Will You Be My Echo?

Will you be my echo?

#echo #oliviadean

Olivia Dean // Echo

Snippet of What's to Come

~ Hello, everyone! I first want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read more stories! I truly appreciate it ❤ Here's a preview of a story I am working from the game Blooming Panic featuring my character, Elena, with Nightowl, one of the love interests! Enjoy ~

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Elena's heart aches as she sees Nightowl's contrite expression on the video call. "...Hey," he says, his voice heavy with emotion. Elena's heart twists and turns as she remembers the hurtful words he said to her, and she takes a deep breath before saying, "Hi, Nightowl." In her tone of sorrow, Nightowl winces, knowing he has a lot to apologize for.

"I know you're upset with me. And you have every right to be." Nightowl says, fumbling with his sleeves as he looks at Elena with sincere regret. "I shouldn't have said those hurtful things to you. I'm really, really sorry." His voice trembles as he continues, "If you don't ever want to call me again, you don't have to. If you're uncomfortable with me in general, I'll even leave the server." He sighs and looks at Elena with remorse. "Just... I am so, so sorry."

Elena nods as she listens to Nightowl's apology, but her eyes sting with unshed tears as she looks up at him. She takes a deep breath to collect herself before sternly saying, "I appreciate your apology, but it's not good enough. You know that." In her pain, Nightowl laments with his heart sinking to his knees. "I know it's not. I get it." He looks at Elena with a glimmer of hope and asks, "Is there, ah, anything I can do? To make this better?"

Elena thinks to herself, "Is there anything he can do to fix this?" She reflects on the events of the previous day and past instances where Nightowl's behavior had been questionable. She decides to ask him directly, "You can start by explaining why you keep acting like this."

Elena waits patiently for Nightowl's response, her eyes fixed on him as she waited for an explanation for his behavior. "Like...lashing out?" he asks hesitantly, avoiding eye contact and looking off to the side with nerves. Elena's expression remains serious as she responds firmly, "Yes."

Despite the harshness in her tone, Elena's intentions are pure, and she only wants to help Nightowl. She cares deeply for him and doesn't mean to come off as callous. She hopes to help him resolve the issues that have caused him to lash out in the past and find a way for him to cope with his emotions healthily.

Elena's voice trembles as she speaks, her face showing her concern. "I don't want to seem insensitive, Nightowl. You have to know that I care about you and just want to help." She hesitates, searching for the right words. "It's just that, I can't pretend everything is fine when it clearly isn't." She stops herself as tears start to well up in her eyes. "What you said to me yesterday was really hurtful, and I was in shock that you could say those things to me, especially after we had such a nice conversation before."

Tears start to slide down her cheeks as she speaks, and she quickly rubs them away. Nightowl feels a deep sense of remorse as he watches Elena try to compose herself, knowing that he is the source of her pain. "I want to understand why you keep lashing out. Not only does it hurt me to see you like this, but your actions have hurt me too. I want to do everything I can to support you, but you have to understand how deeply your words have hurt me." Elena looks at Nightowl earnestly, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. "And I don't take that lightly."

Fallen Embrace Chapter 2

Warning: Hurt, Mentions of Death, Injury, Feeling of Despair

As Nevaeh falls, she braces herself for the impact and the inevitable doom. However, just before she is out the window, she feels a pair of powerful hands grab her and pull her back inside. She is lifted off her feet and slammed against a strong chest, whose heart is beating wildly. The hands holding her arms shake her firmly as a panicked voice demands, "What the hell were you thinking?!"

Nevaeh lifts her gaze, only to feel her heart sink at the frustration etched on Noel’s face. However, she can't help but notice the way his wings are drawn close to his body, the panic in his eyes, and the slight trembling in his hands. Did I…scare him, she wonders. In response to her silence, Noel gives her a gentle but firm shake, demanding, "Answer me, Nevaeh! Why were you trying to jump out the window?!"

The realization of what Noel must have thought hits Nevaeh like a cold wave. Oh my god, she thinks, feeling a sense of shame wash over her. Without hesitation, she wraps her arms around Noel and whispers fiercely into his chest, "I wasn't going to jump! I just wanted some fresh air!"

At her sudden proximity and words, Noel's face turns a bright shade of red. He shakes his head and clears his throat, gently pushing Nevaeh back so he can see her face. "You idiot," he says, trying to hide the relief in his voice. "Go downstairs and open the door if you want fresh air. Not a damn window!"

