He ran into the bathroom and checked his hair, making sure it was smooth in all the right places. He was agitated and he wasn’t sure if it was because he was doing something he had never done before or because it was the first time he would be hanging out with Hunter outside of work. He shook his head. Definitely not that. Why would he be worried about Hunter? That was silly.
Ethan’s computer system alerted him to a visitor. He checked his watch and noticed it was six thirty exactly. He gazed up and smirked at himself. He gave the computer the command to open the door and checked his appearance one last time in the mirror.
When he reached the living room, he stopped at the sight of Hunter. The other boy was wearing distressed black leather pants with zipper details, a knitted grey sweater with an oversized hood and fingerless gloved sleeves. He matched the ensemble with black boots and Ethan noticed that his hair was somewhat messy but still stylish.
“Hey,” Hunter greeted.
“Um hi,” Ethan replied sheepishly.
“Six thirty, right? Are you ready to go?” Hunter asked. Ethan gave a small laugh that turned into a nervous cough. “Yeah, ready.”
He followed Hunter out of his apartment and into the elevator. It was the most awkward minute of his life. He searched everywhere but the boy next to him, convinced that any eye contact with Hunter would give his nerves away. Thankfully the train ride to Textiles was short and he was relieved when Hunter didn’t prompt him to speak.
At 7:01pm they reached the platform and Ethan searched for Abby. He found her almost immediately, beautiful as ever, wearing grey skinny pants and an oversized heather grey sweater with knitted gloves. Her fiery hair was pulled up into a high pony tail, swinging wildly as she grinned and threw her arms around her friend. Hunter kept his distance, not wanting to intrude in their warm greeting.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered. They broke apart from the hug and smiled at each other. “Missed you too,” he replied. She casually peeped over his shoulder and that’s when he remembered that Hunter was with him.
“Oh, sorry. Abby this is Hunter.” Ethan pointed at Hunter. “This is Abby.” Hunter appeared genuinely happy to meet his friend as he smiled and extended his hand. Abby reciprocated and shook the offered hand. “Ready?” Abby asked them.
Both boys nodded and followed the red head down the stairs.
“Where exactly are we going Abs?” She turned around, shuffling backward to answer him. “It’s a surprise,” she announced mischievously.
She turned around again and Ethan could only sigh. He hated surprises. He peered at Hunter who simply shrugged and kept walking. After a few minutes, Ethan noticed that they were heading in the direction of the main Textile factories. As soon as they stepped past the front door of the largest building, Ethan spoke.
“Abby,” he warned. It was well past working hours and he knew they shouldn’t have been there so late. She smiled and playfully stuck her tongue out. “Stop worrying so much Ethan,” she scolded, grabbing his hand and leading him farther into the building.
Ethan pouted and glared at his friend. “Yeah Ethan, stop worrying,” Hunter added with a naughty smirk of his own.
He rolled his eyes at them both, reluctantly following their lead. They snuck through some drawing rooms and offices, padding their feet as quietly as possible. They made their way through a series of long corridors and stair cases that reminded Ethan of the labyrinthine hallways of the North building.
“Are we there yet?” Ethan deadpanned. Abby glared at him but didn’t answer. After another staircase, Ethan spoke again.
“Are we there yet?”
The menace on her face was enough to shut him up but Hunter found the exchange hilarious. “I’d be careful. She seems a bit dangerous,” Hunter said with another chuckle.
After what seemed like an eternity, the trio finally reached their destination. Abby slowly pushed open a large steel door, revealing a barren roof top. Ethan was about to protest, wondering why on earth the top of this building would be an attraction, when he averted his eyes in the direction of Abby and gasped at the view.
They all slowly made their way to the edge of the building and peered across the city gates, into the vast open fields of the unknown. The expression on Ethan’s face was of wonderment and awe. He had never been so close to the perimeter before and now as he gazed upon the picturesque trees and meadows, he concluded there was nowhere else he would rather be.
