HIDDEN (hide or die)

Chapter Three

KYLE’S P.O.V.

I was foolish! And so careless! I couldn’t believe I acted so heedlessly, not taking extra measures to make sure no one saw me, but also for letting him come so close to me and touched my wings. I shuddered at the memory of his fingertips on the tip feathers. It was pleasant and tender, but so wrong.

It was hours later, and I was still pacing back and forth the length of my bedroom, drowning in my misery and self-pity. Trying to figure out what the hell I was to do. I contemplated going to my mother’s room and spilling the truth. But I didn’t have the heart to just march in and blurt out that I might have, potentially, just ruined everything we had going on for us.

It would stress her out and, in return, it would negatively affect her health and I didn’t want that. She was already looking pale, as of late. But she refused to get medical help, or even tell me how she was feeling.

I couldn’t-wouldn’t- dump my mess on her, for her to sort out. I was going to handle it on my own. And come to a solution one way or another.

With that determination in my mind, I finally allowed myself to get into bed. I felt completely drained. And after all the stressful thinking I did, I couldn’t form any other thought than sleep. My eyes kept drooping in sheer exhaustion until I gave in to the drowsiness and dozed off.

*******

I felt adrenaline rush through my veins- or perhaps it was my blood. My sight was a bit blurry and it was so loud I couldn’t hear a thing. I looked amongst the crowd, angry expressions, disgusted looks, and women shouting.

“SET HIM ON FIRE!” I locked eyes with the one whom I think said that, the look of utter outrage had me quivering back.

My heartbeat was ringing in my ear, and I felt like vomiting. Only now did I realize I was bounded by chains on both my hands and feet, I struggled against them, getting a jab to my side by a man standing beside me, I didn’t even notice him.

“KYLE!”

I snapped my head up at the sound of my mother’s voice, I looked for her but I didn’t have to look for long; she was in the centered-front of the crowd, a bit to the side, she too was struggling against men who held her by the arm.

“MOM!” I yelled back, now adamant to get away from those damned cuffs to remove their filthy hands off my mother. My eyes watered, enraged at the sight of her crying.

Everything quietened down around me when I locked eyes with him, the thoughts were accelerating inside my head. I wanted them to slow so I can breathe but they won’t. My breaths came in gasps and I felt like I was going to blackout.

I was pushed roughly to the ground and I fell to my knees, I was still staring into him with utter disbelief when suddenly the intense shouting stopped and everyone started cheering. I looked confusedly at their, now, joyfully content faces. They were all looking beyond me, so I cast a glance and immediately regretted it. A swordsman stood behind me, farther to my right. A wicked glimmer in his dark eyes was all I could see past his mask.

My eyes widened in bewilderment, as he raised his sword so high the sun shone off the reflective iron, my panic increased once what was happening finally settled in. his eyes squinted in pure viciousness, and before I could utter a word, his sword came down.

“NO!”

********

A gasp pulled me out of sleep, and my eyes moved in a frenzy, taking in the structure of my bedroom, I let out a breath of relief. It was only a dream. I closed my eyes shut, trying to erase the images from my mind. Only now did I notice that I had my hands wrapped around my neck, I guess I was subconsciously checking if my neck was still connecting my head to my body. Obviously it was, and I’d appreciate it staying that way.

I got up from my bed, stretching my arms, back, and wings before heading to my en-suite bathroom, for a quick shower, to wash off the sweat and perhaps the nightmare flashes too.

I didn’t take long in the shower, to not give myself the opportunity to ponder over anything, so once I was finished and dried off, I threw on some sweats and a tee-shirt and headed downstairs. Through a glance at my clock, I came to know it was a half to ten in the morning. Ma supposedly went off to work a while ago so I was alone. I went to the kitchen for a cup of water but instead was met with three boxes of pizza on the island.

I picked up the note on top and smiled at the sight of Mum’s neat handwriting. Ma mentioned that she, in fact, tried to wake me but I was out like a bird (ha-ha get it?) she also reminded me of my classes and that I should eat more. With the usual “Call me if you need anything.” And her usual repetition of “I love you”s.

My smile widened as I picked one of the boxes in my other hand and went to my “office” “library”. It was a small square room that was supposed to be- actually I’m not sure what it was supposed to be, but my mum decided to make it my office or study place.

“A change of scenery from the walls of your bedroom.” She said to explain back when she first suggested the idea. And because I loved to read, she designed one of the walls with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that were filled with-obviously- books.

That was one fun weekend project we did together. We painted the walls a light grey, matching all the main furniture to be white. And kept the black hardwood flooring the same as it was, with splashes of blush pink here and there through the decorations. It had a mature vibe to it, yet softness with the pinks. Which was what we intended, in case Ma had someone over and they asked to whom this room belonged to, and she would reply that it was hers. Not that that would ever happen, but it was fun to pretend.

I decided to eat and watch some random show I found on my computer before studying. Big mistake. My mind immediately filled itself with thoughts of earlier today and the fate-altering accident with Andrew.

I kept thinking of ways to solve the situation, but I came out fruitless. Also foodless because somehow I managed to finish the whole box of pizza while thinking.

I just couldn’t get it though, that he may actually tell someone and be okay with the outcome… was he that merciless? Would he really give consent to me getting hung up, burnt at the stake, or headless? I quivered in fear at the mere images of those vale schemes. Yes, he didn’t know me, but did the fact that I was born with wings, justify the actions taken against me? No, he wasn’t ruthless. I’d observed that much. But what if it was all a front to what he actually was? That was something, in my heart, I couldn’t grasp any truth in.

