“Hey, remember how you said you had a proposition for me? If I took you to Ava? What was it? We kept getting interrupted.”
“I was going to offer to take care of your problem.”
“My problem?” I asked slightly confused.
“The reason you’re here in Devils Lake.”
“Oh! That problem!”
And the truth was that I was tempted. I mean a general in Alexander the Great’s army offering to get rid of Skiles for me was not an offer you’d get every day. I leaned myself over the balcony again mulling over Kaeden’s offer. I knew how easy it would be for him. But I knew that there was another reason I wanted to take care of Skiles myself. I wanted to die in the fight.
“No thank you. I’ll take care of him myself.”
“What if I don’t want you too?”
“Why wouldn’t you want me to?”
“Maybe I like having you around,” he said looking down at me. “You’re not one of us, but you are immortal. We could be great friends until this world ceases to exist.”
“Yeah but imagine all the deaths that would have to happen to sustain us.”
“Not really. You only feed every so often am I correct?” I nodded and he continued, “As do I. Mostly I like to eat apples though.”
“Apples? I thought your kind couldn’t eat human food.”
He laughed again. “It’s not really human food. It’s just a human that first bit into it. An apple is the fruit of knowledge isn’t it? It’s the first fruit in existence so it was just by chance that a human got their hands on it. Does that make any sense? I know I’m rambling but I can’t really explain it.”
I giggled and just shook my head.
“He isn’t worth dying over,” he suddenly said softly.
“What are you talking about?” I asked nonchalantly.
“This man that made you? What’s happened to you? It’s not worth dying over. You’re still young in your new life that you don’t know it but the anger passes. So does the hatred, loathing, and disgust. Your human death is already out of the way so you’ll never have to suffer that again.”
He sighed and walked back into the room. I stayed at the balcony for a moment longer, and then I turned around and leaned on the railing. He was sitting on the edge of the bed staring at me. His request just seemed so sincere that I wanted to believe what he was saying. But my heart told me better.
“Look I’ll think about it. I’ve got 26 days before I meet up with him again and give him my decision. My sister’s life for mine or a fight to the death. I promise not to make any rash decisions because to tell you the truth, I like you. You seem like an okay kind of guy and we could definitely be great friends, I just need to get through this first.”
There. That should buy me some time.
He just shook his head and walked out of the room. I was starting to wonder if maybe he was empathic. Or even a mind reader. Nothing I seemed to be saying to him when I was thinking otherwise seemed to be getting through to him. I was starting to get jealous. I mean why didn’t I have any superpowers?
Because you’re the bad guy, I thought grimly to myself.
I sighed and looked up at the moon wishing that Skiles would get impatient and that we could get this over with once and for all. I was still fighting with myself over Kendall. I mean I was to the point again where I didn’t care much to save her since I didn’t plan to be around afterward for her anyway.
That’s when I got my crazy idea.
I walked quickly through the room and down the hall knocking on doors as I went. I wanted to find Kaeden and if I had to break down each door to do it then that’s what needed to be done. I was too excited right now not to be able to share my idea with someone.
“Kaeden!” I yelled as I walked through the upstairs hall.
There was silence so I ran down the stairs and started running through the house yelling for him; opening and closing doors as I went. So far I hadn’t found him. I hadn’t checked the third floor but that was only because I didn’t know how to get up there. Instead I ran outside and did a lap around the house; still no Kaeden.
Once I had made my way back to the front of the house I looked up and saw a light dimly flickering in one of the third floor bedrooms. Backing up I squinted to see better and noticed a figure walking from window to window. It had to be Kaeden and it looked like he was pacing.
I stared at the door of the house. I thought about going in and trying to find the third floor staircase when I remembered what I had seen Skiles do. I looked at my hands and I couldn’t help but wonder.
Taking a deep breath, I walked over to the side of the house and grabbed onto one of the window ledges. When I was sure I had gotten a good enough grip I hoisted myself up and was pleasantly surprised that it was as easy as walking for me. I scaled the wall cautiously though. If I fell and broke a bone it would take forever to heal.
I must look ridiculous climbing this house in my underwear, I thought chuckling to myself. In about ten minutes I had reached the third floor. I only went slowly so I wouldn’t risk falling.
I swung a leg onto the roof and crawled my way over to the middle window next to the window where I had seen the shadowy figure. I perched myself on the little roof of the window and straddled it. Then I leaned down and pulled the windows open. I grabbed the inside of the window and pulled myself into the room.
Ouch, I thought as I roughly landed on the floor. Standing up I rubbed my side and tiptoed to the door. If my landing on the floor in a heap didn’t give away that I was up here then I was going to do my best to make sure that my footsteps didn’t.
Grabbing the doorknob, I twisted it slowly and cracked the door open. I waited a second then pulled it open and peeked out into the hallway. Looking to the right I saw the dim light flickering from under the door to my right. Quietly I walked over to the door and placed my hands and ear to the door. I heard someone muttering inside.
So far I was quiet proud of my stealthiness. I was kind of like a spider-panther. Climbed the building with precision, crept around the upstairs room like a predator.
Yep, I was doing just fine.
