War

Chapter Four

Luz

Shaky steps and controlled breaths, the world's sounds fading in and out from all around, and the brave girl next to me matching the first two. The time that passed was slow, measured in the number of steps we took since we started and the fading light showcasing the approach of night. My eyes scanned our surroundings for a place to stay and rest. Searching for even a hint left from daylight to help guide me. Luckily enough my eyesight was far better than any normal person's.

In. Out.

Shoes softly impact the ground.

In. Out.

Scraping, shoes scuffing to a sudden stop before taking a sharp turn. Hands grasping at the fabric of my jacket to pull me along.

In. Out.

"We should be fine-" Emira's voice started until a ringing consumed my ears. I shook my head and refocused on her. Watching as she continued to talk and let go of my jacket while heading deeper into the building she'd led me into. She looked back at me over her shoulder and her brows furrowed.

Can't hear again? Her lips mouthed and I closed my eyes and shook my head. My hearing grew worse along with my condition. But it was my condition, my monstrous side, and the senses that came with it, that have kept us safe for so long. First Amity, now Emira, and without them what good could I do? Without them, I was basically human all over again. Which wouldn't be such a bad thing if it weren't so dangerous or debilitating. In fact it's all I'd ever wanted. To be human again. To not be a freak of nature.

But no, I promised myself I wouldn't think like that anymore. I can't lose focus now. Not with everything going on. Why is it that I was more of a monster now than I ever have been but it is that exact reason that I feel more human? But I'm not human. I will never be human ever again. And as of late, now? I couldn't even be a monster when I got like this. So what was I anymore? What label really fits me?

"You're Luz."

Emira's voice comes through my mind in an echo of the past.

"But don't you see me as a monster? I mean, you certainly can't see me as a human." I looked at Emira and tilted my head in question.

"I don't really think of you as either. To me, you're just...Luz, I guess."

"Really?" Just Luz huh?

My eyes fell on the present Emira and I fought back a smile at the memory of what she said. I felt a tapping on my shoulder snapping me back from my thoughts. Emira had been looking at me with concern etched onto her face. I hated when she looked at me like that. I didn't want her to worry about me. I wanted to be the strong one of the two of us. But Emira was strong too and so was Amity.

She'd grown to become so after some time and I forget that it wasn't like that anymore. Amity didn't need me as much in that regard. She could defend and protect herself. But I still miss the way she used to look at me, trust me. To have the answers to questions where she couldn't find any yet she'd look to find it in me. I knew she still trusted me, but she also could trust herself then too. God I missed her.

Emira tapped on my shoulder once more and I followed her hand as she tapped her fingers to her lips. This indicated that I needed to read them and I gave her a nod and my attention. Am I going to have to learn ASL to talk to you? Her lips stretched into a smirk and I shoved her away and laughed. Or, I thought I did. I couldn't hear anything as my shoulders shook yet I moved to cross my arms and send a glare her way. She rolled her eyes, waving her hand dismissively before I watched her face fall. Her hand raised back up as she pressed a finger to her lips telling me to be quiet. Then she placed her hand on my shoulder and pulled me behind a wall.