Lurk

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＳＩＸ

A piece of me is afraid, terrified, telling me to run for my life. Another is thinking more realistically, telling me that these people are not messing around. They knew my name, they knew where I am. So running from them won't get me anywhere.

"I heard you know our little friend?" I don't know what to say, I don't trust my voice. "The real question is, do you know what he is, Athena?"

I don't know how I found the confidence to reply, but I did. "Oh don't sweat yourself, I know. I also know what you are."

"Oh, you do?" His voice and eyes twinkled with amusement. "And do you have any idea about why am I here?"

"Yes." I said, chin up, confidence still there. But it started to crumble down when he busted out laughing.

I took every confidence I have left in me to speak, "You think I'm kidding? I know. And it's stupid, you should knock it off already. He ran away? So what, leave him be!"

He laughed even more, "I don't think I laughed this hard for so long. No wonder why he keeps you around."

He let out last chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. "Is that what he told you? And you actually believed him?"

I shouldn't let his words get in my head. Xavier told me he's not the bad guy, and I believe him. For some reason I trust him.

"Look, Athena. I'm not the bad guy here, and you know it. It's not in my nature to be bad. So take this as just fair warning. I'm sure we wouldn't be after him for only running away, we're not that trivial. Maybe you should ask him about that by the way."

I didn't want to believe him, but I have to admit he's right. He's an angel, angels aren't bad people. They're good. But I also know Xavier isn't bad.

Or I hope so, at least.

"Just think about it, I'll pay you a visit later." He put his hand on my shoulders reassuring, "I really hope you would make the right choice, because I can't promise you what will happen otherwise."

"He's not who you think he is." He said in my head, I hope I was hallucinating, but I swear he just spoke in my head. And with that he was gone.

I didn't feel like grocery shopping anymore, because who would really? I just pushed the cart to the cashier, not caring what's inside and paid for it. I have to come again later, but that's the least of my worries right now.

I need to talk to Xavier.

I got to the house as fast as I can, threw the things I got in the kitchen and got into my room. I feel safe in my room, but when I really think about it, I don't even feel safe anymore. I can even have an invisible creature watching me sleep in the corner.

"Xavier." I called out, remembering he said he would hear me if I did so. I got nothing.

"XAVIER!" I said, a little louder. Still nothing.

This obviously isn't working out, so I have to stop talking to nothing. Ha, like I didn't do that before.

Maybe he heard me and is coming for me? Maybe he didn't hear me at all?

I decided to go with the first one and wait for him.

I waited two hours for him.

I fell asleep waiting for him.

And he never came.