Chapter 21- Grace is Gone

Rowan

I was awoken by the thunder of two feet down the hall in front of my dorm, and all the way down all twenty-three flights of stairs. I flew out of bed, changing quickly into my robes and darting down the stairs.

Out in the middle of Ravenwood, right in front of Bartleby, stood Dylan, with a strangled look on his face. His bottom lip quivered, and walking up to him, I noticed his clothes were crumpled.

"Dylan?" I called to him, cautiously. He buried his face in his hands.

"S-sh-she's gone… She's gone Rowan…" he said shakily. "She just… Left… Didn't even say goodbye…"

My mouth formed a silent O. Grace was gone. But hadn't he been the one that asked her to go? "Um… Dylan, uh… I'm sure she's fine, okay, she wanted to do this."

His eyes widened. "This is all my fault!" he said, arms dropping to his sides, his face was red. "I just got her back and now she's gone. All because of me. Because I told her to go. She went for me…" A fat tear rolled down his cheek. I squirmed uncomfortably. He was the strong leader, and leaders weren't supposed to cry… I couldn't let the others see him like this.

"Look, Dylan, why don't you just talk to her? Whisper chat Grace, I'm sure she's alright."

"Don't you think I've tried that?" The look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine. My jaw dropped.

"You… You couldn't contact her?"

He shook his head solemnly.

"That… That can't be true… Let me try…" I said uneasily. I hoped this worked. This had to work.

Grace? You There? I asked cautiously.

I heard a low Mmmph from the other end. My eyes widened, and I gestured wildly at Dylan.

"I think I got her!" I screamed.

Grace! Grace! Answer me!

There was a silence.

R-rowan?

Oh thank goodness. I sighed. Dylan's been worried sick about you.

Dylan?!

Dylan walked over to me. "You found her, you really found her?! What's she saying Rowan!?" He shook me desperately.

"Shut up I'm talking to her!"

He fell silent.

Grace? You still there?

Yeah… She moaned. Darned Malistaire… I'm gonna have a headache for weeks…

What? What'd he do?

Silence, then a sigh. He knocked me out… I think… It's no big deal, really. I couldn't have been unconscious that long. But… what time is it?

I sighed. She was unconscious, that's why she hadn't answered Dylan. I looked down at my wrist to fulfill her request, but I didn't have a watch.

"Dylan." He perked up. "What time is it?" He deflated again.

"Why do you eve-"

"Grace."

"Eight twenty-seven."

It's eight twenty-seven in the morning.

Okay… Just a couple hours then… Not too bad… There was another moan. Dang, my back aches…

I couldn't help but release a nervous laugh.

Hey… She said uneasily.

What?

How's…. How's Dylan? He isn't too worried, is he?

There was a silence from my end this time. I could tell her he was having a major panic attack, but she would probably freak.

"Dylan? She's asking about you…"

Dylan perked up, closing the gap between us in one step. "What? What'd she say? Is she okay? Can I talk to her?"

I bit my lip. "She's fine, she's fine, she just asked how you were. I… I dunno if you should talk to her right now…"

"Oh… Well… Tell her I'm fine… And ask her if she's found anything." He seemed a little disheartened, but I couldn't imagine why.

Grace? You still there?

Yep… Trust me, I'm not going anywhere… She sounded sad, and I wasn't sure what to do.

Well… Dylan's here, he told me to tell you he's fine, and as-

Dylan's there?!

Um… Yes…

I felt her let go of the connection, and I turned to Dylan startled. His face was contorted with relief, and he looked like he was concentrating. They must have been talking to each other. The conversation went on for a few minutes, and then Dylan went pale.

"What? What's happening?" I demanded.

"She… She's talking to Malistaire."

Aaaaand that's it. That's all I wrote. However, I did find this juicy little chapter title at the end of my word document:

Chapter 22- I Find out that I'm an All-Powerful Being

Grace

If you enjoyed it and want me to continue writing, then tell me!

P.S. If you made it this far, thank you. I wrote this over a year ago, and when I read back through it I was all too aware that it wasn't exactly my finest work of literature. If I continue writing this, I'll try to improve it!