Meadow

Chapter 2

MEADOW COLLEGE:

At noon, the sun was covered in the dark clouds of the rainy clouds, just as students had just rounded up their last lecture of the day, precisely the archaeologists. Mika was making for her car in a bid to avoid the soaking she would be in for, when she spotted Joshua standing and staring directly at her, probably been standing there for a while.

Mika felt a spark of recognition as she took in his face. She couldn't believe that she hadn't forgotten his face. She remembered their last meeting, and though she wished they had had a proper goodbye, she didn't mind it as much if he was back in her life. She decided to approach him and take it from where they had left off.

She made her way over to him, her heart racing. He smiled when he saw her, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

"Hey, Miss," Joshua said as he also walked towards her to meet at a certain point.

"Hey, weirdo," she smiled at him. "You're unbelievable."

"Sorry I just blazed the last time," he apologized.

"You know," she raised her hand and jingled her keys on her finger in his face. "It's not about you leaving suddenly, but how fast you left. You just vanished into thin air. I almost thought it was because I did something wrong."

He smiled a bit and moved a bit closer to her and slightly bent to her ears.

"I'm fast," he whispered. "Like super fast. And no, you did nothing wrong."

She gave him a strange look for a while, her eyebrows almost at her hairline, like her curiosity and mystery has been quenched, like she actually took his words for it. But she wore a deadpan look, like she didn't want him to know the wheels in her brain were moving.

"You know what?" She finally spoke. "I prefer not to know, let's simply assume you were hidding in one of those trees or somewhere nearby, as it is plausible given your familiarity with the forest environment."

He complied with her decision and took a step back to create some distance between them.

Suddenly, Maya approached from out of nowhere, appearing both excited and calm as she reached the pair.

"Mika, did you not see the sky?" Maya inquired. "The skies are dark, signaling impending rain."

"Hey," Joshua greeted.

"Oh! Hello... I apologize for not noticing earlier," Maya explained.

"You're quite amusing, Maya," Mika remarked with a warm smile, before introducing the two.

Maya extended a handshake to Joshua, which he accepted, though his expression seemed thoughtful as they continued to hold hands. His gaze was intense, yet Maya appeared oblivious, smiling with their hands intertwined.

"Hello!" Mika snapped her fingers in front of his face, prompting him to release Maya's hand.

"Do you know her from somewhere?" Mika inquired further.

"No, I was simply taken aback by her beauty," he confessed, regaining his senses.

"Awn..." Maya exclaimed, fluttering her eyelashes. "Thank you so much."

"Interesting, so is this a common occurrence with beautiful ladies, or just specific to her?" Mika asked, gesturing towards Maya.

He shrugged with a hint of amusement, his lips curling into a half-smile.

"Okay, does this only happen with handshakes, or does it extend to other forms of touch as well?"

Realizing Mika's implication, he understood the distinction she was drawing between a handshake and a simple touch. He recollected their initial meeting in the forest, where he had only touched Mika without shaking her hand, and realized the need to rectify any misconception she might have had about his behavior.

Moving closer to her, a gentle expression on his face, he explained, "I reserve that expression for those I touch but do not immediately reveal their importance, saving it for a more suitable occasion."

Mika beamed widely, her eyes reflecting happiness. She was clearly touched by the exchange, as evidenced by her relaxed demeanor and open posture. She radiated admiration and contentment, with a sense of pride swelling in her heart. Unable to contain her joy, a pleased smile played on her lips.

"Mika Hugo," a deep voice called from behind them.

Turning around, they saw another young man, slightly older than Joshua, dressed in all black and exuding an air of mystery. Mika's heart raced as she locked eyes with the stranger, her body tensing with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"The rumors regarding your beauty do not do you justice," he stated, drawing closer to Mika, who stood still, captivated by his dark gaze, her mind racing.

"I must say, the rumors underestimated the depth of your character," he added, bowing with arms extended beside him.

Mika felt a surge of joy as the man gently took her hand and kissed it like a true gentleman. She suppressed a smile, mindful of the chill that ran down her spine from his cool touch, and conscious of maintaining her composure in the presence of a stranger who might not have pure intentions. Despite her racing heart and flushed cheeks, she remained composed, attempting to convey a balance of gratitude and caution towards the unexpected gesture.

"May I ask who you are?" She inquired softly.

"Excuse my lack of knowledge, Miss Mika. Allow me to introduce myself," he let go of her hand and stepped back abruptly. "I am Gideon Castle, a..."

"Casper," Joshua promptly corrected. "Gideon Casper."