Nevaeh giggles, unaware that the sound causes Noel's eyes to soften. She gives him a closed-eye smile and he can't help but think that her laugh suits her. As she opens her eyes, he quickly tries to compose himself and adopt a stern expression, though his cheeks are still pink. "You're right, Noel," Nevaeh says, her voice laced with apology. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake DJ up."

At the mention of DJ, Noel can't help but roll his eyes. "That rabbit can sleep through anything," he says with a hint of amusement. He gestures to the bed and moves to one side, indicating that Nevaeh should go back to sleep. "Now come on, off to bed." However, as he starts to move away, he feels a sudden tug on his sleeve.

"Noel, wait," Nevaeh says, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Can you stay with me for a little bit? I... I don't want to be alone."

Noel hesitated for a moment before nodding. He couldn't deny Nevaeh's request, not when he saw the fear and vulnerability in her eyes. Walking her to the bed, he waits for her to get settled in before he sits on the edge of the bed. As he waits for Nevaeh to speak, he looks at her with concern, sensing that something is weighing on her mind. Nevaeh gives him a sad smile, her eyes disheartened. Noel winces internally, thinking that this expression doesn't suit her. Although he would never say it out loud, his wings give a slight flip, betraying his thoughts. He waits for Nevaeh to speak, ready to listen.

"I'm sorry, Noel..." Nevaeh said, fiddling with her fingers. "I know we've talked about how the infection feeds off my despair, and I know I need to stay strong and fight back... it's just that... I'm so tired. I'm so tired of fighting, of trying to hold on." Tears accumulate in Nevaeh's eyes as she looks away, not wanting Noel to see her cry. I need to stay strong, she thought. He can't see me cry.

"The truth is," Nevaeh said, her voice laced with bitterness, "I've always wondered how I died. At least if I die from this infection, I'll know the answer. It's stupid, I know." She shook her head, disappointed in herself. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," she said, covering her face with her hands.

After what feels like an eternity, Nevaeh feels the bed shift to her left as Noel sits down next to her. Ashamed of what she said, she doesn't look up. However, she is startled when she feels something flick her on the side of her head. Wincing, she removes her hand from her face and rubs the spot where Noel flicked her.

"Ow! Noel, seriously?" She exclaims, about to scold him for his sudden gesture. However, she pauses as she looks at his face, seeing a mixture of sorrow and anger carved onto his features.

"Don't you ever say that again," Noel says, gritting his teeth as he looks her in the eye. "Do you understand?"

Shocked by Noel's sincere yet stern tone, Nevaeh feels as though she can't breathe as she stares into his piercing eyes. "Noel..." she begins, but he shakes his head fiercely and scoots closer to her.

"No, you're done talking," he says firmly. "Now it's my turn." Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a handkerchief and begins to gently clean Nevaeh's face, scolding her softly as he does so. "Don't you dare give up on me," he says, his voice laced with conviction. "Don't you remember what I told you? Even in the darkest of hours, you have something to live for."

Nevaeh stares at Noel in awe as he tenderly cleans her face, as if she is made of porcelain. There is a look of concentration and conviction on his face that fills her with warmth.

Once Noel deemed Nevaeh's face clean, he put the handkerchief away and looked towards her infected arm. He carefully raised his hand and softly placed it over the infected area, caressing her gently. Nevaeh winced, expecting to feel pain, but was surprised to feel nothing but the feather light strokes from Noel's fingers.

Noel looked back at Nevaeh, unconsciously still caressing her arm, as he continued. "Remember, you still have the trials in five years. And if, for whatever reason, you decide that's not what you want, you have me--"

He trailed off, becoming embarrassed by what he said. His face turned red, and he started to stutter as he removed his hand from her arm and shook both hands in front of him. Nevaeh stared at him in awe, her eyes shining with adoration as Noel tried to collect himself.

Coughing into his hand, he coyly looked away from her. "W-what I meant to say was, you have DJ and myself. Yes, DJ and myself."

Nevaeh smiled softly at Noel, fiddling with her fingers as she tried to prevent herself from reaching out and grabbing his hands. "Thank you, Noel. I truly appreciate it."

Noel nodded, looking back at her with a serious expression engraved onto his pink face. "You're welcome. And if there are ever times when you're not feeling strong enough..." He trails off as he notices Nevaeh fiddling with her fingers. Displeased, he scoffs and reaches forward to place his hand over hers. "Just know, you can always lean on me, okay?"

