Whispers [complete and non-edited]

Chapter 21

The door creaked as it opened. Inside, Leahal saw that the house was abandoned. And yet, he somehow knew what colour the walls used to be....

He closed his eyes and maneuvered himself through the room.

The kitchen...the stairs...his room...the bathroom....

He stopped abruptly and his eyes flashed open. He walked back to the first room. His room. Closing his eyes, he saw the picture of a small room with blue walls and a beige carpet. There were a couple black Rubbermaid containers stacked in a corner. The closet door was closed, and a batman cape hung from the hook. The bed had dotted blankets on them. Sitting on the pillow was a light blue teddy bear.

"Blueny," Laehal whispered.

He stood now in front of the closed door. The door frame was faded and the white paint was chipping. His hand hovered over the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, he turned it and pushed open the door.

🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃🍁

EARLIER

Teriaj kneeled in the mossy grass. He bowed his head to the Elder Willow in front of him.

"He is ready for you, Mother Nature." he said.

Teriaj, thank you.

"It was my pleasure, Mother Nature."

You have helped me greatly. How can I repay you?

"My purpose is to serve you. I need no payment."

Surely there must be something I can do?

"Well..."

EVEN EARLIER...

"I'll meet you guys, I have to get my...something from Mr. Dominic's office. I'll be quick," Laehal said, and then he ran down the hall towards the principle's office.

"We'll meet him outside, alright Deeliah?" asked Teriaj.

Deeliah looked down the now empty hallway, then said, reluctantly, "Okay."

They walked out the doors. Teriaj held the door open for Deeliah and the rest of the students.

"Thanks," Deeliah mumbled as she passed through the open door.

After all of the students and teachers had left the school, Teriaj walked over to where Deeliah was sitting, picking at her dirty shoelaces. He sat down beside her and put his backpack on his feet. Together, they watched as the amount of cars in the parking lot diminished, as well as the amount of students, as they steadily left for home.

"Do you want to play a game?" asked Teriaj.

"What game?" asked Deeliah.

"I call it 'Fast Finder.' It's sort of like a scavenger hunt, or one of those spot the difference games. And sort of like Eye-Spy. What do you say?"

Deeliah paused for a moment to think. "Why not?" she replied after contemplating.

"Okay. I'll go first. I'll give you something to find, then cover my eyes, and you have to go looking for it. When you find it, you have to run back to me, tag me, then say 'I'm the Fast Finder, can you find it faster?' Then I have to go find the same thing and see if I can do it quicker than you."

"I've never heard of that game."

Teriaj grinned. "I made it up. I used to play it all the time with my parents and neighbour's kids."