It's been way too long since I enjoyed a good bath.And by that I mean not by water bottles.The water is a bit chilly but I don't mind.
I wrap myself with a towel,quickly putting clothes after I dry myself.It's actually pretty impressive that he still managed to built something himself to keep the water running.
A drawback is that we can't really use a hairdryer,since we have no power,but I think a simple rub with the towel and just let them dry themselves will do.I clear the steam off the mirror and look at my reflection.I look at my bites and a feeling of discust rushes me.I run my hands through my wet hair and wear a long sleeve shirt,my pants and my regular shoes.
I exit the bathroom and head for the kitchen where I'm left completely surprised.
"What is this?"I ask and look at the table in front of me.
"I think that most people call it a table,and those alien things on it are called food."Elias tells me and I roll my eyes at him.Jo raises his brow at us before he speaks.
"Come on.When was the last time you two had a proper meal?"Honestly,I can't even remember.Elias and Jo sit at the ends of the table,and I sit at the left side,closer to Elias.I'm not sure who to trust more.I mean of course the tiny bit of trust I have for Elias is more than what I feel for Jo,but still I don't know him any better than Jo.I mean that's what farmer do to their animals,right before the slaughter.
"Tell me Hayley,did you know that Elias grew up in this neighbourhood?"Jo looks at me and I turn to Elias.
"Oh did he?He failed to mention that..Or you know,anyhing about himself."I say with a raised eyebrow at Elias,but despite the playful tone in my voice,he still pinches his nose and adjusts himself better on the chair.What the hell was that for?
"Yeah no doubt."Jo says and I suddenly feel uncomfortable.I touch my necklace and run my finger on top of the letters to distract myself.This shit is awkward.But Jo seems completely clueless of Elias's mood shift,because he keeps on going."There was this one time him and Layla-"
"JO!"Elias shouts in anger making me jump a little.I turn from Elias to Jo and then back to Elias.Damn..If only looks could kill.."I'm done eating."He says and gets up.
Well,this suddenly turned into a very awkward moment..
"Sorry kid I didn't mean to-"Jo starts to say but is interrupted by the sound of the basement's door closing.Is the door still on its hinges?Unlikely."Fuck."He puts his head in his hands."Hayley can you-"
"Yeah.I'll go talk to him.Not sure if I'm gonna have much impact on his but.."I sigh and get up from my chair,heading towards the basement's door.I open it and walk down the creepy stairs.There is just a lamp on the ceiling,providing barely enough light to see.
"You know what I really hate?The basement's stairs.They are my absolute nightmare."I try to lighten the mood a little bit as I approach.
He is sitted on an old couch,his head tilted back slightly,his hands in his jacket's pockets."Hayley I wanna be alone right now."
"Too bad."I say and sit down next to him.My body is facing him but he still doesn't look at me."Elias look at me."He finally turn his head to me,and my heart broke in two when I saw the look on his face."What's going on?."I almost wisper at him and he exhales slowly.
"You are a very annoyingly stubborn stranger you know that?"
"It has been mentioned before yes."
"I used to have siblings.Two actually."His lips are decorated with a bitter smile."An older brother and a twin sister."
"Layla."I put the pieces together realizing why he got so angry hearing her name.Wait a minute..used to?
"Yeah.My older brother's name is Kol.But I have no idea where he is.It's been years since he dissapeared.Well,left is a better fit.I don't even know where he is.And I'm not sure I care anymore.Once he left,I spent about two years with Layla at Jo's house.He used to be friends with my parents before they died.Then this guy my age finds me and tells me that if me and Layla went with him,we could have a life.As good as it could be anyway.He took us to a very large group,and everyone there seemed so friendly and somewhat happy.His name there was Fox.And he became my best friend from the second I met him five years ago.But he had hidden the true purpose of his organization.And what he was planning to do with us.With her..I remember the exact moment I found Layla.I had heard her screams.He killed her.Drained the air out her lungs,as he watched her die.He looked at me,and it was like I was staring at the devil himself.I think I remember him smiling Hayley.He probably enjoyed it."
I hear him speak with so much pain in his voice,and they way he looked at me..I was holding back a stream of tears.It might sound a bit selfish from my behalf,but I wish that this wasn't the first thing I heard about his past.That this was some kind of story and that he was about to laugh at my face mocking me for thinking he would tell me about his history so fast.But I'm wrong.
"I run like hell back to Jo.I had spent a year sitting around like an idiot until I decided no more sitting around.I wanted revenge.I wanted to make him pay,do what he did to Layla.That's when I looked for the Resistance.Another year passed while I was looking for them before I found them.But there I found family.They made me forget about my revenge plan for a while."
"Then why did you leave?"I ask confused.If it was so great,why would anyone leave that place?
"They were leaving that place.I knew they wanted to take me with them,as we were like family.They told me where they were going but it was too far away.And I wasn't gonna let him get away with what he did that easily.It was a peaceful separation though."
"I'm sorry."I say with a frown and he shrugs.
"It's the way our shitty life is."
Without hesitation I wrap my hands around his neck giving him a tight hug.He's surpised at first but I fell his hands around my waist lightly,his muscles flexed probably feeling a bit uncomfortable and weird.
"I better go get some sleep."I say, squeeze his shoulder before getting up.I climb up the stairs,where I see Jo."Jo go talk to him yourself too 'cause I sure as hell ain't your middle man."I say and slap lightly his arm.He nods at me and I walk in a tinny bedroom at the end of the hall,and lie on the squeaking bed.
I know most people wouldn't feel comfortable after spending this little time with someone,but he's different than most people.Such a clichè thing to say right?But it's true.He is different.Mostly an asshole,but deep deep deep down,a good person too.
The night went by in what seems like a flash,and I wake up,looking out the window.The sun is shining once again on the blue sky and I squint my eyes as I go closer.I fold my hands against my chest,trying to imagine what this neighbourhood would be like back in the day.My imagination builds up houses painted with monotone colours but colourful people,couples sitting down on rocking chair in the porch looking down at the kids playing in the garden,while joggers move past them in their shorts and water bottles,followed by a bored looking guy tossing newspapers on the grass.
I walk down to the living room where I see Jo and Elias talking like they did when we first came.It's nice seeing that they are back at being friendly and not trying to kill each other.What's better is his mood.He seems like his regular self.
"Ready to go Einstein?"He asks when he sees me and I roll my eyes.
"Really?"
"Absolutely."He smirks mocking me and I sigh.
"Asshole."
"There she is!"He says with his irony back to the usual and I chuckle.
Everything is back to normal.
YOU ARE READING
Game of survival
Adventure《Who's in your shadows? Who's ready to play? Are we the hunters? Or are we the pray? There's no surrender, And there's no escape.. Are we the hunters? Or are...
