Steal My Soul

12 | darius

Darius

I roll over in my bed, my eyes snapping open to a sound outside. My watch says it's seven o'clock in the morning. I frown.

I lay back down in my bed and the mattress sags taking me to the floor. I've been tossing and turning all night. I'd be lucky enough to get at least thirty minutes of sleep these days.

But that's the way it's always been. Ever since I witnessed an incident at eleven years old. I've been on the run since.

It's been four days since I asked Bobbi to make Asia fall for me and now I was quickly regretting it. It was unlike me to do something like that. It was impulsive and risky. Exactly something my mom would do.

I hadn't thought about my mom in years until I met Asia. Her death still haunts me to this day. Asia reminds me of her, and acted like her too, the kindness and selflessness that seeped from her heart was hard to ignore. My mom would've liked her.

I get up, not bothering to check myself in the mirror. I rise from my bed too fast as the room spins and my head is filled with a dizzying spell. I take a staggered raspy breath, pushing oxygen through my battered lungs.

I run a hairbrush through my hair, brush my teeth, and dress myself as quickly as possible, trying to ignore the waves of searing pain that flinch inside my body. I sniff the clothes I put on, a baggy T-shirt and jeans. They have a musty, smoky odor, with a hint of a sour tang.

I found these clothes near a donation box behind a store. I didn't have enough money for clothes, only necessities like food, water, and soap, and even then I was barely getting by. At least it's kinda clean, I tell myself as I grab my last bar of soap and rub it under my armpits.

It was weird, caring about something so small like how I smelled when my life was on the line. I don't remember a time that I thought about anything else. It was refreshing, this new normal that I got to try out.

I scan my surroundings looking for my car keys. The walls are made of logs that my father cut down for my mom before he got sick. The cabin used to be cozy and filled with warmth, smelling of fresh pine cones when we would visit every summer.

Now it filled me with dread, a haven that kept me from the cold. My cabin was tucked away in the corner of the woods that was hidden and most of the time if people stumbled there, they were lost. My shelves were lined with books and weapons, the two things in life that kept me sane.

I spot my keys tucked under the carpet. I grab them and get into my car, driving to school. As I pull into the school parking lot, I see Ken and his teammates standing in front of the building, laughing.

The dark brooding one, Dominic isn't with them. Ken side eyes me and I slip on my sunglasses, slamming my car door closed and slushing past him to get to the doors. Bobbi Treks is standing by my locker.

"Well, you certainly don't waste any time," I say dryly.

She rolls her eyes at me, scanning her surroundings. She smooths down her hair. "I can't just walk around with you during school, it would be weird," she whispers.

A shiny bronze coin stained with blood rolls out of my locker.  I pick it up, inspecting it. I put it in my pocket, grab my books, and slam my locker closed.

I ignored the cold chill in my spine and straightened my chest. "Well, then what are you doing here now?" I demanded.

She starts walking and I follow, staying a few feet behind her.

"Ken, Asia, and I are going to the arcade later tonight with some friends," she says over the shoulder. "Come, and I'll make sure I get Asia alone so you can spend some time with her,"

I let out an exasperated sigh. "I don't like going out, especially late at night," I mess with the coin in my pockets. I didn't like where this was going.

"Well, you have to!" She says. "How are you going to get Asia to fall for you if you never see her?"

"You think she'd even go for it?"

Can a gorgeous girl like Asia fall for a monster like me?

Bobbi dismisses my comment with a wave of her manicured hand. "Yeah for sure, she's a sweetheart," she says.

"Fine," I say through gritted teeth.

"Dylan's Arcade at eight, don't be late," she says then she vanishes around the corner.

Despite my irritation, my lips turn upward, my spirits soaring. My smile faltered when I saw Ken step directly in front of me. Someone pushes my head forward while another person kicks my shins and I go crashing down. I groan as the floor collides with my ribs, shooting fresh pain in my chest.

I'm up on my feet and I grab Ken's shirt my other hand clenched. He grins and right as I am about to throw a punch I freeze. Asia would hate this.

"Punch me freak!" Ken spits.

A teacher opens her classroom door. "Why is there so much noise out here? All of you should be heading to class," she says, her lips pressed in a thin line.

Ken flashes a perfect smile at the teacher and she blushes. "Nothing going here, right Quimby...We're just talking,"

I push him away from me and grab my books from the floor. "Screw this shit," I muttered.

The teacher glares at me before closing the door. I pulled out a pack of cigarettes from my backpack and lit one. I took a long drag out of the cigarette and exhaled deeply, thick white smoke spilling out.

I coughed as I inhaled the smoke and felt my throat burn. I said I would quit years ago but these were so good for the pain. I blame my dad for this one. When my brother and I would be in the living room playing with our toys he would smoke behind the couch and blame mom's cooking.

Ken waved his hands in front of his face and scrunched his nose. "Can you please smoke that crap somewhere else?" He snapped.

"No," I say, slamming my shoulder into his. I turn around to blow a puff of smoke in his face and walk down the hall.

-•-

I waited impatiently for Bobbi in front of the men's clothing store. I shoved my hands in my pockets and tapped my foot repeatedly against the floor. I sighed checking my watch.

Bobbi appears smiling. "Good, you found it,"

I sighed. "Why are we doing this again?"

"For Asia, duh. The way you look and smell matters. If you want this to work you have to look good,"

I nod staring at the glass doors of the store. It looked expensive. She flipped her hair over her shoulder, fixing the strap on her blue dress.

"I won't be able to afford these clothes Bobbi," I say.

She takes my arm, leading me into the store. "Don't worry, they know me here, you'll practically get the clothes for free," she says.

"Will we be here long?" I ask.

"Stop whining, I promise we'll be quick, we're just getting one outfit," she says.

As we walked through the store, Bobbi was greeted with hellos and nods by employees. Someone hands me a glass of water and Bobbi a glass of champagne.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "What kind of store hands out refreshments?"

She smiled. "The best kind,"

I followed her to the sale section and she began looking through the racks of perfectly crisp shirts, pants, belts, and boxers. I so desperately wanted to collapse on one of those leather chairs. They had to be way more comfortable than my bed.

Bobbi grabs our drinks, sets them down on the floor, and starts grabbing clothes and shoving them into my hands. A salesperson directs me to a dressing room and I look back at Bobbi. She smiles giving me a thumbs up.

I shake my head stepping into the room, the things I do for Asia Vesper.