Royal's Way

Chapter 5

I peered into the windows of my own home, searching for any sign that anyone was still awake. The lights were off, and so was the TV.

With a sigh, I leaned Ruth's lantern against the wall next to the front door, and took my key out of my pocket. My hands shook so much, I missed the keyhole about a thousand times before finally managing to unlock the door.

When I entered the house, everything was silent. The ticking clock sounded way too loud, and the lantern's light felt way too bright.
I made my way up the stairs, my bedroom door as welcoming as ever. When I opened my door, my bed was made, and the succulent plants I cared for were rested back on the windowsill, instead of the nightstand where I had temporarily placed them when I was dusting.

I sighed. My mom had a habit of doing chores I was supposed to be doing when I was in a flunk, whether it be something like this, or my anxiety was getting the better of me, or if I was sick, or something. I always felt bad about it; I didn't want her doing things for me when they were my jobs.

She was going to understand why I was anxious when she read the news the next day.

I sighed, staring at the lantern in my hand for a moment, before sitting on the edge of the bed. I wanted to hide it, but the flame inside the lantern was preventing me to.

If it even was a flame...?

I scanned the lantern. It looked old, maybe Victorian era, or something. It was round, and in between the black frame was this blueish tint to it. The glass was bright blue, with diamonds engraved into it. I couldn't see through the stained glass, but there was an obvious source of light.
In the bottom lid, at the tip, there was a hole. I lifted the lantern over my head, peeking into the hole and checking out the inside.

There was nothing there to hold a flame.
I scowled, hesitantly lifting my hand, and pressing my finger against the glass.

It was cold?

I scowled. The idea of it not being a flame was proven further. I gripped the edge of the lid, tugging on it, but not with all my might. I didn't want to break it. It was on tight, like glued, or drilled inside, or something.
With a groan, I lifted the lantern again, looking under the lid.
The metal was molded with the rest of the frame.

I groaned. What did Ruth expect me to find?

I finally gave up. I grabbed an extra blanket from my closet, before kneeling down and pushing the lantern under my bed, then throwing the blanket on top to dim the light. It wasn't great, but at least my bed didn't look like it was glowing from underneath.

I sighed, crawling out from underneath the bed and lying down on the top, rubbing my eyes tiredly with my still shaking hands.

Everything that happened tonight was real, and it wasn't the end. I knew that well.

I decided to stall this as long as I could. I decided to abandon that lantern under my bed for as long as it took for me to forget.
All I had left to do was give Rachel a peaceful goodbye.

==

I paced through the crowded hallway the next day, trying my best to insist that everything was normal. But I still felt as if that I was walking with a bunch of ghosts.
They all knew what happened to Rachel, they all knew about the fight that occurred at the party, they knew everything about what was going on around them. They were aware. They were all so obviously people. I understood they had minds, I understood that they had families. But it all just felt so... dull.

"Levi."

My eyes widened. I turned, standing toe-to-toe with Miriam.
She frowned. "You look exhausted." I shrugged, leaning on my hip and shifting uncomfortably. "I'm-I'm fine. Just a bad sleep last night." I aimed to turn, but Miriam's next words made me stop. "Quinn told me about what happened in her truck yesterday."