Chapter Nine; Waving Through a Window 

“Is there anybody who can tell me what-or who- created the phantoms?” Liza asked our Phantom PhysiologyⅠclass. Easy question. About four kids raised their hands. 

“Prince Jeremiah!” Liza called out, looking at an older boy who was clearly on his cellular phone. Olivia insisted on setting up her old phone for me to use. She says ‘all Jammers need one.’ She said that Xavier probably will order me a new one, but for now, her old phone will do. All I can do on it is put in the passcode and answer a text message. Xavier’s been texting me updates on the Festival. As of now, it’s a go. But he’s only talked to 3 of the Alphas: Peck, Graham, and Cosmo. I highly doubt Liza and Sir Gilbert will go along with it. 

“Uh I mean didn’t Mira like make them with her tears or whatever?” The boy asked, still scrolling through on his phone. 

“I’m going to have to confiscate that.” Liza sighed, taking the phone off of his desk. He groaned, slouching on his desk. 

“You can have it back at the end of the day.” Liza narrowed her eyes at Jeramiah, who rolled his eyes. 

“Anyways, that is true. Mira’s sad tears about losing Zios turned into a form. It’s form was a phantom. It’s not known how phantoms received their destruction, polluting powers-however. There’s many theories, but none are confirmed. I wanted to take today to really discuss these theories, as well as hear some of yours.” Liza continued, walking around the room. I raised my paw. 

“Princess Mariah.” Liza called, giving her famous grin at me. I was learning fast the Jammer’s system of raising your paw and waiting to be called on. 

“Well the theories of Jamaa’s history aren’t real. They’re just ideas. So you could literally say anything and it could be a theory.” I explained. 

“That’s correct. But what is your theory?” Liza asked, inching towards me. 

“I believe the phantoms were created as a way to remove Mira of her sadness. We-I mean they might’ve been the only way Mira was able to clear her emotions of the sadness.” I explained, shrugging. Liza nodded.

“That’s a nice theory, Princess. Anyone else?” Liza asked, walking around the room. A snow leopard named Ameliana raised her paw slowly. 

“Yes Princess Ameliana!” Liza exclaimed. 

“I believe they were created for a purpose. Not for evil-but for good. Perhaps they never found their purpose yet.” Ameliana smiled, fluffing out her light pink gown. 

“You believe phantoms are good?” A boy called out. She shrugged. 

“Phantoms are disgusting creatures. They have no heart. They have no soul. If you think they’ll just turn around and be all happy-smiling-rainbows, you’ve got another thing coming.” The boy scoffed. My face went pale. 

“I think they just haven’t been shown the light.” Ameliana explained.

“There’s no good phantom. They’re all evil, worthless, disgusting freaks that deserve the worst.” The boy finished, slamming his book onto the ground. 

“That’s enough, Prince Lucas. Headmaster Cruizer’s. Now.” Liza snapped, standing up 

harshly from her desk. I sat there, heart pounding out of my chest. I watched as Liza returned to her desk slowly, picking up a piece of paper from her desk. I felt as if my entire body had frozen in its place. I felt the blood draining from my fur as I stood there, shaking from fear. I felt a note slowly slide onto my desk. It read: 

“Take a break outside. This is your pass. Make sure you’re in your next class.” And it was signed by Liza. 

“Thank you.” I mouthed as I stood up. 

“Where are you going?” I heard a kid ask. 

“Uh restroom.” I responded, grabbing my bag. The kid shrugged and continued to flip through his book. I wasn’t sure how, but I had to get as far away from here as possible. *** 

The first place I knew I could get out was the exit across the hall. I wasn’t sure if any alarms would trigger, but it was worth a shot. I slowly walked towards the door, ripping the paper in half. I didn’t need pity. I knew who I was. Phantom or not, there had to be some good in me-right? I mean, I was the future Queen of this land-whether I wanted to be or not was the question. I had to have a shred of Jamaanity. I had to. But for some reason, that little slice couldn’t keep me in this building any longer. I didn’t even care how furious Xavier would be when he found out I ditched. I just cared about getting the heck away from these spoiled brats. 

“What are you doing?” I heard a familiar voice call. 

“Andrew!” I exclaimed, turning around. He had a pink slip in his hand. 

“Were you gonna try to leave?” He asked, a frown on his face. 

“N-no! I was trying to remember where the-uh bathrooms were.” I lied, tapping my finger on my binder. 

“Then why do you have all your stuff?” He asked, a suspicious look on his face. 

“Okay look. I was just going to sneak out to clear my head. But I won’t now that I’ve been caught. Just whatever you do, do not tell anyone. Understood? Xavier would try to sit me down and talk about royal manners again.” I explained, pleading with him. His look erased, forming his usual smirk. 

“That’s a deal. I’m glad I walked past when I did.” He explained, holding up his paper. 

“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to the pink paper. 

“Hall pass. But I’m not sure why Professor Liza didn’t give you one.” He explained, checking the time on his phone. “I’ve gotta split, but I’ll see you in Science,” Andrew waved, but paused, “and please don’t try to leave again. I’d be lonely without my lab partner.” He finished, walking away. I smirked. I guess some people really aren’t as stuck up as I thought. 

***

“Are you excited for the festival in your honor tonight?” Andrew asked, holding the door open for me on our way to the carriages. 

“Can’t you see my excitement?” I asked with a straight face. He chuckled. 

“I can’t say I blame you. With all that phantom stuff, I don’t doubt that you're afraid.” Andrew admitted, holding onto his backpack straps tighter with the mention of the reason his mother had passed. 

“I am not afraid of phantoms.” I hissed, leaning on the stairs. 

“How? They’re horrible-” Andrew began, but I held up my paw. 

“I heard that all once in my Phantom Physiology class today. Maybe not all of them are as awful as the rest.” I explained, looking at my shoes. 

“How? There can’t be one good apple from a decaying tree.” He explained, also looking at the ground.

“You just have to realize that many probably had no choice on how they were raised. They couldn’t say they wanted to be good.” I explained. 

“Phantom Physiology made you really think about this kind of stuff, didn’t it?” Andrew asked, a small smile forming on his face. 

“A bit,” I answered, “but it’s just like how I viewed royalty when I first got here. I thought you guys were all snobs.” I admitted. 

“I guess you’ve got a point.” Andrew shrugged, noticing his carriage pull up. I saw Olivia walking towards ours, and I knew she’d get angry if I took much longer. 

“I’ve got to go, but you can text me later. Here’s my number.” Andrew handed me a piece of paper with some digits written on them. I’m sure Olivia could help me with that later. 

“Thanks. I’ll see you at the Festival. And I promise the Alphas will figure out whether it’s truly safe. And they’ll be guarding like crazy.” I assured him, walking towards the carriage. 

“I’ll see you later tonight possibly.” Andrew smirked, turning towards his carriage.

**

I wish people would just understand that I didn’t choose the life I led before all this royal stuff. I wish they could see I was just trapped inside with no way to see the outside world. I was trapped with the thoughts that I didn’t have the caring father I have. I was stuck with no light in my life. Now that I’ve found it, I’ve chosen my path. If you gave the phantoms as much freedom and hope as I’ve gotten, you might just be surprised by what they’d do too. 

“On the outside, always looking in

Will I ever be more than I've always been?”