Spirit World Adventures

Epilogues

Wallis at Home

Wallis wasn't the only redhead in his family. In fact, the Martin household was a sea of red hair and large smirking grins. His home was vast and beautifully decorated, always ready for company. But when Wallis awoke after his time in the Spirit World, he didn't feel like parties or company of any sort. He found his parents talking in hushed tones in the parlour. They were adorned in lavish clothing, poufy dresses and expensive finely tailored suit and tie. He curled his nose up at it.

'Aren't you tired?'

He realised he had spoken aloud what he had meant to think in his head. His parents turned to face him, looking shocked – well, as much as they could behind heavily manicured faces.

'We can sleep when we're dead, yes, Son?' his dad said in a snotty voice.

'Now which one of your lovely partners are you bringing to tonight's get-together?' asked his mother, hand poised in the air.

'None of them.'

'Oh, someone new on the scene, boy?' his dad said, nodding his approval. 'Yes, yes, while you're young you should experiment. No point wasting your time with-'

'No, that's not it!' Wallis said. He felt breathless, but his horse shadow-kin stood tall and proud beside him. 'This isn't me. I feel like I've been trying to keep up with you. With all of you,' he gestured to the portrait paintings of his siblings, aunts, cousins, and whole bloodline on the long walls. 'It's exhausting and I want to just stop.'

'Why boy, we have never told you who to be.'

'No, but you've never allowed me to breathe and figure out who that person is, either. There's always something to do, someone to see. You're never around and I just feel...like it's all pretend.'

His father had his arms crossed now and his mother looked as if she had been slapped around her beautiful face. Wallis hung his head a moment, gathering his thoughts.

'I don't mean to offend you or be rude or ungrateful, I just want to, I don't know, explore who I am when I'm not doing all the craziness we do here. I want to know who Wallis James Richard John Michael Martin the Third is beyond this palace; beyond your shadow. Maybe shorten my bloody name!'

His father laughed a little, 'Fine, no one will stop you. But you're a child; you live under this roof and I shan't have you embarrass me by being absent from my important meetings. Do whatever in your own time, but you have duties, boy.'

Wallis nodded, 'I know. That's why I am going to live with Douglas for a while.'

'Your brother?' His mother asked, looking scandalous.

'He was a disappointment,' his father added, 'I don't even know where he is.'

'I know how to find him, and I know he will help me. That way, I can be free. Thank you, again, from the bottom of my heart for everything you've given me. I love you.'

Then, he left the room, unsure of what his journey would be next.

Acacia at Home

Acacia woke in her hospital bed. The beeping of the monitor scared her a little at first. Then she remembered. She sighed. It was so strange, to have little to no feeling in her legs after having ran and climbed and jumped only moments ago in the Spirit World. It was horrifying, the more she thought about it, and so she chose not to. Sitting up, she saw her mom in her usual seat at her bedside. She always looked exhausted lately. Acacia didn't want to wake her up, but she reached for a cup of water and ended up slipping it over the both of them.