Planet of the Stars

Chapter 24: Late Night

I tossed and turned in bed. I hadn't been sleeping well. Timothy and Amara had managed to get the piece and escape back to their ship. It was before Lars got there, but no-one really cared the fiasco going on with me was more important. I shuddered.

I still hadn't shaken the fear I had no anchor to the present when I had a blackout. I sat up and gently jumped down from my bed. Wren was fast asleep on the bottom bunk. I slipped out of the room and headed back towards the kitchen. Before I reached it though I heard someone else moving around in the kitchen.

So, I wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep. I headed into the kitchen and saw that it was Theo.

"Theo?" I say.

Theo jumps, but composes himself and turns around to face me.

"Hey Skye." Theo says

I realized he wasn't wearing a shirt, but I forced myself not to notice that.

"Couldn't sleep?" Theo asks.

"No. You?" I ask.

"Couldn't sleep either." Theo says.

I nod. I sit on top of the counters.

"Want to tell me why you couldn't sleep?" I ask.

"Only if you tell me why you couldn't." Theo says.

"Okay." I say.

"I couldn't sleep because I'm still rattled about what happened to you today." Theo says.

"I think everyone is, but I think the only people loosing sleep about it are me, you, and probably Efren." I say.

Theo nods, and sits next to me on the counter.

"Is that why you can't sleep?" Theo asks.

I nod.

"I don't want to close my eyes and be trapped in the past again." I say.

Theo nods.

"Isn't Wren with you? Don't you guys hold each other or something so you have an anchor if you go into a blackout?" Theo asks.

I smile. I could tell he was uncomfortable asking that.

"Wren and I got into a fight." I say.

"Again?!?! What about this time?" Theo asks.

"I felt myself be taken back. Theo seemed angry at Wren.

"Timothy and I used to be a thing, so offering to help Timothy and Amara didn't sit well with Wren. Although, I was supposed to." I say mumbling the last five words. Theo heard me though.

"Why were you supposed to?" Theo asks.

"It was another trial, and I passed it. I was supposed to help Timothy and Amara." I say.

Theo nods.

"Don't tell Efren that please." I say.

"Why not?" Theo asks.

"He hates Timothy and Amara because of what they've done. He now hates the crystal force because what it's doing to me. I don't think he'll be happy about those two things together." I say.

Theo nods.

"For the record he's not the only one who is upset about Timothy and Amara." Theo says.

"I know, but he's definitely the most on edge about them." I say.

Theo nods. I watched Theo sitting next to me. I don't know why. There was something different about him. I couldn't place it though.

His long black hair was tied back into a bun, and his piercing blue eyes were still stunning, but there was sorrow and weight in them. He had bulked up, but that wasn't it. I saw he had grown some stubble making him look older.

"Theo how old are you now?" I ask.

He seemed taken back by the question, but he answered after thinking about it for a bit.

"Well you're 20 now, so I'm 16." Theo says.

I nod.

"You've been with us for two years now." I say.

"And you've been apart of this crew for seven years now." Theo says.

I nod. I pat Theo's hand, then jump down from the table.

"Where are we heading to now?" Theo asks.

"We're still heading towards the crystal planet. But Efren, you, and I are going to have to get in the other ship and head towards a different plant." I say.

"What planet?" Theo asks.

"Calys." I say.

"Why just Efren, you, and me?" Theo asks.

"We're all crystal people. Calys is a sacred place for crystal people. Especially where we'll be going. Only crystal people are allowed there." I say.

"I'm going to take a wild guess and say you haven't told Efren this yet." Theo says.

"No I haven't. How could you tell?" I ask.

"I felt guilt coming off of you." Theo says.

I nod.

"I'll tell him when he wakes up." I say.

Theo nods.

"I should probably try to get some sleep. Are you going to be okay?" Theo asks.

"I'll be okay. Have a nice night. Sweet dreams." I say.

Theo nods, then heads out. I was left alone. I headed to the common area and sat down on the couch. Loki came out from under the couch, and hopped up beside me before resting his head on my lap. I sighed and started scratching him behind his ears.

Visions danced through my head. They didn't make sense, but I knew they weren't good. I let out a single sob when I saw one. It was Efren, but he wasn't moving. I forced the visions away.

When they were gone I let tears fall from my eyes. I raise my hand, and wipe the tears from my face. I wasn't going to let that happen.