TOXIC ~ STEVE ROGERS [1]

Chapter Five

I ran. I ran as fast as I could, which was faster than I remember being. I knew the way like the back of my hand, and when I reached my apartment block I would have seen the yellow cab parked outside if I had bothered to notice.

Up the stairs I ran, hoping that Bri was at Max's, so she would have to see me, so she wouldn't be in danger. I fumbled with my keys, my skin white with shock and sweaty with exertion. I couldn't get the key in, try as I might, and I swore heavily to myself as I tried.

I wouldn't be long. Under the floorboards of my bed was an emergency backpack, always full of everything I would need to leave the country, to run away. It was a idea of my fathers, just in case, and this time I was glad I had followed his advice.

Just as I attempted to fit the key in the lock again, the door opened swiftly, and I was met with Bri's blue eyes staring in disbelief and shock at me.

"Keight?" she whispered. I looked past her, and saw Max sitting on the sofa.

"Shit," I muttered, and pushed past her and into the room, pulling my schoolbag around my shoulders to I could remove my camera. It was the only thing I didn't already have in my emergency pack, and I wasn't leaving it behind.

Ripping it out, I slammed into my bedroom and heaved up the floorboards with ease, slipping my camera into the bag and slinging it over my back. When I turned around, Max and Bri stood in the doorway, eyes wide.

"What's going on?" Max demanded, voice angry, his hand gripping hers. I stepped forward, and they stepped back, fear dancing in the low light.

"I have to leave," I said plainly, knowing if I stopped to explain everything would sink in and I'd never leave.

"What's wrong with your eyes Keight? Youre scaring me," Bri whispered, voice trembling.

"My what?" I exclaimed, turning my head sharply to look in the mirror.

Staring back at me was someone I didn't recognise. She was dirty, her skin pale and dirt streaked. Ruffled hair and dishevelled clothes covered her. But what was the most frightening were the emerald green eyes, the bright, unnatural green that glowed eerily the light and stared back me. Gone were my chocolate brown eyes, the only link to my family, replaced by these imposters, evidence that something had gone terribly wrong.

And I had killed a man because of it.

"I have to leave," I repeated, voice monotone. I stepped forward, and although Bri cowered backwards Max stood his ground, face hard.

"You have to call your brother," he said firmly, one hand in front of me.

"I know," I sighed, trembling. "But not here." I pushed past his arm and went back into the living room with every intent of opening the door and leaving, maybe for good. My heart ached.

"Do it now," he said, spinning around as my hand was on the door handle. I shouldn't have hesitated, because if I hadn't I would have heard the quiet breathing outside the door, the faint shuffle of footsteps up the stairs.

"I can't. I have to be far away from you before I call him," I said, eyes on the floor.

"Why do you have to leave? What's wrong with you?" Bri said earnestly, her blue eyes watery and sad.

"I don't know." I could feel that similar feeling growing inside me again, that bubbling of emotion, that tingling in my hands and push and pull of energy. I had to leave, and fast.

"Stay here. We can fix it together," she said, reaching out and pulling on my sleeve. I inched away, stomach boiling.

"Get away from me," I said, my head burning with the pain of a thousand knives. I winced, closing my eyes.