The mystery man shook his head and turned away from Lars, "Why must you question me, quit vexing me and just get your sister a one-way train ticket here... If you can even go back on your own."
Lars winced and put the purple rose in a bottle then in a pocket of his backpack, the other man wasn't going to help him anyways so he had no choice but to at least try and go back. However it was getting dark and Lars' dizziness began to turn into a heavy cough, he couldn't go on walking. So he decided to wait and watch the other disappear into Feliks' house.
Lars tried his hardest to sneak into the stables next to the house. He swung the doors wide open and let out a gross cough. All the horses young and old neighed and reared up stamping their shiny hooves on the floor. They were all beautiful Palominos with bright blond mane, but one stood out to Lars. A sturdy saddled chocolate brown stallion with the same strawberry blond hair and a creme stripe down his face, he seemed less noisy than the others but more agitated. It snorted and scraped it's hoof on the ground and wore a wicked look just like War's apocalypse horse.
Lars ran to the horse and took it by it's reins and wrestled with it before he got control. The horse didn't put up a big fight but he reared up then casually walked out of the stable with Lars as it just lost interest. Lars mounted the horse then clenched it's mane when he began to feel unstable. After he felt somewhat balanced the horse bolted in to where Lars came from. That horse didn't need any instruction, it was like he knew exactly where he was going, like magic. Of course Lars was shocked at first and did little motions to try and guide the stallion. Lars looked like some kind of hero running across the countryside in the dark night with only the moonlight and the magical steed guiding him.
Once the horse made it to the train station to Brussels, he stopped on a dime which stunned Lars initially.
"Woah!" Lars said leaning back.
The horse bucked him off then promptly ran off.
Lars shook his head and didn't think much of what just happened. Besides his muscles began to ache and a dull pain began to bang on his ribcage and head. Thank goodness the train ride back wasn't too long and the hopeful sunrise began to peak over the train station.
Once Lars got back to his sister and his house in Brussels he hobbled to the door and fumbled around with a silvery key before unlocking the door. He slowly entered the house and shut the door behind him, he literally dragged himself up the stairs to his sister's bedroom and weakly banged on the door. His vision blurred and the banging on the door gave him a slight headache.
"Emma! Wake up." Lars yelled out with a broken sounding voice.
It took a few grueling tries for Emma to actually wake up, she opened the door and gasped when she saw her brother struggling and leaning against the wall in pain.
"Lars!?" She called out helping him up and letting him lay in her bed so he could speak to her.
He closed his eyes and winced from the sheer pain. "It hurts all over Emma, here take this rose. You need to leave." He said trying to stay stern and strong.
He pulled out the purple rose trapped in the bottle and shuddered as he gave it to her.
"Oh Lars, it's beautiful. But you are confusing me and scaring me too! what about you?" She was immediately in awe of the rose, but her expression was stricken by terror.
"Don't worry about me Emma! Just go to Feliks' house now! I'll be fine." He coughed and shivered. "I promise you I'll call someone to look after me, please don't be stubborn or something could happen to you as well." He barked and frowned up at her in complete seriousness.
Emma was paralyzed she had to listen to Lars, no matter how much she wanted to be stubborn and stay something inside her told her to just listen. Lars shut his eyes tight and looked away from her, he prayed she would be okay he was just as confused as her after all.
A little brown and white rabbit hopped into Emma's room and sat next to Lars sniffing him, Emma nodded at him and the rabbit with a more confident face. "Alright Lars, I will go." She said spending a little while packing a small bag of essentials for the trip, she knew her younger sister in Luxembourg would take care of Lars.
"Goodbye Lars." She said quietly and lightly hugged him with the bottled rose in her little hands.
She walked down the stairs then heard a 'clip clop' sound at the door. She rushed to the door and opened it, what a great stroke of luck, it was the horse who lead Lars to the train station. Emma's eyes widened and she stared at the horse, it had wings that were outstretched.
The rose Emma had changed it's color once more. It changed into a dazzling red, the stallion's wings seemed to change to a pure white and they sparkled in the light. It shook it's head and obviously motioned Emma to get on his back.
Could it be? A pegasus those things aren't real. Do I have to ride him, he's so pretty, I'm sure this is Feliks' work. What's the worst thing that could happen?
Emma thought to herself then hoisted herself onto the winged horse and grabbed the reins and his long mane, putting the bottle safely in her bag.
She sighed and said to the pegasus. "Let's go boy, I have to help Lars."
