Fallen

Chapter Four: Fear and Trust

Griffin's POV

    His mind was running marathons around his head, looking at this girl in the middle of the forest. This beautiful girl, the definition of everything perfect in his mind, just sitting there staring back at him with such a fear he had never seen before. With feathery bird wings. Sure, they looked pretty beaten up, but they were still wings. Was she an alien? He'd seen alien shows before, they never seemed too convincing to him. Of course, nobody really had any idea what aliens looked like. They could all look like this, and the entire world would never know. Griffin had never really believed in aliens, but this girl was enough to change his mind forever.

    When she doesn't respond to his call, he tries to reach out to her again with his voice. "Miss? Do you need any... uh... help? I could call an ambulance?" He offers, coming no closer to her than he already was. Approaching someone that looks so scared is definitely not a good idea. Especially if she just fell from the freaking sky. Maybe she had been surveying the earth for some time now... that's usually what happens in alien movies. If he got too close, would she try to inhabit his body with alien parasites or something? It was too early to tell he supposed. Better safe than sorry though. 

    She remains with her lips pressed in a firm line, not saying a single word. Griffin could understand where her fear was coming from though... she just plummeted possibly miles to hit the hard ground in the middle of nowhere. He'd be pretty damn scared too. 

    He watches as she tries to sit up a little more, seemingly recoiling as a result. Upon further investigation, he could see exactly why she seemed to be in so much pain. Her wings, probably once a pure white, were scuffed with the dirt from where she landed. The wings themselves were broken and tattered, blood littering the multiple breaks and gashes she had received presumably during the fall. What was left of the feathers were either covered in blood and dirt, or detached from her body completely. The poor creature... she must be in agony.

    He decides to try and inch ever closer to her, holding a hand out in front of him to show he meant no harm towards her."I-I'ts alright... I won't hurt you, I promise. I want to help you, but you need to give me a chance." He says, his tone of voice gentle and quiet as not to startle her too much. Her eyes were wide as saucers in response, a small whimper like noise sounding from her lips. It made his heart hurt, hearing her sound so frightened. She must want to run, but it seemed like she just couldn't find the strength to get up. It must've hurt her too much.

    He was only maybe four or five feet from her now, still holding his hands out in front of him. He was crouched down, so the two of them were about eye level with each other. After all, standing over someone while they were frightened to this degree was definitely not a good idea. He was trying to figure out exactly how to help this girl as well... he didn't want to take her to a hospital. They would probably take her to some government facility, poking and prodding at her to find out what makes her tick. Probably. At least that's what happens in alien movies like E.T.

    Her eyes were darting back and forth from his own, to her hands, as if she were thinking about what to do. Griffin didn't blame her... he probably wouldn't want to run off with a complete stranger on a whim. He was relying on the pure fact that she was in dire need of some medical help. He had a first aid kit at home, and he liked to think he was pretty handy with it. 

    The sound of police sirens suddenly sounds through the thick silent air between the two of them. It was only just now occurring to him that her impact had created a rather large commotion. In a small town like this, a commotion like that was sure to get some attention. Even more with the large crater she had made in the ground. His apprehensive expression had morphed into that of fear. He turns to her.

    "Okay, here's the deal. Those sounds, are the police. If they find you, you'll probably never get to see the light of day again unless it's through bars. You have to come with me... I can help you." He says, his tone desperate. He had to get this across to her... she couldn't stay here. She'd be taken and never come back.

    Her hands start shaking as she starts to panic just a little. She looks in the direction of the police sirens, her eyes reflecting absolute terror like he had never seen before. Her breathing was labored, her chest rising and falling much faster than it should have been. Griffin outstretches his hand to her, his eyes softening at the sight. He felt like he had to protect her... she looked like she had seen so much yet so little of this place.

    "I can help you... I can keep you safe. But please, you have to come with me now. This is your only chance.  " He states, hoping to gain her trust. She finally looks up at him, looking hopeful yet absolutely conflicted and terrified. She bites down on her bottom lip, seeming like she had finally made a decision. After all, she didn't have much of a choice. Slowly, she reaches her hand up to take his own. Her hand was small, clammy and covered in dirt but he hardly cared. He had more pressing matters to attend to. 

    He offers a reassuring smile and carefully tries to help her stand. Her legs were wobbly, like a newborn foal walking for the first time.  She takes a few small steps with gritted teeth, before her knees buckle beneath her. Griffin catches her by her forearms, steadying her as best he could with the circumstances. He gently lowers her to sit down on the ground, watching as she bites back a cry in distress.

    "Whoa, take it easy now. I'll get you out of here, don't worry." He murmurs. There was no way in hell she'd be able to walk out of here. He'd have to carry her somehow. He couldn't carry her bridal style, her wings (or at least what was left of them), would be in the way. He didn't want to further injure her either. That was the last thing they needed at that moment. He crouches down to her level again, this time his back facing her. As he looks at her over his shoulder, he can see her peeking at him through her long eyelashes. She looked completely lost as to what he wanted her to do... had she not seen a piggy-back ride before? He bites the inside of his cheek as he thinks of a way to explain it to her.

    "Wrap your arms around my neck and legs around my waist, and I'll pick you up" he clarifies, watching her expression change. Her eyes dart back and fort from his face to his back for several moments before she realizes she's pressed for time. She nods slowly, and carefully wraps her arms around his neck like he told her to. 

    Once she was positioned on his back, he bites his lip and stands slowly. She lets out a soft hiss of pain, the muscles in her back tensing as her wings moved into a half folded position against her. He looks back at her, his own green eyes meeting her crystal blue ones. It felt like electricity, coursing through his veins and shocking his pulse. She was looking at him like he was hope, like he was everything that mattered in her world in that exact moment.. It chilled his bones like never before.

   She was something else like never before.

{Hello lovelies! So sorry I've been away for god knows how long. My summer has been filled with non-motivation. I will try to update as often as I can, and eventually I will try to get on a better schedule with all this. I'm trying my best <3 Thanks for reading, Love ~ Ari)