Give It Up ((Closed))

[India Nightingale]

India silently made her way down the hushed corridors, subconsciously careful not to make any noise as to attract unwanted attention her. The sun had just risen a short while ago, and the morning rays were still dim and faint, but they lit the way perfectly for India along with the flicking flames from the wall lamps. Some of the portrait inhabitants were still snoring away happily in their 2D homes, and India ignored them as she passed by, intent on getting to her destination on time. She didn’t expect Skye to be late, because normally they were both punctual people, and also early risers. However, India had told her to be prompt anyway, as a threat to make her feel in control of the situation.

Stepping through the Grounds and into the Courtyard, India immediately savoured the smell of fresh air. She cooped herself in the castle almost twenty-four seven to study, but when she got the opportunity to go for a stroll, she really relished even the invisible feel of the cool atmosphere against her skin. It wasn’t wintry icy, like India preferred it to be, as the snowy season was inevitably leaving to make way for spring, but it wasn’t so bad, being caught in between both periods of time. There was the frost of winter mixed in with the freshness of spring, and currently the weak sun was doing its hardest to provide that little bit of warmth in the air. Perfect, really. India hadn’t experienced such closeness to perfection in her mind for a while now.

Refusing herself a small smile, India rounded into the centre of the Courtyard, where sure enough, a very familiar figure stood motionlessly, back turned towards her and facing the outer scenery. India knew the girl would get there earlier than her, especially since she had warned her not to be late. Skye didn’t want to get into trouble with her twin sister, despite the fact that India rarely properly bullied her. Approaching with silent footsteps, India was not in awe when Skye turned around before she was even a metre near, turquoise gems settling on identical turquoise gems. Straight blonde hair wavering in the light breeze, Skye sent a small, almost timid smile, which although barely visible, had warmth concealed within it that India chose blatantly to ignore.

Before Skye could even make a greeting, though her smile was already enough, India launched into the topic of the conversation without even bothering with a welcome. Her eyes were cold and guarded, unlike her twin’s more open and friendly ones, despite the fact the dazzling colours of their irises were matching. India had come here to get something sorted with Skye, otherwise she would’ve loathed even having to talk to her, even though she couldn’t speak. “Duke wants us to go home for the Easter holidays.” India stated firmly with a steely tone of voice, staring her sister straight in the eyes in spite of the act of doing so being hugely difficult. Maintaining proper eye contact with her mirror-like image so similar to her was mentally shattering for India, who could barely take her reflection in the mirror.

Skye’s face turned from calm contentment to obvious horror. Immediately she began to shake her head with pleading eyes, though her mouth remained tightly shut. India merely stood immobile as she regarded her desperate twin. Skye was rarely this adamant or fearful in front of her, and she had to admit she was slightly unnerved by such behaviour. However, her inner demons told her that this was Skye, the enemy, versus Duke, her saviour. Who to believe? Duke, without a shadow of a doubt. Skye was still shaking her head obstinately, but India dismissed the hammering feeling in her heart. This girl had nothing but bad will towards India, and she need not listen to her. Ever. India was her own boss.

[India Nightingale]

“For god’s sake, Skye!” India raised her voice a little, frustration beginning to creep into her cold tones as she began to pace a few steps in the same position. “We barely see Duke. We go home every summer holiday, and get to spend two months with him. Actually, you don’t spend any time with him. It’s just him and me. And I’m not complaining really, because I have him all to myself, but he was the one who adopted us, so you could at least be slightly grateful.” India glowered angrily at a silent Skye, who had stopped shaking her head. The blonde identical of India was watching her twin with an insistent gaze in her eyes, but no more. What else could she do? She couldn’t possibly verbally argue with her sister. And Skye hated to dispute with others.

“You know what?” India started her rant again after a short pause where she glared openly at Skye, “I’m just going to go home myself. You’re obviously not grateful to Duke at all, and you clearly don’t want to go home. Fine, don’t. We don’t need you; Duke certainly doesn’t need you, and I have never needed you in my whole life. Stay here in this place if you want.” India hissed spitefully before turning and making her mind up to walk away from this stupid person. She had always been nastiest to Skye, but she couldn’t help it. It was like an obligation to her, and it felt wrong not to bear down on her like a tyrant. It didn’t matter if Skye didn’t want to come anyway; India was secretly pleased. For once she could do something without her, and she could feel free from her calm presence. Just watching Skye’s peaceful face drove India up the wall.

