The old dusty staircase to the cellar was admittedly a bit ominous to Angel Song. While she had told Starlight she didn’t watch “horror movie trash”, she was still familiar with how their general premise went and admitted that her current situation definitely could be seen as the start of one of the said movies. The basement was pitch black and predictably covered in spiders and their webbing. She waved her hand in front of herself to dismantle a cobweb in her way at the bottom of the stairs and then wiped her hand on a nearby wall to remove the residue left behind, making a grimacing face as she did so. Angel wasn’t afraid of spiders, but she was not too fond of them.

Shining her light across the room, she could see that old furniture, knick-knacks and things that Grandpear didn’t want to throw away were stored down in this room, causing a big amount of clutter toward the back wall.

The center of the room was relatively empty, with tons of open space. She surmised this was to make it easier to reach things stored in the back, a sound idea for keeping the room accessible.

Taking a breath, she stepped deeper into the room and shined her light. Approaching the back, Angel approached an old box sat atop of a dusty chair. Opening it up, she took a peek inside to see tons of things that looked like they had belonged to a woman. Picture frames in pink, jewelry boxes, and a teddy bear or two. It was obvious that someone had moved these items down here to put them out of sight, yet they couldn’t bear to part with them.

Curiously, Angel continued to dig, looking for anything of interest when she discovered a few envelopes.

Flipping through them, they all seemed to be some kinds of Christmas cards, likely with sentimental value, one envelope, however, drew her attention more than the rest. She blinked as she took note of the handwritten address, and the name was written where the return address was supposed to go. Pear Butter.

The return address was somewhere in Maryland that Angel had never heard of.

This was likely the kind of clue they had been looking for. Ever so curiously, Angel opened the letter and pulled out its contents to read it.

Dear Father,

I know it’s been a long time since we’ve spoken, and I accept that there is a possibility that you haven’t forgiven me yet, but enough time has passed to where I feel I should reach out and try to get ahold of you once again.

I know you don’t approve of Bright Mac, and the Apple family, but I was hoping you could put this stupid feud behind you for my sake. The Apple family has been so good to me, and Bright Mac has treated me better than anyone I’ve met in my entire life. I think if you gave him a chance, you’d come to love him as much as I do, father. He’s eager to get the chance to know you, and we want to share our kids with you, father.

Big Mac is eight now, and little Applejack is just turning four. Please, they want to know their grandfather, they deserve to have you be a part of their life. If you can’t do it for me, or for Bright Mac, do it for them. I miss you, and while I know running off to get married without your approval hurt you, you have no idea how much it hurt me. I am not upset though, I don’t care that you forced me to choose between you and Bright Mac all those years ago, I just want us to be a family again. I want us to be together.

It’s never too later to make things right, and you know that’s been my motto for a long time. It’s part of why I fell for Bright in the first place. When he accidentally hit our house with that baseball and shattered our window, and while it took him a few days to get the courage to come say something, he approached you and offered to pay and fix it himself. Do you remember, father? You made him stand out there in the frigid fall weather repairing it, but he never complained, he never gave up. When I asked him why he didn’t just. Continue to pretend it wasn’t him, he just told me that honesty was the best policy and while he was afraid to say something at first, he never thought it was too late to do the right thing.

I guess that’s when it all began, but I still believe there is so much truth in that statement. I always want to try and be true to myself and do the right thing. I want our kids to see that too. It would mean so much to them if you did the same. If you want to make it up to me, then please write me back, your grandchildren are ready to meet you, Bright Mac is ready to get to know you, and I’m ready to have my father back.

I love you, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Pear Butter

Angel frowned at the sad tone the letter presented. It sounded like a real rift was placed between the two, enough to make them not speak with one another for what appeared to be close to a decade.

The picture was becoming clear to Angel; Pear Butter had run off to marry this Bright Mac, and her father didn’t approve of him. This caused him to force her to choose between her family or her husband, and she picked her husband. It was a tragic tale, one that she wondered if the poor girl ever got closure on.

Continuing to dig through the letters, she found another stuffed behind the first one, this one written, but the envelope had no address written on it, no stamp. It had never been sent.

Opening it, she decided she had already been nosy enough to read the first one, that she may as well read the second as well.

