(TSF 1 or The Sub-sequent Fate) Hu-mans Path #1

10

     CJ stepped on the gas, and the driver behind her did the same. She stayed focused on the road, but squeezed her steering wheel. She could see now, that it was a man. Byron smiled maliciously at her. He had dropped Jillian off at Charles' place, to pursue her. He was gaining on CJ; he was close that he could see her dashboard. 

"Who the hell is this guy?" She said to herself

A bump to her car made her shriek, she was frightened and immediately turned down another road. CJ steered her car into the rural area of town. She geared it in reverse and jumped out the door. Byron was instantly thrown through his back windshield. She ran from both vehicles, as far as possible. Byron was after her; he couldn't allow her to live with the truth. CJ never looked back, but panicked when she's stopped and trapped by a brick wall. It was a dead end. Her hands were slightly bruised from the concrete. She tried to catch her breath, and tears fell  when she heard course laughter. The girl turned around slowly, and felt terrified. The man had pieces of glass sticking out of his face. He smiled a dark bloody grin, and dusted the shards from his black leather jacket. As afraid as she was, she attempted to defend herself. She clenched her fists and stepped forward. 

Byron wagged his finger. "Ah. Ah. Ah."

She stopped. A tiny flame rose from his finger. It slowly moved and covered his entire hand. She stared in shock and terror. CJ backed away slowly. He moved closer and grinned sinfully. It was a brick wall, and she was trapped.

"This was way too easy. But...you got spunk, Doll Face. I like that in a woman."

He aimed his burning hand at her, she braced herself against the cold bricks. The girl closed her eyes in fear. He released and the flame felt warm to her. The heat intensified and CJ started to scream. Someone's hands pierced through the wall behind her. The same hands wrapped around her and pulled her backwards through the brick. 

Silence.

     CJ was lying down on the grass, she was unconscious. She moaned to the smell of cut grass. She slowly opened her eyes and saw a blurred figure staring down at her. The voice sounded  distorted.

"You're alive, right?"

"Wha--? Will, i-is that you?"

The Voice began to become clearer to her, it was a male voice. "No, you got the wrong guy."

He chuckled,  she blinked to get a better viewing of him. She saw that it was a boy. 

 He smirked. "Maybe these will help." He handed the girl her glasses.

She put them on and noticed his face. CJ couldn't believe it. It was him. "Y-You?" She slowly sat up, wary of her previous injuries. She stared at him with clarity. "You're...real."

He smirked. "Yeah."

Peter moved and helped her up. She touched his chest, to feel his heartbeat. 

"You're really real!"

He squinted his eyes but raised his eyebrows, his way of looking confused.  "Didn't we already cover that?"

She smiled frantically. "T-This means I'm not crazy. A-And you...you've been followin' me."

"Sorry 'bout that. Had to make sure that you were really okay."

She glared at him. "You could've said something. W-Who the hell are you, anyway?"

"My name's Peter, and you are?"

She eyed him suspiciously. "C...J."

The boy smiled enthusiastically. "Hmm, Nice to see ya again."

She was not amused. "You were at my school. Why?"

"Just doin' my job, which was shadowing you. Also known as, stalking."

She glared. "That's creepy."

"Uh, sorry. But, I was just keeping you safe....from danger."

She was confused. "Danger?"

"Yeah, like The Burning Man who was trying to flambé you."

CJ suddenly thought of Byron, and remembered his laugh. She was shocked. "O-Oh, God!" She frantically checked her body for burns. "That was real!?"

He smirked proudly. "Yes. And thanks to me you're safe."

She sighs with relief and thanked him. The girl noticed that her stitches no longer ached from surgery. She looked down at her hands, there were no more scratches from where the concrete hit her skin. She stared at Peter with amazement. To her, he was very handsome. She then turned her back to him, to hide her blushing. "I-I'm not sure how to ask this."

He looked in other directions, he was suddenly feeling uncomfortable and anxious being alone with her. "J-Just say it."

She gulped quietly. "D-Did you...touch me?"

He was shocked and overwhelmed. "W-What!?"

She turned around to face him. "All my injuries are gone--I can't even feel my stitches anymore. What did you do to me!?"

He exhaled with relief. "Oh, that. I only healed you." The boy chuckled. "It's no big deal." 

She perked up. "Are you kiddin' me? That's...incredible!"

He smiled shyly. "Thanks."

She stared in shock. "So, you must be...one of those Veers that people talk about."

"That's me. I-I want to show you something. Come with me, Girlie."

He moved and she followed him. He guided her to a brick wall covered by circuits and pipes. "I pulled you through here, and you passed out. Again." 

He inhaled and continued. "This is known as the V.B.B. It's a blockade for veers, it keeps the hu-mans from surprising us. Rangers, Bandits, enemies. That sorta thing." He exhaled. "O-Okay. Now, that the Pleasantries are outta the way--let's get outta here."

"Where?"

Peter smiled confidently. "My place, of course."

She was anxious. "Will we...be alone?

He was offended. "Of course not. I'm not that kind of guy."

He tried to hold back laughter, but failed miserably. He laughed loudly. 

The girl glared at him. "What the hell is so funny?"

"You! You make me laugh, Girlie."

He continued laughing.

"It's CJ." She stated

He stopped. "No, it's not. Those are just letters. What's your birth name?"

She sighed. "Cicely."

He smiled gently. "That's much better. It's classic and timeless." He felt anxious. "I-It suits you."

She felt another blush coming on, so she chuckled nervously. "U-Um, lead the way."