World Against Us (Unleashed #1)

Chapter 1

The storm rumbled outside with such ferocity, it rattled the windows. Droplets of rain tapped quietly at the windowsill, kissing each blow. The sky growled once more, flashes of light danced mischievously along as the air thickened with dampness. It seemed furious at the earth, for whichever reason. Pelting it with angry tears and stomping it with lighting. Tap, tap, tap went the droplets at the windows. The wind blew its mighty breath, huffing and cursing. Lightning crackled the sky.

It was an angry storm in the sky. Angry yet gentle as it softly shuddered at the window, clashing in my room. There was a pounding restlessness in me that could not be sated no matter how long or how much I tossed and turned in my sleep. I settled for it, lying on my back and flickered my eyes up at the ceiling. There were many faint glowing stars stuck there, some of which were peeling off. There was a time where staring up at my ceiling gave me comfort, but now it only roared up more pain. The storm seemed to target me this night, and this I could not bear. I fumbled for my phone, grappling for it while the pain intensified. "No. Not now." I groaned. The dim lighting from my phone hurt my eyes. It was seven-thirty in the morning and a Saturday. There couldn't have been any better day to choose than now.

The pounding in my head became an insistent knock, or a bomb ticking, ticking, ticking. I could sense them from a distance; they were moving quickly. A mile away from the lake house. It wouldn't be long now.

The sky rumbled and with it, my headache. I bit my lip because I made a sound, my parents would hear and then, then I'd be so so dead. My neck burned, and I could feel it - see it - glow red. "Stop it!" I hissed. I knew I wasn't crazy. He could hear me when I said it. If any other time he'd ignore me, I wouldn't have mind. This time was more urgent.

"Stop it!" I cursed his name because I could, and because I knew he would hear me. He would hear how much, at that moment, how much I hated him.

"Go away," I groaned internally. I knew that he could hear me. His persistence didn't stop - as evident from the burning insignia glowing faintly on my neck. The tattoo wrapped around my shoulder, slashing down towards my left - the side where I was most vulnerable. And for once, I actually wished he would leave me alone. My mind flashed to a time when we spoke of this, of him to stay away. He dismissed it. "The Night has many secrets. Early morning is when all of them tuck back into their hidden pockets and away from the world. It is the safest time for us to meet, but also the riskiest." He said mysteriously, once, when I had questioned him about meeting me in early morning. Right. Whatever the hell that meant. "You're so cryptic, it unnerving. For all I know, you could be a serial killer." I had said with curiosity glimmering in my eyes. He flashed me a charming smile. "Why? Because you've seen how all the ladies die of my charismatic manner?" I shoved him away from me while he laughed.

Lying on my bed now, I settled for the worse case scenario when I put in my headphones to drown out the sound. It'd only hurt me worse but I chose to ignore that. It won't be that bad if I ignore him, I thought. He has other friends. I'm not the only who can heal him. But I'm the only one he trusts. My conscious reasoned with me. I shoved it off. No. He is not doing this to me again. I want to be normal and I am going to be. R is not going to force me to open the window and invite me in his life again. I took a deep breath to cool my unsettled thoughts and turned on my side. I pulled the cover over my head and closed my eyes. I listened for anything that would dare challenge me but it was quiet. My eyes closed.

But what if he's injured? If he's caught in the sun, he's pretty much dead. The light will burn his skin and his eyes can't adjust to the lighting no matter how long he's been here. There are just some things he can't get used to. No. No, shut up. He's not coming back. I'm going to make him wait it out. I was not here for his convenience and the sooner I get that across, the better. R pretty much stays away until he absolutely needs me and I won't be that person. I won't hold on to him every time things go bad. Some things I'll have to do myself.