Gideon gave him a slightly puzzled look and turned back to Mika.

"Like he said, Gideon Casper," Gideon continued.

"Wait, are you both siblings?" Mika inquired.

"Yes, unfortunately we are," Joshua responded with a hint of disappointment.

"He happens to be my younger brother," Gideon added.

"What's the reason behind the mix-up between Castle and Casper?" Mika questioned.

"We greatly admire his works," Joshua clarified. "We have read extensively about him and at times wished we were truly his offspring."

"He is indeed a remarkable visionary, a guiding light to who we are, hence we became accustomed to him," Gideon added, massaging Joshua's shoulder with one hand.

"Oh my!" Maya exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. "The two of you brothers are noticeably different!"

"How so?" The siblings inquired simultaneously.

"It appears Joshua is more introverted, while Gideon seems to be the complete opposite - an extrovert," Maya explained.

Mika's heart quickened as she spoke. "You mentioned rumors," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "From whom did they originate?" She glanced from one brother to the other, awaiting an answer."

"You see," Gideon grasped her hands. "Joshua was constantly praising your beauty and charm. As a boy as he is, I initially dismissed his words until I laid eyes on you, yet he failed to capture the essence of your true beauty with mere words. Therefore, he just..."

"That's quite enough, Gideon," Joshua cut him off. "You're merely repeating yourself."

Mika found herself genuinely entertained by the situation and struggled to contain her laughter. A chuckle escaped her lips, and she felt her cheeks beginning to flush.

"Mika, I suggest we keep our books in your vehicle before they get soaked," Maya proposed as she headed towards the car.

Mika nodded, still attempting to stifle her laughter. She took a deep breath and eventually managed to regain her composure.

"Gideon, why are you so chilly? Your hands… " Mika inquired with a concerned expression.

Gideon and Joshua exchanged a knowing glance before Gideon finally spoke. "I spend a majority of my time indoors and frequently wander in the cool forest weather. Truth be told, I have a distaste for heat and strive to stay away from it as much as possible."

Joshua chuckled, "It's a common occurrence for him. Unlike him, I relish the heat and enjoy exploring, which likely explains why I'm not as cold as he is."

The lady smiled, "A pleasure meeting both of you, Gideon and Joshua." She then turned to leave but suddenly halted and glanced back at Joshua. "Joshua, it might be courteous to learn to compliment a lovely lady when you encounter one. Who knows, you might miss out on a great opportunity otherwise."

She finally entered her car and drove off, leaving the siblings behind. They watched nervously as the car disappeared into the distance. Joshua couldn’t pry his eyes away from it.

"I could help you win her over, if you wish," Gideon suggested, attempting to alleviate the tension.

"What were you thinking, showing up here like this?" Joshua questioned, his voice tinged with frustration. "Were you waiting until dusk for this?"

"Relax, brother. I'm simply trying to assist you," Gideon replied, attempting to soothe Joshua.

"How did you become aware of her?" Joshua inquired, still holding onto his irritation.

"I was in the forest that day when you mentioned our father to her," Gideon explained.

"The sun was still out. You couldn't have been close enough to hear everything," Joshua pointed out, remaining unconvinced.

"Who says?" Gideon walked past Joshua, brushing his shoulder as he passed. "I was at the tomb in the forest and overheard it all."

Joshua accompanied him, making their way to the nearest edge of the forest.

“Next time, I will require privacy,” Joshua expressed, his voice tinged with anger.

“By the way,” Gideon turned to Joshua. “I observed you from afar, looking at Maya. Did you detect anything unusual?”

Joshua pondered momentarily before replying. “She is supernatural, but I am unsure of her specific supernatural abilities,” he remarked.

Gideon promptly manifested his sharp claws and his eyes glowed red. Dark veins formed around his eyes as cracks appeared.

“Let us investigate further,” Gideon proposed, poised for action.

“Stand down, brother!” Joshua pushed him away. “You need to maintain a low profile and avoid trouble.”

“This town belongs to us. It is our duty to ensure it remains safe from unknown entities like her,” Gideon argued. “You cannot ascertain her capabilities on your own.”

“And who will protect them from you?' Joshua retorted sarcastically. “You feed on the townspeople, yet you speak of protecting them. Who are you trying to deceive? You view her as just another target in your extensive chain of supernatural prey.”

Joshua's words struck a chord, leaving Gideon unable to defend himself verbally. Instead, he delivered a single punch, sending Joshua flying a considerable distance with a resounding impact in his chest.