"If no one cares for you at all, do you even really exist?"
Will Herondale grunted as he dragged himself out of bed-a task that proved to be quite difficult as his mind tried to persuade him to stay in bed. It was a large bed that seemed to swallow him up as soon as he laid down, and it seemed like that was it's master plan.
Will let out an exasperated sigh as he stretched out his limbs, feeling his muscles contract with each move he made. He slipped on his normal attire, and stepped out of his bedroom with a casual glance behind him.
The air in the hallway of the institute seemed thick and humid, almost as if it tried to suffocate him. He made his way to the dining hall, feeling his clothes stick to him as he sat down at the table. Charlotte entered and sat down beside him, fanning herself with a thick stack of mail.
"Henry, please fix the heating-I don't think I can take much more of this dastardly heat." She wiped her forehead with a handkerchief as Henry entered the room.
"I will work on it as soon as I finish the drawing for my new invention, darling." Henry sat down at the table beside his wife and smiled at her with a twinkle in his eyes. He then went on about his invention, explaining the purpose and the different features of his invention.
Will finally cleared his throat, both Henry and Charlotte's heads turning toward him.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Charlotte asked with a look of disgust on her face-as if she were looking at a pile of trash.
Will was baffled as he looked at first Charlotte and then Henry-surely they were joking, right? He waited for them to burst into a fit of giggles, even thought joking wasn't their forte.
They kept looking at him with the same expression, and that was when realized they weren't joking.
"I'm Will. Surely, your kidding. I-I've spent nearly my whole life here."
Charlotte and Henry looked at each other and then back at Will, there expressions never faltering.
"It's only the two of us here. We have no children living here with us." Henry stated, taking bite of his food.
Will pushed his chair back and excused himself, walking away asCharlotte and Henry began eating as if nothing unusual happened at all.
He made his way back down the hallway, opening door after door and coming up with nothing but emptiness. No Jem, no Jess, and no Tessa.
He was alone, and nobody cared for him. His worst nightmare had come true.