The night was still young and the sun had yet to set but hung low to the ground, illuminating the extensive green landscape. The rolling hills sprawled against one another, accented with large oak trees and small pockets of spring flowers, bright hues of pink, purple and yellow. The wind was soft but crisp, causing the tree branches to sway back and forth, as if dancing to a melodic tune of a different time. It was truly a sight to see and one heck of a surprise.
“So, do you like it?” Abby asked hopefully. Ethan tore his eyes from the view to look at his friend. “It’s gorgeous Abs,” he whispered. He noticed Hunter grinning at him and for some reason he felt a rush of heat creep up along his neck.
“I like to come here sometimes, after work. It’s nice to stare out into the open, you know?” Abby explained as she sat down near the edge of the building. Ethan nodded his head and took a seat next to her. Hunter opted to sit on Abby’s other side. The trio sat in silence for a few minutes, admiring the stunning scenery before them. Ethan couldn’t believe that he had never experienced this side of the city. Most of the buildings and even the train faced the opposite direction so no one really got to appreciate the view. It was almost like the city planners designed it that way.
Ethan wondered what was beyond the trees. Was there more landscape? More endless fields of greenery? Could there be another city like theirs? That got him thinking about what would happen if anyone left the city. It would seem impossible since the main source of transportation was the train, making the only other option to roam on foot, but where would you be heading?
Why wasn’t there more research or information on the terrains that lay beyond their gates? Maybe he should ask Godrik about it, surely, he would know. Ethan was so wrapped up in his hypothetical thoughts that he missed a joke that Hunter made. He didn’t however, miss the way Abby laughed and playfully shoved him. They seemed to be getting on great and Ethan knew that he should have been happy, but for some reason he wasn’t.
He observed as Hunter whispered something in Abby’s ear, causing her to grin wide and laugh. He thought about eavesdropping but that seemed too invasive, after all, Abby was his best friend. Suddenly, Ethan could only think of how jealous he was. He was so used to Abby giving him attention that it hurt to see her affections fall on someone else. He admitted that he had no right to be mad at her, but that didn’t stifle the pain he was feeling.
He abruptly stood up and stalked toward the door. “Hey, wait up,” Abby yelled as she ran over to Ethan. “Where are you going?” she asked. “I was going to get something to eat. You guys can stay here. I won’t be long.” Abby shook her head immediately.
“No silly. We’ll come with you, right Hunter?” Hunter nodded with agreement. Great, Ethan thought. The trio quietly made their way back downstairs and outside. The sky soon darkened as they trekked to one of Abby’s favorite cafés. She loved it because they always had her favorite meal; a grilled salmon salad with faro and sweet berries. As soon as they stepped inside, Abby and Ethan went up to the counter and ordered their meals, swiping their wrists as they did so. Ethan glanced at Hunter, who went straight to a back corner, finding a table large enough to accommodate them.
It was certainly one of the nicer cafés in the Textile district with its muted colors and modern furnishings. It reminded Ethan of the mess hall in the Technology tower. Rows upon rows of neatly appointed offerings; bright crisp vegetables, soft cheeses, crusty breads and hearty grains adorned the ordering station, each just a flick of the wrist away. Though, he did find it strange that Hunter didn’t order anything.
He took a bite of his broiled walleye and hummed in satisfaction. He really was hungry. Abby sat next to him and Hunter on his other side. Suddenly Ethan felt like he was intruding, watching as Hunter and Abby carried on their conversation from the rooftop, seemingly unaware of his existence. He knew this would happen. Of course, Hunter only asked for this outing so he could meet Abby. This wasn’t a celebration; it was an excuse for his co-worker to get to know his best friend and possibly get lucky. How could he have been so stupid?
He quickly ate his meal and did his best to ignore them. He glared when he heard Abby laughing yet again. What was Hunter saying that was so funny? He had known the guy for months and never once had he told a joke or made Ethan laugh. “That’s hilarious!” Abby exclaimed. “Isn’t that funny Ethan?”
