Jeremy laid his head over the table. The way his body slouched on the table, is a visible wound no different than physical abuse. Jeremy’s shoulders hung under the table like a puppet. That fact that his ex-fiancé has never confessed is what’s causing Jeremy’s heart to take so long to heal. It will cost much of his joy when she’s still very reliant on him.
With, uncertainty, I approached Jeremy and gently pressed my hand on one of his dangling shoulders. I told him to be strong, that he would get through this. Before I pulled away, he reached from underneath the table and grabbed my hand. His touch startled me. I let his fingers grab my palm, the rough sensation on his skin is enough for me to know how much of a hard worker is. Jeremy held my hand for a moment longer and released it. He lifted his head and took in a deep breath.
“Is there anything else you wanted me to take?” he said getting up.
I’m the least surprised by his lightning reactions to change subject. He’s pretending the dramatic way he laid on the kitchen table was an illusion. In return, I followed the conversation and told him Kinoki’s belongings are ready.
“You and I are going to have a great time together.” Jeremy sang reaching for Kinoki.
Kinoki went between his legs and fled into the living room. Jeremy left to fetch her and brought her back to the kitchen. She settled in his arms, enjoying her new toy—Jeremy.
“I never had cat who just flops like a doll the moment you grab her.”
“I guess you can say I was practicing holding a baby when she was kitten.” I confessed.
When I brought Kinoki’s box, Jeremy took a quick look at the items: a cat bed, cat toys, catnip, mini water fountain, plush toys, cat snacks, and hygienic items.
“She lives better than I do.” he teased.
My heart ached at the thought of sleeping without Kinoki by my side. Tomorrow, we’re leaving the cabin and will be going our separate ways. I sat in the kitchen and watched Jeremy walk up and down the cabin, transporting the boxes of infant items into his truck. Kinoki followed him like a duckling sticks to its mother. My luggage is the last remaining item, when he took it, he no longer returned to the cabin.
It seems like I enjoy having Jeremy for company, a part of me wants to return to the road with him. To be able to admit that to myself is alarming. What exactly am I allowing myself to think? I killed those thoughts and threw them into the dark ocean of my subconscious. Kinoki jingled back to me, she has finally left Jeremy’s side and stuck with me. He’s probably in his truck already, I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye. Before closing the door shut. I curiously looked down the stairs of the cabin, and found him there, waiting for me. When I walked down the steps, he met me half way.
“Thanks for the coffee.” he said.
“No problem.”
“So, I guess I’ll be off.” he exposed.
After a minute, Jeremy and I kept our feet glued to the steps. When a chilly breeze passed by, I wanted to run back into the cabin, but I resisted the urge. I took great notice to Jeremy’s weird behavior, he’s fidgeting, and constantly tapping his wrist against his hip. His eyes are looking around for some justification of what he’s about to say.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to leave you alone like this. Can’t you—just stay at dads tonight?”
Jeremy’s request is of no surprise, right now he sounds a lot like Dr. Graham. This kind of request usually annoys me, especially if it came from my nosy physician. For once, it makes me feel relieved. Could it be because Jeremy requested this? I quickly ignored the possibility.
“I want some time to mentally prepare myself for the whole month I will be crashing at your dad’s place.” I hesitated. “I still don’t know how your mom feels about a stranger living in her house.”
“My mother has a hobby, and that’s having company. She’s often lonely with Dad working, so I have no doubt in my mind she will love your company.”
His assurance gives me hope, I still remember his energetic mom with bouncy curls, and sophisticated clothing. When Dr. Graham’s wife enters the clinic, the room lightens up. I never looked her way, somehow thinking if I did, I would corrupt her sweet nature.
Jeremy scanned the area like he’s waiting for something to happen. I feel inclined to ask him what he’s so worried about. If it’s a bear, there’s nothing to worry about. I’ve run into them before, none of them are interested in me. Besides, they’re already in denning, hibernating.
“Lola.” he said directing his attention to me. “Once your baby is born and all, I know you’ll be busy being a mom. I can see that this area needs some work, I’ll be more than happy to bring my equipment and clear this place. Also, you don’t have a fence to protect yourself from any pestering animals. I can fence this place up and set up some solar panel lights. You’ll feel more at home and safe at night. What I’m trying to say is—after your baby is born, I really wouldn’t mind coming back to visit.”
When Jeremy said he wants to come back, these unfamiliar emotions began to gleam around my heart with nowhere to go. They feel like sparklers shooting out in every direction of my heart. The sensation is uncomfortable, and yet—very pleasing. I want to say of course, but I find myself saying nothing.
“I know we just met so I don’t blame you for feeling weird.” he said, tucking his hands in his pocket.
“I’m not.” I responded.
“You’re not? Then—”
“Wouldn’t it be bothersome for you to do these things for me? I’m the one who’s in your debt, you went through the trouble of brining me home.”
“I don’t care about that, Lola, the thing is that I want to…” his voice died out.
I looked away, unable hide the smile on my face. My cheeks are so warm, the cold air can’t freeze them. Jeremy’s hands suddenly touched my shoulders, he rubbed them. If my husband did this, I would immediately jump and question his motive. Jeremy’s touch calmed me, his rough skin gently pressed against me. When his fingers reached for my collar bone he noticed my shaking.
