Dancing In The Thunder

6- Irises and Peach Blossoms

Rikari POV

I'm in a dungeon.

"This is what happens when people break the rules, Rikari," says the farmer, "They end up in the dungeon."

Other children are here. I'm scared, horrified even.

"Just because my wife has demolished your stay to a mere two days doesn't mean you get privilege around here," says the farmer, "You will not be fed, and you will only have water."

"What," I say, "That's unfair. I didn't do anything wrong. Chase is the one that should be punished!"

"Chase has authority around here," says the farmer, "Layla is dating him."

"No she's not," I say, bravery spewing from my lips, "She's dating Clove."

"No she's not," the farmer says, "My daughter isn't a fag."

A/N: SLIGHT DISCLAIMER! I can say the F-Slur, and this is just for the story.

"You shouldn't say that about her," I say, defending against what her father just said in an instant, "Gay people are accepted now, and have been forever."

"Doesn't mean my daughter can run around with some girl," he snaps back, "I'll leave you be."

"Jerk," I say, swallowing what I really wanted to say.

Clove POV

It's been a day since Rikari randomly went missing, and I'm worried sick for her. Did she go missing because of me? She wasn't even here for roll call, leaving Chase smirking and Layla and I shocked.

Rikari wouldn't hide like this on purpose. This wasn't a joke. I needed to find her, soon.

"Hey, wanna do something fun later," asks Layla. She was clearly trying to get me out of my head. It wasn't working.

"I don't really want to," I say.

"But come on! It's almost Saturday," she says, "I know you're sad because Rikari's missing, but we'll find her and it'll be okay, okay?"

"Okay," I say, slightly unwilling. I didn't want to hurt Layla, but my best friend WAS missing..

Glowy's hidden it well, but she came up to me at 2am absolutely panicking. She doesn't know where Rikari is and "Why can't Chase just be missing instead of Rikari? Why does SHE have to go missing?"

If she returns and acts like nothing's wrong, we'd know she's lying.

Wanna know why?

Rikari's a neat freak. Her room is a mess.

Glowy POV

I knew.

I knew Rikari was in a dungeon. The Dungeon. They showed it to the redheads on their first day and said "Try not to get yourself here. Or else you might be deemed worthless."

Rikari was in trouble. Big trouble. And for what? Defending her friend? Herself? It was so unbelievably stupid.

I set out to the leaves and began to rake them. With a pang I realize, everyone else has left.

Except for Daniel.

Ever since Rikari went missing like a day and a half ago, Daniel's been obsessive—like, super obsessive. He'd steal my things. He'd sniff my hair when I was asleep. He even admitted to plucking my hair from my head when I wasn't looking. He said he has a collection.

He also asked me out. Three times. Of course I said no, I'm not an idiot. He threw me into the river. I can't swim. And he threw me into the river ALL THREE TIMES. Luckily, Valen exists. Otherwise, I'd be dead. Why do men throw people who reject them into a river here?