With my curiosity screaming at me, I pushed the door open just enough to peek through with one eye. I looked and saw a shadow moving out of my view and with as badly as I wanted to I fought the urge to shove the door open. Patience wasn’t one of my strong points and I was going to have to wait until Kaeden came into view. At least it had better be Kaeden, if it’s not this town has got a skilled breaking and entering crowd.
I kept my eyes trained on what I could see in the room. I saw the shadow getting bigger so I knew that whoever was up here I'd be able to see them soon enough. I started to tap my foot with impatience. Maybe I should just tear the door off of its hinges and see who's inside.
Then the 'person' came into view only their back was to me so I still couldn't see who it was. Enough is enough I decided pushing the door open.
Slam!
Whoever was in the room rushed the door and slammed it so hard in my face that I fell. Of course that was highly unexpected so I just sat there for a moment rubbing my leg. Apparently I wasn't welcomed in the room. No matter though because now I was definitely going to mention it to Kaeden.
I stared at the door for a moment with that feeling of temptation creeping over me, but I made myself forgo the moment and wandered back into the room that I had come out of.
“What are you doing up here?” came the voice sitting in the dark room.
“AAAAHHHHHH!!!”
“Stop screaming,” Kae said laughing.
“You scared me to death!” I said angrily.
“I can tell,” he said with amusement. “So tell me. Why are you up here? Better yet how'd you find the staircase?”
“Well,” I said suddenly feeling embarrassed, “I didn't find it. I sort of climbed the side of the house.”
I watched as he doubled over with laughter and felt myself become even more embarrassed, then I rem
embered the intruder in the next room and started to frantically wave at him to quiet down.
“What's wrong?” he asked wiping tears from his eyes.
“Someone's in the next room,” I whispered.
Immediately the laughter stopped and he walked past me with determination. I trailed behind him because my curiosity returned with full force. When he approached the door he looked back at me and signaled me to back up. Then with a ferocious cry, he kicked the door open and barreled in.
Running in behind him, I readied myself to help with whoever was in the room but stopped short when I saw who was sitting in a chair smiling at us.
“Skiles!”
I ran at him but Kaeden was faster than me and grabbed me around the waist and threw me behind him. I got up and ran at him again but Kaeden steadied himself as he did when Kendrick ran at me and I felt like I smashed into a brick wall.
I dropped to the floor in a heap.
“Stay down,” Kae said to me in a stern voice. Then he turned to face Skiles.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh I was going for a walk and I picked up a familiar scent. Thought I'd drop in and see what was going on. Catch up on old times.”
“You're the one, aren't you,” Kaeden said with a look of recognition sweeping over his face.
“I guess so,” Skiles said getting up and strolling to the window. “But really, I just want to talk to Finnegan. Nothing more.” He perched himself on the window ledge and crossed his arms.
“Are you okay to talk,” Kaeden asked helping me up.
“I'd rather fight,” I said lunging at Skiles again. But Kae's grip around my waist was so strong that I knew getting him to let me go would mean wearing myself out and that wouldn't be good if I was able to get my hands on my creator after all.
Finally I let myself calm down. It was odd this time though because it wasn’t that rage that blacks me out that came over me, it was just murderous anger that was driving me. That was definitely different.
“So tell me, how long have you two been together,” Skiles asked. His tone gave away a hint of jealousy.
“What?” We both said together.
Kaeden let me go so suddenly that I almost fell again. We took a few sidesteps away from each other. I had to swallow a laugh that was creeping into my throat; we sure were acting like we were guilty.
“First of all,” I said turning my attention back to Skiles, “he’s not my boyfriend and if he was that still wouldn’t be any business of yours. Second of all I have 26 nights left. What are you doing here?”
“Like I said I just want to talk to you.”
“Then you talk here. Where I can be sure nothing happens to her,” Kaeden said.
“I’m not going to kill her,” Skiles said laughing.
“That’s true Kae,” I said staring daggers at my creator, “can’t kill me twice though can he?”
Actually he’d better be able too.
But at the same time I still couldn’t help wondering what he wanted to talk about. Maybe he wanted to tell me that the deadline got shortened or that it got extended.
“What do you want?”
“Alright look. The reason I came is because I don’t like double agents. Does the name Ava mean anything to you? Well she came to me giving me some sob story about how you told her to get lost because of her.” He said turning to Kaeden, and pointing to me.
I rolled my eyes. Great I had just made another enemy. I certainly wasn’t winning any popularity contests in this place.
“Ava ... went to you?” Kae asked thoughtfully.
“That’s what I said,” Skiles replied. “I don’t know her but I don’t trust her either. She reeks of ill intentions and I won’t have an unfair situation here. This is strictly between me and Finnegan and outsiders aren’t welcome into the deal we have.”
“If that’s so true, then why take Kendall and Paige? They had nothing to do with this and you know it and you stole them anyway!”
I hadn’t meant to shout but his arrogance was starting to tick me off. Ken’s face flashed in my head. Because of this stupid deal between Skiles and me, he and his friends were prisoners of war.
