Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

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"Apple's missing?" Rin exclaimed worriedly. "I hope she's okay."

"I just hope Rainkeeper and Pear are alright." Joy insisted. She shook her head. "I can't even imagine what they're feeling." 

"I know what you mean." Kelp agreed. "And after everything? This just seems too far."

"Those spawn of bitches." Ander announced. 

"Ander!" She scowled in response.

"Ego interficiam de cordibus eorum vocet, et sidus ad vescendum daemonium Spes in sua mala, quae interius mala et interfecit eum![I will cut out their hearts with a spoon, and feed them to the star demon, in the hopes that their evilness will kill off his own.]" She declared passionately. Rin stared at her sister in shock.

"Geez Ander! Don't you think that's a bit much?"

"No." Joy and Kelp exchanged a glance.

"You know what, I don't think I want to know." Kelp admitted.

"Me neither." Joy insisted. Ander drew a talon across her throat with a hiss.

"I wish Shore were here." Rin grumbled. "He'd know what to do." 

*~*~*~*

"Apple's missing?!" Orange cried. "That's awful!" Shore and Ember nodded glumly in response.

"If you're all so worried about her, just go find her yourselves." Haze suggested. "As long as it doesn't get you killed." she added in a quieter voice. Boysen frowned.

"Every time you speak I get more curious." he declared.

"If you start stalking me, I will knife you in the throat." Cypress's eyes widen.

"Uh, Haze, I think he just meant that he wants to learn more about you." she offered. Haze stared blankly at her.

"Why the hell would he want to do that?" Orange and Cypress collectively sighed and Permafrost facetaloned.

"Oh, sweet innocent Haze. Whatever would we do without you?" Permafrost teased. Haze's eyes narrowed as she eyed them suspiciously.

 "If you really want to know my sob story of death and despair, all you had to do was ask." she insisted. "Although Dusk probably already knows it all."

"Me?" Dusk asked in confusion. "Why would I know anything about it?"

"Yes why would he know anything about it?" Boysen questioned earnestly. Permafrost started to grin and glanced at Orange. She nodded and they both shrieked and fell back. 

"They've officially gone crazy." Ember announced.

"Nah, Orange has been crazy for a while." Shore insisted, grinning at Orange. She smiled at him, which only made him a bit more confused.

"Uh, I don't mean to change the subject, but Haze had a point." Dusk suggested. "Maybe we should go look for Apple. Or at least, those of us that know her." The group exchanged a glance.

"My parents would kill me if I ran off." Cypress declared.

"Mine would probably laugh- if Apple wasn't the one missing." Shore explained. "If I suddenly disappear, it would only create more chaos."

"Especially if I disappeared with you." Orange added.

"No, that'd just create rumors."

"Dangerous rumors." Orange added slyly. Shore's eyes widened. Why the heck did she always find a way to make him feel completely intrigued and uncomfortable at the same time? 

"I'll go. As long as my father does't find out I'm gone, we're good." Haze offered.

"My parents would freak." Dusk countered. "After what happened the last time I snuck out, I'm still surprised they let me out of their sight enough to go to this school." 

"My parents would worry, but they'd piece together where I was." Ember announced. He looked around at the group. "If some of do this though, I'm definitely coming."

"But here's the real question," Permafrost demanded. "Are you going to escape school, or because you're worried about Apple and you want to save her?"

"WHAT?!" Ember and Shore exploded at the same time.

"Apple and Ember?" Shore said disgustedly. "That's GROSS!"

"That's not even-" Ember sputtered. "She's- I don't even- Why would you- EW!"

"Oh calm down Ember, we know you don't like her." Orange insisted. Ember let out a sigh of relief. "But denial is the first stage." 

"What!" The group burst out laughing. Shore laughed along, but he couldn't help but feel nervous. What if while he was distracted, something horrible was happening to Apple? She was basically his sister. He should be protecting her- not laughing.

Ember didn't know what to think anymore. Permafrost had unknowingly slipped a possibility into his head- a possibility he didn't entirely despise. 

Boysen wasn't sure whether or not he'd go if they decided to look for Apple, but he was sure of one thing. Haze was hiding something, and he was determined to figure out what it was. And what Dusk had to do with it.