Love My Wings

Chapter 18

He tucked his phone into the snug pocket of his ripped jeans, taking a deep breath and standing firm before opening the door of his room again. I can do this.

The door creaked open while he stood with his chest puffed out and his fists clenched. It would have been endearing to see him like this, in a less emotional time. Just like a little boy prepared to play war. "You can." He looked around, baffled. He could've sworn he heard a voice.

He looked down at the flickering ring on his finger and continued walking. The hardwood floor complained at his step. Just like him after he had fallen face-first, tripped by an object on the floor. He groaned as he blew his hair out of his eyes.

After getting up he hesitantly knocked on the door of one of his brothers' rooms. "Jian?" There was no answer. He pushed the unlocked door with his fingers, carefully peeking behind it.

He had almost forgotten what his room smelled like. Strong cologne, socks, and junk food. The trash can was overflowing with energy drink cans, chip bags, and wrappers galore. He scowled as he looked around. "Not a damn thing has changed about this place..."

There were dirty clothes scattered on the floor with signs of recent use and the TV was asleep but not shut off, a habit of his.

Unlike him, Xion and Jian were already in college. Jian was getting all his stuff in boxes to move out anytime soon, but for some reason, he hadn't bothered to yet; although he was never around anyway. "Good, I hope he leaves soon."

It was so strange to think that before he left his brothers hadn't even started school. He wondered if they cared he was gone. He almost wished they would, but he knew they didn't. His mother was the only person on this side who did.

He had to find her, but only Jian on Xion would know where she was. He reached to get his phone from his back pocket and dialed Jian's number. The phone rang about 4 times before he answered, making Lei bite his nails. "Jian!" He exclaimed in a desperate tone.

"Sup." He replied. There was a silence from Lei's utter disbelief at how his brother had replied. He knitted his eyebrows.

"Are you fucking serious? That's how you respond after not hearing from me for 6 months?"

"What are you talking about?" He froze. Maybe Jian didn't know what he meant.

"I need you to tell me where Mom is, I need to see her. Now." His brother sighed.

"Listen, bro, I know it's been hard for you since Mom passed, it has been for all of us, just don't beat yourself up, ok?" His hand shook and his grip on the phone loosened.

"P-passed? What are you talking about?! Tell me where she is, NOW-" His voice broke off with worry.

"Lei, she's dead... I can't have this conversation again. I'll see you later, bye."

He hung up before Lei could even begin asking questions. He fell to his knees, crushing his legs below him.

His phone slid across the floor, nearly falling through the staircase. He screamed as he folded with agony. This can't be real, it just can't.

He shook and wailed and if his screams weren't muffled by his hands and legs the neighbors were sure to be startled. But he didn't care. He had nothing left to care about in this world, nothing.

He felt nauseous. His stomach burned from rage and a full day without food. He buried his face in the pillow and his body in the darkness of the sheets.

As Rory packed up the boxes of the essence stand, he headed home with his mind completely blank. He was working as a zombie. He still hadn't begun to process or understand what had happened but he knew it had changed him forever. He nearly dropped the cardboard boxes in midair when he watched the ring on his finger shine with a ray of violet light. He thought he had imagined it, but the twinkle of the gem sent a shot of electricity through his body.