Suddenly an arm stopped her from leaving, and India turned in slight surprise to stare at a tight-lipped Skye, whose eyes were apologetic yet firm. “What now?” India demanded, turning fully and crossing her arms over her chest in a defiant manner. “For god’s sake, spit it out, Skye. You’re wasting my time; I have better things to do than talk to you, and you won’t ever give me a straight answer. I’ve already made up my mind to go, and you’re not changing my decision.” India declared strongly, glaring Skye straight in the eyes unrelentingly. What did Skye not like about Duke anyway? India didn’t see any problem with him. He had been kind enough to pick them out of the children’s home, despite India being the most difficult child to adopt, and had also agreed to have both of them. India had never wanted to be adopted by another family like the Colchesters, but Duke had been different. He had treated her like the growing superior teenager she was and was still becoming, and lavished both her and Skye with things they could barely have foreseen in their lives whilst living in the children’s home. Duke was their saviour. He wasn’t the enemy.

India watched with icy eyes as Skye made a few motions with her hands quickly, desperate to relay her point across. Skye’s eyes were strong despite being distressed though, and India found herself thinking that it sort of looked like her determined self. However, this thought only infuriated her even more. Why was she even bothering to listen to this thing? It was such a waste of her time. And if someone caught them out here together, India would rather die. She refused to associate herself with Skye openly, and didn’t want to give people an excuse for stupid rumours. She always made it blatantly clear if anyone asked her that although they were obviously related to one another, India barely communicated with Skye. They were completely different people. “You’re joking, right?” India started again before Skye could finish signing her response. Snorting loudly and rolling her greeny-blue eyes, India found her frustration mounting with every word she understood, “Why do you want to follow me everywhere? I don’t get it. First of all, you’re not my mother, if you think you want to protect me, then don’t, because I’m very capable by myself. Secondly, if you’re always copying be because you look up to me or something, or because you want everyone to think we’re twins, or because you’re like a dog to me, then stop it, because all I want is you to get off my back. To get out of my life!” India suddenly raised her voice a notch, half screaming in Skye’s face, “What is it about this simple fact that you do not understand?!”

[India Nightingale]

Skye was shaking her head repeatedly, calm, her eyes passive as she watched her worked up twin sister. She wanted to express herself properly, wanted India to understand, but once again, she had failed. “No. You’re trying to tell me no.” India’s voice was suddenly deathly composed and cool, her hawk-like eyes staring back at herself, “What kind of an answer is that, Skye? Tell me! Tell me with the voice that can’t speak!” India demanded heatedly, barely able to keep still as she paced around continuously. “But you know what, perhaps it’s for the best I ruined your ability to talk,” India suddenly laughed sarcastically to herself, talking out loud for her benefit rather than her sister’s, “Because now there’s one huge difference between us, a wide gulf separating us. You can’t talk using the same voice as me, imitate my words too. Is that what you want to do, Skye?” India turned on her twin, eyes flashing with reeling emotions, an accusatory tone of voice, “Is that what you want? You know how much I hate it when you follow me, don’t you? You can’t be that dense!” India rolled her eyes angrily, fists clenched by her sides. This person, no, this thing, drove her insane. Who did she think she was? Who the hell did she think she was? “I don’t appreciate that everywhere I go, you go. I don’t like it when you buy the things I buy. No, screw ‘I don’t appreciate’, and ‘I don’t like’, I HATE it!” India burst out again, barely able to restrain her arms from flying upwards with her voice to accent her point. “I want to be different, Skye, different. Special. Whatever you want to call it. I want all of that, and you’re always in my way.”

Huffing angrily, chest heaving with her efforts, knowing she was losing control of her emotions, India tried to regain her composure, Skye still and silent as she always was. Looking up at her twin again, India refrained from slapping her to make her wake up and surface in reality. They weren’t those innocent, naïve children they used to be. Happy and loved. No, life was much harsher than that. Life was real. “Whatever.” India declared, shifting her eyes to look at anything but those ghostly eyes so much like hers, “Whatever. I’m going to go back to Duke and I don’t want you to come. Got it? I don’t want you to come.” India repeated, determined to make her sister submit to her. She was the dominant one, the one who was always in control. India didn’t settle for second best. “Don’t.” She started a little louder than before as Skye seemed to start to want to make a point in protest, “Don’t.” India commanded again firmly, as if reprimanding a child much younger than her, “Just don’t argue with me, Skye, I’m not interested. No arguments, you’re not coming. None of us want you there anyway. This way we’ll both be happy, you and your blessed Hogwarts, and me and Duke. End of story. Now can I go?”

