Eyes Story

Chapter 3

I scaled the drain pipe with ease- something that took a lot of practice- and tapped on the double glazed window positioned on the second floor of the large brick house. A few seconds later Paige's head popped into view, a crazy grin plastered on her face. It was infectious, because I too, started grinning. She silently slid the window open and moved aside to let me in. I climbed over the ledge and collapsed on her bed. The goose-feather duvet was so soft I could have gone to sleep right there. I knew I couldn't but that didn't stop me from turning onto my side and snuggling further into the ever-soft bed.

Two days had passed since the not-so-pleasant-encounter I had on Pluton road. Meeting up with Rowan and Paige had helped take my mind off things but as soon as we parted ways my nerves shot up to breaking point. All my senses were at high alert right up until I climbed into bed. And even then I couldn't get calm enough to sleep soundly. The next day I spent at home using my unfinished watercolour commissions as an excuse. Today I finally braved the great outside and took a trip to visit Paige. Which wasn't as easy as it sounded considering I had to sneak in. But I had to stop being so paranoid, it's not as if everyone on the street knew my name- or what I saw in the mirror that day. At least I hoped not. Visiting Paige would help, it always does. There are just some things guys can't help you with that a great female friend can. Why? -the answer is beyond my knowledge.

I realised what was happening a second too late to stop it but just early enough to soften the blow. Just when Paige released my ankle and I was sliding off the bed I twisted round and rolled the minute I touched the ground. In an instant I was up on my feet and grabbing a pillow from the arm chair closest to me. It hit Paige's face before she even knew what was happening.

"You!" she said breathlessly but I cut her off by launching another pillow at her. "Right that's it. This. Is. War." She grabbed a large pillow from her bed and came at me. I met her halfway with the long rectangular pillow I just plucked from another chair and we started swatting at each other with them. We swung, and launched, and catapulted the pillows until we could take no more because we were laughing so much. In a heap we both fell to the ground, tears in our eyes from all the laughter.

"Paige!" a female voice shouted from downstairs. We instantly froze.

"I thought you said no one was home" I said quietly.

"That's because no one was at home" she said back. Then, to the person downstairs- her mother presumably-"What is it?"

"What's going on up there?" the woman shouted back.

"I just fell out of the armchair... while talking on the phone" she replied. We heard footsteps walking back to the living room accompanied by some muttering.

After a moment we looked at each other and cracked up laughing but quickly stopped, worried her mother would come up. Paige and I aren't allowed to see each other- Rowan included- because her parents have money. They frown upon my family because my mother has hazel eyes. And because we're poor- but the former is the cause of the latter. So instead, the three of us have been meeting up secretly for about four years now. As far as her parents know, every time their daughter leaves the house to see us, she is attending clubs, shopping in town or going for long walks in the woods. Coming to her house is trickier, we have to sneak in and behave appropriately- quietly. Which we don't do very often because... we can't be very quiet.

We spent the rest of the evening chatting and braiding our hair. Luckily, there were no further interruptions from downstairs. By the time I snuck back out through the window the sun was hidden behind rows upon rows of buildings. At the foot of the pipe I looked up to wave to Paige and then melted into the shadows of her garden.

****

I took my time walking back home, watching the stars slowly come out one by one like fireflies lighting up when the sky darkened. The moon was bright enough that I could easily walk the empty streets. I loved roaming the streets at night, not a footstep to be heard but my own, not a soul in sight. It gave me space to breathe and time to think things through. In the dark by myself I could wonder about things that were not accepted in society today. Like what life was like before the walls were built around England to protect us. Of course I wasn't supposed to be out here for those very reasons. Night wardens were out this very minute, seeking the streets for anyone that might be out after curfew- for people who were doing the very thing I was doing- like a cat searching for its prey. But that didn't stop me. My father used to be a night warden so I knew their rotations- where they were supposed to be at what time. It didn't matter that my dad got sacked two years ago, things never changed around here. The government is filled with conservatives, they don't like change. And whatever the government thinks is best, the people do too.

Glancing at my watch I slipped onto another road that was going to be free at this time. Almost instantly I heard a warden walk across the road I had just abandoned- the footsteps were slow, careless. He had no idea I was here. I smiled to myself, it was becoming too easy.

I continued my stroll, savouring the feeling of freedom while it lasted. Lost in thought, I almost missed the sound of a stone being kicked. It was a person, I decided -not an animal- as you could hear the soft sound the soul of the shoe made when it hit the stone and it wasn't a warden as the sound was quickly muffled- unintentional. I swivelled round but there was no one there, not even a cat. No doubt the person must have hidden somewhere thinking I was a warden. I decided I would leave them be and turned back around walking right into someone- a male, I gathered from the well-sculptured chest I just ran into. I gave out a little sound of surprise, careful not to make any loud noises as not to alert the warden only a street away.

"Hello." Said the man politely- well, boy, I should say as he looked only slightly older than my 17 years of age. When I didn't say anything he carried on "You dropped this" he raised his hand to reveal a delicate golden bracelet with a single golden star on it. It was a present I got from Zach years ago- and it was one of the most precious things I owned. I looked up at him, "I didn't drop that" I said with certainty.

He looked slightly puzzled but quickly hid his confusion and said "But I saw it drop when you were walking, I'm absolutely sure it's yours"

"It is mine, but it didn't drop" I answered looking him straight in the eyes, searching for any sign of nervousness but there was none. You're a brilliant liar, I thought. The boy looked slightly taken aback and I realized I must have said this aloud.

"And why would I lie about this?" he asked

"I don't know, you tell me" I said as I crossed my arms and shrugged. He studied me for a second and opened his mouth as if about to say something but then someone emerged from the darkness to my right.

"Alright, enough with the chit chat" the person said. The boy in front of me studied me for a moment longer, which gave me the chance to do the same to him. He was only a few inches taller than me and had dark blonde hair cut short. And of course the usual; nose, mouth and brown eyes.

"I thought I told you to stay out of it this time" he snapped at the figure to my right, it responded with a shrug and then "You were taking too long and-"

"What is going on here?" I said, louder than I should have. They both turned to look at me. "Skylar, you're gonna have to come with us" the person to my right stepped into view and I recognised him as the boy I punched two days ago.

"I'm not going anywhere with you" I stated at the same time as the boy in front of me said "shut up, Chase!" and then turned to me saying "But he's right, it would be in your best interest to come with us"

"And where, exactly, are you going?"

"I'm afraid that information is classified until we know you can be trusted" I could see in his eyes that he would tell me if he could. Not lying then. I raised my eyebrows at him, signalling for him to explain further. "What colour are your eyes?" he asked softly. I just stared at him. When I saw that he was serious I let out a small laugh and started to state the obvious but he cut me off "no, what colour are your eyes really" he said. He was dead serious. He was crazy. I turned on my heel and started to walk away only to be stopped by the other boy- Chase.

"Just answer the damn question" he said looking annoyed.

"Brown" he grabbed my shoulders and brought his face close to mine, so close his breath tickled my skin. So close that I could see his eyes clearly now that the hipster sun glasses were gone. The other boy- who was behind us- said his name in warning but it was too late, I'd already seen his eyes. His left eye was brown, which was fine. It was normal. But his other eye was what caused me to gasp and step away.

His right eye was green.

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