The Elusive Prince

2005 The night was silent, the silence oppressive yet the forest hummed with an eerie sound. An Owl perched on a branch hooted, something rustled in the leaves. Although he was running, he was aware of his surroundings. Everything seemed to fly by him, but it was also unnervingly still. He felt like he had been here before, but he had no idea where he was. He felt like someone was hunting him and he couldn't see what. Was it an animal? A person? Something else? Completely disoriented and yet sure of his destination, he barrelled on. He could feel his heart racing, sweat dripping and yet he was so cold. The destination was close, his soul could sense it. Sense of urgency swept him again. He felt a cold hand on his shoulder and he woke up with a jerk. He was in his room, he had sweat through his comforter. His throat was parched. He stumbled around his room, located the water bottle he kept near his nightstand and had knocked during his sleep. Uncapped the bottle and took long, satisfying gulps. The cool water felt like heaven and slaked his thirst. Gawky from his spurt of puberty, he wasn't still used to his height growth. He hunched his bony shoulder and walked with a little slump.  This was the 5th time he had the same dream or dreamt something similar. He reclined on his bed again, sans comforter as he was still running hot. He groped under his pillow and found the tiny AC remote. He pressed on and waited for an icy blast to cool him down. That too has been happening a lot lately. He ran sudden fevers, but the doctor his mom had insisted upon seeing, couldn't find the root of it. On and off, he would have a sudden chill and he could literally feel his body heat climbing degree by degree. Samantha, love of his life, teased that she was too hot and it was her fault. Thinking of Samantha he grinned and ran a hand through his messy hair. This was another problem. Since his 17th birthday, his hair had been growing at an alarming rate. He would cut his hair this Sunday and by next Sunday they'd be the same length as he had never been to the barbers. The changes in him were baffling and he had taken to sift through medical journals to find answers. So far he had found nothing. Being a supportive girlfriend, Sam had taken to net searches. She had quickly jumped in the rabbit hole of weird stuff. They had fun mocking them. She made him feel a bit lightheaded and solid at the same time. They spent all their time together. They could talk all day or sit in silence. Every moment they were together was magical. They had to go all the way yet, but he had no hurry. He planned to marry her and never let go so he had time. All their lifetimes.  She was funny, kind and smart. So smart! They were friends since they were kids and never drifted off. They had their own circle of friends, but they were each other's secret keepers. They were each other's gravitational force. No matter what they were doing, where they were, they pulled at each other. Other kids their age went relationship dramas, they lent a kind shoulder, but they had never once fought. They loved each other so much that they didn't even need to spell it out. Samantha of fiery red hair. He touched the silver locket she had given him on his 17th birthday and was about to drift off to sleep.    He heard a movement downstairs, it sounded like a hushed argument.  His parents never fought so it piqued his curiosity so he went to investigate. This was also new, his hearing had sharpened and could hear the tiniest of sounds with no effort. He wriggled in his pajamas and traipsed to find out the source. He didn't have to go very far. What he heard exploded his universe. His very perception of self was bombed beyond comprehension. The life he had always known had been exposed as false.