Until We Fly: The Guardian Legacy

Chapter 12: Crimson

-Nim-

'Hey Nim. Sorry for not messaging sooner. I'm still with Static. I think I'll be heading straight home after so don't expect me over tonight. But you can come pick me up early tomorrow to make up for it :)'

Why was he talking so casual?!
Hadn't he seen all the messages I'd sent?!

Oh well...at least now I knew he was alright...

My phone buzzed again.
Really? What more does he have to say?

'tHe yoUnG OnEs alWaYs DiE fiRSt'

...what...
That creepy guy from earlier...it could have been him trying to mess with me again!
Freak. I'd get him back.
For sure.

"Hey...Nim?"
Köleil leaned through the doorway, rubbing her eyes and wearing her usual, fluffy blue pajamas.

"Yeah, what's up, Kö?"

"When will James be here?"

"Oh...well, actually, he's not coming today, Köleil. I'm sorry."

"What?! But I've been waiting all day!"
She pouted.

"Sorry. He just...he was too busy is all. Go to sleep. He's promised to come tomorrow."

"...he was supposed to come today..."
She mumbled, shuffling back into the elevator.

Poor Köleil...

It was getting late so I decided to head to bed too. It had been a long, awkward, confusing day.

But as I stepped out of the elevator, I noticed Jake's door was open.
Again.

And of course, though his lights were still on, he wasn't inside.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the small key.

"...I wonder..."
I whispered to myself, glancing across to the stairs that lead up to the attic.
No, surely not.
What reason would Jake have to be in there at this time of night?

Unless he...no. I was over thinking it again.
Tsuki and Jake wouldn't-

SMASH!

...
It came from...the attic...
Of course it came from the damn attic...

Against my better judgement, I slowly made my way up the stairs, straining my ears for any voices, any movement, anything.
Once at the door, I leaned against it and listened carefully.

"Just lock it. Hurry."

"Tsuki, we know that doesn't do anything-"

"It's better than doing nothing!"

"...alright..."
That was Jake's voice.
No doubting it.

But...locking what?

"There. Happy?"

"...no...how long?"

"Any second now."

"...are you ready?"

The shing of Jake's katanas being pulled from his back echoed through the door.
"...of course."

"...I'm...scared..."

"Don't be. I'm right here. I'll be right here the whole time. I promise. Everything will be okay. It always works out in the end, right?"

"But...people still might-"

"I know. I...I know..."

A few seconds of silence passed.
Before...

Tsuki let out a long, loud screech of agony!
Then...laughter?
Not normal laughter.
This was...unnatural. Unhealthy.