Chapter 68: Business Partners

A long stream of air passed through the young woman’s mouth, mirroring Rachel’s earlier action that made her smile. Amelia looked up at the ceiling, seemingly trying to draw strength from anywhere she could find it.

"Did you know true crime bores Anthony to death? But he reads them to me anyway because he knows it helps me forget about my illness."

Thrown off a bit by the inflection in her voice, Rachel’s fingers tightened against each other at her front. "You...feel guilty about that?"

"I guess." A weak laugh followed, thin arms pulling her blanket up to her chest. "The complication of feelings and emotions beyond our control, huh? I read a book about it once. Anthony and I are both already dead and broken in our own way... So," her weary eyes shifted to her.

"Everyone tries to convince me of some positive spin on things and go back to their own lives. We all feel some kind of irrational guilt—the looks people give me—it’s not new. So, what light do you offer us, Rachel?"

It clicked in her mind; Amelia wasn’t only searching for Anthony’s happiness. Anthony’s happiness was intrinsically tied to her own, and she wanted something to believe in that wasn’t just hollow words; she didn’t want to feel the poison of her illness hurting her fiancé.

Brushing back her bangs, Rachel rubbed her left arm and sat beside the woman. It was hard not to look into her searching gaze when everything within Rachel’s peripheral vision was in focus; they told of external and internal struggles she couldn’t imagine.

"I’ll just throw it out there, then. I know how this might sound—insane is an understatement—but these moon goddesses are attempting to make contact with me, or...guide me to this giant tree in the UK. I’m not convinced they are on my side. It’s more like they see me as useful, but they could be useful for me, too."

She had it a lot better planned out in her head, yet staring into this woman’s sunken eyes made her nervous; it somehow connected with the uncomfortable emotions she felt in front of her mother.

"So...yeah. If there is a solution to this illness problem, I can’t think of a better one than personally asking some higher power. Too crazy? Haha. I’d think it was too far out there."

Amelia’s head rolled back on her pillow to look up at the ceiling, eyes becoming shiny. "Crazier than growing ears and a tail, going to different dimensions, or toad aliens? Hah," the woman let out a weak chuckle.

"How insane has the world become in the past week? It makes me want to cry. All these miracles, and... I guess that’s one reason Anthony is in this spiral," she whispered, accepting a tissue from Rachel as she pulled one out from the box beside her bed.

Rachel chuckled to herself before growing melancholy. "Yeah, you’ve got a point. The whole world was flipped on its head, yet in some cruel twist of fate, to you, not a whole lot has changed—I guess it’s even worse."

"Huh..." The woman swallowed back tears, her throat becoming thick. "I don’t know. I think there is a lot of beauty to be found in how things are going, despite the pain. You can’t truly understand joy without the sorrow; at least, that’s what I’ve come to believe. How interesting."

"What?" Rachel tentatively asked, unsure what to make of her reaction as things took a turn, and Amelia’s weak smile fell a tad.

"An adventure of searching out these moon goddesses... Overcoming obstacles to find them and traveling into the depths of a mysterious world tree to discover the truth? Making friends, saving people in trouble, and supporting others. It sounds like a fantasy tale Anthony would love."

Not speaking in the ensuing pause, Rachel waited for her to process it; Rachel was still processing her own goal and path.

"The danger is a given," Amelia whispered, "but I’m not stupid enough to think answers come without sacrifice. Look at me—all the experimental treatments and pain... No, he’ll be away from me, which will be...hard—almost unbearable—but...so long as he thinks there is hope, it will keep him going."

Strength filled the woman’s eyes, yet her face softened. "What would Anthony be doing with you, Rachel?"

She shrugged, not really having a full answer. "Right now, I only want him to stay with you and protect everyone while we’re gone. A local cult-affiliated cartel just made a kidnapping attempt on my parents, and I expect more to come when we leave. You’ll receive updates from Astra on how things are going since she’ll be in—never mind, heh, he’s now in a male avatar. I wish he would just pick one," she grumbled, rubbing her forehead.

A few seconds passed before she sighed. "...Okay, Rachel. It is a quest Anthony can find purpose in. Even if it is a dead end... It’s something he can hold onto. Heh. And maybe...maybe I can bring myself to eventually believe it will bear fruit. It’s just so hard when every failed hope feels like another nail digging into my chest."

