The Black Goat's Egg

Chapter 3

I stared him directly in the eye.  His face was even more grim that mine.  Who knew what he had seen in his life, after all power comes with a price.  I stared determined at him.  I wanted to tell him how wrong everything was.  But the words wouldn't come out.  My throat was dry, from shock, and hunger. 

He was a great distance away, and was covered by the faint white glow of the falling snow.  It took me a moment to remember Hide in my arms.  He was warm, so warm, I wanted to bury my face into his chest and soak up the comforting feeling that my mother had once given me.

I bent down, never breaking eye contact with one of the most capable humans I'd ever heard of. 

I knew what was going to happen, I knew I was already fully emerged into the swirling storm.  I knew that two races would be going head to head, and only one would make it out alive.  I had to do this, for Touka, Nishi, Hinami, Yomo and most importantly, Hide.  I owed it to them.  They offered me generosity, and now I must be the one to protect them, to stand for what's right.

Hide was now firmly placed on the ground, displayed for all of them.  I wanted everyone to know what they did.  How an innocent bystander, of their kind, was killed because of their selfishness. 

Our ward only wanted to get along with the humans, to fit in, and be like them, but why, why were humans better than the ghouls.  How can the keep deaths on their conscious like nothing, and just whisk it away like a daydream, how can mankind be so cruel.

My arm, slightly numb and shaking from the frosty air, moved from under Hides still body.  I slowly pulled it back to me, letting my last memories of Hide fade. 

Thump. 

It was faint.  It was so faint that I didn't realize what it was.

Thump.

My ghoul senses kicked in, as my eye shone a deep crimson red.

Thump.

I couldn't believe.  I fell to my knees, losing focus of the outside world, as my head slammed gently onto Hides chest.

Hide.

He.  He was.  Alive?  The lifeless body that I had felt just moments ago was gone, now filled with a warm beating heart, that brought color back to my love.   His face was warm and soft as I stroked his cheek. 

A tear slipped out of my eye, another, and then another.  I rarely ever cried, and tonight I had done it too much, it hurt.  But, my tears weren't of sorrow like before.  They were of joy.  I was never one to believe in miracles, but I believed in this one. 

My world was silent as our heartbeats became one, his getting louder at each pulse.  My hands squeezed his jacket, trying to get even closer.  I was so happy.  Hope had flooded in to me again, almost pulling me away from reality.  Hide.

A soft whimper escaped my lips as a flung my hands under his head, pulling him closer.  His face slowly began to twitch, as his eyes slowly opened.  Hide was still in a haze, the bright lights flashing into him.  

His pupils weren't focused but I knew he was looking at me, and his features softened as he gave me a slight smile.

And suddenly, the world went dark.