Chapter Text
They told them everything. Dwayne started at the beginning: his home, how he came to Grand Rapids, got the laptop, the curse, meeting Avery, the lies, the deception, travelling dimensions, Avery’s magic, the mages, Evaney’s past, Carcosa, the King…the Rivers children’s father. Everything. If the world was going to end soon, Cait and Will might as well know why Avery had run off, and all of the pressure that came with knowing that secret. Caitlyn denied everything they said at first, but one look at her little brother, clutching his head in pain, and she couldn’t stay true to her denial. She had walked upstairs with Avery to talk for a few minutes, and everyone agreed they, especially Caitlyn, needed a moment or two alone. She had just learned she had a father still, and that she was a princess in a way. Anyone would need a moment after that.
“Caitlyn’s…not taking it well.” Will came out from the front door, “She…she’s still grappling with the whole father thing. And the fact that Avery’s like…brain dead now.” “Not brain dead, just really confused. And in pain.” Dwayne sat on the steps, flicking a pebble onto the driveway, “He isn’t all here right now, and I don’t intend on letting him slip away again.” “So…that’s what’s going on huh? The arrival of their father?” “Pretty much.” “And the whole…” He tapped the side of his head, “Knowledge thing with you? Can you see what tomorrow is like for us?” “Not without passing out, or being in a lot of pain by looking at the possibilities,” Dwayne sighed, “And also…no. Not really. Carcosa…I couldn’t really see the future there, and now that it’s here for us, I…the future is silent. Not dark, not gone, silent. I can’t see what’s going to happen. It’s kind of frightening.”
“Evaney says you’ve got a plan.”
“I told the kid that so he wouldn’t get scared.”
“He’s a knight huh?”
“Yeah. Or rather was.”
“A bit too young for a bunch of responsibility if you ask me.” Will sat on the front door steps with him, “The same goes for you too.” “Young? I’m in my twenties,” Dwayne huffed out a laugh, “I’m no kid, I’m not naive either. I know I’m going to die.” “That’s the problem,” Will pointed to the sky in the distance, “That’s the problem right there, just personified. You seem like the type of guy who behaved like an adult as a child. I don’t know much about big families, but I’m assuming that a lot of the time, responsibility fell onto you.” “Yeah, and I basically gave up and ran off like a terrible son would,” Dwayne threw another small pebble, this time that landed on the side of the road, “And because of that the world is going to end, massive butterfly effect from my point of view.”
“I don’t think you’re a bad person, just a bit unstable,” Will patted his shoulder jokingly, “You’ve definitely been through hell and back. I’m surprised that you’re able to be sane still, to the point where you can have a partner and a kid who loves you. Most people who have seen a monstrosity like that probably would have ended up in an insane asylum.” “They have,” Dwayne sighed, “The King’s had more vessels than me or Avery. They all ended up mad. We’re just the only ones that didn’t go insane. Probably because he needed to keep me alive in order to get his son back. So…I can sleep well at night knowing that my relationship was only prompted by my boyfriend’s father.”
“But you love Avery don’t you?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then why be bothered if the King or whatever his name is had a hand in bringing you two to meet? You two aren’t his to use anymore, and I know you two are going to do everything you can to bring him down. Avery loves you for you, and I know you love Avery for Avery.”
“I…see.”
“The point is, that right now is probably chaos, and I don’t think it’s going to let up anytime soon. I know you’re afraid of hurting your loved ones, or god forbid losing them, but you can’t just push them away because you think you’re dangerous to them. You’re a good person, and I know that in any other life, Avery would fall for you again and again. So…isn’t that worth fighting for?”
Dwayne chuckled, “When did you get smarter than me Will?” Will shrugged, “Always have been, I’m just keeping it more secretive.” He watched the city in the distance, “It’s coming for us, isn’t it Dwayne?” “Yeah, the King wants Avery and Caitlyn,” Dwayne stood up, “I’m going to go fight him, I don’t know how, but I am. And you should probably get out of here.” “No way,” Will stood up too, “I’m staying with you.” “But-” “You fight for your Rivers, and I’ll fight for mine. After all, a princess needs a knight too.” “I’m coming too boys!” Miss Oaklyn hurried out the door, clucking like the hen lady she was, “I have an Amelia to fight for!” “No, Miss Oaklyn,” Dwayne turned to face her determined face, “I need you to stay here with Evaney and Amelia. We can’t all go.”
