Renwar Vallée The Battle for the souls of Néarbi Town

Destiny 3 - Coma

The next morning, Mrs. Nutti knocked on Ren’s room’s door. Hearing no answer, she opened his door and saw him sleeping at his desk with his laptop on, which was playing a homemade family video of his parents on the beach when he was a child.

She held her chest as she felt a pang of pain in her heart for Ren as she watched him suffering silently, thinking to herself, the poor boy is denying his pain. I know he must be enduring this torment, watching a homemade family video.

As she entered deeper into his room, she heard him mumbling.

“Mmm. Mom, please don’t go!”

“Ren, honey, wake up. You’re dreaming again,” Mrs. Nutti whispered as she continued shaking him gently.

As Ren opened his eyes and noticed how close his gran-gran’s face was to his, he got up suddenly, stumbled backwards, and tumbled over his chair. Looking up at his laptop, he quickly got up and slammed it shut.

“I must have fallen asleep while working on something,” he grumbled.

“This is for you,” she said, handing him an envelope, and decided to ignore what she saw.

“What is it?” he asked sleepily.

“Ariel stopped by yesterday while you were at school. She had to leave early and asked me to give it to you,” said Mrs. Nutti.

“What do you mean she had to leave early? She just came back,” he argued as he got up.

“Why don’t you open it and see what she says?” Mrs. Nutti advised.

“Thanks, Gran-Gran,” he replied as he ripped open the letter, asking Mrs. Nutti to close the door behind her while he sat down to read his letter.

Dear Ren,

I am so sorry for leaving you so soon, after just returning a few days ago. I hoped to see you before I left for Bráanzalia today. I know I said we would wait until after graduation, but I really miss my dad. I am sure you can understand my feelings. Remember when we talked about running away to my dad’s home together? Anyway, I won’t be around for graduation, and I don’t have to take this last exam.

Let me know when Mrs. Nutti gives you back your phone and laptop so we can Skype or message each other. I’m going to miss you.

Love,

Ari

Hugs and kisses.

PS: Don’t worry, I will still send you your daily reminders. I will be back in a month or two, or maybe you could join me when you can. I’m sure Dad won’t mind seeing you again. I think you’re growing on him.

Ren thought to himself, I wish I could have gone with you. It would probably stop the nightmares from coming. Ren decided to take a shower before sending Ari an e-mail. As he came out and opened his computer, an e-mail notification popped up. He opened the e-mail and noticed it was Ariel who sent it.

Hi, Ren, as promised, please be reminded of the following:

Write an epic valedictorian speech!

Start packing for Climarí University!

Meet up with everyone to brainstorm decorating ideas for the senior year party at NV Burger Delight

I know this is a long shot, but please talk with your mother. She misses you. Your stepdad also says he wants to make amends.

I must go now. I will call you later when I reach home. It’s a long flight, and this is my third plane transfer. I wish there was a way to teleport instead of fly. It’s just too long.

PS: Please remember to pray every day.

Love,

Ari

Oh, man! Not you too, Ari. I can’t deal with mom and stepdad issues now, which reminds me, I need to tell Gran-Gran I won’t be moving in with Mom. I will work on my speech later, he thought to himself.

“Oh, man, Satin is going to kill me if I am late again for another one of their committee meetings,” he said while looking at his watch. He winced and ran downstairs, waving to his father and his grandmother before disappearing through the front door.

“I swear that boy is going to be late for his own funeral,” Mrs. Nutti said as Mr. Vallée smiled and continued eating his breakfast.

* * *

Weeks later, Néarbi Méka High School Auditorium was the place to be as the senior year was finally coming to an end, the music pumping, and the place fully decorated with gold stars bearing the names of all the graduates. The entrance was red-carpet style as the theme, with red, gold, white, and black balloons decorating the sides of the tables and a photo booth to capture the moment. A shiny disco ball hovered over the dance floor as students danced to the latest techno beat and pop songs.

“Great, they got all kinds of food here, healthy and unhealthy,” Satin chimed.

“I want something sweet,” Christian said as he took up a slice of chocolate mocha cake.

