CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Eight

[ELLE'S PoV] 

"So you want me to get inside that snarling beast?" Marc asked, his eyebrows rising to his hairline.

I rolled my eyes and shifted the box I was holding to put my free hand on my hip. "First, her name is Petunia and she passed inspection just fine, thank you. Second, you cannot seriously try to tell me you haven't at the very least ridden in like... a carriage or something?"

"Carriages do not rumble and bellow smoke." Marc pointed at my car. "This is one of your 'science' devices, and that police officer already made me ride in one. It was highly unpleasant and smelled of dried beef."

I sighed. "Marc, get in the car. I live four hours from here."

Marc opened the passenger side door and sniffed loudly before deeming Petunia acceptable and climbing in.

I set the box and my duffle bag on the back seat, then walked around to the drivers seat. "Seatbelt please."

This was going to be interesting, to say the least. Mags had been gone for a month, but I was trying not to think about that. At least I had something more pressing to distract myself with: fall break. It was only five days, including Saturday and Sunday, but the thing about fall break is that no one is allowed to stay on campus. Which, normally, fine. Whatever. Mags and I were just planning to spend it with my fam.

But now instead of Mags, I had Marc. And even though I warned my parents I would be bringing someone home, I was soooo not looking forward to the awkward questions and staring that would no doubt ensue.

"Okay, so what's your story?" I asked Marc as I pulled out of the parking garage and onto the the southbound road.

"My name is Marcus Villiers, I am a freshman theatre major from Lancaster PA, I come from an armish family—"

"Amish." I cut in. "God, don't get that of all things wrong."

"Amish family— so I am not familiar with technology. I uh... I am a mutual friend of yours and Magdalyn, I live in your building. You help me with my 'physics' homework." He recited all this without looking up from my DS, which he'd claimed as his own a few weeks back. One day when I decided to actually start attending classes again, he'd complained about being bored. I introduced him to the wonders of video games and he was instantly in love.

"Right, run through it a few times so you don't make a mistake." I turned the radio off when "White Christmas" started playing. Thanksgiving hadn't even been a thing yet, could they maybe chill?

"Question," Marc spoke up, "why is my name Marcus? It is rather bland."

"Bland, yeah, and normal." I shot him a slight smile. "I don't know anyone named Marcellus. I think it's a type of stone, actually."

He frowned. "A rock has my name but no people? Are you sure this is true?"

"Dude, I don't know. You think I know every person on earth? I'm just saying having a normal name will result in less probing from my parents. They're going to be weird enough because I'm bringing home someone other than Maggie for once in my entire existence."

"Alright, but," Marc pressed. "A strange name would be a distraction, correct? They will ask more questions about the name and less about my 'farm in Lankershire.'"

"Lan-cas-ter." I emphasized as I turned Petunia onto the highway, then glanced at Marc. He had a point. Huh, not something I ever expected to say. "Alright, fine, you can be Marcellus— just no 'of Samsara in Aeterna.'"