Descendants of the fallen

The foyer, with its polished wooden table and soft candlelight, greets him, but he barely notices its warmth. His steps are slow and deliberate, each one echoing softly against t

ks. "Just move," he says. "See you in French!" she waves. He rolls his eyes, and they go their separate ways to their classes. --- *1:40 PM - 2:30 PM* Tuesdays, Liora, Dionne, Vaxen, and Romeo all have 7th period French together. --- **2:00 PM** Romeo keeps staring at the clock, waiting for this nightmare called French class to end. "Vaxen isn't here," Dionne whispers to him. "I'm not blind," he replies. "Ask Liora." "You ask her. She gives me the creeps," he says, turning his head to the back to look at her. Liora is wearing all black, as usual. There's a feeling that he can't shake off every time he's around her. It's like his mind and body are screaming for him not to get too close. "Those weird bloody hand gloves," he thinks. "Fine." Dionne writes, "Where is Vaxen?" on a piece of paper and throws it to Liora. She catches it with ease. Shortly after, she throws her own paper back with "He's not in school today" written on it. --- Vaxen Vaxen is sitting in his small, cozy room, trying to make sense of the cryptic visions from his recent epileptic seizure. The visions are similar to those he sees in his dreams, but they feel more real and unsettling. His room, a reflection of his passions, is adorned with posters and album covers of Anderson .Paak, The Strokes, and Nirvana. A small, black record player rests on a nearby nightstand, accompanied by a stack of vinyl records leaning against the wall. The floor is covered with a soft, colorful rug that adds warmth to the space. His desk is cluttered with books, and a simple bed with a dark comforter anchors the room, complemented by the vibrant rug on the floor. His bookshelf, though compact, is filled with novels and music magazines. Despite the room's limited size, it is efficiently used, and every corner reflects Vaxen's creative and musical side. The room feels inviting, yet the familiar comfort does little to ease his troubled thoughts. His parents' bedroom is directly opposite his, separated by a thin wall that provides some privacy while keeping them close. In his vision, Vaxen saw a desolate landscape strewn with old, broken crosses. The fragments of the crosses reflect a dim, otherworldly light, casting eerie shadows. In the distance, a silhouette resembling Romeo moves through the debris, seemingly searching for something among the remnants. 'I have to find out more' he thinks. Romeo After a long day at school, Romeo finally settles into his room. His parents aren't around; they're likely at the church they own. He sits on his bed, frustrated with himself for feeling so eager to see Vaxen. He hadn't expected today's incident to make him so keen to meet him. "I blame Dionne," he thinks. "I wonder if he's okay," Romeo murmurs to himself. "That's definitely why I can't stop thinking about him. It's not because I want to s