Dark thoughts in a dark place ((or LOL ANNNGST))

As he lay on the cushions in the cave that was Some's home, Phoenix's thoughts flickered through his mind much like the lantern that is the sole defense against the encroaching darkness around him. It was hard to believe that not too long ago, he had been... content, really. He felt like he fit in, like he was finally getting used to this strange place that had decided it liked him well enough to move him in by itself.

Now... he wasn't so sure.

He thought back to tonights encounter with the ghosts. How, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep himself calm. How much the ghosts before him made him shiver, made him afraid. But most of all -- and this was what drilled into his mind the deepest -- most of all was the fact that he had been left by himself.

They'd taken everybody to safe ground. Everybody except him.

Of course they did. Why would they care about you? You're panicky, you're weak... hell, you've been here how long and you still can't accept everything you see? No wonder they think you're useless. The confident part of him -- the one that served him so well in court, the one that Mia had so carefully cultivated before parting from the mortal plane -- that part was kicking him, telling him how useless thoughts like these are. But the louder the thoughts got, the less he felt the impact of that part's efforts.

It didn't help that he was tired. One was vulnerable to dangerous thoughts when worn out, and his inability to sleep the night before pretty much ensured his inability to do much else the next day. Even now, drained as he felt, he wasn't sure he would be able to close his eyes tonight either. Not without seeing... those.

Not for the first time, he wished Mia was there. She would know what to do...