He scowled at her giving his friend cause for concern. “I wouldn’t know. He wasn’t talking to me.” Ethan knew the comment was rude but he didn’t care. Maybe he should have listened in. At least then he would know if the joke was about him. He felt used by Hunter who obviously had no intention in becoming his friend. Ethan didn’t understand why Hunter hadn’t just asked Abby out himself. Why did he need to be there?
“Are you okay?” Hunter asked. Ethan took a deep breath before answering, knowing that if he didn’t do that, he would blow up in Hunter’s face and considering what happened the last time he got mad, he figured it would be best to relax.
“Fine. Perfectly fine.”
Lies.
“Actually, I’m not feeling great. I think I’ll call it a night.” He stood up, emptying his plate in the trash before heading to the door. “Are you sure?” Abby asked as she left her seat.
“Of course, don’t worry about me. Have fun with Hunter,” he said spitefully. Before she could say anything else, he was gone. He felt so utterly humiliated. Why would anyone want to hang out with him? Other than Abby, he had no true friends and now she was on the verge of leaving him too. There was no other person that enjoyed simply being with him, so why would he think that Hunter was any different? Godrik clearly wanted something from him and now it appeared that Hunter was the same.
He angrily ran up the platform steps, pushing others aside and boarded the first train he saw. He had no idea that Hunter had been chasing after him. It was only when the train started to move that he saw the boy racing toward him. Their eyes locked briefly before Ethan dropped his gaze. He didn’t want Hunter to see the hurt on his face, though he knew it was obvious. What surprised him was the disappointment on Hunter’s face.
His mood soured considerably on the ride back to his apartment. The more he thought about the evening, the angrier he got. He didn’t truly know if he was more upset over the fact that Hunter used him to get to Abby or knowing that Abby liked him back. What would that do to their friendship? Could he honestly see himself as the third wheel in their epic romance? He shook his head to clear his mind. He should be happy for Abby… so, why wasn’t he?
When he reached his dwelling, he was so upset that he undressed quickly and got into bed, forgetting to take his sleeping pills. It was the first night that he did so and it was a regretful mistake indeed.
CHAPTER 8
E
than’s head shook from side to side in agitation.
“He’s the perfect candidate.”
“We should see excellent results from him.”
“He’s strong. He’ll survive it.”
His eyes were shut tightly, a pained expression across his face. He could feel needles being forced into his arms. The liquids made his skin burn causing him to cry out but no one was there to help him. His cries were muffled by something blocking his mouth. He studied his body, noticing the straps that held him down. A second scream failed to breach his mouth.
Suddenly he was in a dwelling that was different from any other placed he had seen. The walls were filled with pictures of happy people. He didn’t recognize any of them. Realizing he was no longer tied up and able to walk, he carefully took in his surroundings, trying to figure out where he was.
There was a smell in the air of something foreign yet still familiar. It was woodsy and fresh and covered the entire house. There was a fireplace on the other side of the room, burning brightly. A pair of hands circled his stomach lovingly. He felt the person behind him hum in contentment causing him to relax and place his hands on top of theirs. A pair of lips moved up his neck toward his ear lobe and he couldn’t help but grin at the action.
Slowly, a thick fog began to fill the space, billowing from the sides, and cascading from the ceiling. Ethan was about to say something when the hands around his middle were violently snatched away. He turned around and was immediately seized by a group of men. The other person with him was kicking and screaming for their release. Ethan also began to struggle against his captors but was hit in the head.
Ethan screamed when he woke up. Of all his dreams, that one felt the most real. He addressed his hands and noticed they were shaking. Without even realizing it, he began to cry.
Everything was so overwhelming and he just wanted it to make sense. He wanted to know why he was dreaming those things. Why was this happening to him? Frustrated, Ethan lashed out, grabbing his bedside clock and throwing it against the wall, smashing it to pieces. He continued to sob, rocking back and forth until the energy was gone from his body. His limbs sunk back into the bed, where he eventually fell back asleep.
*****
He got up the next day, angry at everything and everyone. It was easily the worst night sleep he had ever had. His dreams were slowly draining the life out of him and on top of that, he was sick and tired of people using him. His whole life he had been ignored, not taken seriously or misunderstood and he couldn’t take it anymore.
