Felixentric

Scene 4: Everyone is Everyone Else

When Felix woke up, it was obvious that it was morning, even before he opened his eyes. The plants made less noise in the morning, as they grew more quickly during the night. Usually it was just the whooshing noise of their extending stalks, but sometimes they gossiped in fairy-like whispers and other times they got in violent arguments.

Light from the windows washed through and melted along the wood floor. Felix stretched and shivered, then tiptoed out of bed because the smooth planks shot chills up his bare feet. He undressed and, quickly, redressed in three layers of green sweaters, then found socks and a pair of mittens. Finishing up, he scooted over to a red, heat lamp that hung over his bed and switched it off.

When he crossed back to the living room, Hale wasn't on the couch. No snoring. No crinkling of old newspapers. Just quiet.

He patted the walls as he walked to the front door, because they made up most of what he had, material-wise. He didn't have a ton of food in the fridge or old jewelry from his ancestors. He didn't have a bookshelf or a bicycle. But he did have clothes, some tables and chairs, and a few dusty walls. At the door, he unhitched the lock. The air outside was chilly, but it was also clean and refreshing.

Outside, he was disappointed to see that no one was adventuring through his front yard, because it would be easier to Fade someone if he didn't have to waste so much time looking for them first.

There had to be someone out there somewhere, just waiting for Felix to find them. Maybe the city kids were daring each other to sit past the border all alone for ten minutes. Maybe teenagers were doing the same, but with tokens of money and cigarettes as reward.

He locked his door behind himself and stepped onto the "lawn," which was simply the dirt of the forest, laden in a thick sheet of dried pine needles. Patches of high grass were around, but most of the plane was taken up by the high pines, firs, and spruces. Felix hummed a made-up tune as he ambled down the nearest footpath.

He still had the mittens in his hands, but stuck them in his back pocket instead of putting them on. The leather glove was over his left hand, hiding the secret mark of a triangle with a line crossing through. It was in his ancestors' culture to brand a newborn's Fading hand this way, with a heated stone.

The glove wasn't a part of the culture, but it was a good way to keep anyone else from seeing the sign. As for not wearing both gloves, he only had the one.

As he crossed Highway 3, empty of cars as usual, a crunch in the treeline across the road made Felix flinch backwards. Another breaking of branches and a cough. His mind was caught between, A person to Fade! and A person to kill me?

A man stumbled out in front of him. He was young, but a good five to ten years older than Felix - who was only sixteen. He wore a crisp, blue shirt with many shiny badges and patches. "Nothing to be afraid of, kid." Kid. "I'm with the JCPD. Just doing a bit of investigating."

Oh, nutting... buckets. They were already after him!

"Do you know that a kid, about your age, was killed on Highway 3 last night?"

"Is it just you out here?" Felix blurted, as though other officials were hiding in the brush, with stun guns and laser beams all pointed at the back of his skull. He spun in circles for answers.

The young man nodded. "Just me. I mean, we can't put all of our eggs in one basket if something just happens to happen." He hooked his hand into his belt.

Felix narrowed his eyes, confused as to what that meant, but also because the man here was so unconcerned about his own safety. Finally, a human who is unafraid of being saved. Is he sacrificing himself to me?