Children of the Sea

Chapter 6

I had gotten lost more than three times before lunch even began. Most of my tour was forgotten due to the hostile atmosphere that Angel had set. I made it to the lunchroom almost twenty minutes after we had been released. By then I no longer had an appetite so I hovered outside the door a moment. I looked left. Then right. No one was around so I started walking down the hall to the right where an exit sign hung over the wooden door.

I pushed open the door and the cool autumn air wrapped around me like a blanket as I walked out. A few trees that must have been some sort of willows draped themselves around a small dirt path near the door. Curiously, I started to follow the path, pushing the leaves and branches away from me.

I stopped after I walked for what felt like ten minutes, my stomach grumbling like a monster. Holding my aching stomach I leaned on a tree. As I closed my eyes, letting out a whine, I felt a slight, unsettling tickle on my foot.

My shriek of terror rang through the chilled air as I saw a snake slither over my foot. It's dark brown body had a few pale yellow stripes running vertically down it's back and they made synced waves as it moved.

Horrified, I kicked it off my foot, sending it a few feet away from me. It didn't seem harmed, just confused and scared. Quickly it's body began to disappear into some shrubbery that lined the path.

"Well, that's just rude." A familiar voice said from behind me.

I spun on my heel and saw Angel towering over me, his arms crossed in an intimidating way. He narrowed his forest green eyes at me, appearing to be irritated. I froze in place as I timidly stared at him.

"A-Angel." I breathe out.

"Don't be so jumpy. That snake was only a ribbon snake." He rolled his eyes. "You sure are a scaredy cat... Might as well call you that instead of Elsie."

I opened my mouth to reply to his rude statements, but nothing came out. He took the opportunity to continue to talk.

"You see. Elsie is a cute name. But Scaredy Cat fits you better."

"N-Now you're the one being rude," I said softly as my face turned a rosy pink, causing his lips to curl into a smirk.

I nervously bit my lip as he began a sly insult, but a low rumble interrupts him. He pauses giving me a questioning look before rolling his eyes.

"You skipped lunch?"

I looked away, nodding my head gently. He breathed out a vexed sigh, shaking his head a bit.

"Come now, Scaredy Cat. We're going to get some food."

"Wait... W-What?" I tilted my head, puzzled by his words.

"You're going get yourself sick. So. I am going to take you to get some food." He grumbled out an explanation.

"In the cafeteria?..." I tilted my head the opposite way.

"No... Lunch is over, Genius. We're going to town." He sounded more annoyed now.

"But won't we get in trou-" He cut me off, putting a finger to my mouth.

"No more questions." He grabbed my thin wrists and began to lead me back down the dirt trail.