The early morning sun shines down between the trees of the forest, the leaves crackling and crunching underfoot like flames upon an open fire. The gravel path paving the road towards the open street.
Lewis trudges on down the derelict path, looking down as his black trench coat billows behind him in the subtle but noticeable gust of wind that almost seemed to echo within the empty pathway.
The asphalt road comes steadily into view, the sight of cars going by the same old bus stop Lewis always sits at was a welcoming sight. And it appears Lewis got there just in time too.
The bus rolled up to the stop, the echoing rumble crackling through the morning silence of the bus stop like lightning in a thunderstorm. The cool air did little to soothe the emotions running through Lewis as he stepped onto the bus, taking a seat towards the back, right in 9-B…and who was in 9-A, the window seat?
"Lewis!" Skye yelled out in joy, wrapping his arms around Lewis's neck in a warm hug, ignoring the redness of his own cheeks as he prioritized his friend. "Hey there Skye" Lewis lets out a shy and almost awkward laugh as he hugs Skye back, his hands locking behind Skye's back before pulling away.
"You actually noticed me!" Skye's whole body lit up, striking a playful pose in his seat. "I tried something new today…well? You like it?" From the crop top and miniskirt to the lace gloves and sneakers, everything about him was yellow, glowing like bottled sunlight.
"Of course I'd notice you, Skye! How DARE you ever say I would miss you in a crowd!" Lewis says with a mocking laugh, his tone showing his jest and his joke towards his friend's new attire.
"And just how the hell are you two freaks, huh?" A voice spilled out from in front of them. Skye and Lewis both turned to see the seat ahead, and they saw a person through the cracks.
Lewis instantly looked away, his breathing quickening as he fidgeted with the ring on his right index finger.
The purple gemstone encased in the golden metal ring caught the sunlight, showcasing the blue engraving: "Lewis Ackroyd - LA" on the outer casing of the ring.
His fingers lingered over the ring and somehow, the colors of the ring felt like it was watching him back.
Skye took one glance at Lewis and knew instantly how much it affected him and knew he had to do something to help his best friend in any way he could.
"Now you listen here!" Skye instantly retorted, pointing to the figure and standing up, ready to scold the person for their insult. "You do not get too-" Skye was cut off and suddenly groaned loudly, flopping back onto his seat.
"You really think I wouldn't sit near my brother? And his very obvious crush" The figure stood up, showcasing it to be Tom, Skye's brother, dressed in his iconic blue jacket which seemed also to shimmer like ice, his pure white shirt and black jeans a match between right and wrong and his blue sneakers matching his jacket, squeaking slightly upon the floor.
"Tom!" Skye pouted playfully, a large rosy red blush hanging on his cheeks as he glanced away, looking out the window at the passing scenes.
"Hey Tom" Lewis instantly perked up, realizing the insult was meant to be lighthearted from his best friend even as his own cheeks went rosy upon hearing Tom's remark about him being Skye's crush.
However, a nagging voice suddenly echoed in the back of his mind. "Do you really think that? It sounds mocking…my sweet boy"
Lewis quickly looked around for the voice but…never found it…only his friends' concerned glances upon realising Lewis was seemingly frantic for a moment before calming down. "Don't look at me like that" Lewis's tone suddenly shifts to an almost cold and angry one that left no room for argument.
Tom and Skye looked at each other before Tom finally spoke up. "You okay, dude?"
Lewis snapped back quickly, his left hand idly yet quickly flicking to the small silver locket dangling from his neck, the ashed black chain keeping it around his neck flicked in the sunlight, glinting in the shadows as Lewis gripped it tightly like a man holding a lifeline in an ocean. "I'm fine!" Before quickly realizing how he sounded and his gaze flicked to the floor in guilt, releasing the locket "I…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine. You're going through a rough time, we get it bro" Tom's voice cut through Lewis's attempt at a rebuttal, the silence of the now tense situation cut by Skye's voice, ever cheerful despite the situation which even gained a chuckle from Tom. "Just…talk to us sometime, yeah? We're here for you cutie!"
"Yeah…Maybe someday, Skye…Maybe someday" Lewis replied, yet even as he did so, his tone was a mocking parody of what it had been. Broken and hollow, with an icy chill running through it.
Yet as Lewis spoke, his gaze was dragged to the window where, out of the corner of his eye, he saw his reflection. A twisted mockery of his own, pale red with a blurred face.
In the reflection, two figures stood atop a hill, silent and unmoving. One glowed with a warm yellow light, outlined by the sun; the other shimmered icy blue, as if traced by the sky itself. In the blink of an eye, both were gone.
Lewis stood dazed, heart skipping a beat, breath quickening. A faint pull in his chest, almost like a whisper in the back of his mind, made him wonder if his mind was tricking him again.