While Baní, Christian, Dastiní, and Satin stood chatting around the cake and sandwich table, Satin shouted, “We finally made it!”

“I can’t believe it. I thought this day would never come!” Christian said.

“No more Mrs. Smelliepants! History, religion, what a waste!” Dastiní declared.

“Freedom!” another student exclaimed as he walked by the group.

“Yeah!” Ésam said, agreeing, as he and Ranstíni joined their group of friends around the table.

“Hey, let’s have a final showdown between Dastiní and Ren. Dis should be pretty interesting, cansidering Ren lost to Dastiní two weeks ago,” said Baní.

“Hey, man, that was a fluke. You know he wasn’t all there,” Ranstíni defended.

“Yeah, he really got some bad news about his girlfriend, Ari,” Satin added.

“Oh yeah, I overheard her mom talking to the police, saying she was missing for weeks but no one knew because her mom thought she was with her dad in Bráanzalia while her dad thought she was here with her mom,” Christian stated.

“Ren told me he hadn’t heard from her for a while, which was unlike her. She is like his soul mate. He’s been going crazy with worry and getting into fights for no reason. He then started drinking and smoking and hanging out with Sáphire, which is nutty. If you ask me, I think she has him under a spell,” Ésam said.

“Hey, I don’t appreciate you guys trying to set up Ren and Sáphire when you know she is my girlfriend,” interjected Ranstíni.

“No one asked you, Ésam! Ranstíni, does she know that you even exist?” Dastiní asked.

“Shut up, Dastiní!” Ranstíni and Ésam said simultaneously, turning to look at each other.

“Will you three knock it off before I turn you into a toad or worse again?” Satin glared wickedly at them with an evil smile while rubbing her fingers together to produce a light-blue spark.

While cringing from her glare, Dastiní, Ranstíni, and Ésam immediately apologized to Satin before she did anything to them.

Meanwhile, under the moonlit night, as the group continued talking about Ren and his newfound love interest, Renwar and Sáphire were talking and holding hands, looking up at the starry sky.

“The stars look a bit closer than normal; don’t you think? It’s like those clusters of seven stars over there are shining brightly in one location. Hey, Sáphire, the moon looks almost blue too,” Ren said as he pointed to the night sky.

“Yeah,” Sáphire answered, glancing up, “I can’t believe high school is finally over. We can now live our own lives and move from this hellish town.”

“I have dreamt of this moment, but Ari was in it and we were happy. I can’t believe she has been missing for over a month in Bráanzalia and no one can find her. I remember you telling me weeks ago that she was missing. How did you know that?” Renwar asked Sáphire.

“I didn’t—I just guessed. Don’t worry about her. Ari is fine. She probably ran away from her mom and dad to start her own life,” Sáphire said.

“Without me? That’s not possible!” Ren blurted.

“Ren, honey, I told you what she said. Don’t you believe me? She said she wanted a break from you and everything. She just wanted to be left alone,” Sáphire lied as she wrapped her fingers around Renwar’s arms.

“I can’t believe that. Why are the police looking for her then?” Ren asked.

“Because she is underage, and her parents want her found. But you and I both know that when she wants to disappear, she can,” Sáphire said as she smiled inwardly.

“Hi, Ren. Hey, Sáphire,” greeted Anna Kaisen, Sáphire’s younger sister.

“Hi, Anna, I have not seen you for a while. I thought you moved or something,” Renwar said as he hugged Anna.

“No, Ren, I went away on business for Sáph—” she stopped as Sáphire interrupted.

“What are you doing here, Anna? Shouldn’t you be running an errand or something?” Sáphire asked.

“I-I did. I just wanted you to know it’s done, and I think we need to talk now,” Anna replied.

“What do we need to discuss now that we can’t do later, Anna?” Sáphire inquired.

“Ren, could you give us a minute, please?” Anna begged as she dragged Sáphire a distance off from Ren.

“What is wrong with you, Anna? You came back with a sudden disregard of my request. It’s like you have changed somewhat and now have a spine,” Sáphire spat as she looked at her sister with animosity.

