New Generation

Eclipse

((Alice's POV))

I woke up before the boys to the sound of a violin. It's playing song I know, and I song not meant for the violin. If it is the song I think it is, it's a tech song called Eclipse.

I slip out of bed, and consiter getting dressed. Because of my large lack of wardrobe, I just slept in my undershirt and boxers. Don't judge me.

You know what, I have been though a lot worse things than being caught in my underwear, I don't give a shit. Thankfully, no one locked my door, and it doesn't squeak like the door down the hall. I shut the door behind me and tiptoe past Max's and Indy's rooms, then run a quietly as possible to the stairs. Marble is very cold compared to my bed.

The stairs are set in a slow curve down, so when you first start going down, you can't see anything but the walls. Once you get halfway, you can see most of the great hall. That's also where I stop going down, not sure if I want to interrupt the group.

Seto is leaning against the kitchen door, lazily playing the violin. His face is blank, and his hands seem to move across the strings on their own. Brice is sitting on the floor next to him, a discarded sketch book and two parts of a broken pencil nearby. Ethan and the man in the green shirt that saved his life while Max and I fled the other day are talking, Ethan's red lettering casting odd shadows on the other's face.

"Hi Alice, what's up?" I jump and spin around, only to see a messy haired Max and a half awake Indy standing a few stairs above me.

"Shh! Something's going on, look." I hiss back. Indy yawns and leans on Max's arm. He's still fully dressed, and Max has new clothes. I'm guessing he did some magic pajama spell. Typical Max.

"I can tell something's going on, that's why I'm being quiet. Why are you wearing boy shorts?" I roll my eyes and turn my back on the boys. Max walks over to the railing and stands on the step to my right, and Indy follows, slightly more awake.

Before we can converse some more, the mess hall door opens, and Dawn walks out. She's using crutches, and she has the same blank look on her face as Seto and Brice. Her body movement indicates she sighs, although we can't hear it from up here.

Seto stops playing. Brice jumps to his feet. Ethan and his friend stop talking and all eyes are on Dawn. I glance at the boys, and they both seem completely zoned into what is happening.

Dawn says something quietly, and it is followed by the untuned sound of violin strings and Seto drops the instrument. Brice takes a step back, then looks lost as to what to do now. Ethan looks at the floor, and the man in the green shirt looks at the mess hall door. I hear a shuffling to my right, and glance over again. Indy looks wide awake now, and he's sharing a similar blank look as the adults.

"Someone's dead." He whispers. Dawn says something else and glances at the stairs, looks back at the people she's talking to, then stops. She does a double ale on the stairs, and my heart sinks. Busted.

"Get down here... All three of you." Dawn orders. Her voice echoes slightly, and with no other sounds to stop it, it seems really loud. We all glance at each other, then slowly head down the stairs. By the time we get down, though, any anger in Dawn's face has left. She just looks sad.

Brice glances at Max and gives him a false smile, then walks over to pick up his sketchbook and demolished pencil. Indy looks Dawn straight in the eyes.

"Who?" She shakes her head, and gestures with a crutch at the door. We all glance at each other, then I take lead and pull open the door.

The once bright and talkative dining room has changed. It now resembles more of a nursing tent, only more medieval. Tables have been pulled aside, creating aisles of makeshift beds. Here and there, someone is sitting up. Reading or sorting cards, not wanting to look around them. I notice the three people from the battle as we ran, the one in white who had been shot is awake, but next to him, both his friends are not.

In the middle right, by the back wall, I see my parents and two other men I forgot about. Mitch and Jerome. They don't notice us coming until we are feet away. Mitch moves, maybe to try to protect us from the sight, but it's a bit late.

"I... I'm sorry. I know you didn't know him very well, but... I can't... I'm sorry." Jerome mutters. Indy stops walking entirely. Max takes a step forward, then a step back, then doesn't seem sure where to go. I walk right up to the makeshift bed. The deathbed of Jason.

Jason is pale, and his brown hair is speckled with dry blood. A bandage is wrapped around is chest, a deep red stain over his upper left torso. His eyes are closed, and if it hadn't been for the blood, you might think he was only sleeping.

"That's it. I've lost my two closest friends." My dad whispers. His voice sounds like he's being strangled. Mom puts her hand on his shoulder, but can't seem to find the right words to fix this. I guess it's because there are none. You can't replace someone with a few words.

My mind goes blank. I just woke up, and I'm looking at dead body. A dead body of someone that, while I may have not known them for long, I admired. I looked up to him. He taught me the basics to fighting before Sam was assigned to help us. This is to much. I turn around and leave the hall, not knowing where I'm going, and to be honest, not really giving a shit.