Nevaeh looked down, shocked that Noel was holding her hand, before looking back up at him and smiling gratefully, tears threatening to spill over as she sniffled. Nodding her head rapidly, she said, "Okay!"

Noel smiled softly at her, pleased to see that she was starting to feel better. Giving her hand a squeeze, he said, "Good. Now, time for bed."

Nevaeh glanced up at Noel as she snuggled into the blankets, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. She hesitated before asking, "Are you coming to bed?" She knew that this wasn't the first time Noel had comforted her from her nightmares, recalling her first night with the infection. Noel scoffs as he laid down next to her, outstretching his wings. "Of course, I am. This is my room, remember?" Nevaeh gently laughs as Noel pointed out the obvious, and he places his wings over her, sheltering her. "Of course, how silly of me to forget," she said with a smile. Noel smirked at her, his expression showing amusement and a hint of sleepiness.

“Yes, very silly. Now, time to get some sleep. Remember that there is nowhere safer than beneath a– ”

“Power’s wings,” Nevaeh finished with a smile, snuggling deeper into the blankets, and closing her eyes. “even someone fallen like you.”

Noel's wings fluttered in response to Nevaeh's words as he let out a fond chuckle, rolling his eyes as he settles into bed. "Yes, that's right. Now get some rest, Nevaeh," he said soothingly. She smiled warmly at him as she snuggled into his feathers, whispering a quiet goodnight into his wings as she drifted off to sleep. As Nevaeh lay peacefully, Noel gazed at her with a soft smile before closing his own eyes, preparing to fall asleep. As he drifted off, he made a silent vow to himself.

Nevaeh, I promise to always keep you safe.

Always.

~ And it’s done! Oh my god! Here is Chapter 2 of Fallen Embrace! I hope everyone enjoyed! Again, Noel is from the amazing visual novel game Repurpose made by @residentialrabbit​ <3 ~​

Michelangelo

Elena and Quest were walking home from their restaurant date, their bodies close together as they braved the cold night air. Michelangelo, the sweet little dog that had been following them, was cuddled safely in Quest's arms. Elena looked up at him, her eyes filled with love, and saw him smiling down at her. "We should be at the convenience store soon," she said. "We can get everything we need for Michelangelo there." Quest placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head and said, "Thank you again."

Elena snuggled closer to Quest, feeling the warmth of his embrace. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him in her life. "It's no problem," she said. "I love you and I want to do whatever I can to make you happy."

Quest smiled down at her, his eyes filled with love. "You already make me the happiest man in the world," he said. "But I'm grateful for your help with Michelangelo. He's such a sweet little dog and I'm glad we can take care of him."

As they walked, Michelangelo contentedly snuggled in Quest's arms, seeming to sense that he was safe and loved. Elena couldn't help but feel touched by the sight. "I'm glad we found him," she said. "He's going to be a great addition to our little family."

Quest chuckled. "I'm sure he'll be a handful, but I think he's worth it," he said.

As they approached the convenience store, Michelangelo's stomach rumbled. "Poor baby is starving," she said. "I hope we can get everything we need for Michelangelo."

Quest grinned. "I'm sure they'll have something," he said. "And maybe we can grab a snack for ourselves while we're at it."

As they entered the convenience store, Elena couldn't help but tease Quest. "Still hungry after dinner?" she asked with a cheeky smile.

Quest laughed and shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a growing boy," he said.

Elena chuckled and they both laughed as they made their way to the pet section. Thankfully, they were able to find everything they needed, including dog food, a couple of pee pads, some chew toys, and a small bed for Michelangelo. They also grabbed some snacks to tide them over until morning.

As they walked down the snack aisle, Michelangelo's nose started twitching as he sniffed the air. He seemed excited at the prospect of getting some food.

Once they had checked out and were on their way home, Michelangelo seemed to sense that they were almost there. He wagged his tail excitedly, and Elena couldn't help but smile at the sight.

When they arrived home, they quickly got settled in. Michelangelo made himself right at home, exploring every corner of the condo before settling down for the night.

As Elena and Quest cuddled on the couch, with Michelangelo snoozing at their feet, Elena couldn't help but feel grateful for the love and joy that filled her life. She looked forward to many more happy days with Quest and Michelangelo by her side.

