The Fallen Light

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

CHAPTER 48 — NO ONE WOKE THEM UP

Four days were left until the end of camp. Morning came. The sun rose. Birds began to sing. The wind gently swayed the tents. And... Nothing happened. --- Arthur opened his eyes. He looked at the ceiling. He stayed like that for a while. Then he narrowed his eyes. Something was wrong. --- William’s voice came from the side.

”What time is it?”

Arthur looked at the clock. He froze.

”Seven twelve.”

William sat up straight.

”What?”

”Seven twelve.”

The two looked at each other. --- Nathaniel’s head popped out of his tent.

”Is Percy dead?”

Arthur:

”Why did you jump straight to dead?”

Nathaniel:

”He didn’t wake us up.”

William:

”A valid deduction.”

--- Other tents began to open. Charlotte stepped outside. Marcus followed behind her. Clara also stepped out of her tent. Her hair was a complete mess. She looked around. Silence.

Clara:

”Where is Percy?”

Arthur:

”That’s what we’re investigating.”

Clara looked at the clock. Then back at Arthur.

”Seven fourteen.”

Arthur:

”Yes.”

Clara’s expression changed.

”Percy didn’t wake us up.”

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Nathaniel:

”That’s what we’re talking about.”

Clara:

”Why didn’t he wake us up?”

Nathaniel:

”He might be dead.”

Clara turned to him instantly.

”Say that again.”

Nathaniel:

”He might be sleeping.”

--- William crossed his arms.

”That’s impossible.”

Arthur:

”For him to sleep?”

”For him to wake up late.”

William thought for a moment.

”Percy...”

”Gets up before us.”

Charlotte:

”Every single day.”

Marcus:

”Without exception.”

Arthur:

”For how many days now?”

William:

”Since the start of camp.”

Clara fell silent. Then... Yesterday’s battle crossed her mind. --- The broken leg. The pierced arm. The ribs. Blood. Percy’s laugh. And... His collapse at the very end. --- Clara’s face fell.

”Ah.”

Arthur understood too.

”...Ah.”

--- Just at that moment... Four people were approaching. Holar Jun. Eleanor. Elizabeth Olsen. Galahad. Galahad stopped when he saw the students.

”What are you doing?”

Arthur:

”Percy is missing.”

Galahad:

”He’s not missing.”

William:

”Where is he?”

Galahad:

”He’s sleeping.”

Silence. ---

Nathaniel:

”Percy?”

”Yes.”

”Sleeping?”

”Yes.”

”At this hour?”

Galahad looked at him.

”Yesterday twelve of you beat up the kid.”

Nathaniel:

”He wanted it himself.”

Galahad:

”True.”

He thought for a second.

”In fact, he wanted it quite a lot.”

Eleanor:

”Galahad.”

”What?”

”Shut up.”

--- Clara immediately started walking.

Elizabeth:

”Where to?”

”To Percy.”

”No.”

Clara stopped.

Elizabeth:

”You’re not going to wake him up.”

Clara:

”I won’t wake him up.”

Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

Clara:

”I’m just going to check on him.”

Eleanor:

”Clara.”

Clara:

”Really.”

Holar:

”Let her go.”

Everyone looked at Holar. Holar continued calmly.

”She won’t stop anyway.”

Clara:

”Thank you, Grandpa.”

A smile formed on Holar’s face.

Eleanor:

”He’s not your grandpa.”

Clara replied as she walked:

”He might be in the future.”

Holar coughed. Arthur turned his head away. William looked up at the sky. Galahad stifled a laugh.

Eleanor:

”CLARA!”

--- Percy’s tent was quiet. Clara gently pulled back the curtain. She looked inside. And stopped. --- Percy really was sleeping. But he wasn’t sleeping normally. He was completely collapsed. Half the blanket was on the floor. One arm was hanging off the bed. His hair was messy. The minor wounds on his face had healed. But the exhaustion... Was still etched on his face. --- Clara looked for a few seconds. Then she quietly stepped inside. She picked up the blanket from the floor. She draped it over Percy. Just as she was about to leave... Percy’s hand moved. Clara stopped. Percy didn’t open his eyes. But his hand... Found Clara’s wrist. Clara’s eyes widened. --- Percy murmured sleepily.

”Don’t go.”

Clara froze. She didn’t say anything for a while. Then she sat down beside the bed.

”I’m not going.”

--- Outside... Arthur looked at the clock.

”Training?”

William:

”The chairman isn’t here.”

Nathaniel:

”Day off today.”

Galahad:

”Who said that?”

Nathaniel’s face fell. --- Elizabeth stepped forward.

”Your chairman is sleeping.”

Fifteen students looked at her. Elizabeth smiled.

”The schedule isn’t sleeping.”

--- A collective groan echoed. --- Holar looked at the tent from a distance. Percy still hadn’t come out. He smiled. For days... Percy had woken everyone up. Today, however... For the first time, camp... Would begin without Percy.

DAYS UNTIL END OF CAMP:

4 DAYS