Exulansis [h.s]

Chapter 2

Adeline Delavaux 

Darkness engulfed my way as I strode down the most deserted lane. Everything around me had a certain creepiness to it, from the shadows of things that when you turned around were never there to strange voices echoing words that either had bad pronunciation or were in a different language for me to make out.

Weird isn't it? How many of us prefer to stay in the dark? It's so peaceful, no interaction, no one telling you what to do and what not to do, no absurd worry for the time being like 'oh fuck, why do I exist?'. Just silence, and it's very much appreciated, at least it's nice for those who've spent their entire life being deserted. For them, when you go out, you are incomplete, you can be perfect as hell but the people outside will find a way to tear you apart but we aren't perfect now are we? They say no one is, but we all were perfect when we were born, no matter how we looked, talked, breathed, lived, we were perfect but it's the imperfections that the world threw upon us that we got adapted to and started believing it.

After walking down the pathway for a bit I turn towards the empty avenue. It's quiet, it seems like it's dead. The only sound I can hear is the leaves rustling in the breeze and stomps of my footsteps slapping on the concrete. All of this feels calm, with no irritating noises from the cars or anyone to disturb this moment. Everything is silent as if it isn't even alive. I walk calmly, knowing this bit won't last long.

As I storm down the lane, I hear a growl from behind me. I freeze. I slowly turn my head back to look behind the empty void which I was passing through. But my eyes betray me when I see nothing. Absolutely nothing. The lonely street remained lonely as there was not even a single human or animal for that matter there. But what's the difference really?

I turn myself back to look ahead when out of the blue my body collides with a rigid figure making me step back, startled. My heart drops to my stomach and in reflex, my right hand extends to the back pocket of my jeans to reach for my gun but instantly stops when I see the familiar face.

"You need to stop doing that!" I exclaim, with my left hand clinging to my stomach, still a little shaken up.

"I will stop, when you decide to show up on time, darling," He says as he reaches to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear, making me pull my shoulder back to disregard his actions. He rolls his eyes and continues, "What was all the hold up about anyway?" He asks as I cross my arms and stand my guard.

I look down and press my lips into a thin line, hesitating for a moment, wanting to lie,"It just fell out of my pocket." I look back up and end up telling him the real reason. I don't know what this means for me now though, I mean it did fall by mistake, I didn't intentionally shove it out of my pocket but who will explain that to this disgusting man.

Relief washes over me when he doesn't yell or scream at me but that soon leaves as quick as it came when I feel him nearing me once again. He brings his face level down to mine and stares into my soul with an expression I couldn't read, "In front of everyone?" He manages to say with gritted teeth, his hands behind his back.

"I didn't do it on purpo-" I start to explain, though I was unable to do so as his right hand was now suddenly gripping and pulling on my hair, making my head tilt to my left. I suppressed down a whimper of sudden pain. Red, flash, and anger had started to build inside of me and what bothered me on top of everything that was happening was that I couldn't do a thing. Yes, I deserve it because, yes, I did drop it but it also happened by mistake.

A pair of vexed words disrupted me from my short-lived thoughts, "Listen here, you pathetic, whore." He curses with poison spitting out in his words. "Do you realize how stupid and reckless your actions were? Do you realize that if anyone and I mean anyone saw you drop it, it would affect our business a lot?" He spat, tightening his grip on my hair.