The Dark Realm

The Lost Child

The plane ride home was a quiet one. Everyone sat in an uncomfortable silence as other passengers around them talked. Luke stared silently out the window. Jade, who was sitting next to him, shifted uncomfortably.

"Luke, there's a favor that I have to ask you." Luke just grunted at her words.

"My parents know you and like you a lot so I was wondering if you could come with me to tell my parents about what happened to Lilly. Maybe you can soften the blow." This caught Luke's attention.

"What?!"

"I was hoping that you could-"

"I heard you. Are- are you sure we have to?" Luke stuttered.

"Uh yeah, Luke, they're going to ask about where their daughter is." Jade stated. Luke gulped. He knew Mr. and Mrs. Parker very well, seeing as he had been their daughter's best friend since Pre-K, and he definitely did not want to give them this news.

"S-sure, I guess." Luke stuttered, agreeing to come.

"Really? Thanks, Luke." Luke gave Jade a smile. It was small and most fake, but it was a smile no less.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Luke took a deep breath as he stepped on to the Parker's porch. He felt like his heart was about to burst out of his chest. He was worried about how the Parker's would take the news. It wasn't pleasant to hear that you're child has been kidnapped by a prince with magic powers. Mrs. Parker would probably cry, he knew her to be somewhat emotional, while Mr. Parker wouldn't be able to process the information out of shock.

"Don't worry. They'll probably know what to do. They always do." Luke gave her another fake smile. That was the philosophy of a child. Believing that your parents could solve every problem that you face. Jade fumbled around in her bag while Luke knocked on the door.

"Luke, I have a key." Jade said.

"Sorry, force of habit." A second later a man and woman opened the door. They both looked slightly young for parents of an eighteen year old. The man had brown hair just like Jade's and kind red-brown eyes. The woman had golden hair similar to Lilly's and bright blue eyes. They smiled as soon as they opened the door.

"Jade, you're back! And Luke, we haven't seen you since Graduation. How are you? Where's Lilly?" Mrs. Parker said, immediately.

"Yeah, that's actually what we need to talk about. Can we come in, Mrs. Parker?" Luke asked. She waved them inside.

"Of course. How many times do I have to tell you? Please, call me Layla, Luke."

"Alright, Mrs- Layla."

"What do you need to talk to us about?" Mr. Parker asked.

"Lilly was kidnapped." The words came out of Luke's mouth. Mr. and Mrs. Parker gaped at him.

"What?" The two adults asked in unison, worry was clear in their voices. Jade explained how they trip they had gone one wasn't really a trip to celebrate graduation. She explained everything.

"She's in the Dark Realm?" Mrs. Parker glanced at her husband. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sadly yes, but we're going to get her back." Luke told them, full of determination.

"We lost her. We lost both of them." Mrs. Parker started crying. Mr. Parker tried to calm down his wife by giving her a one armed hug and kissing her temple.

"What do you mean you lost both of them? I'm still here, mom." Jade asked, confused.

"There's something we need to tell you. We had another child. Lilly had a twin sister. She died shortly after they were born. It was extremely depressing." Mr. Parker said. Mrs. Parker calmed down and continued what he was going to say.

"After that we promised that nothing would happen to Lilly and when you came along, Jade, we promised the same thing, but we-we failed!" Mrs. Parker burst into tears once more. Mr. Parker stroked his wife's back.

"I-I had another sister?" Jade asked, shocked. Luke frowned. Mr. Parker nodded. "Why did she die?"

"Birth defect. We didn't see her after she died, we couldn't bring ourselves to, so we don't exactly remember all the details but I do remember that the doctor said something about her having breathing problems because of an underdeveloped lung." Mr. Parker looked down, sadness in his eyes. Jade looked down and her frown deepened.

"What was her name?" Jade said, almost in a whisper, wanting to know more about the sister she never got to have.

"Serena."

**********************************
Did anyone guess it? Originally this story was going to be called Evil Twin but I decided against that because Serena is not evil and because it was more about Max, Lilly, Luke, and Serena (and the Dark Realm) rather than just Lilly and Serena being twins, one of which has darkness inside her.