Marked

Chapter 24

I woke up to a melody of birds and the glistening of the sun behind my closed eyelids, making them seem like a red curtain willing me to wake. I blinked a couple times, letting in the full light. Once I opened them completely I found myself looking up, rays of sunlight crept through the indents on the ceiling. Bright rays of daylight illuminated the place creating collisions of shadow and light. I was laying right under one of the rays, the brightness made my eyes wince.

I sat up, Terrence was in the farthest corner of the cave. He slept on a bed of flowers, I was sure it was just for the irony of it. Still, it looked way more comfortable than any mattress I had ever seen. Marcus was a little closer to me, his face peacefully in a dream. I couldn't help but think how much had happened to have led us all here. Days that flew like seconds. In my whirlwind of thoughts I couldn't help but think about Jen. I was meant to go home with her, she must be worried sick. My heart ached, no way to contact her and even if I did she could never know where I was. She would never hear from me again. My eyes began to burn, but I wouldn't cry. It would be a domino chain reaction all that was needed was a little tear.

I clutched my knees to my chest just as I had done a couple days ago, but breakage was inevitable just as it was with fissured glass. I took a deep breath and stood up. The rays of light that crept through the ceiling were warm and inviting. A part of me knew exactly were I was, the other told me I was crazy to be so sure.

My mind was numb and clouded as it usually was, but at times parts of what I hid came into the light. This was one of those moments, last yesterday you said tomorrow was one of them too. Sometimes I grew tired of the walls I had to build up, but I felt so vulnerable without them. I stood up and breathed deep as I shed and crumbled down the walls. It hit me all at once, all the emotions that I had repressed until now. My senses were overwhelmed with the intake of my surroundings. I felt lightheaded, it was all so beautiful but it was too much. Brick by brick each one carried with more regret the walls inside me rose higher as the world faded back to it's shades of grey.

I walked to the wall of vines that covered the exit and crossed through. The sun shone brightly, it should have painted the world with color but they all seemed so dim. I wanted to feel the warmth of the sun and the breeze from the wind even if it was just for a second but all I could perceive was a light tingling that fell short to the real feeling, even if I rarely experienced it deep down I knew that this was far from how things were supposed to feel.

"It feels empty doesn't it?"

I turned around in shock even though I already knew exactly who it was.

"That's why I hate veiling myself, glamours make me feel deaf and blind. I would rather much not fit in than ever hide who I really am." Terrence walked towards me, his feet were bare he held a twig in his hand, he twirled it in his had absently.

"But what if being who you are puts you in danger?"

"In that case" he paused as he took a step closer to her, "I would rather live the time I have left being me, instead of pretending to be someone else". He handed her the twig he had in his hand, instead now it had a white flower, she couldn't help but thing about it as a tiny little star. 

"How deep" I said with a laugh, "give some nachos with that please". My stomach crumbled as soon as I mentioned the food, a part of me wasn't kidding about wanting some.

"Looks like Miss Sarcasm is hungry" He said playfully, "If only she knew the one person that can tell her which plants wouldn't kill her if she decided on eating them." Terrence had a devilish smile on his face, I could helo but to roll my eyes at him.