Royal's Way

Chapter 2

I entered the bathroom after my mom told me to grab my meds, the rain still taking a toll on our roof.

It was Saturday already, and I still wasn't ready, even when Rachel had agreed to join. Too many people, too much time with them, too many eyes.

I took the bottle of anxiety pills from the cabinet, but the bottle slipped from my hands, falling on the floor with a clunk. I groaned, muttering under my breath and bending down to pick it up. But something caught my eye about me. I looked up.

A butterfly. In this weather?

I scowled, slowly standing straight and watching the butterfly dart behind the shower curtains. I rose a brow. The butterfly wouldn't survive in this rain. Maybe I could just... leave it in here until it clears?
I approached the curtains, hoping not to scare the butterfly too much by slowly opening the curtains.

But I was completely thrown off when I heard the call of a crow, and the wind of a bird's wings hitting me hard.
I shouted out of reflex, slipping and falling on the edge of the bathtub, on to my hip.

But there was no crow there. No butterfly.
I scowled, shaking and breathing heavily as I slowly climbed to my feet.

I gasped when there was a knock at the door. "You okay, Levi?"

I sighed; just mom. "Yeah, sorry. A...A-A bird ran into the window and scared me." A pause. "Alright."

I listened to her footsteps recede, turning to look at the bathtub once more. Still empty.

I held my breath for a moment, nervously straightening my black sweater as I approached the counter, finally took my medicine, and left the bathroom like nothing happened.

==

"We pickin' up Rachel?" Ian asked as we exited the house, the rain continuing. We pulled our hoods over our heads, both of us jumping a little when thunder unexpectedly clapped. "Nah," I replied, "She's driving." "I forgot she's allowed to drive on her own." "She's getting her second segment done. She has to be picked up by her mom because she's not allowed to drive after ten without an adult, same with Quinn." Ian chuckled at that.

We waited in the rain, the road bare, and darkness taking over the clouds as the night went on.

Until, finally, a pick-up truck pulled up, the driver being Quinn, one of Ian's long time friends. She was the same age as Rachel, sixteen, and was going through her "edgy" phase, except this phase has been going on for six years, and her parents aren't happy about it. Though her soft face and long, bright red hair against her all black clothes and makeup made her look like she was almost trying too hard. But her personality suggested the complete opposite, like she didn't care at all. She was single, she skipped school, she attended every party possible. Just "edgy."

"You're bringing the clone?" she exclaimed as she rolled down the window. Ian scoffed. "He's being paid." "With brotherly love," I teased, trying to get myself to chill. No one really responded. I sighed, following Ian as we entered the truck.

==

The forest was dark, as expected. I guess everyone thought that it was safe to enter the woods in a storm?

I leaned my head against the window, the dirt and stone rocking the truck back and forth. Ian and Quinn had been talking, but I wasn't paying any attention. A late night drive was something I really enjoyed, but it wasn't going to last long. Maybe I could stay in the truck with Rachel and we could just sleep, or something.