Elena looked at Quest, her eyes shining with love and emotion. "I don't know how to express how much you mean to me," she said. "Ever since I met you, you've been my rock, my support, and my everything. I love you, Quest. You make me happier than I ever thought possible."

Quest's heart swelled with love and gratitude as he looked into Elena's eyes. "I feel the same way," he said. "You're my angel, Ellie. You've given me a second chance at life and I'm so grateful to have you by my side. I love you more than words can say."

Elena smiled and leaned in to kiss Quest, her lips soft and warm against his. As they kissed, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the love and happiness that filled her life. She knew that she was exactly where she was meant to be, with the man she loved by her side.

Fallen Embrace Chapter 1

Warning: Nightmares, Hurt, Injury, and Feeling of Despair

Nevaeh was tossing and turning in her bed, her sheets tangled around her legs. She was trapped in another nightmare, one that seemed all too real. In the dream, she was being chased by a monster, a Geist that fed off her despair. It was getting closer and closer, its haunting laughter filling her ears.

The Geist was telling her to give in, to let it consume her. Nevaeh tried to run, but her legs felt heavy, and she couldn't seem to escape. She was trapped in the darkness with the monster, her screams echoing through the empty space.

Suddenly, Nevaeh woke up with a start, inhaling deeply as she tried to catch her breath. She sat up in bed, her heart racing and her body covered in sweat. She looked around the room, relieved to see that it was just a dream, but the fear lingered.

She lays back down and tries to push the thoughts out of her head, but the voices in her dreams kept creeping back in. They were always the same, urging her to give in to the infection, to let it consume her. Nevaeh squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the voices, but they only grew louder. A couple of tears prickled her eyes as she gave up on falling back asleep, knowing only nightmares would await her.

Nevaeh sat up further in bed and wiped the sweat from her brow. She looked at her arm in the dim moonlight filtering in through the window. The infection had spread since yesterday, and the skin around it was red and inflamed. Her gaze fell upon an icepack left by Noel before he left on patrol on the left side of the bed, which had now melted. Shakily reaching for it, she picks it up only to find that it sags in her hand. Gritting her teeth, she grips her arm tight as it throbs, as if something were trying to escape.

A slow gaze passed over Noel's room as she sat up slowly. The night was quiet, except for the little snores of DJ downstairs. A giggle escapes Nevaeh’s lips as she thinks how nice it must be to sleep without care. As she gazes upon the well-kept plants, a chuckle escapes Nevaeh as she remembers the time, she commented on how cute it was that Noel looked after the plants, only for him to be so flustered that there was nothing cute about watering them. Yet, she remembered the slight flutter in his wings that spoke of his true feelings.

Just as Nevaeh was starting to feel a bit lighter, as though her despair was lifting slightly, she was hit with a sudden surge of nausea and doubled over in pain. Her eyes misted from the pain as she covered her mouth. Taking a deep breath, she thought, You're okay. It's just a side effect. This will pass.

In the midst of the pain, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, her knees trembling. Fresh air was needed, she thought. The darkness that was closing in on her needed to be left behind. Taking care not to cause the floorboards to creak under her feet, she slowly approaches the windows. The silent creaking of the windows fills the room as she softly opens them. She sits carefully on the windowsill and holds the ledge as she takes a deep inhale, followed by a shaky exhale.

"I'm so tired," Nevaeh whispered helplessly to herself, "I'm so tired, and yet... I need to stay strong. I need to be there for DJ... for Noel." Tears spilled down her face as she thought about the blonde fallen angel. Despite her exhaustion, a gentle smile formed on her face at the thought of him. Nevaeh knew that she needed to stay strong…for him. It's the least I can do for him, she thought, after everything he's done for me.

As Nevaeh sat on the windowsill listening to the quiet air of Limbo for a couple of minutes, she decided it was time for her to come down and go back to sleep. Getting some sleep was necessary since she would join Noel on patrol tomorrow. In her focus on descending safely, she wasn't aware of the bedroom door opening behind her. In the middle of shaking, as she was still physically exhausted from her earlier experience, she heard a loud gasp followed by a demanding and equally panicked yell: "What are you doing?!" Nevaeh loses her grip as the sudden cry stuns her and pales as she notices herself falling...out the window as everything moves in slow motion.

~ Noel is from the wonderful game Repurpose! An amazing visual novel by @residentialrabbit​ :) Please check it out! ~

Sally Face my beloved ,,