Dear Pear Butter,

I feel rotten for how horrible I have treated you all this time. To receive your letter and see that you still care so deeply about the senile old man that treated you so badly... It breaks my heart. The years have rolled by and I have missed you dearly, but I refused to budge, I refused to speak, and I refused to offer forgiveness. I was stubborn for so long, and I can’t even fathom a reason why. Maybe that’s just a part of being old, you refuse to let go of the past.

Maybe one day when you’re old, you’ll understand, or maybe you’ll be better than me about it; who knows.

This letter is long past due, and I would understand if it upsets you that it took so long to write back that you don’t even bother reading this, but I wanted to say I am sorry. I’m sorry for being so stubborn and blind to how you felt, for being so stuck in my ways that I would turn away the last thing that was important to me. After your mother died, I promised I’d take care of you, I promised I’d make sure you were safe, happy and taken care of.

I was so focused on that that when I heard you were with that Apple boy... I just got tunnel vision, I guess. I wanted you to end up with someone who could take care of you, not just another poor farm boy, not another rough country boy like myself. However, because of that I never considered what would make you happy.

I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for taking so long, and if you’ll still have me, I’d love to get to know my grand-children now.

I’m ready to accept the life you’ve chosen, I just regret that I missed out on so much of it because of my own stubbornness.

With Love,

Your Father

Angel rubbed her eyes as she read. It was truly a sad letter, not just because of the contents, but because it was clear that he had never gotten to send it, and now that he had passed, he never would. She wondered if Pear Butter ever knew how her father truly felt, or if she still didn’t to this day.

Angel tucked the letter into her bra, deciding that she had a moral obligation to deliver the letter if they ever found the woman. Pear Butter deserved closure, she deserved to know how her father really felt. While she felt guilty violating his belongings, she told herself it was for a good cause as she nodded.

Once the letter was safely tucked away, Angel smiled to herself before a voice called out to her from the other side of the room. “Quite a noble deed, you’ve decided to embark upon.”

Gasping, she flashed her light in that direction, noting that it did not appear to illuminate anything. Instead, it appeared to be pitch black and darkness that refused to be shined upon. Turning back around, she noticed the room she was in had been completely surrounded by darkness itself. When she returned to looking where she was for the voice, she noted that there in front of her was a marble looking floor, pristine and white in color; she was standing on it.

In front of the young woman was a cliff, a cliff that lead to a hole that appeared endless. She gulped and held her flashlight close to her chest, trying to figure out how she had arrived at this place. Was it another dream?

The same voice echoed through her ears.

Angel Song... The path ahead of you may lead you to ruin... With your magic, there is a temptation, the path to darkness you will find is easy to be duped into following... Where you stand now represents that, you’re on the edge of darkness, one more step and you could fall to it, give into it, and there would be no going back... Many have already given into that same darkness...

Angel remained perfectly still, her hands kept clenched against her chest in fear. She didn’t dare answer. The voice seemed to come from her mind itself, it didn’t sound like it was coming from anywhere around her.

It continued not bothering to wait for an answer from the young girl.

Is this your fate, Angel? Is this the destiny you see yourself following?

Angel shook her head.

Then another path awaits you.

As those words rang in her ears, a long stairwell appeared behind her, leading up for what seemed like miles. She craned her neck to try and see the top, but it was no use, it was impossible to see that far into the distance. She wondered if such a trip of a flight of stairs would take days to reach the top.

She remained still as the voice continued to explain.

Before you is the path to light. If you walk this path, you too will be enveloped in light.

Angel blinked as she eyed the stairwell up and down, her eyes still trying to process such a long flight of stairs.

Be warned though, many demons have tried to walk this path as well. Being on the path alone is not enough to save one from becoming a demon. Know this, Angel, if you choose to walk this path, you will experience great pain. Your body will be tested, your mind will be tested, your heart will be tested, however, if you can overcome all of this, if you can pass those tests, then the ultimate reward awaits you.

Angel remained quiet and looked down to the first step in front of herself.

If your resolve is enough, this challenge will seem easy to you. Is your resolve enough to overcome this challenge, Angel?

Angel nodded.

Then take that first step.

She hesitated for a brief second, but placed a foot atop of the step, watching the entire staircase light up, the light bursting from where her foot rested. With a second step, the light radiated a second time, and then a third, each following the movement of her feet as she ascended the stairs. The girl knew it would be a while before she reached the top, so she decided it was best to run.

Moving as swiftly as her feet would carry, Angel bolted up the steps as fast as she could, eager to reach the top.

