A Raven in The Phoenix's Nest

The Missing Light

Annie's POV

"This is it, Uddhiharta." Said Jean, handing the book at me.

I don't respond to his words, not because I am busy with another book I am reading, but because I had heard the story very often. So often, I can even tell the story to others in great detail.

"Hello, Annie, do you hear me?" Asked Jean, waving his hand.

"Yes, I heard you."

I put down the book I am reading and start writing Uddhiharta's story onto my laptop.

"B-But, Annie, you haven't even read it..." Said Jean with a face full of confusion.

"You better do the story from the book I read earlier. I'm working on the Uddhiharta story. And please, do it with your mouth closed. Will you?"

Although I'm currently busy with my laptop and don't have time to see Jean's face, I'm sure that he's currently putting on a really, really annoyed face.

"You better do the story bla bla bla. I'm working on Uddhiharta's bla bla bla." Teased Jean.

I glare at him for teasing me. Spontaneously, Jean makes a close mouth gesture indicating that he'll no longer speak.

"Do it, now." I said curtly.

---

Three hours have passed and we've finished the assignment from Mr. Pixis. I am at the dining table and still busy playing with my laptop. I do this just to avoid Jean talking to me. Currently, The Rich Man's is watching TV in the living room while eating a pizza which arrived five minutes ago. He has offered me his extra cheese pizza in hope that I would accompany him to watch TV together. However, I refused. I refuse to have closeness with him.

I refuse to have closeness with other people.

When I realize that the clock has shown ten in the evening, I turn off the laptop and walk into the living room.

"It's late at night. You better go home." I said flatly.

"Hawng on a sewc, I havwen't finiwshed with my piwwzza."

I roll my eyes and make sure that he sees that.

"Okay, when you're done, please turn off the TV. However, don't turn off the lights in this room. I mean, don't you dare to turn off the lights in this house. Leave everything on."

He just nods at me and turn back to watch TV. I leave him and go up to the room. I put the laptop on the table and immediately throw myself onto the bed.

"Ah, what a tiring day." I mumbled as I attached earphones to my ears.

I let my mind fill with the beautiful classical music. I let my thought drift away from the reality of the world. A few minutes later, my smile appears when I hear my favorite song playing. This is Beethoven's Symphony no.9. I can tell you that Ludwig is my idol when it comes to music. He is the maestro of classical music. That's my opinion.

I raise my right hand toward the ceiling. When Symphony no.9 has reached its peak, I immediately grasp my right hand hard. At that instant, all the lights in my house disappear.

I am silent for a moment. My room is dark. It's very dark.

"Annie, your lights go out!!!" Jean shouted from the living room.

Hearing that, I let out an exasperated sigh— ignoring him at all.

I'm tired of that spoiled child.

I'm tired of humans.

I'm tired of this world.

I turn my attention back to the darkness in my room. In the past, I wasn't used to this. The last time I was in the dark was when I was with him. When we were together.

I slowly open my right hand. Slowly, without rushing. There, I find all of my lights gathers— glowing like The Heaven Lantern; glowing like The Ring of Saturn.

"I am the worst. Right, Eren?"