A/N: All Underland Chronicles belongs to Suzanne Collins. I own nothing. I just figured I'd try my hand at fixing her ending.
Gregor the Underlander
By Tamm
Tonight was the night. Tonight had to be the night. Tomorrow, his family moved to Virginia and he would much too distant for his escape to Underland. Tonight, he had to go.
He had been planning this for weeks. Almost as soon as his family had exited the Underland. The events of this year had changed him. Being declared Warrior of Regalia, going on a good handful of adventures, battling for the lives of his friends and family. He was different. Older. One could scarcely help being changed by all that he had gone through.
And yet, he did not regret it. In fact, his only regret lay in the sorrow he'd cause his family when he left to live in Underworld, forever.
He had tried to return to their Overworld life. Tried to act like a normal kid with normal problems. Tried to act like he wasn't covered in scars, both physically and mentally. Tried to act like his only concerns were surviving school and doing chores. He had failed.
His thoughts lived deep underneath New York, with a blonde-haired queen and her kingdom. She captivated his dreams, and lived in his thoughts. She had fought and bled at his side. He had seen her tears, and lived for her smiles. She understood him as almost none other could.
It was all this and so much more that finally brought it to a head. Tonight was the night.
Gregor lay in bed, his eyes shut, but his pulse racing. It had been hours since he had gone to bed, feigning sleep. The apartment was deathly silent, his parents having been the last to retire to bed. They had been doing last minute packing, and had only gone to sleep an hour ago, or so he guessed. But finally, the apartment was still, and it was time.
Quietly, he slipped from his bed, finding his clothes where he had stuffed them earlier, and dressed. His backpack was waiting under the bed, having been prepared a few days ago. Finally, he pulled on his shoes and eased his door open.
Initially, he had wanted to leave by way of the window, but the bars on it made that quite impossible. Still, he could make it out the front door quietly enough.
Tiptoeing down the hallway, he carefully moved passed his parents' room. His sisters' door was open, both sound asleep. He gazed at them fondly, not really needing their nightlight to clearly "see" them - his echolocation was better than sight the more he used it.
Finally, after his silent goodbye, he headed for the living room, pulling out his farewell letter to his family. It wasn't the best way to tell them he loved them, but it would have to do. He turned the corner, and saw his parents waiting for him.
"Out for a stroll, Gregor?" his dad asked.