The Oracle Has Spoken

2

Adrenaline pumped through my veins as the alarm sounded through the silent house. I lay still as I listen for footsteps but the sound of my pounding heart is deafening. My head quickly turns in the direction of a noise coming from the kitchen and I succumb to the panic. From the corner of my eye, I see Oliver creeping out of his room with a baseball bat in hand. He holds his finger to his lips in a shushing motion and I nod silently.

Another noise comes from the kitchen and Oliver makes his way there. As he rounds the corner I hear the sounds of a struggle and then the sound of shoes on broken glass. I scramble to help Oliver and turn on the light only to find Oliver, by himself, sitting on the floor. 

I check his body over and breathe a sigh of relief that I hadn't realized I had been holding in. "Was it him?" I ask desperately wanting the answer to be no.

"No, it wasn't. I guess he has enough decency to not break into someone's house. That guy on the other hand . . . . I don't know who he was." He pulls out his phone and dials 911. "Hello. My name is Oliver Miller I live at -" I walk away as Oliver gives a police report and go to check on Raven.

I knock on the open door and smile slightly as I see him still completely passed out. 'This kid could sleep through anything, couldn't he?' I thought to myself as I walked closer to the bed. I crouched down and admired his features. It was obvious why Oliver was attracted to him. Just from looks alone, I could see that Raven was extremely handsome under his messy bedhead. I brushed his bangs aside and nodded my approval at Oliver's secret treasure. Raven was obviously not someone who tried hard for his appearance; he was like me in that regard. A t-shirt and a pair of jeans and we were good to go, unlike most people. From where the blankets didn't cover him I could see his slightly toned chest. It was obvious he didn't work out but he wasn't completely out of shape either. 

I stilled as I heard Oliver clear his throat from the doorway. "I don't have to worry about you coming for my man too, do I?" He said with a smile on his lips.

I stood up quickly and said, "No, I actually just came to check on him. He's extremely captivating though. I can see why you're attracted to him. He's a bit too frail for my taste but definitely handsome."

Oliver nods, "You should see him when he tries. It's caused me so much trouble." I laughed lightly.

"He slept through all that noise?" I asked bewildered.

"Oh yeah, Raven could sleep through a hurricane. I'm surprised he ever gets up for his classes on time." Oliver chuckles. "You should go back to bed, the police will be here shortly for my report but other than that the danger has passed."

"You really think I could sleep after all that?" I ask incredulously.

"Not really, no." Oliver laughs. "Not all of us possess the skills of Raven Weber to sleep through anything."

"I'll probably go back home tomorrow," I inform him. "At least in my dorm, there are no windows to sneak through," I tease.

Oliver nods, "I told my dad what happened and he is sending someone to fix it while I'm in class tomorrow."

Some knocks at the door and Oliver moves to answer it, it was the police.

                                                                                   ***

As my classes finished and I made my way toward my dorm I felt a tingle on my neck, I turned abruptly but saw no one. I continued walking and then felt it again. I stopped. I took a deep breath and mustered all my courage.

"Lucian? Are you there?" I called into the empty street. Slowly a figure emerged from the shadows under an oak tree to my right.

He walks slowly and purposefully until he stood before me with his head looking toward his shoes. He looked normal today, in daylight he didn't look sinister at all.

"Lucian, were you there last night?" I ask. If he had seen the intruder then it could help the police in the investigation.

He brought his eyes and looked at mine and I found myself lost in his blue eyes. "Last night. Do you mean at his house?" He emphasized referring to Oliver. "Yes, I was there. I saw the police. The flashing lights. It was raining hard last night."

"Did you see the man who broke in?" Lucian's eyes widened and then his brow furrowed.

"No, I thought you called the cops for me. Are you all alright? Were you in danger?" His concern was evidently etched into his handsome features as he looked me up and down assessing me for any injuries.

"I thought it was you who broke in. Oliver chased them away but he told me it wasn't you." I admitted.

"No, it wasn't me. I would not invade your space like that. I am but a passive observer. An admirer if you will." He explains in earnest.

"Lucian, I don't want you watching me all the time. It scares me." 

Lucian's eyes widen in shock as if the idea of him causing me fear was foreign to him and then says sincerely, "I never wanted to scare you. I just wanted to be near you."

"So you stalk me? Why wouldn't you just come to talk to me?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"Well . . . some call it stalking. . . . I call it walking really close behind." Lucian said sheepishly.

"No more. If you want to be near me just come to talk to me. No more creepy following." Lucian appears to be in pain at my request but he agrees reluctantly. I breathe a sigh of relief and begin walking to my dorm once again. Now with Lucian walking next to me rather than hiding behind structures and trees, or hiding in alleyways.

"Lucian," I say as I come to a stop.

"Yes, Oracle," Lucian says excitedly.

"Go home," I say looking directly into his eyes.

"But -" He starts but then stops. "I'm doing it again, aren't I?" 

"Uh-huh. Go home. I will see you tomorrow." 

"Anything for you." He says as he reluctantly turns and walks in the other direction.

'Finally.' I think to myself before heading to my dorm. This time alone.