A Wardrobe to Another World

Chapter 4 - I wasn't Imagining

⟢Hazeline's POV⟣

"Lucy, wait! Lucy!" I call as she takes off down the corridor. Sighing I run after her, how am I going to explain this? I come around the corner at the same time as Susan. "Does this mean we win?" Susan asks, gesturing to the two of us. "I don't think Lucy wants to play anymore." Peter replies. "Why?" I ask at the same time as Lucy says, "But I've been gone for hours?" Everyone just looks at her. "Come, we'll show you. Hazel was with me." She adds. I feel everyone's gaze on me but I only look at Lucy. Narnia, she mouths at me, I nod my head, leading everyone down the halls and back to Lucy and I's hiding spot.

Susan pulls the coats apart to look at the back of the wardrobe while Edmund knocks on the back. I gently slide my arm around Lucy's shoulders knowing that the chasm has closed again. She snuggles into my side as we await the other's verdict. "Lu, the only wood in here is the back of the wardrobe." Susan says coming out of the wardrobe. "One game at a time, Lu. We don't all have your imagination." Peter adds. I just sigh and give Lucy a comforting squeeze as the others all start to leave. "But I wasn't imagining!" Lucy cries when they reach the door. They all turn around, Edmund and Peter looking annoyed, but Susan looking angry which takes me aback a little. "That's enough Lucy." Susan snaps at her. I just frown in confusion, they're sisters why aren't they acting like it? "I wouldn't lie about this!" Lucy shouted, starting to cry. "Well I believe you." Edmund says, surprising everyone. I can see in his eyes that he's just going to mock her. "Edmund, don't." I warn. He ignores me. "Of course, didn't I tell you about the football field I found in the bathroom cupboard." "Now, will you just stop?" Peter starts, shaking his head. I crouch down and hug Lucy tighter, letting her learn her head on my shoulder as Peter continues. "You just have to make everything worse don't you?" "It was just a joke." Edmund tries to defend himself, but Peter isn't done, "When are you going to learn to grow up?" "Shut up. SHUT UP! You think you're dad but you're not!" Edmund shouts in Peter's face before storming out leaving us in silence. I stare at the door in shock till Susan speaks, "Well that was nicely handled." She snarks at Peter before going to find her younger brother, I assume. Peter looks at the floor but lifts his gaze when Lucy speaks, "But it really was there." "Susan's right Lucy. That's enough." Peter says before leaving. Lucy looks at the floor as I pull her into a proper hug and let her cry on my shoulder.

"Why don't you go get some hot chocolate from Matilda?" I suggest after Lucy stops crying. "What about you?" Lu sniffles. "I need to sort out some issues. I'll take you down and join you as soon as possible. Promise." I tell her as I wipe away her tears. She nods and I take her down to the kitchen.

After introducing Lucy and searching for a bit I hear sobs coming from the boy's room. I quietly knock on the door. "Go away, I don't want to talk, Susan." I hear Peter's voice from within. "It isn't Susan, it's Hazel and I just want to help. If you want I can leave." I say, after receiving no answer I start to leave. The door behind me opens and Peter appears with red eyes. All my anger disappears upon seeing how broken he looks. "Please, don't go. I don't want to be alone." He begs. I gently step forward and pull him into a hug, closing the door behind me so no one would hear the cries of their older brother and get upset. He stiffens at first but gives in to the hug. "Sorry for ruining your shirt." He says when we pull away. "It's fine. As long as you're okay." I assure him. His face saddens slightly, leading me to believe he isn't fine. I lead him over to the couch in the corner of the room. "I know I'm an outsider to the situation, and don't understand. I hope you don't mind me saying this but you guys don't really seem to be acting like a family. You should be making the most of the time you have with each other because you never know when it will be taken from you." I tell him, knowing this from experience. "Yeah I try to, but I just seem to be making everything worse. I'm the worst older brother ever." He laments burying his face in his hands. "From what I've seen you're one of the best. Lucy looks up to you so much. I don't think one incident is going to change that." I tell him, placing a hand on his shoulder. A small smile finally graces his features. "I love them all so much. I just want them to know that everything I do is to protect them, Ed especially. But he just gets on my nerves and hurts the feelings of the girls. I guess I just don't know how to act when he does." I listen quietly to his mini rant. "Well first off maybe don't tell him to grow up I mean he is still a kid. Secondly, try not to act like your father in Edmund's point of view. I know it's hard but all you can do is try your best. I'll try to talk to Edmund, but I'm making no promises because we have barely spoken." I suggest. We sit in silence for a bit, me wiping away his tears when they fall.

We both jumped when there was a knock on the door. "Come in." Peter calls. Susan enters giving me a weird look upon seeing me. "I will be taking my leave now. Please consider what I said." I say before leaving. "Thank you, Hazel." I hear Peter call after me. I give him a small smile over my shoulder as I close the door.

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⟢Lucy's POV⟣

I wonder what Hazel means by issues as she takes me down to this Matilda. When we arrive I realise that Matilda must be head chef because we were in the kitchens. "Good morning, Matilda." I hear Hazel say. When a woman turns around and looks at us curiously, returning Hazel's greeting, I shyly wave. "Do you need something, Hazel?" Matilda asks. "Yes, could we please have a mug of hot chocolate." She requests. Matilda glances at me and then nods. Hazel then takes me by the hand and leads me to a door. "Isn't it raining?" I ask as I catch a glimpse of the outside through the door. "Not in here." She says as she takes me into a little glass room. Why is this here? I wonder. "I like drawing where I can see nature. So grandpa built this for when it rains and I want to draw." Hazel answers my unasked question. Matilda comes out with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. We thank her and I tell her my name before she leaves us. Hazel left too after making sure I would be okay for a bit.

When I'm nearly finished with my hot chocolate the door opens and Hazel walks back in. I immediately jump up and hug her around the middle. I feel her arms close around me and sigh happily, the hug reminding me of mum's hugs. "Do you think Peter is the best big brother ever?" Hazel randomly asks me her voice lacking the usual emotion. "Of course! He's always there for us and loves us all so much. He's sweet and kind. Peter gives us hugs when we need them. He consoles us when we're sad. He takes care of us and helps us with our homework. So many more things so that I can barely remember everything." I answer confused, pulling out of the hug. "Why?" "Do you still love and look up to him after the incident earlier?" She questions further, not answering my question. I see in her eyes that something seems to be bugging her. "Of course! He's my big brother. Why?" I question again. "Could anything ever stop you from loving him?" She questions again not answering. "Absolutely nothing could stop me from loving him. But why?" "Can you tell him this at lunch?" "Of course! BUT WHY!?" "No reason." Hazel shrugged. I just give her a look that says I don't believe you. "Fine! Peter thinks he's the worst big brother ever and that he let you down so you will hate him." Hazel blurts out quickly. "What!? I need to go to him." I say and start leaving. Hazel quickly wraps her arms back around me holding me back, making me frown at her in confusion. "Susan's with him now. That's why I said to tell him at lunch." She explains. "Now why don't we do a little drawing?'' Hazel asks, walking over to some lockers in the corner. I both nod and we both draw till Matilda comes and calls us to lunch. Me marveling at Hazel's drawing of a lion.

 - 1560 words