Figment of Dreams
Chapter 10: Revelations

They had laid out a simple blue dress for me. I had no idea why, because it’s supposed to be fall in Virginia and this tiny thing would be way too cold for this time of year. But I was about done with all the questions that were rolling around in my brain and I would file that away in the ‘deal with that later pile.’

I already knew deep down inside that we were no longer in the United States but still. I wouldn’t let my mind take me there yet.

Not yet.

I also received a pair of white sneakers. Thank you to the boys who knew me so well but I would never admit it to their faces. They could get a white sneaker to their face though. Talking about shoes, I hope my red all-stars were still around somewhere.

My hair was still wet and my face flushed with worry I sneaked out of the giant bathroom. Avital was on my heels immediately though, apparently, she had been on guard duty outside my door. She was still keeping up the cosplay act. I don’t know why they had decided to hire an actor to stalk me through this palace, but it was just pure overkill, really.

‘Just follow me my lady we’re going to the common area.’ Avital walked in front of me and I scurried along like a lost puppy. We passed several huge doors on my left side. On the right, everything was windows, with that to die for view of the flower garden and forest. I spotted waterfalls and hot springs. The strangest birds I had ever seen in purple and white feathers flew through said garden. Was I in Costa Rica? Perhaps South America somewhere? Did Jax or Kai have a retreat I had no idea about?

She led me to a room that was supposed to be a living room. But with all those white and wood marble overlaying, I was in a living room for the richest of the world. It was also built for giants. With my luck over the last few hours, one giant would be making his appearance in the next act probably.

I also spotted three huge white couches, full of pillows and a gigantic fireplace in the middle. All with a touch of modern meets colonial.

I knew Maddox had money, but damn daddy Skylar didn’t come to play.

Jax, Kai, the twins, a bunch of other green cosplayers in waitress outfits, and Jax’s dad were standing next to the marble side table. Which held a vase with spinning yellow sunflowers. Or was I just that dizzy?

I just stopped dead in my tracks. There was a man and woman to the side of the couch that I hadn’t seen before. They looked about middle age, with both dark short cropped hair and blue eyes. They looked like Kai and I suddenly saw the resemblance, they must be his parents. They did not look happy to see me though. I don’t know on which side of the bed they woke up on, but by the stank face they were serving me right now, they woke up in a pile of shit.

Maddox Skylar spoke first, always with this posh accent he had picked up from his English teacher who had been from London.

‘Lux, my dear. Please have a seat.’ He motioned toward the couch in front of him. I was debating whether or not to follow his lead, but I always respected him, despite what his son had done to me all those years ago. I was also clearly in his house. I don’t know why I knew this, but it was most definitely the case. Everything screamed Maddox.

So I silently walked over to where he was pointing and let the couch swallow me. I felt tiny and useless and plucked at the hem of my blue dress so I didn’t see all those eyes on me. I felt like I’m the only one not in on a secret everyone in the room is already aware of. I was quite literally the elephant in the room.

Kai sat down to my right and Jax to my left and everyone else took a seat on the other two couches. I opened my mouth to speak but Kai placed his hand on my knee to silence me. Jax looked at him intently from behind my shoulders. They again had a wordless conversation. When did that start happening, this was the third time in as many hours I had seen this display.

Maddox cleared his throat. ‘I just want you to know that none of us knew. We had no idea what was going to happen.’

I’m still confused, Maddox. But by any means, continue.

‘You are safe here with us. We will do our very best to keep it that way, Lux.’

I shrugged Kai’s hand away.

Safe? Why wouldn’t I be safe?

‘Can somebody please just tell me, without all the dancing around the giant pink elephant in the room?’ I was talking about myself. ‘What is happening here?’

I felt Kai’s hand on my lower back again though and this guy just couldn’t take a hint. I shrugged him off, again.

All of them just looked at each other. Searching for words. Except for the two stank-eyed possible future parents-in-law, they were just too busy trying to kill me with an evil glance.

It was Jax who spoke the words. Dropping them like a nuclear bomb, Jax Skylar style. He was never known for being subtle.

‘Earth is gone.’

I blinked up at him. I was starting to laugh but then I saw he was dead serious and he wouldn’t joke about that would he? Then again, I don’t really know him anymore, do I?

’W-what… like gone how?’ my voice cracking. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears.

’They destroyed it, Lux. They came and blew it all up… everything… everyone…’ Jax’s sorrow was reflected in his eyes. He too had lived on earth for nearly twenty years. I slapped my hands in front of my mouth, gasping. I knew he was telling the truth. I just felt it.

‘Dad, Malin…what…?’ tears trickled down and I was unable to stop it. My body trembling.

’They saved some people…’ said Maddox solemnly. As if the saving of some people would soothe me.

‘How many?’ I croaked from behind my hands. I was trembling. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Please just drop me in another one of the Dark Stranger’s nightmares, anything but this. I’ll even take on the Dark Stranger in real life but just make this stop.

‘About a thousand people were saved…’ Maddox sighed deeply.

‘Besides of course all the humans that had already moved to Caros, to Terra, over the years.’

‘In America?’

A long silence followed. Glances were exchanged before Maddox answered.

‘The world.’