Sterling

Chapter 4

Alex didn't hear from Nola for almost a week, which concerned him. He also noticed that Luther had started regularly disappearing for hours at a time, which concerned him even more. Something wasn't right. And someone had eaten the ham and cheese sub he was saving in the fridge.

    Luther was curled up in bed with the blankets over his head. He had always liked to lie that way, rolled into a ball with the covers wrapped around him like a protective cocoon. He imagined that being in utero was much like this, which would explain why he enjoyed the feeling so much. The womb was the only place he had ever been safe.

    Safe to sleep meant safe to think. Luther's eyes were fixated on the darkness in front of him as he allowed thoughts to scurry around in his head. Would it be worth it to continue being chased? He wasn't sure what would happen to him if he allowed himself to be caught. Maybe the release of death was something he needed, but it was the idea of torture and humiliation that kept him on the run.

Alex was in danger because of him.

    The second that thought occurred to him, Luther threw the covers off and jumped out of bed. He gathered his greasy hair into a (what he was sure was the world's smallest) ponytail and went to the kitchen. Alex was inhaling a bowl of chicken soup. He didn't stop to look when Luther entered.

    After a few moments of silence, Alex put his spoon down and crossed his arms. He glared at Luther the way a mother does before she scolds her naughty child. Luther realized how dependent he had been on Alex. It bothered him. A lot.

"I'm not human," said Luther, casually sitting down.

"Um, what?" Alex was working on another spoonful of soup. Luther was disappointed.

"I ate your ham and cheese sandwich," he said with a smirk.

Alex slammed his spoon down.

"Son of a bitch!" he yelled.
"It's just a sandwich," said Luther.

"No. It's not about the sandwich. It's about you using me for everything you need and refusing to give me any respect in return. After all I've done for you. I could turn you in. I should've done that the second I found you. You're a filthy criminal and you belong in the street."

"I just told you that I'm not human," said Luther, getting impatient.

"Just stop, okay? Stop." Alex got up and tossed his empty bowl into the sink.

"No, don't walk away. I'm trying to talk to you about something. Please, Alex. It's something you need to know."

Alex silently left the kitchen. Luther stood up.

"Get back in here and sit down."

Alex stopped short on his way to the living room. Luther's voice rang in his ears in a peculiar way, beckoning him to return to the kitchen. The words wrapped around his wrist and pulled him—gently—back to his seat. Alex stared at his unruly guest, feeling nothing but confusion and a tinge of worry.

He noticed that the pupil of Luther's left eye was intensely dilated. He had never seen that before. It unsettled him.

"What do you want?" he asked, trying to hide the fact that his hands were shaking.

"We're going to have a talk," said Luther. He leaned forward against the table.

"I'm not human," he said.

Alex forced back an irritated grin.

"Okay then, I'll play along. What are you?"

Luther sighed and forced his words out.