Damned If I Do (Lucifer X MC)

Chapter Ten - The Alleyway

I woke up late the next morning. I felt tense as soon as I opened my eyes, my neck was aching from being hunched up and stiff while trying to fall asleep. When I checked my phone, it was way past when I had to be up for RAD. I shot up, eyes wide, Lucifer would kill me if I just start skipping class like this. As I was collecting myself and thinking up excuses as to why I was late, my eyes fell upon a small piece of paper atop the table. Someone left a note for me?

"MC, I came to wake you when you didn't show your face at breakfast. However, you looked rather uncomfortable; when I felt your forehead you were hot to the touch. You seem to be feeling unwell.

Please do not hesitate to call me if you need anything. Rest Well.
- Lucifer."

My cheeks deepened at the thought of him watching over me in my sleep, concern furrowed deep in his brow as he removed a glove to feel my flushed face. It's strange that I didn't wake up, I'm usually a decently light sleeper and given how jittery I was from the events that took place last night, I was sure even the smallest bump in the night would wake me. He's always so careful.

I shuddered as I recalled getting home the previous night and staying up for a further couple of hours convincing Mammon I was fine. He finally agreed not to say anything to his brothers, after grilling me on how dangerous it was to be out alone at such hours and insisting persistently that he wasn't even the tiniest bit scared.

Although I felt slightly flustered, I didn't feel unwell. I recall a mix of feverish dreams, details sparse but a constant aura of despair evident throughout. I was probably in the middle of one when Lucifer had checked on me. I stretched my arms out and took a deep breath. I would go to RAD today. Don't get me wrong, I would love a day to myself even just to ponder over what the hell I was getting myself into with all of this... but I wanted to see the alleyway once more. I'll take the long route, and pass through the streets that led me to the entrance of it.

I rushed to get ready and set off, my heart murmuring slightly above its resting rate. I wasted no time winding through the now slightly brighter roads, not realising I was practically jogging. I turned a corner and saw the familiar street lamps ahead of me, standing tall and proud a few feet apart from each other, just the same as last night.

I approached hesitantly, starting to feel a lump in my throat form. I stopped dead in my tracks. In between the two lights, there was nothing. A solid, tan-coloured brick wall. In my state of utter dismay I inched towards the wall and knocked lightly only to feel the heavy gravel beneath my knuckles. Not even the slightest bit of hollowness echoed from behind it.

I twisted and starting walking away, back towards the House of Lamentation, much too overwhelmed to even think of setting foot into RAD and risking the constant asking of the question "Does this human need a doctor?" at the sight of the blood seeming to have drained completely from my face, leaving me looking like I'd just seen the scariest of ghosts this underworld had to offer. I suddenly felt a sense of utter insanity threatening to take full control, any second it would wash over my mind and grip me into its madness. What in the hell was happening? I need to talk to Z. Now.

"Hello?! Can you hear me? Give me some answers now." I demanded into the empty open space in front of me, awaiting an answer to be spoken in my ear that only I would ever be able to hear.