“But-”
“Miss Oaklyn please. I need someone to take care of Evaney. I cannot have him following us under any circumstances. I know he’ll want to go, and Amelia will go with him if he does. Both children will be in danger, serious danger of gruesome death. You saw those creatures, you saw what they almost did to you and me. Do you think Amelia and Evaney will survive if they are left alone?”
“I…”
The lady looked down at her feet before looking back up, “Okay, I’ll stay. But you boys better return! You hear me Mr. Finch!” She pointed at Will with an accusing finger, “I want to see you marry Caitlyn, understood?” “Yes ma’am,” Will mockingly saluted lazily, “And once I come back we’ll give you an invitation to the wedding.” “Good!” She turned her glare to Dwayne, “And you Mister Abadiano! Avery will become depressed if you don’t come back, and I can’t have one of my best workers working in a depressive slump! You are not leaving me to look after him and a kid! Do you understand?” “Yes Miss Oaklyn,” Dwayne lied, “I’ll come back for Evaney and Avery.” He knew he was a liar.
There was a very high chance he would never come back.
“Let’s get Caitlyn and Avery, come on.” Will headed back inside, pushing past Miss Oaklyn. Dwayne did the same, but just as he passed her, he heard her speak, “I saw that look in your eyes Mister Abadiano.” “What look?” “If a man believes he is going to die,” she turned to glare at him, “He will do everything in his power to make it happen. I know you think you’re going on a one way trip, and I want to tell you something. You need to lighten the hell up. You cannot go into this thinking you are going to die, or you will. And I know there will be people that mourn you. There will be a little boy who certainly will. Do not make that child cry.” “I…you know there are risks Miss…I’m not exactly in peak condition. If that means I have to give my life to make sure the world survives, I will. I’m just another casualty.”
“You said you were a knight in another world, boy!” Miss Oaklyn huffed, “So act like it!” “You’d like me to fight with a sword?” Dwayne joked, but she quickly cut him off, “I want you to know that you’re a fighter!” She put both hands on his shoulders and made him look her in the eye, “Don’t just fight to the death. Fight to come home as well.” “I…” He was stunned, Miss Oaklyn had only known him for a day. She knew exactly what she wanted to tell him. “Geez, you knew exactly what to say.” Dwayne mumbled. Miss Oaklyn smiled pridefully, “Of course I do. I’m a mother. And I’ve got to say, I don’t know you too well, but I know Avery. I feel like if I ever had boys, well, they might have turned out like the two of you.”
“Miss…”
“Go now Dwayne. Get Avery and go save the kids. Do you understand?”
“Yes ma’am.”
He headed inside, and there stood Will, Caitlyn, and Avery. “We’re coming with you,” Caitlyn indicated to herself and Avery, “If we really have some sort of political or magical power in Carcosa, you’re going to need it.” “Caitlyn, you don’t understand, that’s what he wants-“ “I’m going. And if Avery’s going, I am too. You’re not the only one protecting him.” She put her hand on Avery’s shoulder. He flinched for a moment, before nodding, “Cait…comes too…big sister…comes…” “Avery, it's dangerous. I’m only letting you come because of your magic-“ “You…! You listen! You let her come!” Avery pointed at him angrily, “You let her come now!” “Alright! If it means that much to you.” Dwayne sighed and looked at Will, “Can you drive well?” “I’ve never driven through an apocalypse before, but we’re about to find out.”
The group headed for the door, and Avery took one last glance at the house. “Something wrong Avery?” “No…just…wanted to see one last time. If I don’t…” Avery trailed off and walked out the door, saying nothing else. “Tell Evaney we said goodbye,” Dwayne looked at Miss Oaklyn, “Tell him…I’m glad he’s my kid. I wish I could have said it to his face.” “Come back and say it to him then. He’ll be glad to hear it,” Miss Oaklyn nodded, “Okay?” “Yes ma’am.” “Go, kill that son of a bitch.” “Whatever you say Miss.”
