Destiny's Marked: Chosen (Book 1)

The Dusk: Hide-and-Seek

       "Shhhh!" Hayner shushed his giggling friend behind him, a smirk on his face. "You're going to get us caught!"

       Pence covered his mouth with his chubby hands, his attempt to stifle his giggles turning into increasing shakes. Olette bit her lip, though a grin stretched across her face so wide that her cheeks hurt.

       The three were hiding in one of the back alleyways behind one of the many crates in a hide-and-seek game.

       "I feel that I'm getting warmer!" Luxus sang with an impish grin, having heard the small children and knowing exactly where they were. He continued to hum innocently, loudly stepping away from where they were. Every once in a while he would turn at a crate, yelling "Boo!" in an attempt to throw the unknowing children off. At one point, he did a complete 180 and ran in their direction. He jumped long and slammed onto the crate they were hiding behind, making all three of the kids shriek in surprise.

       Luxus laughed shortly, "I got y- woah!" the box split into several pieces underneath his weight after he had stomped on top of it, sending him flailing to the floor.

       Hayner was the first to fall to the floor in loud laughter and was quickly followed by Pence who was on all fours. Olette shook with giggles, tears forming, and she stuttered, "Are-... Are you ok?... Lux-..." She had to stop to take in a deep breath, "Are you ok, Luxus?"

       He snickered from his spot amongst broken wood planks, "Yeah, Olette. I'm fine." The elder than the three pointedly stated, "Thanks for asking!"

       "Your- your face!" Pence rolled onto his side as his hands wrapped around his middle.

       "MY face?!" Luxus snorted and pointed at them, "Y'all should have seen your guys' faces! I think Hayner even screamed!"

       Instantly, Hayner sat up from laughing and protested, "I did not!"

       "Did too!"

       "Did not!"

       "Did too!"

       "Did not!"

       "Did not!"

       "Did too!" Hayner paused, "Wait!"

       Luxus stuck his tongue out mischievously with a wink before picking himself up out of the broken crate and dusting himself off. Pence was gathering his breath but had a content grin on his face as he laid on his back on the ground.

       Olette had just started to help Pence back up when Luxus quickly stated, "Welp, your turn to find me, bye!" He sprinted out of the darker area in favor for the lighter commons.

       They'll never find me, Luxus sang in his head as he lightly sped across the town, looking at rooftops and other unknown places he found in the game one day. What he wasn't expecting was to find a developing hole in the wall surrounding Twilight Town. The short blonde stopped in his chase of a good hiding spot to stare at the cracks. He stayed on the spot for another couple of seconds to listen for his seekers and where they were. When all was silent but the normal bustle of the warm-colored town, he cautiously made his way to that part of the wall.

       The hole was small for now, but Luxus knew it was only going to get bigger- whether over time or in a sudden blow to the spot. He rubbed a hand along the biggest crack and traced it to the hole. Feeling dread pool in his stomach at the coming days, he could only wish that his friends were there with him. It had already been a couple of weeks since awakening in Twilight Town and there were no news about Kai, Aria, or Ryoko.