The moonlit night

Chapter4

Aftermath

Axel's pov

Axel opened his eyes. He felt a slight migraine. His headache.

He looked around. There were rows of trees in front of him. A little ahead, but in front of him. At the place he lay, it was devoid of even grass. It was covered in sand. Fine sand.

It was night, and the moon was slowly receding into a small layer of cloud that had appeared in the sky. The wind had faded into a passive breeze. But the cold had increased. Small fog appears and hangs with the branches of the trees.

He lay there contemplating what had happened and how he got here. He was at a loss.

Placing his hand firmly on the ground, he pushed his body upright and sat down.

He rubbed his eyes. His clothes were torn. The button of his shirt pulled and on the ground. He crawled over to it. Slowly picking it up.

His hand trembled gently.

Then he got flashes.

He had come here with Hazel. But where was she? He spun around and saw her in a heap of herself.

"No, no, no, Hazel" he muttered under his breath as he crawled over to her.

He pulled her up into his arms. There was a napkin in her hand, hanging loosely. It fell when he tried to lift her.

The napkin was covered in blood.

His senses heightened. He grabbed the napkin. There was blood on his own hands too.

No

Had he done this? Did he hurt her? Was she OK?

His mouth tasted salty. He rubbed it with the back of his hand. It was wet, and a bit sticky.

Blood too.

Then he recalled. The incident that had happened. He had transformed that night. She was there when it happened. Did he hurt her? Did he wound her?

The blood on his mouth. Had he bitten her?

He stood to his feet quickly. And took a few steps away from her lest he hurt her again.

He looked on in shock.

She moved.

He ran to her, kneeling by her side. He wrapped his arm around her and turned her to face him. There was no blood on her clothes, just on the napkin.

He picked up the piece of cloth and dabbed his mouth. He wiped the blood on his hands. There were still brown smudges of dried blood.

Why had he turned? This had never happened before

He had never turned against his own will. And worse, he did it in front of Hazel.

He wasn't planning on keeping her in the dark forever. He was going to tell her. But it wasn't this way. Did not have to be this way.

He looked at her again. Her eyes were still closed.

He bent to her. She was breathing, alright. He placed his two index fingers on the inner side of her wrist. Her pulse was OK.

That was a big relief. If he had harmed her, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.

He shook her gently, rocking her body from side to side.

"Hazel" he whispered again.

She didn't flinch.

He just sat there cuddled in his arms.

He was going to remain like this till she woke up.

The silent sounds from the surroundings seemed to be deafening to him.

He cupped his ears in his palm. After what seemed like an eternity, the noise intensified in his head and began to subside.

The night was a little darker than it was a few moments ago. He needed to lighten the atmosphere, literally.

The kerosene can was there on the ground.

He slowly dropped her. Gently placing her on the ground.

He picked up the can. Stood and looked around for some moment.

Trotting around he started towards the trees, picking up sticks, dry branches that lay around.

After gathering the sticks. He returned to the cleared spot.

Hazel was still asleep.

He set the stick in an arranged heap and poured the kerosene onto it.

The lighter. He groped around for the lighter.

He went over to Hazel and the lighter was there beside her.

After lighting the fire, he returned to Hazel's side and sat there staring into the flame.

He recalled how this had always been part of his most cherished moments. The flames, the cricket, though not as loud as they used to be. The ember flies into the air. Hazel laughed at the jokes he would crack. Her laughter echoed into the woods.

But here he was. The fire. Check. Crickets. Check. But the vital element was missing.

Hazel's laughter.

Would she ever laugh with him again? after what she had seen? After the atrocity, he had turned in front of her. The scare he had given her.

If he had told her beforehand it may -or may not- have made things easier.

But it was worth a shot.

He felt bad for not telling her the true nature of things.

Now he would have to tell her everything. And there were certain elements to the truth worse than what he was.

He looked over to her again. She was still there steady.

It must have been a few minutes in reality. But this felt like an eternity, and for the first time, he feared for what might become of their relationship.

He stood from the ground, he had to stretch his legs a bit.

Tension creeping all over him.

"Um, hazel, I............" His voice trailed off into inaudible grunts.

"Damn it" he cursed out loud.

He had to prepare himself to tell her. A speech may not be necessary, but he had to make her see his point of view. A point that may seem unnecessary. She had not withheld any secret from him. Not even the minor ones. But him. He had holed up a major, No, a vital characteristic of himself. He felt selfish. Foolish even.

Hazel stirred.

He turned around. He ran over to her. Knelt and helped her sit up.

She held her unto her temple, giving a soothing press with her index fingers.

"Are you alright?" He asked. Gently patting her back.

She didn't answer. Her hands are still on her head. She drew in a deep breath, and then let it out slowly and calmly, in a bid to soothe the ache.

Axel didn't utter another word. He just stayed there with her, supporting her back with firm arms.

He looked searchingly at her face. And then lifting his head higher, he brought his chin to rest on the top of her head.

She slowly pulled away from him.

He looked down to see her gazing at his face.

Almost immediately, as though something came over her she pushed him away. Quickly standing to her feet. She felt a slight haze and staggered to lean against a tree.

"Hazel, wait...."

" No Axel" she interrupted him "I need you to explain to me what the hell just happened"

"Could you at least sit down for a while?" He asked, concerned.

"No......... No" she was trembling. "Tell me what I just saw" her voice was breaking off.

"Axel, what happened to you?" She queried.