The four of them got into the car, “Okay, I’m assuming that it’s going to be absolute hell getting over there, so everybody buckle in,” Will looked in his rearview mirror, “I’m not losing anyone to a car accident before we even make it there. “Monster…” Avery mumbled, “Drive fast…they…they’re fast.” “Whatever you say little Rivers.” The car engine hummed to life, and they took off from the driveway, leaving behind Miss Oaklyn at the door. They drove for a bit, before the silence was broken, “I wonder why Evaney didn’t come out to say goodbye to you guys?” Caitlyn asked quietly as she stared out the car door. “He was probably talking to Amelia-” Dwayne suddenly winced as another migraine washed over him, and he found himself looking in the back of the car, where the trunk would be.
“Stop the car!” Dwayne shouted, and Will hit the breaks. “Fuck! I knew it, I knew he wouldn’t be that quiet!” Dwayne hurried out of the car, and went around to the back, opening up the trunk. “Son of a- Evaney!” In the trunk, quiet as a mouse, Evaney laid there, looking up at Dwayne nervously, “Hi Captain-” “Don’t you Captain me! You know I wouldn’t have approved of you coming with us!” Dwayne pulled Evaney out angrily. “That’s why I hid in the trunk.” Evaney responded shyly, “How’d you find me? I was quiet…” “I thought about you, remember, my curse still works when I’m thinking about only this world! Come on, we’re taking you home.”
“No!”
“What do you mean no? This is dangerous!”
“We can’t turn back now! We’ll lose time!”
“Evaney! You can’t-”
“It’s my world too! I’m not going to sit back and let others do things for me anymore! I want to fight for you, for Mister Avery, I want to fight so that Mr. Finch and Miss Rivers can have their wedding! Besides, I lived in Carcosa, I know it better than any of you! Please let me come, I want to help fight for a world where…we can all live in.”
Dwayne stood there, hands pinching the bridge of his nose, “Listen. If, and I truly mean if, you come, you’re going to do whatever I say. If I say run, you run, if I say hide, you hide, if I say abandon me, you do that. Do you understand?” “Yes Captain! I understand!” Evaney saluted, looking like the child soldier he was. “Alright, if you really want to fight for a world like that…I suppose you and I can’t really be swayed to back off. Pack it into the car, I’m not going to let you be banged around in the trunk on the way there.” Evaney brightened and hurried into the car, sitting in between Avery and Dwayne.
“What the hell is he doing in here!” Caitlyn angrily looked back at Dwayne in the backseat, “He’s going to get killed!” “I’m coming too Miss Rivers! I want to come with! I have a reason to fight too…for you guys, and for…a new friend.” Evaney dug something out of his pocket, a violet. “Amelia?” Dwayne whispered to Evaney, “Do you…have a crush on Amelia?” “I wanted to tell you, but…I didn’t know how to really say it. Can you not tell anyone?” Evaney looked nervously at him. “I won’t kiddo,” Dwayne ruffled his hair, “Thanks for telling me though. I promise we’ll get this world all fixed, and then you two can go do something together.” “Promise?” “Promise.” Evaney moved closer to him in the carseat, “Thanks Captain.”
Avery stared on ahead at the approaching chaos, “We…almost there. Hold on.” He put his hand around Dwayne and leaned against Evaney, “You all need weapons…I make some…magic…” “Avery you can do that?” Will asked from the drivers’ seat, “How much stuff can you do?” “Lots…father’s powers…lots.” “I’m kinda jealous,” Cait smiled at Avery, “You got all the cool shit. But our father’s also kinda an asshole deity thing so, maybe I’m a little less envious than I think I am.” Avery, actually began to laugh. It was kinda nice to hear him laugh again, even if it was under circumstances that probably would result in their deaths.
They drove onto to cracked roads of the city, past the cars and people attempting to get away. “It’s chaos here…” Caitlyn watched in silent terror, “These people don’t deserve any of this-” “Stop!” Avery suddenly screamed, and Will hit the breaks as a creature barreled right past their car, taking a nearby person.
“Get out!” Avery screamed again, and the five of them got out, and began running for the center of the city. “Avery! What’s our plan here?!” Caitlyn yelled as the chaos of the city overwhelmed them. “Get to center…! Find rift…! Go through…! Figure out from there!” “Avery! You know those magic weapons you were talking about! Summon them!” Will yelled as he pulled Caitlyn away from being crushed by a nearby falling piece of cement. Avery nodded, and for a moment, a small burst of golden light appeared, before Avery suddenly threw things at Will, Cait, and Evaney. A mace, a scythe, and a small spear, respectively, “Tried to…figure out…weapons good for you!” Avery yelled as the they headed for a nearby alleyway, to hide from some of the creatures.