India turned to leave for the second time that morning, desperate to get back to her dormitory and write a reply letter to Duke, informing him that Skye was definitely not coming, and it’d just be her. A part of India was ecstatic at the result of her confrontation with Skye, but she knew that the other half of her that she locked away was feeling the usual sense of loss after she argued with Skye. That blonde lookalike had something on her that India couldn’t possibly shake off, and she put it down to blood every single time. Frustrated, yet feeling successful, India had walked a couple of steps rather rapidly, before she was halted yet again by somebody hugging her tightly from behind, stopping India in her tracks with wide eyes of shock. “What the hell?!” India barked in horror, caught off guard completely as she tried to swivel around to face the culprit, who was no doubt Skye. India could recognise that loving embrace anyway, knew it much too well for her liking. Missed it too. Missed it ever so much. But India didn’t do hugs anymore. Oh no. India just wasn’t that girl that Skye was clinging onto so hard, pleading for her to stay. That India was long gone.

[India Nightingale]

“Skye, Skye, for god’s sake, get off me!” With a final shout, India flung her twin off her before facing her with anger and fear in her eyes. Trembling a little before her sister, India let a hand wander to her face, covering it to shield the emotions flashing through her eyes. Why did she keep losing control of herself? India had no idea how to suppress herself in these times, couldn’t help but lash out at other people. “Just… just stay away.” India breathed slowly, regaining her breath gradually as she backed a few steps away from Skye. Turning around suddenly, India ran away from her twin, through the Courtyard, through the doors back into Hogwarts, through the corridors lined with multiple portraits and their habitants. She narrowly avoided a small first year Hufflepuff, before she collided with a Ravenclaw boy who looked like they were in third year. Neglecting to apologise, India steadied herself before continuing to run away, head bent low as not to let anyone see her face, her dark hair encasing her like a cage. ”Just stay away from me!”

India turned another corner, only to hit somebody else hard, bringing both of them down to the ground. Papers scattered across the floor around them, and India failed to groan in pain as she collected herself. Her mind numb so she couldn’t think properly, so pain was something so distant, she shuffled around to retrieve the parchment lying everywhere, pushing them into one pile before thrusting them into the arms of the boy she had just encountered, neglecting to look at them or apologise. Crawling over to the wall, India slumped against it, breathing softly as she caught her breath, hiding her head in her lap and wanting to remain invisible forever. She willed everyone to leave her, to go away. India couldn’t stand the presence of people around her, and was thankful when the person she had hit walked away after a while, their footsteps loud echoes against the floor of the castle.

Breathing deep, India collected herself after a few minutes, and unsteadily got to her feet, using the wall to stable her shaky self. Shaking her clothes into neat folds and ridding them of creases, India walked slowly but surely back to the Slytherin Common Room, intent on writing another letter to console herself about what had just happened. At least she wouldn’t have to talk to Skye any longer. Just being near her made her skin prickle, and touching her made India want to be sick. Stumbling towards her destination, India muttered the password before entering her dormitory with a relieved sigh. Many of her dorm mates were still fast asleep, and India ignored them as she retrieved some parchment and ink, exiting the room silently and heading for the Owlery. The letter need only be short, as there wasn’t much to relay back to Duke. A meow caused her to look up as she tried to close the dormitory door, and India looked down to see Devil staring up at her intently with intelligent eyes. Smiling softly at him, India bent down, scooped him into her arms, and carried him away from the Common Room with her. Now this company was much more comforting.

India approached the Owlery cautiously, and upon entering it, noticed that she was the sole person in the room aside from the large amount of owls twittering about. Pleased to be alone, India set about writing her letter to Duke whilst Devil, who had been jumping around mischievously on her shoulders, itching to be active, leapt down and ran around the place mewling happily as he stared with curiosity at the birds, who mostly wanted to sleep at this time of day. India forgot about him as she set to work scribbling frantically on the piece of parchment, keen to convey her thoughts to the one person she felt she could trust.



Reading over the letter carefully, India nodded to herself with satisfaction, happy with what she had written. Rolling it up, India turned to find Devil trying to distract some poor barn owl who was glaring with disgruntlement at the black tuft of fur pawing at her brown feathers. A smirk arising on her face, India stepped forward, and prying her naughty pet away from the scene of crime, gently took hold of the owl and gave her the letter for Duke. “Be careful with that.” India ordered quietly, and with a hoot, the owl was out of the window and gone with the wind. Staring after it with a strange look in her eyes, India paused one moment before beginning to walk out of the Owlery, clicking her finger at Devil, who was once again pestering another owl. Meowing in protest, Devil was forced to leave his activities as India left without him, and he followed in annoyance, not wanting to be left alone with a large bunch of sleepy owls.