The Phantom Crystal

Looking for Phantom

Everything hasn't gone back to normal.

I sigh, a small white cloud escaping my mouth and glance around.

I am in an icy bluish-white hallway, large pillars lining the walls and I instantly know I'm once again inside Phantom’s crystal.

My lips twitch into a small smile, the warmth of a small bout of triumph spreading in my chest.

'SWEET! I didn't think I would work!' I cheer mentally as I start walking.

After Ian and Jim declared that they would make sure that Lux will be caught, Jim walked me back to my dorm. Ian promised to email the rest of my professors of the day and tell them that I won't be in class. It was all very nice and it felt nice to not have to walk back all alone. With Phantom still not out of his crystal, my walks around campus have been very lonely today.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I glance at a flickering blue lamp.

'I guess I've just become accustomed to Phantom’s presence,' I think as my footsteps click on the slick floor.

I still don't want Ian to contact Mom and Dad but I know there isn't anything I can do about it now. And because of that, I really need to talk with Phantom.

"And make sure he's not bleeding out, trying to go all macho on me," I grumble under my breath.

My eyes narrow as more lamps flicker on.

So far, nothing appears out of place and there is a flickering presence in my chest, a presence that I associate with Phantom. So, I know that Phantom is here and close by, it's just actually FINDING the entity. Which is going to be quite the feat. Phantom has never told me just how big his palace is inside the crystal or how any of this works.

Is the palace actually in here? Did Phantom create it? Or is it more of an illusion? Just a singular room that switches between each location when someone crosses over a threshold?

My nose scrunches as I pause before the end of the hallway. That's far too much thinking than I'm able to focus on right now. I need to keep my thoughts focused on finding Phantom, making sure that he's okay, then warning him about my parents getting involved.

I wince and rub my temples, eyeing the door I am now standing in front of. It's the only door in this entire hallway but there's a problem.

A thin wall of ice blocks my access to the door. While thin enough to let me see the door perfectly, the ice is thick enough that I know that if I just try kicking or punching it, I'm going to obtain a bruised foot or bloody knuckles.

Scowling, I glare down at my hands for a beat when an idea hits me. What if I don't strike at it? What if I just...collapse it? I mean, the crystal gave me ice-like powers, so shouldn’t I be able to manipulate the ice inside of the crystal, too?

Rubbing my hands together, I shoot a glance behind me. Not for any particular reason outside of making sure that I'm fully alone.

'Just in case this doesn't work,' I think as I reach out and press my palms against the ice.

A small gasp escapes me as the ice burns at my palms but I don't dare move away.

"I can do this," I mutter, breathing in deeply before releasing it slowly. "I can do this."

With a surge of confidence, I concentrate on the wall before me. Willing it to crumble away.

CRACK!

My eyes widen as a large crack forms between my hands.

It's working! I can't believe it!

Focusing more closely, I will the crack to widen.

And the crack listens. It widens and webs across the glossy surface before with one last loud CRACK! And the entire wall shatters.

My mouth falls open and yank my hands back as shards of ice fall to the floor and scatter around my feet. Beaming, I glance back at the door and grin.

"Don't worry, Phantom, I'm on my way."

Squaring my shoulders, I reach out for the door and slowly turn the knob. The metal is cold against my palm but not burning like the wall had been. Shaking my head, I shove the door open and frown.

The inside of the door is dark, almost like walking into a solid shadow. Shaking my head, I release a shaky breath as I press a hand to my chest. The presence of Phantom is getting stronger. I just KNOW that he’s on the other side of this dark void.

With my confidence restored, I stride through the doorway, barely flinching when the door slams behind me. As the darkness melts around me, I find myself in another smaller hallway. This one isn’t as cold, feeling more like a chilly fall day rather than a harsh winter night. Soft blue light flickers around the walls, illuminating the small pathway to another door. A door that I recognize as the one that Phantom opened for me all those nights ago when we first met like this.

Walking toward the door, I notice that my footsteps are less harsh, more muted and sinking a little with each step. It takes me a moment to realize that I’m actually walking on carpet instead of the slick floor that the other hallway was made of.

Interest.

Pausing outside the door, I tilt my head, hoping to maybe catch any sound of Phantom moving around, telling me that he’s actually okay. Biting my lip, my heart starts to pound and my hand trembles slightly. Breathing out slowly, I knock on the door.

“Phantom? Are you in there?” I call out. “Is everything okay?”

I wait a beat before jumping back when the door creaks open but no voice calls out.

What on earth is going on?

“Phantom?” I call out once more before stepping inside.