“Woah, these are sick as hell Aves,” Caitlyn grinned, “I always wanted a magic weapon thing as a kid. Is this part of your magic, or Father’s?” “Father’s.” Avery panted. “I thought you needed that talisman?” Dwayne asked, stretching after running. “No, Father took talisman from me when I…I ran off. He has it. He granted me a bit more power…but, much more powerful if I had talisman…need it back.” “So we get that staff thingy back!” Evaney chimed in, playing with his spear, “And we defeat the King!” “We’ve got to get there first.” Caitlyn looked out around the corner, “So we’ve gotta fight. I’ve lived a good enough life, why not go out in an equally good way?” “You’re way too excited about this sweetheart…” Will sighed and joined her in looking around the corner.
“Hey, uh Avery…?” Dwayne asked quietly as the other three watched the road ahead of them, “You didn’t give me anything, you know, to fight with?” “Wrong.” Avery smiled gently and held out a simple sword, “Sword for a knight. You protect me.” “Avery…I’m not going to be a good fighter in this universe, you saw how close I came to death while trying to save Miss Oaklyn, you shouldn’t put your faith in me-” “Don’t care…I…I don’t care. I want…you to be next to me…when world…when the world ends…” “Avery…” Dwayne took the sword from Avery, before sighing and kneeling before him, “I suppose I can be a knight one last time. And swear an oath to…to my prince.” Avery giggled, “You’re…still cute when you’re awkward…”
“Hey lovers!” Caitlyn called, “It’s now or never!” Dwayne stood up, and Avery followed him as they walked over to join the group, “Alright. We run on three, whatever you do, don’t stop running, don’t run off, don’t look back. Even if someone drags behind. Understood?” “Yeah.” They all agreed. “Good. One…two…”
“Three!”
Everything was chaos to Avery Rivers. The sounds of screams from nearby civilians, running past snarling creatures that once bowed to him, the burning feeling of his migraines. He couldn’t believe this was a year of his life. A year that began with meeting a strange man, and ending with him running to his own certain death against his father. Will ran along Caitlyn’s side, and Avery couldn’t help but wish them a happy ending. He wanted them to get married. He wanted Evaney to go home and see Amelia, he wanted Dwayne to live, and want to live. He didn’t really care what happened to himself personally, but some part of him just wanted to be Avery Rivers again. Normal, boring, with a spark of bubbly personality. He didn’t want to be prince, nor magic, not even important.
He wanted to feel like himself again.
The city center was chaos, the ground literally splitting beneath them as golden light rained down from the night skies. There were no monsters here, but the world and it’s buildings were literally falling apart around them. “Okay!” Caitlyn yelled as the five of them burst though the city center, “We’re here Aves! What now?!” Avery took a deep breath, and turned towards the rift in the sky, pointing a finger up at it in anger, “Father…! Here! I’m here! I want…no… you need to stop! I’ll fight you! We all will if we need to!” Dwayne stood by his side, holding onto the sword Avery had given him like is was a lifeline.
At first, nothing happened. The rumbling still was loud, but there was no voice in the chaos. No response to Avery’s challenge. Not even a mocking laugh at their little ‘uprising’. For a moment, Avery thought they might have to come up with a new plan. That was until, suddenly a voice echoed in their heads, making each of them either flinch or fall.
“So be it.”
***
The ground beneath them broke, sending each of them through the rift into the water below. The same way it used to be when he and Avery used to travel through dimensions. The five of them hit the water, and when they resurfaced, Dwayne was met with an interesting sight. Avery had turned back into a slime person, no wonder there, he was in Carcosa again after all. But so had Caitlyn, who was now screaming at the sight of her green skin. That’s right, Caitlyn and Will had never been here before, so of course they’d be different. Will meanwhile had taken on some sort of enderman hybrid form, something along the lines of a half human creature, and was currently drowning. “Shit!” Dwayne hurried into the water, and pulled Will out, who looked half beat to death, “What the fuck just happened to me?!”