“You’re cold. You better run inside—wait! Don’t run, just walk inside.”
His worry forced another smile on my face.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” he said. “Here’s my cell number, just in case I get lost. I’ll also be seeing you at dads—you know, just to say hi.”
After exchanging our cell phone numbers, he waved Kinoki goodbye and went downstairs. He followed the stone path to his truck.
“Jeremy.”
He stopped and looked back.
My cheeks burned because I accidently called his name. I thought of a way to evade my error and the embarrassment that’s growing every time his hazel eyes waited for me to say something.
“Thanks.” I let out. “Be safe.”
Jeremy gave me a smile I haven’t seen since I met his empty stare in the clinic. A light I have never seen sparkled in his iris.
“You be safe.” he returned.
I went back to the porch and watched him drive through the gravel. Kinoki jumped on the porch rail and watched him drive off. She seemed to have already missed Jeremy. I opened the front door and called her in.
“Come on Kinoki, tomorrow will be a new day.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Warping Darkness
“Is it mother?” squeaked Serenata.
3rd of November
36 weeks and 3 days pregnant
Serenata calls me in an alarming voice. The sky is still pitch black, the clock reads 1 a.m. I yawned at my disturbed sleep. I asked Serenata what was wrong and suddenly felt a cramp, similar to menstrual pain. The discomfort is slim, it subsided after I sat up.
“Lola, are you finally awake?”
There’s terror in her voice, Serenata must have had a nightmare. I told her I’m awake, and ready to console her fears. Last night she wouldn’t stop talking about the Elite and Avalon. It only makes sense she would dream about them.
“What’s going on?” I said with an uncont
rollable yawn.
Now there’s a sharp pain began rising on my lower back, I need to stop sleeping in wrong position.
“You don’t feel it? We need to go outside!”
The moment I turned my head to the window, the dark forest flashed with a blinding light. The cabin is beginning to shake, I hugged the mattress to keep myself from falling. The quaking gradually faded and the sporadic illuminations have disappeared. I slowly got off the bed and went to the closet, I pulled out my wool cloak and button it up to my neck. Downstairs, I slipped into my mountain boots. Kinoki welcomed me, from underneath the sofa, her fur is puffed up. She’s just as scared as Serenata. I readily went to the porch, the entire forest is enveloped in a fog. It’s so dense, I can’t even see the ground below.
This isn’t the first time, I felt a sudden earthquake. This one is just as similar to the crash from Avalon’s catarelia. I stretched over the porch rail and looked up at the sky. The stars haven’t moved, and there’s no angelic view of showering meteor rocks. The only visible thing, is the vapor leaving my lungs and evaporating towards the sky. Everything looks normal, that moment, the ground is starting to shake. It’s not as strong as the rest, this one is just minor.
“What’s happening?!” I yelled.
“I-I don’t know.”stuttered Serenata.“I’m not grown like mother, I can only hear. All I can do is tell you if a Lenur is near. They always make me shiver.”
I don’t have time to come up with excuses, this phenomena can only mean that the Elite is here! Everything will be alright, as planned, the Elite will assume Serenata died from miscarriage, I should be okay. I rubbed my belly, without pause. It will be okay, we will be fine.
A powerful earthquake returned, my hands almost slipped when I gripped the icy porch rail. An arresting flash is instantly illuminating the north side of the forest. The white light is growing weak, then came a sudden blast. I covered my ears, shrieking with terror. Neon rays of silver, blue, yellow and magenta shot into the sky.
“Serenata!” I cried. “What’s going on?”
“Mother.”she wept.“She’s in battle with an Elite!”
“Are we safe?” I asked “Isn’t this Ebon guy supposed to protect us?”
“I don’t know.” she answered. “I usually feel him, but right now, I don’t.”
Avalon is fighting for us, fulfilling her role to protect us from harm. I don’t know how she’s capable of fighting with the condition she is in, but it’s clear that something. A blast of wind no nature could create brushed the pine trees aside. The haunting sight is convincing enough for me to go back inside. I then remember the haunting confession Avalon said. She was able to locate me the moment my breath left my lungs. Could this Elite do the same?
“It’s not safe to be outside.” I whispered.
I gripped the hand rail again, something slippery almost took me off my balance. There’s a strange sludge on the porch, but it’s too dark to see. I walked over it and flipped the porch light on. Heavy drops of blood, puddled on the floor. With a pounding heart, I looked for a bloody trail, but I can’t find a source. There’s no bodily wounds on me. The cramp from earlier came back. I grunted, my cervix tighten and a trickle of warm blood slid between my legs. My heart nearly stopped. This red mess is coming from me.
“This can’t be happening!” I cried.
“What’s wrong?” fretted Serenata.
The north side of the forest brought another thundering tremble, grumbling its way toward the cabin. The pine trees are shaking, it’s like they’re also afraid. The hair on my back went up like a magnetic charge.
“Someone is coming.” warned Serenata.
