Chapter 7 of The Arrival of Aisling

Boss was looking weaker than usual, but it was always the same symptoms. A slight tinge of her feathers, and her skin practically translucent. The sickness had spread just a few years ago, but the only one tremendously affected was Boss. There was an unusual quiet before Boss managed to speak. "Do you know that the illness is spreading again? It's been years, decades, since it's struck the able", she said all this with a slight smile. Aisling had never had much time with Boss, but the strange creature always peaked one's curiosity. Aisling finished her sandwich, and asked, "Why were you affected more than everyone else?"1

The raven feathered spirit turned her pale silver eyes towards the tiled, cold floor, and replied, "That is for you to find out on your own, Aisling. Not all answers are to be found out immediately. Isn't that an integral aspect in religion? The unknown?"2

Aisling's pupils widened as she digested the words that held her mind captive. Rather, did she even have a mind? Do spirits truly think, or is it a person's dream strung loosely together? Aisling let the memory pass, and gathered her food into her lunch box. Boss noticed the girl's hurry, and softly requested that her hiding place not be found or told to anyone. Aisling looked over Boss, and nodded quickly, before wishing the creature a good day, and running off to the office once more.3

Or so she believed. The office was not hard to find anymore, but her thoughts lead her back to the river, where she sensed a prevalence which somehow mattered. A premonition. Mortals called it 'woman's insight', but that was not it at all. She looked over the fields, and began to ran through the grasses that were jutting from the soft soil. Aisling had finally reached the river, and upon sighting nothing but the gurgling water, she began to walk back, disappointed that her compass had not found her anything. That was, until she tripped over that 'anything'. 4

There was no feeling of pain as she gathered herself upon the floor, but the item was definitely creviced against her pale, blue-veined ankle. After giving it her all to want to stand up once more, she gathered the thing into her hand. Upon further inspection, it was an intertwined chain of sorts. One side held a charm of a rock, and the other was an orchid blossom. Aisling tilted her head, as she wondered over if either charm had a significance. But that was not the concern that kept her captive, nor would it be the excuse her Higher Up would accept. Realizing what Shadow it was, Aisling hurriedly thrust the chain into her outfit pocket, and ran towards the dismal, sterilized building she called Home.5

In the silent nothing, Aisling gathered her feet towards the Hospital once more, and returned to her desk. Throughout the day, she lost touch with her being, but the rare occurence of a call to the front desk, or the greeting of a fellow co-worker broke her out of the doldrums which plagued her. That was, until she got the call which worried her. She dwelled over the sick person that was needing her help. Was it worth it to help someone who specifically asked for her? More importantly, why her above the thousands of others who practically did the same job as she? With hesitation she grasped the phone, and pressed forward with her fate.