Fleeting Immortality

Chapter 2

The man's features were...soft...gentle..and dare I say friendly. He asked me quickly and politely 'What are you doing here?'

I explained my situation and instead of getting yelled at, I was greeted with a smile.

'You can stay here if you want...you don't seem like the kind of person to just carelessly distribute this information' He said, sitting next to me. 'I only come here once a year...so I know how it feels to get lost in the lives of others' I nodded in agreement. We both talked and read through a few books before I realized I should be getting home. I mentioned I didn't have a ride and he offered to drive me there.

Normally I would've just walked home, but this man was just too...interesting for me to just walk off and never see him again. So I accepted his offer. We got into his car and he started driving, with my directions of course. After a bit I got distracted and started studying him. His hair was a more warm honey blonde in contrast to my more ashy hair, and his eyes were a piercing green that counteracted the more ocean blue tone my eyes had to them. If it hasn't been made clear by now he was...absolutely gorgeous.

What I thought would be a lengthy drive home ended in a few short minutes. But I didn't want to say goodbye. So I invited him in. During our drive he mentioned his name was Ryo, a short but memorable name that I couldn't stop repeating in my head.Once we entered my house he was speechless.

Over the many years of school I've attended I collected books and artifacts from the places and people I've observed. They littered, some would say cluttered, my walls, tables and rooms. I offered to make tea and he nodded and went to sit down. I left to make it while he picked up one of the books on the wall and started reading it. After a few minutes I made tea and brought it out for us, and we drank and talked for at least another hour before he said he had to go, not before he asked me out to dinner the next night.

I barely remember the thoughts going through my head but all I remember is my mouth opening and the words 'Alright pick me up at 7' come out.

And with a smile and nod he walked out and drove home

And I just sat there holding my cup of tea, when a familiar feeling crept up into the back of my head.

The nights sleep was...eventful. Meaning I couldn't get any. In most situations this meant that I was excited for the date, which I was. But at the same time I was scared. Finally I managed to fall asleep. I slept peacefully for about an hour before the usual void dream I was having stopped. Memories from that small...dark room started coming back. Only...I couldn't make out the face.

I felt a familiar tightness in my throat. The feelings of that man's disgusting gloved hands grabbing me...abusing me. When I finally started to make out a face I woke up with a start. I sat up in bed, panting, my hair sticking to my face from sweat. The rest of the night I tried my hardest to figure out who's face that was if it wasn't Claude. The thoughts clouded my mind until about 5 am, where my body's desire for sleep outweighed my brains curiosity and concern. I actually slept peacefully until I heard my doorbell ring.