The Shadows Within Children's Footsteps (Hiatus/exams)

12- A Lost Rabbit (Part 1)

So it seemed like during the time he was gone, there was no other Phantom attacks, humans wrecking havoc as usual, some war with the squirrels that Theo can't bring himself to comprehend, Flint coming back to spit non complimentary words at him for his absence, everyone's bunked beds turning to coffins for a period of time, and for some reason an intense battle with magic using chicken wings and cheeseburgers.

Just a typical day in Arcadia.

"Don't know who the Phantom was the other day, we." Hugo continued. "Wouldn't say, Oracle. Even Flint. Barrier still up and about, though."

"I see." Theo said but in a flat tone, still trying to shake his disbelief. While those events in Arcadia was pretty much normal, he still couldn't shake off the fact that he was gone for four days. He could have sworn he was in that crazy Reality for about fifteen to twenty minutes, not days. Then again, Delic had warned him that each Reality has a different flow in time.

Still, four days?

"Your turn, now." Hugo said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You, where were? Your sleeve is torn, why? From top to bottom, explain."

Three pairs of eyes settled on Theo and he couldn't help squirm a bit under their gaze. Hugo looked troubled while the new girl, Melita looked a little confused and lost. Psyche looked just as if she was studying him, trying to figure him out but can't seem to be able to.

Regardless, he told them everything he could remember. The funny thing was he left out certain things without planning to. He didn't mention about the guy who stabbed him with that ivory dagger, or the fact that his imaginary friend Joshua was there. It was as if he just couldn't mention those things. Whenever he tried to, Alazne's voice whispered, Not that part. Be silent.

Once he was done, he glanced at them to find Hugo and Melita looking at him with awe while Psyche's expression morphed into concern.

After several seconds of uninterrupted silence, Psyche seemed to grow impatient as Theo sensed angry vibes emanating from her. She extended out one hand towards him, palm wide open. Theo stared at it, no doubt looking dumb in the process but he couldn't decode what she was trying to convey, and he had prided himself as the master of solving everything.

"The book." A new voice, Melita spoke. He turned to see her pointing at the very book in his hands.

"She's asking for the book. You said the spirit is in there right?"

Before Theo could respond, said book jumped open, flipping several pages before stopping to an empty page. All four of them huddled close as words started to emerge in the pale, yellowed page like imprints of a burning stamp.

I have a name you know

To this, Melita seemed to shrink to herself and look flustered. Through her dark skin, Theo could see a light little blush dusting her cheeks, making him deduce that Melita is a girl who was easy to shy.

"Your name, what is?" Hugo asked, snapping Theo out of his thoughts. The elf was looking at book as he said it, not at all perturbed at the fact he was talking to a book. Regardless, the words disappeared and was replaced with letters but, before it was fully formed, Theo almost jumped out of his skin when Psyche spoke.

"Loukas." She said with nonchalance. "L.O.U.K.A.S. His name is Loukas."

As if for confirmation, the letters faded away and 'What she said' appeared in the page instead.

"You know him?" Theo asked without thinking before biting his tongue. Of course she knew. She was the one who gave him the bell in the first place.