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Cumulus and Cirrus did not want Sunshine to go. But Sister was serious, the two of them watched as Sunshine was dragged down the corridor, knowing this would probably be the last time they get to see sunshine for a while. It was at that moment that they realized they could be next….
[ Two Weeks Earlier ]
“Cirrus stop!” Sunshine was yelling while Cirrus was tickling her sides furiously. Sunshine was rolling on the floor, her feet kicking aimlessly. The two of them so distracted that they didn’t notice the third ghoulette enter the room. The laughter fills the air, Cumulus’ face lights up as she realizes whats playing out.
“OOOHHH, TICKLE TIME” Cumulus shouts while almost tackling the two ghouls on the floor. Her soft tail flicks around like a cat waiting to pounce onto the red dot of a laser pointer. Soon, Cirrus finds herself on the ground, being tickled mercilessly by Cumulus. The room fills with warmth as the girls all have fun while periodically ganging up on eachother. After a while, the laughter dies down and they all lay on the floor, chests heaving up and down. All of the girls have smiles on their faces, laying on the cool marble of the piano room in the ministry. The smiles that they wanted to last forever before they heard the all too familiar clacking of Sisters high heels on the tile.
The feeling in the room shifts as the door creaks open, a familiar face looking at the three girls, “Try to be quiet, Nihil is trying to rest,” Her voice echoed in the room. The girls nodded their heads trying to not look scared, once Sister was happy with their response, she turned away, and closed the door, the heels clicking down the hallway, till they could no longer hear.
[two weeks later- back in the corridor]
Sunshines feet trying to grip onto the floor to get her footing, tears streaming down her face. “No! Please! I can’t be on tax duty this soon!!” her voice is straining from crying and yelling.Cumulus and Cirrus shake at the sight.
Cumulus’ eyes fill with tears, as a lump forms in her throat, she screams “NO WHY.” The shrill fills the air, and suddenly the corridor goes quiet. Sister looks over her shoulder, smirking, as the Sunshine ghoul lays limp.
[ four days before ]
“Guys, I think Sister hates me,” Sunshine whispers, her body hunched over. The girls show a sign of confusion on their faces. “I don’t think she likes me at the rituals, I’m too-” suddenly the heels clack down the hallways, getting louder, before getting softer again, “I’m too troublesome.” Sunshine looks down at her lap, Cirrus looks at her.
“That's not true Sunny,” Cirrus’ hand rubs the small of sunshines back. Cumulus’ arms wrap around both of them. “You are a valuable member, and you are like a sister to the both of us” Cirrus’ voice cracks lightly, as she plants a soft kiss onto Sunshines forehead.
“You can stay with us,” Cumulus’ voice rings softly, “Stay with us forever Sunny.” Cumulus’ arms tremble around the two other ghouls. Her eyes squeeze shut, the thought of losing Sunshine or Cirrus breaks her heart, a tear rolls down her cheek lightly.
“I just can’t go back to that place” Sunshine chokes on her words. Hell was very rough on her, the poor ghoul had to claw herself out of that pit.
[ 2 years prior- Sunshines summoning]
The voice screamed as the ghoul clawed its way out of the pit. Its summoning was the longest, most difficult summoning yet. The ghouls were tired of this hours ago, but they couldn’t just give up yet. If they gave up the ghoul would fall down into the depths, being burned and stabbed as they fell, to a second death. A much more painful death.
“Veni ad me. in tenebris manebis.” The ghouls continue chanting, their hands clasped together. Cumulus and Cirrus’ knees grow weak, Swiss and aether basically holding them up. As time goes on all the ghouls continue chanting, and slowly we see the new ghoul emerge. Her body is small, but slowly unveils itself.
Her feet plant themselves on the ground, as she gains her footing the other ghouls practically collapse around her from exhaustion. Her eyes dart around her, shes scared. One ghoul, Sodo, walks up to her, and welcomes her home with a hug. “Welcome home” his voice rings through the dark room.
