The most pure and beautiful of flowers must die.

They deserve the world.

But the world does not deserve them.

-----------------------------------------

Running as fast as they possibly could, It was like Olive could feel the cold breath of the monstrous person behind them that was trying to end their life at this very moment. They tried their best to speed up, knowing that it would speed up too, and whatever this.. thing planned on doing to them would happen. Ducking under branches to get to any place that they could lose it, passing by multiple wanted posters of them nailed against oak trees. This person wasn't as agile as they thought. Its steps were unplanned, just running towards their victim like it was the only job they have. It'll be easy to get to a fork in the woods, and mislead them by running in a different direction. 

- - - -

By now they had reached the center of the forest, and multiple paths could be seen, leading in multiple directions. They were starting to lose their breath, and at any given moment, That horrid person could creep up on them to slip in for the kill. 

They studied their surroundings, not realizing the one they were afraid of was just out of sight, in the tree above them, Their quiet breaths just barely being heard. 

- - - 

They pounced onto the ground like a cat falling from a building, striking olive quick enough to get 

their sword through their skin. 

Olive turned around, grabbing it by the neck and shoving it into the cave aside, the darkness absorbing what could be seen of their feeble body. 

They should've been relieved, but something didn't feel right. They brushed it off, probably thinking it was nothing, not seeing the sword sticking out of their back.

After all, out of sight, out of mind.. right?

- - -

What a beautiful green flower. 

Oh, but truly a weed.

Sprouting up from the ground.

 just to fall back down.

But it looks like a daisy.

Flourishing in the flower field.

So much like the rest,

yet very, very, different.

- - -

The more they walked throughout the forest, the more they noticed something was.. off.

Olive stopped for a moment, feeling the sharp pain that tugged at their insides. There was a feeling that knotted their stomach in two, something trying to pull them to the ground just to watch them cry out in pain. But they stayed still. The sword came in from the back of their spine and just reached their stomach. Out poured a gleaming, red liquid that submerged most of the sword, the feeling of pure horror covering their face. They wanted to feel something else, but any time tears threatened to fall, they kept them in. All they could feel was fear. The kind of fear that makes your legs tremble. The kind of fear that reminds you that if you die, you’ll never remember your family, friends, or lovers, ever again. All you can do is forget.

. . .

They fell to the ground, not being able to keep themself upright as the pain rushed to their head, while the other, the moth of an uncertain name, was running as fast as she possibly could, stepping on branches, piles of leaves, anything to get her to Olive before it was too late.

. . .

With tears flowing through butterscotch’s eyes, they slowed down, becoming less and less motivated to search, thinking olive had probably passed on already. And that regret would sit with them until they pass on as well. Until..

She saw them.

She ran to olive with what little hope she had left. A puddle of Crimson red blood covered olive’s back while being absorbed by their jacket, the sword still intact. She tightly hugged Olive, crying so much she could hardly breathe.

And Olive hugged back.

“Please.. please don’t leave me. I Promise I’ll stay with you until the day I die.” Their voice began to tremble.

“I don’t want you to go.. please..”

. . .

Olive’s first few tears began falling from their eyes, as they hugged Butterscotch a bit harder. They tried to console their lover, who had lost all hope they once had.

“Hey, look at me.” 

They looked up at olive, their eyes puffy and red from crying, a wistful gleam in their eye that only spelled regret.

“I sort of knew this was bound to happen eventually. And I bet you did too..”

“.. I can’t stay around forever. No one can. So it’s better to have a short life that you love..”

They paused momentarily, catching what’s left of their breath as they played with Butterscotch’s golden hair.

“..than to have a long life you regret living.”

Butterscotch nodded, incoherently sobbing as they buried their head in Olive’s shoulder, still not quite ready to let them go. 

“Butterscotch?”

“Yeah?”

“. . .”

“If I can’t make this out alive I want to tell you that I love you, Butterscotch. I always have.”

She tried her best to smile at olive, any smile would work, even the most desperate. Olive tried their best to smile back.

. . .

Memories of their life flashed before their eyes. Their family, friends, chaos, and calmness. Watching the sunset with the one they most care about, and finally, now. Spending their last minutes with their lover, and slowly dying in their arms, they felt something. Something warm inside, something telling them that even if they were living their last moments, they wouldn’t change anything about their life. They lived it with no regrets and lived it well. 

.     .    .

The leaves flew in the wind, the birds chirped in the trees. They could focus on anything, but couldn’t focus on the one thing right in front of them, after all, it wouldn’t be long until their pulse dropped.

.    .    .

It’s coming soon, they know it, nor do they deny it. Butterscotch's tears dropped down onto their face as she held their hand, grasping it as if she’d never let go. She knew it would happen but she denies it. She’s not ready yet.

Olive looks up at the trees that surrounded them. Leaves, one by one, slowly turn colors and fall to the ground. The cold autumn breeze blew them all in different directions as blood dripped down their lips. butterscotch’s shuddering breaths wanted to make them burst out into painful, remorseful tears that covered them whole. But they didn’t.

First, they felt something…

.  .  .  .

.    .    .    .

.        .       .        .  

And then there was nothing.

The pain Butterscotch felt as she slowly watched their lover's eyes lose all life they once had, dilating into what can only be seen as a deep, dark void. The hand they held onto became as cold as a winter night, their spider legs slowly curling up against their body. Seemingly swallowing them whole.

She realized this is how it would end.

So they were finally put to rest. 

Lying them down on the ground, the sword now sticking out the other side of their body, just being barely visible.

She walked around the dark area, plucking any flower she could find. 

It’s not much, but it’ll do.

She walked back to the lifeless figure that was Olive and knelt down next to Olive’s hand. She opened their hand and placed what looked like a miniature bouquet inside.

She stood back up, watching the green vines sprout up from the ground and wrap around Olive. Starting at their legs, all the way up to their face. Ivy leaves growing everywhere, consuming what was left of their deceased body, leaving nothing behind. 

They weren’t joking. They were gone. For real this time.

- - -

She walked back out of the forest, blood on her hands and grief that would be with her past death.

The minute she returned, there was no excitement or worry from the others, Just silence.. Until one was brave enough to ask the whereabouts of olive. 

Her words broke up and all she could say were stuttering sounds. Hot tears streamed down her face, and she squeezed her eyelids shut in the hope her tears would stop.

“I…I don’t know..”

- - - - - 

𝓔𝓷𝓭