I watched the north side of the forest, waiting for a sign of hope or warning. The lights have stopped flashing, did Avalon win?
Like a field of barley wheat brushing aside, the trees are swinging by a nameless force. The branches are cracking, even the proud western hemlock is effortlessly snapped off. Little by little, it’s growing closer towards the cabin. I went inside and locked the door. Hoping to camouflage with the night, I shut off all of the lights of the cabin. It will also help me see better through the window. The only place with biggest view of the north area is through the kitchen window Jeremy enjoyed looking through. Before I made that move, I have to do something about this bleeding. Before I had the chance to go upstairs to get my cell phone, Serenata alarmed me.
“It’s here.” she whispered.
I paced to the kitchen, and looked outside, my breath quickly fogged up the window. My life has turned into a horror movie, a killer is searching for a helpless prey, in a cabin miles away from civilization. How cliché.
Huge thuds resonated in the forest. As far as I know, dinosaur have been extinct for millions of years. A small figure is standing on the front lawn, just outside of the forest. I feel silly for thinking it was going to be a giant alien. When the figure turned towards me, the humor in me died. In one look, my legs almost jolted from my body.
This black phantom is watching the cabin. This dark being should be masked by the thick fog, but not even the fog wants to touch it. Instead, the fog is passing around it, making this dark figure easier to see. There’s no illustrations on his body, no eyes, no face, no hair, and no clothes. It’s just a moving silhouette of what looks like a man. He took a single step, and the ground quaked. The tremors we have been feeling is coming from this…thing. I’m left baffled, Avalon has silver hair, blue sky eyes and pale skin. This individual doesn’t even resemble the Lenurs Avalon revealed to me. Because of a cold planet like Osois, all Lenurs have pale skin, and white-silver hair. Why is this one so different?
“Is it mother?” squeaked Serenata.
“I don’t know who it is.”
More heavy steps trembled the cabin, a pot hanging of the ceiling rack fell hard on the floor. This dark creature is growing close, strangely, he’s looking at our direction.
“That’s not Mother!” she yelped. “We have to leave!”
She’s right, undeniably, it’s a Lenur, and worse—an Elite. The black figures face slowly cranked like a doll, gazing towards the kitchen. I ducked. I covered my mouth to keep myself from screaming. He’s coming for sure—I may have to leave! First, I need to know where he is. Little by little, I sneaked back to the window—the Elite is no longer in the yard.
In the blink of an eye, the black phantom re-appeared on my window, staring at me. I held my breath. The cabin is a story high, how is he up here—what is he standing on? We silently observed each other, the Elite’s breathing is deep and corrosive, and he’s indeed a male Lenur. He wheezed, struggling to breathe. The windows fogged up when he exhaled, but when he breathed in, the fog disappears. There’s no slight details on his face, except what looks like blood oozing out of the area his eyes belong. It’s likely that Avalon caused this, she probably plucked out his eyes. Even so, I don’t know whether to move or not. Blind or not, he can sense me—somehow.
The Elite’s breathing worsened, Earth is having no trouble poisoning him. This is my only advantage against him. Suddenly, the Elite gradually hovered to the next window in the kitchen. Nothing is holding this guy’s weight, he’s levitating! Over and over he circled the cabin, watching me in every window.
A familiar jingle caught my attention, and my heart sank. Kinoki never went back inside the cabin. My cat is about to lose all of her nine lives!
“What’s going to happen to Kinoki?” I whispered.
“She should be okay.” replied Serenata. “Mother once told me that harmless creatures are ignored by us Lenurs.”
Avalon barely recognized Kinoki, this Elite should react the same way. Kinoki will be safe, that’s good, but I can’t say the same for myself—I’m not a cat. The Elite gave up circling the cabin, his body is slowly returning to the ground.
“It’s looking for us.” whispered Serenata. “It won’t be long before he finds the entrance to this place.”
Of course he’s going to do that, but I don’t know i
f I should hide inside the cabin or leave. What’s worse is that I’m stranded, my truck is back in town—I’m trapped!
The stomach pains came back, aching with each breath I take. I can’t let this Elite catch us, I literally have to play hide and seek with a killer alien! I closed my eyes listen for the bells on Kinoki’s collar. If the Elite is not threatening her, then my very social cat must be following him. I have no other better options, this is the only way I can get a close proximity of the Elite’s location.
“I’m scared.”
“We’re going to get out.” I whispered back. “I just need to get my cell phone.”
This is a new line of problems. I left my cell phone charging in the bedroom drawer. I will have to go upstairs without getting caught. When I picked up Kinoki’s bells just outside of the kitchen, I rushed towards the living room. Little by little I made my way up the stairs, the older parts of the floor creaked with each step. Lucky for me, the hallway is momentarily protecting me. I marched down the hall, went towards my bedroom, and snatched my cell phone. That very moment, I kept myself from turning back. Something is peering into my bedroom window. I held my mouth to keep myself from screaming. The dark muffled sound once again fogged my window. It’s the Elite.
“Ahar’s leenors, seeiyun.”
His voice trembled my window, he’s speaking in their language.
The Birth (The Black Wing Book 1) Page 20