Until it hit me. Why was I so concerned? Even if he went ahead and told someone, they wouldn’t believe him! Not that my Andrew was a liar- but I was mythological.

I didn’t think he’d believe himself; I recalled picking up the scent of alcohol on him, so logically he should think it was a work of imagination! Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m a genius! Now I had nothing to worry about! And to think that I was almost forced out of the closet to my mother… huh all I needed was a fresh mind and a full stomach (also a terrifying nightmare of the consequences to get me to think harder).

Feeling slightly better, I decided to get a head start on my classes, and maybe review my notes for that exam I had coming up, but to survive that, I was going to need another delicious pizza to keep me going. And a cup of coffee. Don’t judge the combo until you try it! It’s good I promise.

I got up from my chair to get my snacks, when I heard knocking on the front door. s**t. I straight away looked at the window to check if the blinds were open; else I’d be completely exposed, but thankfully they were closed shut.

I froze myself into the same spot, I knew my luck, I knew that if I tried to move I’d let out a sound and that would indicate that someone was inside the house. No one knew of my existence, hence why Mum had to lie about the office. Not lie necessary, she did use the room as well. Rather, tell half the truth, I suppose. As far as the neighborhood-and anyone who knew my mum- was concerned, she was a single independent lady, living alone, with no husband, boyfriend, or child.

It was sad really. My life was as real as the slenderman’s life. Practically nonexistent. I tried not to mind though. It was better than being taken for experiment, or worse; burnt alive. I shudder at the thought. Eh, stop thinking about it!

I remembered reading a science-fiction novel once, about an angel who fell in love with a human, which got her exposed and taken in for examination- Mum got so mad that I managed to sneak a book of that sort into my cart when she allowed me to choose a few books to order online. She cried, I cried. The book got burnt.

I still read books similar in nature, maybe not as specific. Like a werewolf mated to a human. Or a vampire- basically any mythical creature and a human pairing. I chose the happier endings though. To give myself a little bit of hope; that one day I’d be like one of those characters, and even through all the hardships I’d end up happy and loved. And sometimes I read just for the hell of it. I was, admittedly, a hopeless romantic.

A few minutes passed, and the bell was still ringing, and whoever was out there decided it was a good idea to knock too. I mean don’t you get the hint? Either there is no one here, or we don’t want to open the door! Finally, as if they heard me, the ringing and knocking stopped.

I relaxed my shoulders and made my way to the kitchen, my ears twitched when I picked up the sound of footsteps rounding the house. Are you for real? I groaned inwardly. Who was this person? Knocking for ten minutes straight? Unbelievable.

I scoffed to myself and tiptoed to the kitchen, stepping over all the squeaky floorboards that I knew were there- because Ma had been telling me to powder them for the longest time but I always forget-.

I regretted my decision as soon as I set foot in the kitchen. I had forgotten that the backdoor was in the kitchen and that the window was directly beside it, and unblinded. For “natural sunlight” because I was a pale human or whatever. But really it was for all my mother’s indoor plants to get their dose of UV.

I slowly placed the box on the countertop, to make my movement as unnoticeable as possible. I lifted my head up to get a glimpse at the unwanted guest, still trying to conceal my form by hiding behind the counter.

My heart came to a full stop. The reason behind my worry and stressful thinking, the one I love; Andrew, was here. Knocking repeatedly on my back door at eleven in the morning. s**t! Did he see me get in here last night?

He seemed really focused on the door, a serious expression masked his features. I leaned a little bit more, to take him in. I should have hidden when I had the chance, but this was almost the closest I got to him, in sunlight. Except for early this morning. He looked so handsome; His ink-black hair was styled up and away from his face, exposing his full brows that were sloped downwards to shape his seriousness. The sun shone off his eyes, making the green in them light like a meadow on a summer day and his lips, ripe and inviting. Pressed together, making his sculptured jaw, gracefully curved around the strength of his neck, more prominent. Although he was at the very beginnings of his adulthood, his lineaments already grew to be one of a strong man, well-defined and sharp. Attractive.

My eyes traveled down to his broad shoulders and torso, cladded in a form-fitting black shirt that hugged his strong arms and firm-looking chest. I dreamt of laying my head on his chest and feeling it rise with every breath in a calm, rhythmic kind of way.

I raised my head, to look at his eyes once more, when he snapped his head in my direction, his eyes locking instantly with mine. I fell back, shocked and started to panic, my wings flapped knocking over the vase off the counter- God mum loved that vase- out of dread, in which it came down crashing and shattering in millions of small pieces that would definitely take me ages to find and clean away.

All that didn’t matter, what mattered was that; with it crashing, it emitted a loud sound that in no way I could play out. I looked up, wide-eyed, and he was there; directly looking in from the window, flabbergasted.

*******

His eyes were wide, and his lips fell apart, as he stared into my blue eyes. My brain stuttered for a moment and all my limbs went on pause, unfunctional to move and remove me from this fatal encounter.

His eyes pinned me to the spot until my thoughts caught up when he moved closer to the window. His motion was so slow and soft but it nonetheless jerked me out of my trance and I was able to regain control of my body, I quickly ducked away under the island I was already hiding by, making sure to wrap my wings around me and stay still.

I waited for a while, to hear his steps move away and fade. Once I was sure and couldn’t pick up his heartbeat anymore, I crawled to the living room, paranoid that he was still lurking somewhere.

I had successfully ruined what peace we had in our life. For real this time. All because I was selfish and reckless.