“I don’t understand why you are so drawn to Ren, Sáphire. He is never going to stop loving Ariel,” Anna added as she looked at Ren, who was trying his best not to come over.

“I know, but there is something about him that keeps pulling us together. He looks like Tommy. There must be more to Ren than we know,” Sáphire speculated.

“I think you should forget about the both of them. Tommy died along with his sister Girda decades ago. The bloodline died years ago,” Anna countered.

“I refuse to believe that. The Farfo bloodline is still here. Look at Ranstíni—he is still here. Maybe we could ask him about his ancestors and see if he could tell us anything,” Sáphire rambled.

“Look, Sáphire, I know Dad said you and Tommy were betrothed, but just understand this, Ren is not Tommy, nor is he of his bloodline. He is a Vallée from the light witch bloodline, not the dark. You cannot merge light and dark. Don’t you remember what they did to Tommy’s parents? They banished their father and killed their mother,” Anna warned.

“How do you know they killed his mother?” Sáphire questioned.

“That’s what Father said to Girda. He said that after Tommy was born, they sent demons to destroy her, and they were successful as they brought back her body and buried her in the dark cemetery. Girda wanted to find her, but they wouldn’t let her see where she was buried as they thought she would bring her back to life. They banished her father and kept the children with their uncle,” Anna whispered as a student walked past them.

“I don’t care. Where was I when Dad told you this?” Sáphire asked, trying to keep calm.

“You were out with Tommy and Girda. It was the day I got sick from eating the frog you dared me to eat. He was talking to Mom, and I overheard them as they thought I was sleeping,” Anna replied.

“Oh, sorry about that, I didn’t really know you would do it. But I can’t shake this feeling that he is a part of Tommy, and if that is the case and he is a part of the Farfo bloodline, then darkness is within him and he can help us with our goal.” Sáphire smiled, feeling happy about the new prospect of having Renwar as her future.

“Do you really believe he is Tommy’s bloodline?” Anna asked as she looked her sister in the eye.

“I really do. I just need to prove it and maybe, just maybe, he will see things our way. Anyway, can we discuss this at home? I don’t like being away from him too long,” Sáphire said, hopeful.

“Sure, no problem, but if he turns out to be of the light, he needs to be dealt with,” Anna advised.

“Great! See you later, little sister,” Sáphire said with a smile.

“Bye, Ren. Later, Sáphire,” Anna said before she left.

“Bye, Anna, it was nice seeing you again,” Ren said as she walked away.

As Anna left, Satin and her friends went looking for Ren and found him outside with Sáphire sitting on a marble-like bench donated by past students, which had been engraved with the words Méka Panthers for Life.

“Oh, there you are. We’ve been looking for you,” Satin announced.

“Who? Me?” Ren asked as he greeted his friends.

“Yeah. The guys wanted to have a final showdown. You know, since you lost two weeks ago,” Satin said.

Renwar rolled his eyes and said, “It was an off day.”

“So wi going have a showdown or wah?” asked Baní as he stuffed the last piece of key lime pie in his mouth.

“Yeah, I will race you for your pink slip again, Ren,” said Dastiní, grinning, and took out his keys.

“So, Ren, which of your cars will you be gracing us with tonight?” asked Christian as he surveyed the area for Renwar’s car.

“What I drove here tonight, my 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo,” Ren smiled.

“Are you sure you want to give away your graduation present, Dastiní?” Ésam asked with a worried expression on his face.

“Hey, I don’t plan on losing. Besides, I got a brand-new 2015 Dodge Viper SRT waiting back home,” Dastiní bragged.

“So do wi have a race?” Baní asked again as he leaned next to Sáphire and smiled at her.

“Hi, Sáphire, you look beautiful tonight,” Ranstíni said as he faced Sáphire.

Sáphire smiled at Ranstíni and Baní as she turned to the group and said, “We were talking before you idiots came. Can’t you all just curl up in a ball and disappear?”

“Oh, Sáphire, were you always there? Sorry, didn’t see you,” Satin jeered.

