Chapter Text
"...Just one elevator, and you're out! Its that simple!"
Zephyr sighs. Raven had been rambling for the past couple hours, or at least it felt like that long. He didn't even really know what was getting talked about anymore.
He scootches to the edge of his bed. Looking up to Raven's bunk, his eyes are immediately met with all sorts of incomprehensible doodles. Maps, graphs, stick figures with what look like Raven's features... all scattered across the ceiling within his arm range.
"I'm sorry... what? Could you maybe go back to the... uh... the part about Dad and Sammy? And start from there?"
"That was at the very beginning! Were you even listening to anything?!?"
"Eh. Unlike you, my soul realizes sleep is important."
Raven whips his death-glaring head over the edge of the bunk. The feathers in his hair slap him in the face.
"Do you wanna get out of here or not?"
"I never said I wanted to. Ever."
"Your loss." He rolls his entire body back over, directing his attention back to his terrible doodles. "This world isn't ONLY the studio, y'know. Think of the adventure! Literally anything could happen! Just think!-"
"I think you should sleep."
Raven groans and mumbles. "You're no fun... Fine."
For the first time all night, it's quiet. Finally... Zephyr lets himself sink into his pillow, folding his wings over himself like a blanket. His eyes gently close.
~~~
It had only felt like a few minutes before the twins were once again woken up by a bloodcurling scream. Panting. Stumbling. Frantic shuffling through drawers. Their Mother's voice.
"Talon, what's going on? What did you see? What's happening?"
No response.
Zephyr looks directly at Raven, who's already quietly climbing down the ladder. He tiptoes to the door, just barely opening it, and Zephyr follows. They press themselves against the wall and slowly shuffle to their parents' room.
Raven is the first to attempt a peek.
Right in front of him is their dad. Horrified, completely out of breath, and sweating on the floor. Writing something on a little note.
Mom is still sitting in bed with her arms crossed. She never takes her eyes off him.
"What is it? Let me see!"
"Shh!!"
But neither parent heard. They didn't notice the twins in any way.
Dad finally finishes writing and folds the paper with more care than it looked like he could give. His terrified expression changes into a sob.
Mom finally gets out of bed and leans down next to him.
"Talon... Honey... What did you see?" She asks again, much more calmly this time.
"Something... horrible... I can't..."
She looks to the folded note. "Can I read it?"
"No... No, I don't want... I gotta..." He struggles to get up.
"You don't have to take that anywhere tonight. Not while you're still in this sorta state."
"Yes I do... What if it happens tonight?!? This is a warning! I HAVE TO GO!"
He sprints out the door, completely missing the twins, but it's enough to scare Raven back into the bedroom. Zephyr stays, completely pressed against the wall.
Talon starts down the stairs. Starts. It's only a couple seconds before he stumbles and goes toppling down to the floor.
"ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!?" Mom screams. She races down after him. By now, several others are emerging out of their rooms to see the commotion. They start crowding Talon with the same sorts of questions.
Zephyr sees his chance. He covers his hands with his robe, grabs the railing, and slides down on the side. Even though sliding isn't the best way to get down, it makes less noise than using the stairs normally. As long as he stops towards the middle, he's sure he won't be seen.
He does not stop towards the middle.
His feet get faster and faster to the point that he can't stop himself. He attempts to let go, but-
"AH!"
"OW!"
"FUCK!"
"SORRY!!!" Zephyr looks up to see his fall had taken a few others with him. To his left is a crowd of bewildered inkborns. To his right is his Mother's frustrated glare.
"Zephyr, why are you up?!? What did I tell you about sneaking a look at your Father's prophecies?"
"Not to do it... I know... but this time feels different! I was worried, I-"
"Hey... it's alright. You did nothing wrong, Zephyr."
"Dad? Are you-"
"Am I sure? Yes. Am I alright? No." He chuckles a bit. "Come here, son."
He rolls over to the other side of the stairs.
Talon opens his hand to reveal the now very crumpled and squished note. He places it on Zephyr's palm and closes his hand. They lock eyes.
"Take this to Sammy. Quickly."
"Me? Right now?"
"Yes. There's no time to spare. Go."
"What if I can't find him?"
"Find someone who can, now GO!!"
Zephyr dashes out of the room, down two more flights of stairs, through a hole in the wall, and down several more halls until he himself stumbles, out of breath. He scrunches up into a corner to regather himself.
Once he can breathe properly again, he goes to stand up. For a moment.
Wait. No one would care if I gave this a read myself, would they? What's all the fuss even about?
After checking to make sure no one is watching, he unfolds the paper and smooths it out. His dad's handwriting is shakier and much harder to read than usual.
No one will escape the Overseer's gaze.
Her power, only matched by the Ink Demon Himself- will gather slowly.
Only after great suffering will She realize Herself. And once She does, our fates are sealed.
Once She is born, there will be no way to stop the clock.
All will tremble before Her.
...oh.
Zephyr stops reading, eyes widened.
He'd best get going. Quickly.