Behind the Glass

Chapter 3: Awakening

    One second I was standing upright near the cryo-chamber and the next I was on my back, pinned to the ground. The force of the impact made something in my back pop, and the rough stone scraped at my skin through the tight material of my shirt. The man who I'd been watching moments ago began to change. I watched in horror as his limbs began to grow, his muscles tightly stretching the skin, which had turned a sickly shade of silver. His hands, which were placed on either side of my head, held at least 3 inch claws. The scraped against the stone, causing me to shiver. Suddenly he let out an earth shattering roar as two skin covered wings burst from his back.

     I closed my eyes tight and stifled my scream. So this was how I died, at the hands of a monster, and he was not just any monster, he was a Xavium. The alien creature that was supposed to be killed off two thousand years ago. He matched the description in the ancient history texts to the letter. There was a beat of absolute silence following his roar, and I took that moment to peak up at him. His face was mere inches from mine. The moment my eyes met his shiny black ones, I could not look away. The blind eye oozed a black fluid and it dripped slowly down his angular face and onto my cheek, causing me to cringe. I couldn't move. It was as if his eyes alone paralyzed me. He continued to stare down at me like a hunter eyed his prey, then his rough voice pierced the silence.

   He spoke in a language I had no hope of understanding. Accented syllables rolling over slurred almost musical notes. His voice was so low that it rumbled in my chest. The words felt as if they passed through me, tearing at my soul and polluting it with darkness. His tone was questioning, but menacing all the same.

   Through my fear, I managed to stay calm. If I was going to die, I would not give this monster the satisfaction of seeing my fear. The only look I could manage was a glare.

    His look of menace suddenly shifted and he stopped talking. Staring down at me, his eyes took on a look of confusion. Suddenly his strong hand was around my throat, and the pressure of his body weight was shifted to my neck area. My air was stopped near completely. 'Don't show it that you are weak!' I told myself in my mind. Gathering my last bits of air, I spoke. "If...you are...going to ki..kill me... then.... DO IT!" That was the last of my air, so I laid back down and stopped resisting. He cocked his head, his hot breath on my face. My lungs began to burn and I was about to close my eyes when suddenly, he snarled and jumped off of me, busting out one of the overhead lights and retreating into the shadows.

    I gasped and began to cough, taking in too much oxygen at once. I rolled onto my stomach and clutched my throat.

After a few minutes, I had become quiet. There was no sound in the room, other than the faint hum of the now active cryo-chamber.

   Suddenly a faint cracking noise and a small growl echoed from the shadow corner. The next moment, the monster's hand shot out and grabbed a sheet from off of the nearest cot. He slinked out of the shadows in human form, watching me intensely. The sheet was wrapped low around his waist. I couldn't help but stare. In the lighting his scars were easier to see. A long jagged one trailed from his collar bone all the way across his torso to his right hip. Other small scars covered his chest, stomach, and shoulders. What was his history? What part did he play in the war? Why was he frozen in a Cryo-chamber instead of killed on sight?

These endless questions were interrupted when he spoke, quieter now, but no less deadly.

   "Who are you?.. Speak!" he commanded, never breaking his deadly gaze. His voice had shifted again. It was no longer the deep rumbling voice of his true self. Now it had taken on a more gruff tone, and I had to admit, it was a very attractive voice.

    "You speak..English?" I questioned with a straight face, trying to keep myself calm.

    "Obviously you worthless vermin, now I will ask again. Who are you?" his voice caused me to shiver, breaking my calm charade. He sneered and began to circle me slowly. Always watching him, I spoke.