Small but Divine (Old)

Chapter 25 - Hypnotization

After Class - Monday - Diviner's Dormitory - Time: 3:07pm

June 2

Lucas's POV

Nobody could really focus for the rest of class. And it wasn't only the fact that there was a murder. Lanny and Aria were prime suspects too, and it caused everyone to lose their cool.

Aria left with the officer, and we watched Lanny's little breakdown episode. Everyone was left quite confused. Rana had explained to us that whoever was trying to attack us was likely starting to use the people around us. On any other occasion, the incident would be dismissed as something for the police to deal with. But since it was too close to us, and at such a time, it couldn't have been a mere coincidence.

After class was over, Rana had asked me to go check on Lanny, and make sure he was okay, since she had errands to run. The building was quiet. Blaze, Jasper, Vane, and Noelle were in the field, Avon and Marigold were studying in the library. Sachiko, Alex, Zephira, and Elisia piled into Elisia's room to watch a movie. Bruce had detention with one of the Main School teachers.

When I walked into Lanny's room, I was thoroughly expecting him to be asleep. After all, he was allegedly woken up at two in the morning. Yet, he was wide awake, laying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was obviously crying, but he didn't do anything to stop the tears flowing down his face. He didn't acknowledge me until I sat down on the bed beside him.

"Hey," I said quietly. "How're you doing?"

"Lucas," he said, voice quivering, "I'm tired of being alive. I want to die."

I sighed, "You just can't catch a break, can you?"

He sniffed. "I just can't get this dating thing right! All I wanted to do was spare Esther's feelings, and now she's dead. It's all my fault."

"It's not your fault," I assured. "You didn't know. You were just trying to be considerate. You didn't want to hurt her feelings by rejecting her, and you didn't know Aria was going to be so extreme."

"You sound like you're trying to put the blame on Aria, as if that would make me feel better."

"I'm not!" I defended. "Aria probably feels just as bad as you do."

He covered his face with his hands. "They took Aria in for questioning too," he groaned. "I didn't want her to get dragged into this. And my family! What are they going to think when they find out that I'm suspected of murder?!"

"Lanny, calm down," I said. "Getting flustered isn't going to help anything. I get it, your situation absolutely sucks. You're at a shitty place in life, but listen to me right now, cousin to cousin." I took a deep breath. "It's not your fault, no matter how much you think it is. And as much as I hate to say it, we have bigger problems on our hands right now. Rana thinks that whoever did it, did it in an attempt to come after us. And it's our responsibility to figure out who's doing this, and stop it. Before something like this happens again. Do you understand?"

Lanny looked at me, and slowly nodded. "I...I know what you mean. I really don't want this to happen again."

I sighed. "I know I'm coming off as completely heartless right now, but you have to understand what I'm saying." He nodded, and I stood up to leave. "Now, you need to get some sleep. I'll just be downstairs. Text me if you need anything."

~
Several Hours Later
Marigold's POV
~

"Guys, dinner's ready!" I called up the stairs. Dinner wasn't fancy or anything, just some leftover pizza from our last takeout night.