Torn

Chapter 3 Two Tones

The first thing I see are eyes. Two bright eyes, but each one was different from the other. The left was a beautiful blue, and the right was a shiny copper.
"Good morning big guy. How's your head?"
It was the same voice as before.
"Its fi-!" A wave pain washed over my head. It felt like a headache from hell.
"Calm down, I'll get you some aspirin." Footsteps echoed away before coming back a few seconds after. They gently grabbed my arms and helped me to a upright position. My eyes were squeezed shut and my hands pressed against the sides of my head, feeling a bandage wrap around it, a lot like the one around my torso.
"Here." I opened my eyes slightly, they handed me a spoon that seemed to be filled with jam.
"I crushed the aspirin, so it's easier to swallow."
I put the spoon in my mouth, eating the jam. It was so sweet! I had completely forgotten what it tasted like. They also handed me a glass of water, which I gulped down in mere seconds.
"You'll begin to feel better in a few minutes."
I looked to voice, to thank them. But when I looked up, my heart was beating a million miles a minute.
A mutant. A mutant girl with features like me and my brothers.
"It's okay! Don't freak out! I'm just like you. I'm a mutant too." She put her hands up, that unlike mine, had four fingers and a thumb.
"That's the problem, your like me." My voice was shaking due to this new discovery. Her hands fell back into her lap, and her eyes dropped. She looked back up at me.
"Well. Shit. Too bad theres nothing we can do about it."
I scanned over her again. I couldn't believe that there was another mutant besides my family. But besides the green skin, and turtle like features, she looked like a normal girl.
"Who are you?"
She warmly smiled, it was actually quite a pretty smile.
"My name's Alese. I'm just your average Canadian girl, or, was..."
"Was?" Her smile died, and replaced by a fake one.
"It... It's a long story..." She rubbed the back of her neck and drew a heavy sigh.
"You were a human?"
She silently nodded her head.
"I'm not comfortable talking about this."
I wanted to know more, but I heeded her warning.
There was a very long, tense, silence.

"I'm sorry. But thank you for saving me. It's not very often I'm the one who's the 'damsel in distress'. I'm Leonardo, but you can call me Leo."
Her face light up a little.
"Nice to met you Leo."
"You too, Alese."

"Hungry?"
"Oh god yes."

She gave me so chicken noodle soup. It tasted like the best soup I ever had. We made some small talk. Mainly things we enjoy. Trying not to get to personal.
Turns out we have a lot in common. We both liked Radiohead and Star Wars. She said her and her father sometimes would star gaze on the roof. She seemed to have a fascination with the stars and the sky.
I also realized earlier on that I was no longer in the hospital gown that I was in before, instead, I was wearing Alese's father's sweatpants. She kept reassuring me that she didn't see anything.
I'm still skeptical.
The day soon became night. And with night, comes sleep.
"Good night, get some rest." Alese said as she turned off the lights.
"You too." I replied back.
And with a chuckle, Alese glided out of the room.
I was definitely need of rest. My eyes could barely stay open. So I allowed myself to drift off into the warm embrace of sleep.

But with sleep, comes nightmares.

Alese
It was nice meeting someone new. Even though he was just another mutant that Credell tried to toy with. God, I hate Credell. I hate him with a burning passion. He doesn't deserve to live. At least I was able to save Leonardo. But damage had already been done.

I need to stop thinking for awhile a try to go to sleep. I have just been lying in this bed, awake, for what feels like hours. I had been up almost the whole time Leo was unconscious, making sure he didn't get a fever from the cold.
I tossed and turned for 20 minutes, and I still couldn't fall asleep. I need some herbal tea. That usually makes me go out like a light.
Trouble is; Leo's sleeping in the living room, and the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen are all practically one room.
I guess I'll have to use 'ninja skills'.

I tiptoe through the hallway and into the dining room. To my right, Leonardo was all sprawled out on the futon, softly snoring, and to my left was the kitchen.
I quietly walked into the kitchen and started up the stove. I was surprised how quietly I was able to make the tea. I put the crush tea leaves into my "manatea tea infuser" and hooked it to the edge of my cup.
While I was waiting for it to cool down, I started to hear strange noises coming from the living room. I started inching towards the sound, but as I got closer, it started to sound like whimpering. My pace quickened.
I looked down at Leo, remembering how peaceful he was before, but now, he was tensely curled like a dead leaf, he was sweating bullets, and was murmuring gibberish.
He was having a nightmare. I had to wake him up. I put down my tea and turned on the light.
"Leonardo! Leo! Wake up!" I shook his shoulder.
"Leo!" I shook his shoulder a bit more violently.
His eyes shot open and gasped for air. He remained still, and his breathing steadied. He glance at me with cold yet bright eyes.
"Did I wake you up?"
"Oh no, not at all, I was already up. But are you ok? You seemed like you were ha-"
"Having a nightmare? Yah. I've been having them a lot lately. I'm pretty much used to it. So just go back to bed, I'll be just fine." He pulled the blankets his head.
"I doubt that."
"Please leave me alone."
"Are you sure? To be all alone?"
"Just go. Please."
I grabbed my tea moved it towards Leonardo.
"Here. It helps me fall asleep, it should do the same for you."
I turned off the light. I felt terrible. He was tangled in the blankets, silently waiting for me to leave. I know I barely even know him, but something was telling me to stay. I walked out into my room with out a single word.

Leonardo
Running. Running. Running towards my brothers. Trying to save them. The same echoing screams played on repeat.
But with every step I took to reach them, the further they were from me.
Further. Further. Too far. Miles too far.
Gone.
I ran into a dead forest. Running from someone. Something.
I turn to see it. A looming shadow, with pale yellow eyes.
The earth began to shake. I stumbled and fell. It was only a few feet away.
I got up again, sprinting to get away. The wind was howling my name.
Another earthquake came, only more ferociously.
This time, it was like I was thrown. I tumbled to an edge of a cliff. I nearly fell off, but I caught my myself and was clinging to the edge.
100 feet below me was a treacherous black ocean. I tried to climb back, but the shadow already caught up to me.
It's eyes gleamed, taking pleasure in my fear.
"Goodbye weakling."

"Leo!"
It was just a dream. Thank god.
My heart was beating out of my chest. Air was so sweet to my lungs. Alese's hand rested my shoulder, her face filled with worry.
"Did I wake you up?" Her expression softened, her eyes were sparkling.
"Oh no, not at all, I was already up. But are you ok? You seemed like you were ha-" I had to stop her there, I really don't feel like talking. And also, I don't want to keep her up.
"Having a nightmare? Yah. I've been having them a lot lately. I'm pretty much used to it. So just go back to bed, I'll be just fine."
I pulled the blankets my head, trying to avoid a conversation.
"I doubt that."
She's right; I'm not used to it, and I'm probably not going to be able to sleep tonight.
"Please leave me alone."
"Are you sure? To be all alone?"
No, I don't want to be alone.
"Just go. Please."
She grabbed something and moved it towards me.
"Here. It helps me fall asleep, it should do the same for you."
I waited for her to go. I heard a door close shut.
I kinda feel like a complete asshole.
She was just trying to be nice.
It's too late now.
I peek at the object she gave me.
I stemming mug, with a relaxing aroma rising from it. I sit up, grabbing the mug and taking a sip. It was a bit to sweet for me, but it would be extremely rude to complain. It probably wasn't even meant for me in the first place.
I drank the rest of the tea, already feeling sleepy.
Thoughts about the mutant girl began to over flow my head. Mainly regrets.
She has been so hospitable, and I have done nothing in return.
Tomorrow will be different.
Tomorrow has to be different.