Five sorrow-tinged Richardson stories

*These collection of stories is underneath my folder titled “Town of Richardson”. Gacha Club character designs are under this forum: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=116005&start=1050. These stories take place in either the past or present, so I apologize if they do not align super well. Also, I just realized that I alternated perspectives in the first story, so it might be a little off but I think it’s fine. Anyway, I hope that you enjoy! Happy New Fear!*

1. Acheron visits Thalia in Heaven

“Is it really you?” Thalia asked. She couldn’t believe that the man she loved all her life was a demon from Hell, visiting her in Heaven. A real, actual demon sent to kill those on Earth. A demon called Acheron from down below but known as Lucas on Earth. She furthermore couldn’t believe that it changed from an experience of “love at first sight”, but no matter. It would take some getting used to for sure, but she’d handle it.

Hopefully.

“It is me, my love. Know that I care for you and that I do not intend to harm you. I changed when I saw you. I saw the light.”

“You don’t need to explain. It’s just that I never thought that you were hiding this from me.”

“Anything to keep you safe the truth.”

“That doesn’t matter much now that I’m dead.”

“It matters because we are together now.”

“What about our son? What of him?”

“I fear that the demons have chosen to use him instead of me.”

“You mean?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t there any way to save him?”

“I’m afraid not. That’s completely up to him.”

“I’m scared.”

Acheron just hugged Thalia. It couldn’t comfort her. It didn’t even know what to say.

It hoped that at least their son would choose goodness, for his mother, who was the purest of all souls.

For Thalia.

2. Gabriel watched Denise

Gabriel watched her from the shadows as she ate dinner with her family, all grown up and living a life that he dreamed he’d live with her. A life she got to live because she was alive and he was not.

How she smiled at her husband.

How could Denise have moved on? How could she have left him? How-

Gabriel turned to Aiden, her son, who was indifferently eating his dinner, as if Gabriel weren’t always in the corners of his mind, trying to get closer and closer to the real world.

Aiden was the ticket. Aiden was his chance to live again, to breathe again.

And to rid of her.

If he opened his soul more, used his soul to overtake Aiden’s, live in Aiden’s body, there wouldn’t be any Aiden left.

Just him.

Just him to make things right.

3. Conria’s worry about Daniel

Conria worried for Daniel. Really, she did.

He seemed so much more tired than usual. He was always tired, but ever since the Ladouceur family circus came in town, Daniel had been given such dark eye bags. It must have hurt him even more to see that Leona and Amelia enjoyed the other circus.

Conria didn’t think that they would lose money. They wouldn’t. Not to a circus.

She just hoped that he wouldn’t be in despair…

4. Amelia noticed

Mommy and Daddy didn’t seem too happy. They didn’t smile or laugh as much as Amelia would like them to. She didn’t know why they were this way. They had an amazing circus in their town! Wouldn’t everybody love the circus? Even adults?

She asked Leona if she knew anything, but Leona said no. Leona knew everything! She was the oldest, so she was the smartest.

Why didn’t she know now?

Amelia asked Mommy before, but Mommy would just tell her not to worry. She tried asking Daddy, but he was always so busy.

Why?

5. Are they alright?

“Don’t you think you should hire more people? Like adults?” Isabella asked Lucas. They were eating lunch in their embellished dining room, courtesy of the money Lucas was making from their circus.

The very circus of which Isabella and their thirteen year old son, William, helped Lucas with. The very circus where a young boy named Gabriel only one year older than their own boy performed as a clown.

There was nobody else that performed. Isabella was well aware that Gabriel had experienced extreme bullying by the other citizens in the town. Mainly because he was different. He had a soft voice, he was frightfully tall, he had hot pink irises, his hair was dyed dark blood red, he sometimes wore jewelry and always bright clothes when he was out of costume…

He was just different.

Different was good, but different also meant shunning from peers, scoffs from neighbors, stares from the public.

The works.

Isabella never got to speak with Gabriel. He seemed fine, but she doubted it.

If adults worked at the circus instead of a young boy who still was growing and learning, there would perhaps be less pain in the eyes of the performers.

“Why? Gabriel and William do perfectly fine.”

“I’m just concerned because they are both so young and they still have a lot to be doing at their age. I’m especially worried about Gabriel. You know what he goes through at school.”

“William wants this. He has told me countless times that he enjoys working with me. You yourself have seen it.”

“Yes, but maybe he could be lying for your attention. You are his father. He looks up to you and trusts you more than I. As for Gabriel, I doubt that he would tell anybody anything. Being seen as someone who is always happy and optimistic does something to a person as young as Gabriel. An adult would handle-“

“Nobody is hurt. They’re fine. If they weren’t, they would tell us.”

“That’s the thing, dear. I don’t know what they would tell us.“

Lucas gently set down the sandwich she had made for lunch on his plate. Isabella had already finished hers and was talking to him about the boys.

He reached across the table and rested a hand on hers.

“I promise you, if I notice anything wrong with them, I will speak with them. Alright?”

Isabella nodded. She didn’t believe in the slightest that Lucas could catch something wrong with them at first glance. Teenagers could hide things so well.

But maybe she could take the liberty and speak with them.