“H-Home?” Her voice cracks softly, “What do you mean home” she looks around. This place doesn’t feel like home.
“This is where you belong” another voice rings out, this voice more nasal and sing-songy than Sodos. The new ghoul turns around to meet a man in blue robes, and face paint. She jumps back from fear.
“Who are you? Where am I? What's going on?” The new ghoul cries out, her knees hitting the tile floor beneath her. She feels a hand touch her shoulder, and she pushes it away. “D-Don’t touch me!” her voice shakes, she's scared, she's hurt.
“Oh goodness! I’m sorry little ghoul,” The man looks down at the ghoul, “You are in your new home now. The ministry.” He smiles, the new ghoul looks up at him, her eyes full of tears. She stands up slowly. Her head shakes slowly. “I dont have a home.”
[ 2 years later- sunshine being dragged down the corridor]
“STAY WITH ME” Cumulus screams, the kind of scream that digs at your throat. She’s failing to choke back tears, “PLEASE, JUST STAY, DONT GIVE UP,” her throat feels like she swallowed a cheese grater. She pushes herself out of Cirrus’ arms, trying to gain the ability to stand.
Her feet hit the floor, she levels herself and runs after Sunshine. Her body leaps towards her, grabbing Sunshines leg. “You are staying with me” Cumulus shakes. Sisters heels stop, she drops sunshine and turns around. Her face seems twisted, as her hand swats at cumulus.
“No, Sunshine has serious duties to attend to” Sisters voice echoed in the corridor. Sunshine’s body twitches before she looks up at Cumulus.
“It would be easier to just forget about me” Sunshine whispers. A tear falls down her dry cheek. “I don’t deserve a home, I didn’t deserve this wonderful ability to have,” she chokes on her words, “a family.” Her head falls back down. As Sister grabs her arm and starts pulling Sunshine back down the hallway.
“Please-” Cumulus watches as Sunshine is dragged away. She repeats herself “Please-” her voice growing more desperate for her friend.
Cirrus’ body raises to her feet, she walks to Cumulus. Resting a hand on her shoulder, Cumulus trembles under the touch of Cirrus.
“She can’t be gone” Cumulus sobs. Cirrus looks down at the crying ghoul, “She’s not gone. She’s just…. Away for now.” Cumulus wipes the tears from her eyes. Her face red, and burning. She thinks back to the night after Sunshines Summoning.
[ The Summoning- 10pm]
Cumulus and Cirrus welcome the new ghoul, Sunshine, to their room. “It’s not the biggest room in the ministry, but we love it!” Cumulus smiles brightly. Sunshine Smiles back at the short ghoul, still warming up to the new environment.
“Thank you” Sunshine whispers. Before sitting on the plan bed. Sunshine watches as Cumulus and Cirrus go and grab a bin from a drawer. The little bottles clack around as they both make their way over to Sunshine.
“Sooooo,” Cirrus starts giggling lightly, “we have a little tradition, whenever we get a new ghoul” Cirrus smiles, and cumulus hops onto the bed. Cirrus shoves the bin of nail polish at Sunshine. “Go ahead, pick a polish” Sunshines eyes scan over the polish options, she randomly picks a polish, examines it and then puts it back.
“This one” Sunshine smiles, the polish in her hand is a gorgeous black lacquer with yellow and gold sparkles throughout it. Cirrus grabs the polish and shakes it up, before grabbing Sunshines hand. Sunshine pulls her hand back causing Cirrus to look at her concerned. “I-I went through a lot in hell….” Sunshine looks down, and her entire posture shifts.
Cumulus looks at Sunshine “hey, its okay. You dont need to talk about what happened”
[ the corridor ]
The door closes behind Sunshines feet. The door that is labeled “Tax room” Both ghouls look at the door. Before standing up. Turning away from their now locked away friend.