“Transformation. Told you about it when…we explained…” Avery caught his breath as he and Evaney leaned against a nearby tree. “Oh god, my clothes are soaked…” Will gasped for air, “Why aren’t all of you in pain?” “Cause we’re not ender people,” Evaney responded, walking over to him, “You can’t touch water here, it’ll hurt you. But on the bright side you can teleport Mister Finch!” Will, despite Evaney’s encouragement, stayed on the ground, gasping for air. Dwayne looked over to Caitlyn and Avery, who currently was trying to calm his sister down:
“Avery! What’s going on!?”
“Transform. Okay? We…we’ll go back to normal once this is over.”
“I feel like jello!”
“Okay…big sister. You’ll be okay…”
“I bet you’re used to this!”
“I am…it okay Caitlyn. Kinda fun.”
“Jeez, just-” Caitlyn hugged Avery tight, “I’m glad you’re okay. Now come on, let’s just kill this thing and get this over with. Afterwards, you can help me pick out a wedding dress.”
Will, eventually with the help of Evaney, stood up to his full height. “Jesus, this version of you is tall,” Caitlyn looked him over, “You feeling good honey?” “Yeah, just dizzy…and a bit nervous about how you’re looking at me.” “That’s because ender-people can’t make direct eye contact, not unless they want to kill someone,” Evaney pulled away and let Will stand on his own, “So you’ve really got two weapons to survive now!” “Speaking of weapons…” Cait looked around, “Does anyone have theirs? I must have lost mine when I fell.” Everyone agreed with her, everyone except Dwayne of course, who the second that the ground broke beneath them held tight to the hand of the sword for dear life. Of course he didn’t want to drop the sword:
That might be the last thing his love ever gave him.
“We’re going there.” Dwayne pointed with the blade towards the cathedral ahead, “And there are going to be soldiers, mages, and a king who will want to kill us. We are all going to stick together, no breaking up at all unless absolutely necessary. Avery,” He turned to Avery with his eyes narrowed, “If you have any chance to kill the King, even if we are in the way, you take it. If we get overwhelmed with enemies and can’t escape, you leave us. Same goes for you Evaney. I want you hiding behind every single pillar until I call out your name, and if you see us be captured, you escape and keep running until you’re safe. You aren’t ready for this.” Evaney looked like he was about to protest, but Avery put his hands on his shoulders, “Understand.” Evaney looked down at the grass, before nodding sadly, “Yes Captain.”
“Will, Cait. You’re with me,” He indicated as the group moved ahead, “I get this is going to be weird, fighting with new abilities and bodies and whatnot, but I need you two to stay and fight with me. We need to make sure that Avery survives, no matter what happens.” “Right.” The both of them agreed, and all five headed through the woods, stopping right at the path that led to the castle ahead.
This was it.
But when he should have been the most confident, Dwayne found his body refusing to take another step. Caitlyn and Will stopped besides him, and Will tapped him on the shoulder, “Dwayne? What’s wrong.” “I-...” Dwayne looked down at his hands, and found his left hand shaking. He put his right hand on top of it to stop it, and suddenly turned around to face Avery behind them, “Can I- can I talk to you before we do this?” Avery looked around, before pointing to himself questioningly, “Me?” “Yes you. Please? I promise it won’t take long.” “You better hurry,” Caitlyn huffed and crossed her arms, “We don’t have all day, I don’t even know if we have a few hours.” “Right, Evaney, uh, stay here.” Dwayne walked over and grabbed Avery by the arm, leading him behind a nearby tree and whispering, “I can’t.”
“Can’t…?”
“I can’t do this. Which is weird, I’ve literally done this before when you were in the garden. But that’s because I knew you were safe…I…I have the four of you to protect…and I…I don’t know why but I’m… I’m scared. Okay?”
“Now?”
“Yes! Now! I know we have to do this, but I can’t help but feel like… one of us isn’t coming back. And something in the back of my mind is telling me it isn’t me. I can’t…I can’t lose anyone, not anymore. I’ve already lost my family, I lost you, I don’t want to lose anyone else…”
Avery looked at him in shock for a couple of moment, before his hands came up, and Dwayne felt the cold of the slime press against his face. “Avery…”
“Listen…to me. We’re going to stay together…okay?”
“But-“
“We do this together. Together. Remember?”
