The Mute Mate

XVII

"Key. We just want to protect you." TJ's face emerged from the darkness, smiling and warm. I had a strong feeling this was him sitting in heaven. With the Goddess and with the rest of the family. He was paying me a visit. "You have to trust us."  

I trust you. You all simply wanted to be like you all. Everybody knew more than I did. I couldn't hate you for it though. 

"We love you." 

I tried to open my mouth to tell him that I love him back, but my lips wouldn't move. There was no sound passing through my lips. I began to panic, knowing that the only thing I wanted more was to say I love you back. It felt like I was too late to say it. 

My eyes did not spring open like they had been for the last couple of nights, they gradually opened up this morning. Opened up to a still rather dark room. I looked at the clock next to my bed and saw that it was 5.14. It would be another two hours before the sun would come out and I knew once I was awake, there was no going back. I stretched in my bed, rolling over to onto my stomach and taking in the warmth that I had produced in my sleep, my only defense against the cold of the outside the blanket. 

The room was silent. The house was silent. I was the only mouse awake in the entire pack house. 

You're up early.

You could say so yourself. 

How can anyone rest when you're not getting any either. Your mind is basically yelling throughout the night. How can you sleep?

I probably don't. Tonight was the closest thing to a restful sleep I've had since I've been here. 

Well, I'm glad you're adjusting then. 

Didn't have much of a choice too. Plus, Alex isn't such a bad guy. Not to me anyway. This wasn't a complete prison I guess you could say. 

Great. I'm glad you see things my way.

Oh, hush. I got up from my bed and gently made my way through the room to look out of the window. There was morning dew on the window and on the grass. It smelled fresh. It smelled new outside. 

You know what we haven't done in a while?

What's that?

We should go for a run. 

You want to get out, don't you?

Come on, I've been cooped up in here for who knows how many days. A little run won't hurt. I won't go far. I promise.

Christina's persuasion convinced me to give her what she wanted. She could jump for joy. I slipped into some comfy house shoes and a silk robe I found in the closet. On the left breast was an embroidered 'W'. I could only imagine it was for Weston, but regardless, it fit me like a glove. I cracked open the door and slipped out, closing it behind me and making sure I didn't draw attention to myself. The furriness of the house slippers muffled my steps significantly as I descended the stairs, making my way to the front door. 

Do you know anything about this area?

Nope, but I won't go far.

You better not. I don't feel like being lost in the woods, please. 

You can trust me.

Once I stepped outside into the nipping cold, I was glad to be covered and fur and producing another body heat to keep me warm. Christina led us around the house and towards the woods in the back of the house, the base of her paws soaking in extra water between the cracks and the cold earth. I noted the lake that was only about a half of mile out from the house. I thought that was a good spot for resting or getting away from this place. Hopefully, I can put it to good use. 

It didn't take Christina long before she took off. This run was much different from the last one. I was very intuned to what was going on around me as she was running. This time, I simply wanted to stop thinking and this was the perfect way to do this. Everything was quiet. Finally. 

Nothing. Silence. 

No worries. No anxieties. No looming thoughts. It was a wonderful peace. 

Christina brought us back to the pack house after maybe a half hour of running. I wasn't very sure, I took the time for quietness and silent reflecting. I enjoyed this time. It was the only time I get nowadays. She was panting when she came out to the lake, taking a few licks of the still, blue water to relax and calm down. She seemed to be pooped out and ready for me to take over. 

I took back over and stretched my body as it changed back to a human form. I laid on my stomach in the grass, able to keep my robe on me but seeming to misplace my slippers. I hoped they were back at the house because they were quite comfortable to wear around the house. I dipped my fingers into the water. It was cold but not as cold as I had imagined it would be. The temperatures hadn't dropped enough to be considered winter yet, but it was quite chilly. It was cooling to my hot, sweaty skin. 

I was making absentminded waves in the water when I heard a branch break around me. The lake a small landing surrounding it, but the thickness of the trees made it hard to see the limited light of the sun just beginning to rise. My heart began to pound against my chest, not unable to see what I was dealing with. I noticed a foot stepping into the light reflecting off the lake. I immediately sat up, ready to fight if the case aroused. It was at this moment that I realized that I didn't know how to defend myself. Simply growl and call rank. I wouldn't do much in an actual fight. 

The body attached to the foot revealed itself more, leading with a chuckle. "I'm sorry if I scared you." The voice was familiar and as the sun warmed the earth, I saw it was Alex emerging from the woods. He was dressed in a loose, white wife-beater t-shirt and a pair of lounge pants with a randomised pattern littered over them. 

I was able to release my fear that I had been holding onto in the small encounter that terrified me. I dragged my knees to my chest as I went back to staring at the water as he approached. I didn't pay him much mind as I addressed him, "How'd you know I was out here." 

I scooted to the edge of the water and lowered my bare feet in. It was therapeutic to soak them like this, I was even relaxed enough to close my eyes and lay on my back, looking up at the morning sky. "Honestly, I didn't.  " he admitted, taking a seat right next to me, "I saw you make your way through the woods." He turned his body in the direction of the house and pointed, "My room in the back so you get a nice view."

I nodded, slightly wondering where I was in relation to the back of the house. This wasn't the view I was seeing when I spent my time in there. It couldn't have been any later than 6.30 and I have my excuse for being up and about already. I decided to be blunt with him. "So what brings you out here so early?" 

I watched him closely, his own eyes staring off in the direction of the rising sun, his fingers fiddling with the grass under his tips mindlessly. "Couldn't sleep." He said bluntly. 

I wondered if I should push more and get to learn more about him. Last night he was pretty chatty, but I had an intuition that told me the Alex last night and the Alex sitting next to me now were very different entities of each other. I couldn't tell what the difference was or what caused the difference, but he was different this morning. 

"What about you?" He finally asked. 

I scoffed, knowing this was the third day in a row I hadn't slept well and I don't imagine it would get any worse than I am now. I shrugged, "Bout what you'd expect." 

I did understand that Alex was no unaware of the fact that he did give the order to kill my family. I would forgive him, but I don't think he would ever let himself let go of it. He nodded and played with the grass, occasionally glancing up at me for a moment or two, but I didn't pay him any mind anymore. I was enjoying the quiet serenity for myself, even in the presence of someone like Alex. I wouldn't think he would enjoy sitting by himself, quiet. But that's how we watched the sunrise. Not another word between each other. Everything else slow to the draw to wake up. The birds began to chirp, a few deer were wandering thorughout the woods to feed, the squirrls scurrying up and down the trees surrounding us. This was a good way to start the morning for once.