Hiiiii! I’m so tired – I’ve been cleaning my room all day, but at least the work payed off! XD

Loren, I used 8 prompts

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“MISSING: 17 Year Old Boy”

“17 year old boy goes missing.”

“Teenage boy is missing.”

It was all anyone was talking about. People clear across the world knew about the missing boy, but I was the only one who knew where he was and what he was doing. I knew because that boy that everyone knew about was my brother.
“Amy, you are the only living relative your brother has. You saw him last. We need you try to think of what happened and what his last words were to you.” The detective demanded of me.
His last words to me? Each word rang clear as a bell in my mind, but the struggle I had was telling the detective everything. If I told, I’d be betraying my brother. But if I didn’t – I’d be in a lot of trouble.
I have to protect myself…. And the world.
“My brother said he was leaving to fix some things. He didn’t say what.” I informed the detective.
“Did he say where he was going?” He inquired.
“No.” That was where I lied. I wasn’t going to give my brother away – not that easily. The detective didn’t take his eyes off of me for a few moments, and I felt my heart beating a million times per second in my chest. I was beyond relieved when he opened the door and said I could go.

I ran all the way home, back to the apartment my brother and I had shared and bustled about. I took my purple sweater off the hanger in my closet and snatched the flashlight out of the drawer in the hall. Then I darted out the door and traveled deep into the woods.
The moonlight cast an eerie glow through the trees and I wanted to turn back countless times, but I pressed forward. I had to find my brother.
At length, I reached a dead end. Sighing exhaustively, I sat on a rock and placed my chin in my hands. It was very dark now and I felt like something was watching me from all corners.

“Hunter!” I called out in the silence, like he would actually hear, like he would actually care. A sob escaped my lips and within moments, tears were streaming down my cheeks.
“Hunter… I need you.” I hugged my chest and rocked back and forth. I felt so alone. So lost.
“Amy.”
My head jerked up and I shone my flashlight toward the voice.

“Hunter!” I shouted as I leaped up and threw my arms around his neck.
“What are you doing out here?” He asked as I let my arms down.
“I had to talk to you. Hunter, everyone is looking for you. You’re not safe here. I need you to tell me what you’re doing way out here.” I insisted, but Hunter seemed reluctant to share anything.

“I’m fine. You’re the one who’s not safe. This world isn’t safe anymore, for either of us. Come with me, you’ll see what I mean.” He offered.
“Hunter, I’m not going to sleep out in the woods.” I scoffed.

“I’m not staying in the woods. I’m staying in another, fantastic world. The Ferrymen told me you were here searching for me.” Hunter explained. My jaw hung open as I stared at him in disbelief.
“Do you know what you sound like?” I asked, tears filling my eyes.
“Amy, I know it’s hard to understand, but this isn’t our home. We belong in a different land full of faeries and dragons, knights and kings… We belong in a castle.” He stated, a grin on his face.
“A castle?”
“Yes.”
“You’re saying we’re royalty?” I inquired and he nodded. I couldn’t help but laugh. “You have lost your mind.” I confirmed as tears trickled out of my eyes.
“No, Amy – ”

“I’m sorry, Hunter. I know who I am, and that’s not me.”
“Amy, please. I need your help. We have to bring peace to our kingdom!” Hunter exclaimed desperately. He sounded so urgent and the look in his eyes – I wanted to help him, but how could I help him with something that was a figment of his imagination?

“I- I can’t. I can’t help you. At least not with that.” I said, my eyes full of tears. “Get as far away from here as you can. I’ll try to stall the detectives for as long as possible.”
I stepped closer to Hunter and grasped his hand in mine, staring into his eyes that showed brokenness and disappointment.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered and headed back to my home, knowing that I would probably never see my younger brother again.

Over the years I realized that not all haunted places are houses, for that last look in my brother’s eyes, the look of pain, disappointment, and a broken heart, haunted me every day for the rest of my lonely life.

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When I finished reading this, I literally said – “I’m terrible.” XD

Love,
~Fluffet~