“Yeah, just. Don’t die first okay, let me do that.”
“Let’s try…not to die at all…?”
“Probably better.”
Avery chuckled and kissed Dwayne softly. “That’s the first sign of normalcy I’ve had since you left,” Dwayne held Avery close to him as the two of them stood there for a few more seconds. “Hey, when this is all over, and if we survive, uh, Avery how do you feel about…you know, my last name?” Avery looked puzzled for a few seconds, “I like. Nice…sounds nice. Why?” “Well, if you want it,” Dwayne looked away at a nearby tree which suddenly got super interesting to him, “You can have it. Or I could take yours but I figured you’d probably want to be rid of your last name, or we could just get a new one all together-” Avery thought for a few more seconds, before his eyes lit up in realization, “Oh! I thought…” “Yeah, I wouldn’t want anything more than just signing papers at the courthouse,” Dwayne pulled on his gloves, “But, I mean, it wouldn’t be the worst thing ever to be married to you. Or you know, give Evaney like guardians who are married parents.”
One look at Avery’s shocked face and he immediately backtracked, “Well! You don’t have to say yes, and this was an absolutely terrible time to ask you! Besides, you’ve got some stuff we’ve gotta work through before we’re ready to marry, if you even want to. God you haven’t even said yes- I’m shutting up now!” Avery stared at him for a few more seconds, before laughing in his face. “Is that a no…?” “It’s yes! But ‘you’re so awkward’ kinda yes. Still…” Avery nodded, “Yes. I will. When we get out of here. You have…a reason…to fight now. To survive…” “I suppose I do.” “Suppose you do.”
The two of them headed back to the group, and Caitlyn huffed, “Took you long enough, thought I was going to melt or something!” They all stared from the trees at the guarded castle. “Okay, we’re getting in through the garden walls. There’s usually no guards in the garden, but if there is, we can hide behind different plants and flowerbeds. It’s got the most coverage, and there’s barely anyone ever guarding the gates leading to the garden on the outside,” Dwayne pointed to the courtyard, barely visible from behind the front view, “I know this place inside and out, from being possessed I suppose, but I know how to get Avery to the King, and how to get us out. Once we’re inside, the second we’re seen by anyone, we’ve got to book it to where we need to go. We cannot be seen under any circumstances, understood?” All agreed, and all of them moved on through the forest to a closer spot to the garden.
But unfortunately, there at the gates leading to where the garden should be, soldiers stood. “I thought you said this place was usually empty?” Will leaned over to Dwayne who sighed, “Dammit, they probably know this is a weak spot. We need a way to get in there.” “Magic?” Avery suggested, but Caitlyn waved it off, “Your magic is bright as all get out Aves. They’d see us.” “We could fight them?” Cait chimed in, but Evaney shook his head, “No. There’s too many, they’d get us instantly.” Dwayne thought for a few more moments, before Will chimed in, “We could just, I don’t know, I’m sorry I’m not really good at puzzles.” “That’s it!” Dwayne turned to Will, “You can teleport us, enderman thing they can do. Doesn’t make a lot of noise, and is barely visible!”
“Teleport?!” Will sputtered, as if Dwayne had just asked him to do something as insane as killing Cait, “I don’t know how to do that!” Will paced back and forth for a moment. “At least try!” Avery snapped, his English slowly improving as time went on, “Try!” “I can’t!” “You can.” Evaney walked over to him, and held his hand, “If I can be a knight, you can do it.” “I don’t know…” Will held Evaney’s hand worriedly, before Cait came over and with Will avoiding her gaze like an enderman would, she grabbed his hands, “Listen Will, can you do this for me?” Will looked away from her for a moment before sighing, “Can I try with a practice round?”
For some reason, Evaney volunteered as a practice run, something about wanting to show Will that he was on his side. Will was going to try to teleport the two of them over to the garden to see if it worked, then let Evaney hide in the bushes, and come back for the other three. Dwayne and Avery were obviously against this, telling Evaney that volunteering for what could be a suicide test run was ridiculous. But Evaney smiled at them, and simply went,
“I’ve got this. I know I do!”
And that was all he got to say before turning towards Will, and with a few seconds of hesitation, Will held his hand, and the two of them disappeared into a small puff of purple smoke.
