Silhouette of a Wilted Flower

Property of the King

"...millions...reports..."

"It's...eading...the...astle..."

"Are...e gonna ...kay...?"

"'m...not...ure..."

Omori's eyes slid open, and the ceiling swirled. His hand twitched as he felt a cold draft from an unknown source.

The armrest of his throne. He grasped onto it, and onto other wavering sensations. Keep himself grounded while the world slipped closed.

"...What...we...to do...?"

"...Should...evacuate...?"

The voices became clearer. Omori breathed in deeper, realizing air was finally freely filling his lungs. Bright light from the ceiling painted the inside of his eyelids red.

His eyes glided open. Then closed. Thought crystallized along with a wave of nausea.

...Did...

...What happened?

With extreme effort, he moved, then almost stopped when throbbing sparked. He winced, squeezing his eyes. Each breath that pumped his heart sent blood-filled pain coursing through his head. He stilled as if not moving would keep the pain from finding him, like a messed-up game of hide and seek.

"...But...where...will we...evacuate to?"

"Yeah...didn't Mari say...it's happening...everywhere?"

What...evacuate? I...

Omori sucked in air; he tensed his body against the ache. Finally, he rolled his head forward to see what was happening.

He had been laid across the throne chair, feet hanging over the edge of the other armrest. Slowly, with careful movements, he propped himself up.

His friends stood at the bottom of the steps, surrounded by a mountain of paperwork. Servants bustled in and out the doors carrying even more.

Aubrey's lip wobbled as she hugged her pet bunny. Kel seemed equally distressed, trying to comfort Basil as the Royal Royal kneeled on the ground in a ball.

Lines of stress etched Mari's face as she flipped through stacks of documents. "Somewhere will be better than waiting here! If I can find a place with just a little less shadow attacks, then..."

Hero assisted her, albeit very awkwardly, in what appeared to be a hazmat suit. The label 'Dishwashing Crew' was emblazoned on the front of his uniform.

"This was bound to happen. Your stubbornness did nothing but delay it."

Omori flinched. He blinked up at Stranger. He tried mustering a glare but failed when the tightening of facial muscles aggravated the headache in his skull.

The shadow leaned over him, fluffy hair blocking the ceiling from view. "You've lost your war against the shadows. Now, your friends are searching for an escape...but there isn't anywhere to run anymore."

Nothing...that can be done? No...no, that can't be true.

Jolting, Omori pushed himself from the chair, ignoring the spike in his head, and stumbled down the throne to his friends. They startled, whipping to face him.

"Omori!" Basil sniffled, springing up. "You're okay! I–"

"Wait...wait...what...what are you doing? Evacuate? What do you mean...evacuate? What do you mean run away!?"

The room paused. Guilty eyes fled as he tried to catch them. Aubrey buried her nose in her bunny's fur. Kel twiddled with Hector Jr. Even Basil's gaze was firmly on the ground, shuffling his feet.