Lurk

ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ ＳＥＶＥＮ

I woke up with a strange feeling, I can tell there's something odd. I tried to open my eyes, but it was too bright.

I put my hands in front of my eyes to prevent the light slightly. As soon as I opened my eyes, I realized I'm not in the house. I'm in an abounded place, I can tell by the smell of dirt surrounding me.

I look around me, exploring the place. It's a room- a small empty, dark room.

Why the hell am I here? Am I kidnapped?

"Don't worry, it's a dream." A voice said. Oh, is that why it was bright in a dark room?

Wait, what?

I snapped my head to the voice and saw Xavier standing by one of the four empty walls.

Once I saw Xavier, I ran and crushed him in a hug, "Xavier, where were you? I was so worried!"

He hugged me back, whispering in the nape of my neck. "Sorry I didn't come when you called out to me today, I couldn't risk it. They're sending more to watch around your area, I think they know."

I pulled away quickly when I remembered what happened today, why I needed to talk to him in the first place. "Xavier, they know. I- I don't know how, maybe they saw you get out and kept an eye around me? Maybe I messed up? I just- I don't know. The person who came last night came to me in the supermarket and-"

Why am I spilling everything to Xavier? Why am I even trusting him, in this short period of time? What if he really is the bad guy?

His words echoed is my head. I'm not the bad guy, I'm misunderstood. Just like you.

Maybe no one heard his side of the story- the angels haven't heard his side of the story.

Like no one heard mine.

He took my face in his hands, forcing me to look him in the eyes "And what, did they hurt you? Are you okay?"

I looked up at him, hesitating whether I was making the right choice or not. But just as I saw the true concern in those beautiful blue orbs of his, I knew I was.

"He said this time is warning, that he'll visit later. That I better make the right choice because can't promise me otherwise."

"Holy shît." he backed away, letting my words sink in.

"Athena, I'm so sorry." He breathed out, tugging at his hair. I love it that he does that when he's nervous.

"Sorry for what?" I said softly, coming closer. But he moved back and sat on the floor, bringing his knees up and leaning his back on the wall he standing by earlier.

"For dragging you into this shît. Athena, I'm in trouble. I am trouble. I shouldn't have dragged you into this, you don't deserve that." He sighed and ran his hand along his face.

I tried to overcome the feeling I got in my stomach when he backed away from me and went to sit next to him.

"Oh c'mon, my life was boring anyway." I pumped my shoulder in his, trying lighten up the mood.

He looked at me like I'm insane to joke about something like that, "This is nothing to joke about, Athena. These people can kill you in a snap of a finger."

I sighed, looking in front of me not meeting his eyes, "Don't be an idiot, I accepted the deal, I accept being dragged into this. I honestly don't care if they do something."

He snapped his head to me, "I do."

I look at the ground, hoping my smile and blush won't appear from the curtain I call hair. He cares. He cares. He cares. Gosh, my smile gets bigger the more I think about it.

But of course the best moment of my life so far had to be ruined by my nonstop thinking brain. I'm sure we wouldn't be after him for only running away.

"Xavier, you know you need to tell me, right?" I whispered, still not looking up.

"Tell you what?" he whispered back.

"What you did. You don't expect me to believe they're after you for just running away, do you?"

"I knew that moment will come sooner or later." He sighed, and I finally looked at him waiting explanation to find he's looking in front of him as well.

"I may have stolen a little something." He reached beside him and pulled out a book out of nowhere. It's huge, and it has faded brown covers that made it look very ancient.

"What is that for?" I ask before I think.

Why would he steal it? Why is he in trouble for stealing it? Why is it that important that the angels left all their commands to come get the book back? Is that why they really are after him? Or is he lying to me?

Gosh, so many questions are going through my mind right now.

"This book has everything. I can do anything if I read what's in this book. Anything. That's why they want me. They think I'm aiming for something huge- that I was sent to get it and make an army against the nephalem and the angels. That I want power."

"But it's not true, right?"

"I don't know, do I look like a person who wants power to you?" He raised his eyebrows, questioningly.

I rolled my eyes as his way of answering, "I don't blame them though, why would you possibly need it?"

He darted his eyes away, twitching his jawline. He glanced at me then looked away again. "It has everything I need to know about how to become human."

Okay, did I just hear that right?

"You want to become human." It was supposed to be a question, but it turned out more of a shocked statement.

"It's why I ran away and took the book. I've always wanted to be human. I'm sick of living the life of a slave."

"But is that even possible?" I finally breathed out after opening and closing my mouth like a fish, completely at a loss of words.

"It only happened once before, they say he fell in love with a human."

"Then... why didn't you just ask him for help?"

"I don't know who is he, he may be dead for all I know about. I'm still working on it though."

We fell into a comforting silence after that, I leaned my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. I still saw him smile before I did though, and it was enough to make me smile too.

Then realized something, I lifted my head to look at him."Hey, Xavier..?

"Yeah?" he whispered, turning his head towards me. We were now inches apart and I'm holding myself from kissing him.

"How the fück did you come into my dream?"

"That's my special ability." And then he shoots me one of his winks.