The waiting was worrying for all three left behind. “God I knew something was going to happen,” Dwayne paced back and forth, “I should have been firmer, told him, ‘no let me go with Will’, and something’s going to go wrong and-” “You’re only making everyone else here more nervous!” Caitlyn hissed softly, “I don’t want to spend the whole time worrying about them!” “We could…always use magic…” “No Avery, the last thing we want is for you specifically to get caught,” Dwayne watched the walls, “Okay. Caitlyn, you and I can distract them, maybe they’ll even listen to you if you’re the princess-” Just then, Will reappeared, “Oh god that was weird, and took way longer than I wanted to.” “Will!” Cait ran over and hugged him, before Avery looked around and asked, “Evaney?” “Fine, he’s just hiding in a violet bush. Now come on! All of you!”
Making sure he had a hold of everyone, the world for all four of them soon went dark. Avery shut his eyes as the world became violet, before opening them only a crack, to find them in the garden. His garden. The same garden…he had been planting orchids in for days… Avery began to breathe heavily, it was almost like some joke to see where he had been with clear eyes. “Hey, hey,” Dwayne patted him on the head, “Look, we’re fine, everyone’s fine. We’ve just got to get in, and get out. And then this will all be a distant dream, you said so yourself. We’ve got to remain brave.” Avery nodded, and turned towards a nearby violet bush with a smile, “Evaney. Come on…” Evaney’s head poked out from inside the bush, and smiled, “Hey guys.” “You make a pretty convincing flower,” Caitlyn chuckled as Evaney rushed out to meet them.
The five of them headed inside, with Evaney in the back of the group. The inside of the cathedral was…strangely empty. Sure, a lot of the guards and servants were probably invading the real world, (Just another reason for them to hurry) but surely it wouldn’t be this bare. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Even Avery noticed it, as he looked to where a guard should be each time they passed through a hallway. “Hey, I thought you two lovebirds said this was a castle,” Caitlyn asked as they ran, “So, where’s like all the castle people?” Will panted as they ran, still unused to this body, “Maybe they just left?”
Another turn down an empty hallway, then another, then another, then another. It seemed like an endless empty maze, a maze with only one way out. Their footsteps echoed along the tiles below, sending a tapping noise echoing through the halls. “Surely someone heard us,” Dwayne asked Avery, “You’ve been here the most, where is everyone?” Avery shrugged, and just as they were about to make their last turn, the hallway facing the grand yellow doors, the ones his father stood behind…Avery stopped. “They’re here. They…I know they’re…” “Who? Who’s here?” Avery turned to face the other adults on his right, “The mages. They’re here…they want revenge for Carmilla…and they’ve been sent to kill us all.”
There was only one second between this and the tragedy. After Avery had said that, it was like the world had paused. The tension was at it’s climax, barely hanging over the ledge like someone ready to jump. The King in front of them, they’re enemies around them. No one had bothered to look behind them, to the hallways behind whose lights had slowly been going out one by one. To the many doors that had silently closed as they crossed each hallway, effectively trapping each of them. No one had bothered to look behind them at Evaney.
“Ngh!”
They heard a small little whimper of pain, and the sound of a dagger ripping through organs and flesh. Dwayne felt his world spin, as he turned around and saw what was behind them. Three people, cloaked in yellow, standing like obelisks at an altar. Evaney looked at the four adults ahead of him in fear, pain, and regret. He was standing there shakily, his legs barely supporting him as he held where his left ribs would be with his hands. His bright blue sweater, the ones with violets on it, slowly began to be seeped with red. Evaney looked down at his hands, lifting them up in front of him to see the stains from the wound, revealing his stabbed side. Avery gasped in horror, while Caitlyn and Will only watched on in utter shock. The Mage smiled and ripped the dagger out of his side, tearing flesh with the action, and leaving Evaney for dead. Dwayne felt his voice crack as all he could whisper out was, “Evaney?” Evaney looked at all of them, unsure of what to say. So, all he said was just a quiet statement:
“...I'm sleepy Captain...”
And with that, Evaney fell onto the ground, the pool of blood slowly gathering below his collapsed body. His hair covered his good eye, and his hand was outstretched in Avery and Dwayne’s direction, as if to try to hold onto one of their hands for the last time. No wonder his favorite flowers were violets.
They always died so young.