“Because I know you Finnegan. Your thoughts run through me, your emotions are as sweet to me as candy to a child. I made you and I can feel everything you feel. I didn’t know who that girl was until I watched you from the Ferris Wheel. I saw the look you gave each other your emotions swam to me on the night air. I knew that had to be your sister at that point, so I figured taking her would make this even more challenging. By the way, you don’t really look anything alike. I just wanted to get a reaction out of you by saying that. But I will take her in your place if you decide against coming with me. That was not a hollow threat, more of a certain promise.”
Isn’t that lovely? It seems like a game to him but it’s not a game to me. I still don’t know if I want to save my sister and her dumb friend.
Wait a second.
“Then why did you take Paige? She isn’t my sister.”
“I know,” he said with a laugh. “To be honest I think I took her because she was easy to snatch. And if I get hungry I’ll have a snack at hand. For now though she keeps your sister company, which keeps her from crying and screaming for help.”
I felt Kaeden’s hand on my shoulder and I looked to the floor. I was still barefoot and undressed. And even though I knew that this was going to hurt I was definitely going to go for it.
Smiling I looked up at Kaeden who relaxed and let his hand drop my shoulder. That was all the time I needed.
I ran at Skiles so quickly and with such fury that I took them both by surprise. Tackling him around his waist, he screamed as we flew out of the window and three stories down. I didn’t know how I was going to kill him with a shattered body, but I was honestly hoping that the fall would take care of that anyway.
I heard Kaeden shouting my name from the window while our bodies fell. In a weird way I couldn’t help thinking we should’ve crashed already into the ground.
Time seemed to slow down and we started to go slower and slower. My grip around his waist was loosening but my fingers were going so slow.
Then I felt the ground underneath us. I rolled off of him and stood up wanting to see what I did to him and to myself. But for someone who should’ve had shattered legs, I stood up too easily.
“Are you crazy?” Kaeden screamed at me as he ran toward us. “You could’ve been killed!”
“Then why wasn’t I?” I whispered to myself. Kae came to a stop in front of me and started to check me over to make sure that I wasn’t injured. I looked up at him accusingly.
“You did it, didn’t you?! You stopped me from crashing into the ground!”
“I already told you that he isn’t worth dying over,” he said through clenched teeth.
“And I told you that’s it none of your business,” I said shoving him as hard as I could.
Since he hadn’t turned himself into a cinder block I was able to knock him down with that hit.
Not to my surprise he was back on his feet in an instant. I saw his hands starting to shake as he opened and clenched them into fists. So this was the rage of a warrior I observed. His face had completely changed. His eyes had turned into pure onyx and I could feel the heat emanating from his body. I watched as his body heaved in uncontrolled rapid breaths and saw him grinding his teeth.
To tell you the truth, it was kind of scary.
Skiles rolled over on his side groaning, “Was that necessary Finnegan?”
I didn’t answer him. I kept my eyes trained on Alexander's general. Something told me this was going to be one wicked beating that we were going to give each other and I was ready for it. Give Skiles a little show of what he would be getting soon enough.
“Finnegan?” He asked standing next to me. When he saw that I wasn’t paying attention to him, he looked at Kaeden. “Whoa!” He said taking a step back.
Who wouldn’t have though? Kaeden
was so enraged that the muscle that he did have was bulging through his shirt and he was salivating at the mouth. I tried not to make unnecessary sudden movements, because if I messed up that was going to be it. Bye-bye, world.
“Heh, you’re on your own kid,” Skiles said to me.
I heard his footsteps running away through the woods and I couldn’t help but think what a coward he was being right now. Like I said, it was a scary sight to see but I wasn’t going to run from him.
Taking a deep breath, I dropped into a running stance. My only chance was going to be to knock him on his back and go from there. But I saw him suddenly go back to his normal, calm self and smile mischievously.
“I thought he’d never leave. Sorry I had to go all crazy steroid vamp, but I knew it would be the only way to scare him off. Chill out, you look like you’ve seen a monster.”
I dropped my hands and stood straight up. I couldn’t believe it but he had totally gotten me.
“You really did that to scare him off?”
He nodded still smiling.
“You almost gave me a heart attack! I thought you really wanted to fight so I was ... I could’ve ... Are you crazy?”
“I wouldn’t have fought with you, Finn. I would’ve fell over and let you have your way with me. I mean. Um. In the fighting sense. I would’ve let you beat on me. You know what I mean,” he said his face flushing.
I crossed my arms over my chest and grinned, “Sure Romeo, I know exactly what you mean.”
“I’m going inside,” he grumbled.
I ran over to his side, “Any chance you might want to carry me? My feet are starting to get sliced up by all these rocks and things and it might take a little while to heal now what with Ken being gone.”
He didn’t respond. I just watched him as he walked back to the house and up the stairs. Looks like he was going to take the bait on telling me where Ken was.
Instead of going inside the house he laid out on the hammock and I watched as it slowly started to sway back and forth.
I stood in the middle of his football field sized front lawn and looked over my shoulder at the woods. I wonder how far Skiles had gotten. Kaeden was far away and I knew he couldn’t catch me. Especially not with this much of a gap.
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