Graves

Chapter III

The Different States of Craziness

"What's Vacordia?" asked Edmond.

"Obviously where we  are now, you idiot,'' said Jasper.

 "Don't star fighting here, too!" ordered Mallory.

Jasper rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He was sick of everyone treating him like a kid. He was sick of Edmond in particular. Standing near his brother was sickening the boy, so he decided upon distancing himself from his siblings and sitting by the edge of the stream. Jasper let himself drop on the ground, his sneakers plundging into the clear water. 

"What is this place, really?" asked Beatris, examining their surroundings.

Just as Mallory turned to answer, there was a splashing noise, coming from where Jasper was sat, and with it Jasper was gone.

"Where'd he go?" Mallory's anser turned into a question.

"Probably just hiding, the little turd," said Edmond, annoyed.

"I wasn't kidding," said Mallory.

"Neither was I,'' said Edmond.

"Jasper?'' Mallory looked around.

There was no sign of Jasper. The only thing in sight was the beautiful paysage and a harmless butterfly, soaring higher and higher into the sky. No Jasper.

"Jasper!" Mallory was now yelling, "This is serious!"

"Ugh!" sighed Beatris angrilly, "I'm tired of Jasper playing kiddy games and doing all of this. It's sickening! And on top of it all, we're somewhere we have no idea where it is, and instead of helping find out more about this Vacordia thing, Jaspre's gone 'missing'." she put airquotes while saying 'missing'.

Suddenly, as if out of fin air, Jasper materialized himself, "Hi, guys." he said.

"Where the hell were you?" said Mallory through gritted teeth.

Jasper shrugged, "Nowhere in particular? Why?" he smiled.

Jasper smiled. Not sneered, or smirked - he smiled  a genuine smile.

"Jasper," Edmond looked bewildered, "Are you... Smiling?"

"Yes!" beamed Jasper, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"What is wrong with you?" asked Edmond.

"I'm just happy to be with my favourite people in this world." Jasper wrapped his arms around Mallory.

The girl shrugged him off, saying, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Hugging my beloved sister, of course!"

Something was wrong with Jasper and it wasn't too hard to make out. He never acted like this. Then again, this was Jasper Graves.

Mallory  didn't want to play around and ask what was going on, so she decided examining a tree. Yes, a tree. Not a tree like the others, though. This one was different. Its bark was golden in the sunlight, its leaves were the size of Mallory's torso, and it's width was, if it was even possible, as wide as two park benches.

The girl walked towards the magnificent perennial plant, observing its colour. The bark was in fact glowing golden. Mallory seemed hypnotized by it's radiation, so she reached her hand out to touch it, stroking the surprisingly cool bark. She was touching the tree so tenderly, careful not to ruin something, it almost seemed as if she were -

"Mal, why are you tickling the oak?" came Edmond's voice behind Mallory too suddenly.

"What?" the girl jumped, a little scared of the sudden appearance of her brother.