See You Yesterday

Chapter 5: Charlie

'The real voyage of discovery is not in seeking new places, but in seeing with new eyes.'- Marcel Proust.
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Did Mrs. Herrington finally manage to kill me? Have I died and gone to heaven? 

I must have. One minute I was in London, taking a walk far far away from the orphanage and the next I found myself in...I can't even remember the name of this place.

Thoughts raced through my head when I first stepped through the barrier. I saw trees and huts and a mansion. I also saw someone staring at me, mouth open.

Then they were yelling, and a crowd was forming around me.

I thought about saying: 'HELL-O. MY NAME IS CHARLIEEE AND I COME IN PEEEACE.'

I don't know whether it was the staring or the yelling that made me change my mind.

So I just stood there and took in my surroundings, grinning.

Then some guy was approaching me with a solemn look on his face. My initial thought was that he was freakishly tall. His hair was black and untidy and he wore a ragged white t-shirt, collar up, with a black tie. Over the shirt was a black sleeveless top and his trousers were a maroon colour, not going with his shoes.

I did this observation after he fell into me. 

"Umm... Sorry..." He said, and he began to start stroking my shoulder, avoiding my eyes. 

I resisted the urge to clear my throat and take a step back from the stranger.

'Is he a supernatural?' Was what someone shouted.

Then the clumsy guy who fell into me was joined by a much older man. His eyes were warm and he walked like he didn't care about anything. I trusted him almost immediately.

Then I told them my name and met the leader, who made it clear he didn't like me. 

Hell broke loose and now I'm here holding hands with a boy I've just met. He must think I forgot to let go. Must be really awkward for him as he may be thinking the same thing. Yet his hands are comforting- small and dainty, fitting into mine almost perfectly. His nails have been bitten down to the quick, and his skin is peeling off in places on the back of his palm.

When he pulls away, I straighten up and clear my head.

"Come on, Charlie. I'll show you around." He walks away and I run after him, struggling to keep up.

"Where are we going first?"

"You'll see," he tells me without looking back.

We continue to walk and I try and make small talk when I've finally caught up, but Derythian doesn't seem to be interested, so I keep quiet.

It doesn't last.

"You haven't explained to me who you people are," I point out to Derythian, when I've had enough of the silence."

He smiles. "We're supernaturals. We have powers and we're different from you norm-"

"Normals?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

He blushes. "Well... That's what the simul tell us to call you, anyway."

"The simul?" I question.

He nods. "Yeah, they're our council."

"So they're like the supernatural government?" I add.

"What's a government?" Asks Derythian.

"Never mind, Derythian," I sigh. "So what's your power?"