Unspoken Fears

Chapter 5 ~ Only For Now

I couldn't breathe in this building. I couldn't sleep either. It was almost 2:00 in the morning, and I threw my blanket off, grabbed my shoes and my bag and started down the hallway.

Maybe an alarm would go off when I left the building. Maybe they were given orders to shoot me on sight, but I needed fresh air.

I turned down a hallway, the front door in sight when someone spoke from behind me. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

I turned and Erik stood behind me, head tilted to the side, half smile on his face. He was also fully dressed. It made sense. He is the one who trained me to always be ready to leave. He gripped a briefcase in his hand, just like I held my bag. Clothes on, things together, always be ready to disappear. "I can't."

"Me either." He nodded to the front door and we walked there together. No alarm went off when we stepped outside, to my relief. We walked to a bench and sat down. "You want to leave."

"Of course I do." Anxiety tightened my stomach. "We both know what happens when the government singles out a group of people. Whatever they say their intentions are." I swallowed and crossed my arms as a cool breeze came.

"We do indeed." He hesitated and stood. "I'm ready to leave now. I have everything that I need."

I stood too but looked back at the building. Our new friends were still in there, and we would just leave them? Charles promised to help me with my ability and Raven was the only girl friend I'd had... ever. Despite all that, I reached out, my fingers brushing against Erik's sleeve, and nodded. It had always been him and I, and that would continue. We'd made it this far.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and glanced back at the building before catching up with Erik. I wouldn't miss the building, only some of the people inside. Too bad we couldn't say goodbye. It's not like the friendships would last even if we stayed, they never did. We kept brief acquaintances and that was it. It was always it.

We have each other. And that's enough.

"From what I know about you, I'm surprised you've managed to stay this long, Erik." Charles walked out from the shadows.

Erik stopped and turned slowly. I stayed where I was, caught between them. "What do you know about me?" Erik's voice was low.

"Everything." Charles pressed his lips into a thin line.

"Then you know to stay out of my head." Erik gestured with his head for me to catch up to him and turned away.

I gave Charles an apologetic look, not sad to leave the prison, but sad to leave him. Other than Erik he was the only person I had ever felt safe with. And he could help me. Erik couldn't even do that- not with my powers anyway.

Erik is my brother; he's home. He's seen me through everything. I told myself.