After he showered, he got dressed and left to go to work. He didn’t eat anything because, why bother? His stomach was in no mood for food anyway. Once inside the North building, he bitterly hit the elevator button for the 33rd floor and waited impatiently. He thought maybe if he focused on his work, he would feel a little better. His work did always make him happy.
Unfortunately, the first thing he saw when the doors opened was Hunter Grey, staring pitifully at him. He was not in the mood for Hunter’s antics, so he shoved past him and met Godrik at the single elevator. The trio descended to the UG5 floor in a tense silence and once the doors opened, Godrik mentioned needing to talk to a colleague, leaving Ethan alone with Hunter. It was like the world was angry with him and wanted to make him suffer.
“Are you mad at me?” Hunter asked as soon as they entered the lab. Ethan rolled his eyes at the aggravating teenager and moved past him. Hunter took that as a yes. “Is this about last night?”
“Leave it,” Ethan muttered angrily, swiping intensely at one of the computer screens. Hunter gave an exasperated sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. He snatched Ethan by the elbow and turned him around. Ethan immediately recoiled his arm and frowned at the older boy.
“Are you mad because Abby likes me? Is that it?” Hunter asked arrogantly. Ethan let out a humorless laugh and glared at Hunter. He went to move again but Hunter grabbed both of his arms and pushed him against the wall roughly. “That’s it huh?” Hunter moved in closer until he was only mere inches from Ethan’s face.
Ethan was getting annoyed. He struggled to free himself but Hunter’s grip was strong. “If you wanted to be with her so badly, you should have said so and left me out of it.” Hunter leaned back a bit and stared at Ethan’s face. He could tell that Ethan was upset but it wasn’t what he originally thought.
“She’s not the one I want,” Hunter whispered. Ethan’s mouth opened like a fish out of water but no words came out. He stared at Hunter and found him knowingly smirking.
“Who… who do you w-want then?” he stammered.
Hunter leaned in closer. “I thought it was obvious.”
Before Ethan could respond, Hunter’s lips were on his. At first, he was startled but then quickly returned the kiss,
gripping the back of Hunter’s head to deepen it. Hunter’s hands were on Ethan’s waist, holding him tightly, securely against the wall. Ethan didn’t know why, but he felt like he could finally breathe. He closed his eyes and welcomed the giddy knots in his stomach, the electricity pulsing through his veins; all of it was exactly what he needed.
After a few long seconds, they pulled away and Ethan couldn’t help but smile. He had no idea where the elation was coming from but he was happy. He was reminded of his dreams and how that one person always managed to make him feel completely safe and filled with joy. That’s exactly how he felt in that moment.
The pair gazed into each other’s eyes, completely out of breath. Hunter swiped his thumb on Ethan’s lip, amused when the boy darted his tongue out playfully. They grinned, feeling lost in each other’s energy. As he stared into the emerald pools of Hunter’s eyes, the realization finally hit him. Suddenly every image from his dreams, all the fragmented pieces were put together and made sense.
“It’s you,” Ethan whispered. The reason he felt so comfortable around Hunter, the reason he was attracted to him, the reason what they were doing seemed right was simple. Hunter was the guy in his dreams.
He was the one kissing him, hugging him, caressing him. Hunter was the one who made Ethan feel safe and loved. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. He had to know if it was real. He was about to tell Hunter everything when Godrik slipped into the office and broke their bubble.
The pair didn’t even realize that they were holding each other, but as soon as they saw Godrik, they pulled apart, both anxious and nervous about being caught. It’s not like they were doing anything wrong but it was still new to them; they were undefined.
Godrik nonchalantly cleared his throat and rocked back and forth on his heels. He was obviously embarrassed about catching them in such a compromising scene. The boys mirrored his embarrassment.
“I came to check on the sample sequence.” Ethan ran over to one of the computers and brought up the information. “It’s all done,” he said sheepishly. Godrik glanced at Hunter who immediately refused the eye contact, preferring the floor instead.
Awaken_Ethan Drake Chronicles Page 10
