Like a dark cloud over them, the atmosphere became heavy.
Kira shrank.
Kealor winced, Nirro head tilted, surprised by how Sapphire was acting.
Lucian said nothing. locked in a staring battle between him and Sapphire.
Kealor felt like melting as his bed was between them. Not wanting a misfire.
Lucian broke the chain first, turning his head away.
Kira had her head down as her hand fidgeted. She didn't want them to argue while also being the cause of it.
"And what do you want me to say" Lucian asked,
"I want you to apologize to Kira, she did try to help when you pushed her—"
"It was a mistake," Lucian interrupted.
"That's why you should apologize" Sapphire argued,
'pls don't escalate… pls don't Escalate…' Kealor chanted, forcefully doing his best to become one with the bed.
"No,"
'oh boy' . His chant became a rap, invisible sweat began pooling on his forehead. Lucian's pillow suffocated under his grip.
"Lucian"
"Don't force me, Sapphire" Lucian uttered
"Hahaha. why don't we all go to sleep, we won't want to be late tomorrow morning, right?" Kealor said sheepishly, his laughter strained as he tried to diffuse the ticking time bomb situation.
No one argued his statement so they were all in agreement.
Kealor used his leg to unfold his little blanket, getting ready to sleep,
"Well then, good night you all. Luc, here is your pillow." Handing it over as he said it,
"Good night Kira" Then tucked himself in.
Eyes closed.
…
Silence.
More silence.
Lucian was the first to move, putting his pillow down. Bringing his blanket up his chest as he laid down, backing all four of them.
Nirro got up and moved to his bed, tapping Kira's head, good night.
A sigh escaped Sapphire's lips as he shook his head. Turning to Kira
"Go to bed" Sapphire comforted.
Kira nodded, and got down from Sapphire's bed.
"Good night" she said before crossing the room to the girl's side of the beds and climbed onto her bed.
It was only when Kira was tucked in did Sapphire prepare to sleep.
______
_Shiver_
Goosebumps mapped Lucian's skin as cold winds licked his skin. Lucian shifted uncomfortably, brows frowning while he was still asleep. His hand drowsily roamed down his shoulders, wanting to pull up the slipped blanket.
There was none.
A few more roam. His frown grew deeper.
He couldn't feel his blanket. His eyes open slightly, sleep still in, as he feels at his feet for his blanket.
_Crunch_
No blanket. He felt his sides. Instead of a blanket, he picked up something brittle and small, that made a crunchy noise in his hand.
Confused.
Lucian brought it closer to have a look. It was a leaf.
What was a leaf doing on his bed? His thoughts swung that way as sleep muddled with it.
He brought his hands sideways and dropped the leaf. Assuming he was throwing it out of his bed.
Lucian then adjusted himself, ready to return to sleep.
But his mind didn't let him, already acute to danger. It bugged him.
leaf… Leaf… LEAF?
In support of the claim, cold winds hit him.
Lucian shot up like an animal induced with heavy amounts of caffeine.
And Before him, spanned a Forest.
Fear gripped Lucian as he looked around. Thick trees were his brethrens as he was surrounded. Noise of creatures native to his surroundings danced across the silent night.
No way out as paths looked the same and the ones that didn't look the same were twisted.
Lucian scrambled to his feet. His warm breath voiced his terror before becoming one with the chilling air.
Lucian didn't know what to do.
Should he move forward?
Should he stay?
Eventually everything returns to normal.
Who was he joking with? himself? Has everything ever been normal?
Just because he didn't see during the early hours doesn't mean they would let him go.
He hadn't heard the wailing yet.
Mid contemplation, spiking anxiety, dread consuming.
Lucian caught sight of a figure from the corner of his eyes. A figure, he knew existed not of this forest.
It looked like a newly growing tree seedling, a couple trees away.
From behind the tree. The figure was peaking out, grey skin. it's eyes watching him.
Lucian breath caught. Hands shook, lips trembled as he unwillingly stared at it.
Lucian legs shifted preparing to run.
Step.
_Swoosh_
Lucian mid start was now face to face, staring the creature in the eye.
The figure had closed the distance between them. Lucian froze.
It was the boy.
The same one he saw smiling at him during the training pertaining to the accident of his former dead partner.
The boy then opened his mouth. Wailing tore through the air into his eardrum.
Lucian groaned in agony. Staggered.
His hands rushed to his ear. but it didn't help.
Seeing this, the boy stopped, staring at Lucian, head tilted.
Hearing the wailing stop. Lucian's hand came down.
The boy opened his mouth again and the wailing continued, worse than before.
Blood spilled from his ear drum as he gasped in pain. His brain felt like it was dragged by a syringe.
Unable to take it, Lucian closed his ears again trying to lessen the impact.
The boy stopped once more.
"What do you want?" Lucian choked, he was in pain.
The boy watched him and opened his mouth one last time.
The wailing started. Lucian in agony, finally noticed that the boy's mouth was moving.
What was it trying to say?
Lucian squinted, trying to make up what the boy was mouthing. Through the tears that formed pixels in his eyes from the pain of the wailing flooding his head
As he looked closely, focused.
The loudly indescribable eerie wailing began to combine into one frequency as Lucian tried to understand.
And when it was just one, The boy's voice was heard.
"You should run."