal poison.” Agatha forced Rio’s arm down before turning to the bartender. “Two beers, please.”
“On it.” He leaned toward Rio. “Don’t ever pull that blade on me again or so help me God–”
“Try me.” Rio snarled through her teeth. “Just try me.”
The bartender huffed, then handed them two beers. “It’s on your tab.”
Agatha handed Rio one of the bottles after he left. “Rio Vidal, get ready for your first-ever drop of alcohol.”
Rio took it, inspecting the label. “Are we sure I can even drink this?”
“We’re about to find out.” Agatha raised her bottle, and Rio reciprocated. “Here’s to a new life.”
“A new life.” Rio smiled before she took a sip.
“What do you think?”
Rio shrugged. “It’s not that good, really. Why did you make such a big deal about this?”
“It’s not really about the taste. It’s just to get drunk.”
“Why would you want to get drunk?”
Agatha snickered. “Oh, so many reasons.” Then, she saw the worry on Rio’s face. “Don’t tell me you don’t have anything you’d wanna forget, even if it’s just for a few hours.”
Rio narrowed her eyes. “This can make you forget?”
“Yeah.”
Rio glanced at the bottle, the memories flashing back to her, a ringing in her ears, then downed the whole bottle.
“Whoa, slow your roll, cowboy!” Agatha laughed.
“I'm fine.” Rio wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Another!”
Agatha stopped laughing, worry taking its place.
Rio downed the other bottle the moment it landed on the counter.
“Rio,” Agatha worriedly placed her hand on Rio’s lap. “Are you okay?”
“I need to forget.”
“Forget what?”
“I need to forget.” She repeated, then turned to the bartender and asked for another one.
“Sorry, there’s a 2 drink max for the ladies.”
“That’s okay.” Agatha grabbed Rio’s arm. “We’re leaving anyway.”
“What?”
“Yeah, c’mon. We’re leaving.”
“But–”
Agatha discreetly flicked her hand, silencing Rio.
“I’m sorry,” She whispered as they headed back to their bunker. She gently placed Rio on the bed, lifting the spell.
“Why couldn’t you just let me forget?” A tear streamed down Rio’s cheek. “I don’t want to remember anymore!”
“Remember what?”
“All the screaming, the begging, the sobbing… I’m done! I don’t want it! I quit!”
“You can’t quit.”
“I quit!” Rio sobbed, burying her face in her hands. “I quit.”
Agatha watched her for a second before sitting next to her, letting her sob into her chest. “It’s okay. It’s all gonna be okay.”
“I just– I wish I could just drown so I could just jump off and–”
“No!” Agatha grabbed Rio’s arms. “No. The world needs you. I need you.”
“I just–” Rio started sobbing again, her head on Agatha’s chest. “I’m just so tired. Of everything.”
“I know.” Agatha stroked her hair. “I know.”
“I don’t want to relive this anymore!”
Agatha raised an eyebrow. “Relive what?”
Rio just sobbed. Agatha held her until she fell asleep.
Agatha didn’t sleep that night, though. She just watched Rio turn, whimper, and mutter things like “¡Sólo quiero olvidar!”, though Agatha didn’t know what it meant.
She watched flowers grow around her, in orange, white, and pink.
That must mean she’s feeling better, she thought, leaning forward to smell them. She liked that the flowers Rio grew always smelled like her. But they wilted in her hands before she could, crumbling to the ground. Agatha raised an eyebrow but dismissed it when another flower started growing. She paused when she saw that, unlike her usual flowers, these were lilies and chrysanthemums. Agatha remembered what Rio had told her when they were by the creek: Lilies. They represent sadness, so they’re used in funerals a lot. They also mean the restoration of innocence to the souls of the dead. Chrysanthemums are more commonly associated with me than lilies, though.
“Rio?” Agatha tried to wake Rio up. She desperately hoped this was Rio reacting to the alcohol rather than nightmares.
Rio just whimpered and pulled her knees closer to her chest, folding in on herself even more, as though trying to disappear completely.
Agatha sighed as she reached for Rio’s temples. “I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me for this.”