Forbidden Glance

Chapter Five: Wonders

Elroy had a dream that night, he had a dream he was sitting on a table amongst people he had never seen. They were all hooded and had tongues of snakes dripping with blood. They spoke about who they'd kill next, and how they would do it. And when they asked him who he'd want to kill ... he did not speak. He felt out of place, and when he would not reply they would hiss showering him with blood.

He shot awake and threw his blanket to one side. Who were the people? And why were they snakes? He had so many questions but what could he get from a dream.

The day was early, 7:16 his alarm showed. In fourteen minutes it would begin to buzz. Today he had to go university as well as see his brother. He knew he promised his mother but the journey there was tiring. He hated waiting long hours to be allowed in, surrounded by uncomfortable people. But the real problem was seeing his brother, in chains and brought forward like an animal. Elroy was able to tell signs and was good at reading them. The last time he went he saw his brother eyeing another inmate who was much larger than him, the inmate must have known others because three or four of them began to watch him as well. It was easy for Elroy to feel the tension but his brother gave him a brave face as if nothing was happening. So in truth that was the reason why Elroy did not wish to go, he could not stand to see his brother so vulnerable.

He got off from his bed and got himself ready for university and kissed his mother goodbye. He received a text from Cole on his way to the train station:

'Bro you good? You ain't got back to me.'

He put his phone back in his pocket, and made his way down his cold street. It was always cold, even when it was meant to be spring it had a cold chill. Eight the degrees said the weatherman, but what did he know. The narrow streets contained the wind leaving it with only one way out. He took the tube, as he went down his phone buzzed again.

'Elroy what's up with you fix up.'

He had to respond before Cole came to his house to check up.

'I'm alright, I've just been busy.'

He didn't wait for the bubble to form he put his phone straight back into his pocket and caught the train. He found it strange on the train, everyone was in their own bubble. No one spoke with anyone and everyone was silent either staring blankly at the map or reading a newspaper. He didn't mind it though, he put his headphones in and entered his own bubble. There was no need to speak with everyone, trust was his problem. It was trust which made Elroy so unpopular, he had the notion that everyone was after him. He did not know why, but every smile he received he thought was far from genuine.

University was always the same; loud, busy and packed. It never bothered him that he was unpopular it bothered him that there were so many people with different agendas. Fortunately he was there for three hours and in those hours he was in and out.

"Elroy!" He looked through the crowd and spotted David sitting in the canteen with some of his classmates. Elroy knew them, and they knew him and that was about it.

"Ely, take a seat," he moved down to let him in. He was with a girl named Sadie and a guy named Sid "These two are in our group."

"Pleasure to meet you," said Sid offering his hand "David has said a lot about you."

"Boring things perhaps." Laughed Elroy slapping his friend on the shoulder.

"Actually he told us that your house was burgled." Added Sadie.

David blushed, "They are the only two who know." He said raising his hands in his defense.

"It's no problem, nothing happened just a few smashed windows." He grabbed David's bottle of water and drank it "It all got sorted out."