A weak, teary laugh came from Amelia. "In any case, I won’t take any more of your time—since, heh, you’re on a clock. Thank you, Rachel. Have the guards outside, and this Astra person come in to chat with me until Anthony gets back; he’ll appreciate someone being with me."

Getting up, Rachel gave her an encouraging smile and reached down to squeeze her hand. "I’m not all that noble of a person to care much for others, Amelia... I think I want to, but—I don’t know, I’ll do what I can. I owe Anthony and you for this."

Silent laughter shook the woman’s chest. "You want to be someone who cares for others... Sounds like you’re struggling with your own past. It’s nice to know you’re not some perfect moon hare, here to swoon my last thread of light."

"Haha. What a word to use," Rachel snickered. "You’ve got a good one. He really seems to care about you."

"Anthony does...despite how little I deserve him... Hmm." Her fingers tightened around Rachel’s for a moment. "As someone I can’t name probably once said, a friendship built on business can be glorious, while a business built on friendship can be murder. I’m glad to lay that second brick, Rachel. Good luck."

Being careful with her frail hand, Rachel’s opinion of the woman rose. "Business partners then. In the meantime, try not to die, Amelia."

"Just throwing it out there, but maybe sending a postcard or flowers every so often would help revitalize me?" she grinned, waving her off. "It’s nice knowing people are thinking about you. So, whatever you’re doing, kick some ass."

"Haha! That’s my hobby. Later, Amelia."

"On the flip side, Long Ears. I’ll be here praying—ack—t-they don’t grow bigger. You might have some problems, then."

"Oh, shut up, Bed Gremlin," Rachel muttered, spotting the woman’s pained smile; her visit hadn’t been nearly as bad as she thought it’d go. Maybe Amelia was looking for a friend to help Anthony when she wasn’t around. It was a sobering thought, but something that crossed her mind nonetheless.

Exiting in a brighter spirit, Rachel jabbed her thumb at the room for the soldiers and Astra to join Amelia. Astra had a frown on his elderly face, though, making her pause.

"What’s up?"

"Relica just held up a phone with this smug, thrilled tone and told me she would contact us shortly." He popped out his gum to swap for a new stick, shoving the half-empty container into his pocket. "She’s excited to meet you or some shit—the tramp. I’d be cautious; she’s making huge adjustments to their positions. I’ll get back to you, but some concerning connections are popping up."

Rachel went for the elevator, wanting to return to Barbara before getting distracted by her mother with Anthony. Amelia would convince Anthony. She was reasonably aggressive, though her illness probably contributed to it. Now, she was slightly concerned about leaving her mother to gossip with the woman.

There was something weird about how engaged her mother was with the legend and the details she was trying to extract regarding his personal life; of course, her mother had recently been on the ’get-a-boyfriend train,’ which was bound to come up.

She figured it was the standard, hardwired, embarrassing mom practice that many girls got, and Rachel half wondered if the topic of Anthony having a brother, or maybe a cousin, would come up. Not that she wasn’t interested in that potentially juicy topic, but there were priorities!

Selvaria was only just making it up the stairs to the top floor with her mother, unable to take the elevator due to her weight, and Scarlet passively waited for orders in the hallway.

Arriving at the Special Forces gathering, Astra had already informed Saint Barbara about the unusual tactical shifts as Relica took over command of the cartel branch. The legend tossed her a modified earpiece she’d made with a rubber band, hot glue, and a soft fabric inner lining.

"No way you made this for me—when did you find the time?" Rachel chuckled, yet an ominous wind from the east snatched her gaze. Her supernatural senses went on high alert.

"Wrap that around one of your ears; it’s mainly so you can communicate with us. When? You’re a heavy sleeper." Her fashionable dress changed to an impressive suit of armor. "Alright, ladies, get that equipment down to the—"

"Something’s incoming!"

"Oh, hell. Give me eyes—cover, ladies!" Barbara snarled. The Green Berets lurched into action, throwing nearby doors open and warning several doctors and nurses to get back; they froze instead at the sudden movement.

"Move, move!"

"Down, people!"