“You little b***h,” Sáphire shouted as her eyes glowed red, wishing she could kill her with her powers but thought about Ren and how he would hate her forever. Swallowing her anger, she allowed herself to calm down, waiting for Ren to get rid of his friends so they could be alone.

“So, Ren, are we going to stand here and look really stupid, or are we going to have the race of a lifetime to blow out the high school year?” Satin said as she turned her back to Sáphire.

“Okay. Race you for your car. Don’t cry when I walk away with two cars. I will just add it to my collection,” Ren smiled crookedly as he answered.

“Yeah,” the group shouted as the challenge was accepted. People gathered, taking bets, to see who would win; majority had their money on Ren, as he had a history of winning his races once, he was not distracted.

As the group and other spectators charged toward Monkey Cale Street, a road filled with turns and straight roads, some went ahead so they could see the finish line and set up checkpoints to relay the camera visuals with their phones or tablets.

Ren and Dastiní fired up their engines, turning to look at each other while they continued revving their engine. Rrrrrrr.Vrroom, vrrrooom, vrroom!

Satin stood between the cars, waving a red b*a in the air, and shouted, “on your marks, get set, go!” Both cars smoked and tire marks were made as the b*a dropped to the ground and they zipped past her.

They went down the straight road, and as Dastiní and Ren raced down the road, Dastiní then started pulling ahead of Renwar. Renwar smiled, knowing he could still take him, pressed the turbo, and sped past Dastiní. Dastiní didn’t want to be outdone and pressed his turbo, and both were now neck and neck down the street. They approached a deep corner, and a dog ran out in the middle of the road. Renwar swerved to avoid hitting the Pomeranian and lost control of the vehicle and started skidding. Sáphire screamed “No!” as Ren’s car hit the side embankment, rolled, and tumbled before finally crashing head-on into a pine tree.

“Oh my god!” Satin shouted as they raced to the overturned car. Dastiní turned around as he saw the accident unfold and got out of his silver 2014 McLaren MP4-12C and ran to where Ren’s lifeless-looking body was lying in the dirt. He was covered in blood all over, his head was bleeding, and his leg seemed to be broken. The bone was protruding, and the flesh was hanging off.

Baní and Ranstíni went over to help and saw the damage to Ren then vomited.

“Call the ambulance!” Satin shouted breathlessly as she looked at Renwar’s wounds. Ésam took out his cell phone and called the Néarbi ambulance. Within five minutes, the paramedics were there, working to put Ren on the stretcher to rush him to the hospital. While the ambulance transported Ren to the hospital, Satin called his family and told them what happened.

As the hours ticked on, Renwar’s mother arrived and was very anxious when she heard the news about her son from Mrs. Nutti. They were unable to contact Renwar’s father as he left just after graduation to report for duty on a secret mission. His friends and family paced the hospital hallways, anxiously hoping that Ren would make it.

“Dr. Neil, is my baby going to be all right?” Renwar’s mother asked in a crying voice, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Mrs. Vallée—I’m sorry, Mrs. Pinwheel—your son is in an induced coma. We are working to fix his broken leg and to control the swelling on the brain. We are doing everything in our power to help him heal,” Dr. Neil replied.

“Oh my god. Dr. Neil, please help him, please help my son,” Mrs. Pinwheel urged.

As Dr. Neil nodded solemnly and walked away to the ER, the group pounced on Mrs. Pinwheel for details.

“The doctor is doing all he can to return Ren to us, but right now . . .” she said, sobbing, unable to complete her sentence.

“Hey, Satin, why don’t you heal him? You can use your magical powers and heal him. Or is it that you can only use it to turn your friends into dogs, toads, or chicken?” Dastiní whispered as he stared at Satin.

“You know I can’t do that. I don’t know how to. Besides, my mother warns me of doing any powerful magic as each has consequences. Turning you into a toad or clucking like a chicken is child’s play,” Satin said, feeling torn as she tried to see if any good could come out of trying.

“Well, if he dies and you could have saved him, it would be on your shoulders,” Dastiní warned as he walked away.