Angel’s legs were practically on fire, her muscles were pumping lactic acid so much that she could hardly breathe, but she pushed herself further and further, running up the stairs for what felt like forever. The concept of time was lost upon her until she finally saw the last few steps in sight.

Huffing and wheezing, she managed to make it to that coveted top step finding herself on a new platform where a cloaked figure stood draping over themselves with a black hood and their body concealed, a mask hiding their face.

“Congratulations for making it here, the first small step on your journey is now behind you,” the figure spoke.

Huffing and puffing, Angel tried to catch her breath before she answered. “W-who are you?”

“A question for another time... Right now, all that matters is that you understand the importance of your powers. You’ve been practicing, I know, but I shall show you a new ability that you will need on your journey...” The cloaked woman stated.

Angel blinked and forced herself into a proper stand as she watched a gloved hand reach forward with the palm open. The woman’s hand glowed for a brief second and Angel stepped back, holding her own hand in front of herself defensively, noting that a blade made of light had appeared in said hand.

Examining the new weapon, Angel blinked in astonishment, somewhat impressed in herself for being able to control such an amazing technique. Giving the blade a few swings, she got a feel for it, before the figure in front of her extended both of their hands, making two identical blades appear in her hands.

“One day, you may be able to handle two, but for now, a single blade will be all you can control...” They stated.

Angel nodded and looked at her hand and then paid attention as the cloaked woman held both of her blades at her sides, ready to strike. “Now, let us test how well you can handle your new ability...”

“Huh?” Angel asked.

Without warning, the cloaked woman lunged at her, slicing with both of her swords in rapid succession. Angel managed to dodge the first few swings, and by swing number eight she had actually managed to deflect one with her own, but the cloaked woman quickly retaliated with another swing from the unblocked blade.

Placing her two blades in a scissor formation, she came from the outside out with a slash, that Angel stuck her own blade between to stop the assault. The effect caused both swords to go off to the side, and cause her no damage.

The hooded woman swiped at Angel, but she ducked and swung back at the girl’s knees, but the cloaked woman was clearly too clever to fall for such a simple trick as she hopped back, out of harm’s way. Angel silently complained, thinking she almost had her. She wasn’t that skilled at fighting others, even though she had been practicing in the past few months; knowing that her magic would come in handy at some point.

The next few moments were spent repeating a lot of what had already transpired. An attack would come her way, and she would either block it or get out of the way, occasionally making a failed swipe of her own at the cloaked woman.

After perhaps the eighth failure or so, the figure stepped back and shook her head. “Don’t get tunnel vision. It’s important to chain together abilities that you have had prior to create new techniques.”

Angel had never thought of it that way. If she connected abilities, it would unleash devastating results if done correctly. Two relatively weak abilities could be amplified to create a more potent one.

Focusing her power, Angel lit her light blade on fire, creating a weapon of light and ember now. Impressed with herself, she held the blade pointed at her foe, hoping to intimidate her, even just a little.

Her efforts were fruitless, as the figure didn’t seem even remotely afraid of the new advancement. She stood ready to deliver as Angel swung her freshly crafted weapon, only to be blocked repeatedly. Whoever this woman was, she was far more skilled with magic than Angel was, which likely wasn’t too difficult if other magic users existed in the world somewhere.

After getting knocked back repeatedly, Angel panted and knelt down, feeling exhaustion take over her once more. She didn’t really have any proper time to recover from the walk up the stairs to even reach the platform, and now she was expected to fight full force with what seemed to be a tireless being.

The cloaked woman lowered her blades and stood still as she spoke. “It seems you still have much to learn, Angel...” With those words she removed her hood, her face was still covered by that odd looking black mask, but it was enough for Angel to see one feature, red hair.

“Your power will guide you, but will it guide you to prosperity... Or oblivion? That is up for you to decide. Now I’ll give you one more piece of the puzzle...” Her opponent spoke.

“A woman awaits you, a woman named Twilight. She is unlike anyone you’ve met before...” With those words, a vision of a woman with long blue hair sporting a pink and purple stripe through it, with blunt bangs appeared before Angel. She stared in awe at the slender figure before her.

“She will be very important to you... Seek her out, and more answers will come. Go now, your journey is only just beginning...” The woman spoke.

With those words, somehow Angel felt very tired. She collapsed onto the floor and closed her eyes, drifting away peacefully.

Spooky.

Is everyone preparing themselves for Act VI?

Also, Silence of a Siren should start back up again this month!