Sinister

Chapter 13

I woke up with a burning sensation on my arm. Letting out whimpering screams, Harry jumped to see what was wrong. He lifted my sleeve to see my skin was burning red and smoking. I was screaming as the mark deepened into my skin. Harry scanned over it, trying to cover it with his hand to stop the pain but nothing was helping.

"Harry what's going on?" Ashton came running in with panic clear in his voice. He ran over towards us only to be pushed back by Harry. "Harry what the hell is it!"

"She's beginning to mark!" He yelled back. "Quick, get your bandana and soak it in water." Ashton just stood there, wide eyed. "ASHTON!" He quickly left the room, soaking the bandana with water. All this happened in the blink of an eye. The cooling on my arm didn't help much but it finally died down. Harry lifted the bandana to relieve a mark that was pretty much engraved in my skin.

"What? What is this?" I asked, looking at it with fear. "Harry what the hell is this?" He set my arm down, letting the rag drip water onto my lap. I looked at my arm at the circles and triangles making weird shapes. 

"Sanity," Ashton spoke deeply. Harry took the rag from my lap and walked off into the kitchen. I had no words to describe how confused I was or what the hell was wrong with me. Harry wasn't too happy about this either as I could tell by his temper. 

Ashton walked over to me, ripping part of his flannel off and wrapping it around my arm. "Keep this on for a couple of days. Or until the mark fades a little. It should protect it from getting infected." I watched him carefully wrap the cloth around my arm, making sure he got the whole area. I looked up at him, hesitant to ask... But did it anyways. 

"What does it mean?" He sighed, running his hands through his hair. 

"This is only the beginning," he replied. "It starts with one mark usually being sanity, dazed, hopeless, or anger. Sanity, I have to say is the best one to get. Then you will get more marks that will determine who you are. An Ariza, a Fallen, a Marked, or a Protector. Just kind of depends." 

"What are you saying? That I'm not human?" I was literally mind boggled with what was going on right now. How? How am I not human? "This can't be happening." 

"You're human, just special kind of human," Ashton shrugged. I seriously did not understand any of this. Because none of this is true. It can't be. It's not. "Like me." 

"What are you?" I asked, curiosity taking over. 

"Me?" Ashton asked. "Why I'm a protector. Which means it is my duty to protect those who can't protect themselves." 

"We're.. Are you human?" He didn't seem human. 

"I was," he replied. "When a "beast" dies, they come back as the true form of their symbol. Me being a protector, only other marked ones can see me. That, and true believers." 

"This isn't real," I stood up, knocking over the chair that was next to me. "I'm going to wake up any minute now and all of you will be gone." 

"Blair-" I closed my eyes and pinched my arm as hard as I could. It hurt but I was sure it was going to wake me up from this nightmare. I counted to three in my head before I opened my eyes. I was sure I was going to wake up in the comfort of my own apartment, Friends flashing on the tv screen as I laid on the couch, waking up from this horrible nightmare, but no. I was still in the little cabin, Ashton staring at me dead in the face. "Blair, this is real."

"No," I shook my head. "No it's not!" I backed away from Ashton's touch, falling to my butt. I curled myself in a ball and back into the nearest wall. My heart was aching with the truth. I knew none of this was a dream. I knew this was all real. And I hated that. 

"What's going on?" I heard Henry's voice say softly. But I didn't want to listen anymore. I just wanted to go home. I wanted to see my brother. I wanted to call my dad and make sure he was okay. Or how my mother was doing? Are they okay with all of this? With all this danger happening? Are they still alive?

I had no energy to keep up with my own questions. 

-*-*-*-

I always wondered what goes on when I sleep. Where everyone goes. What they're doing while I'm away in my own little world. It hasn't really occurred to me until now, as I awake on my couch. In my apartment. Friends flashing on the screen. Was this a dream? Or have I always been dreaming? 

"Morning," I heard someone say from the kitchen. I looked up to see Harry standing there, smiling. 

"How..?" 

"I thought you'd missed home. So I brought you back," he shrugged. "I mean, I always like coming back to a familiar place." 

I smiled at him, resting my head back down on my couch. My home. I looked up at the tv, watching as the characters talk to each other. 

"How is your arm?" Harry asked, walking over towards me. I lifted the sweater I was wearing up to show him the bandaged part of my arm. It was the bandana from Ashton... So it wasn't a dream. He lifted up small bandage, rubbing his thumb across the newly black mark. "It healed nicely." 

"What does it mean?" 

"That? It's just the beginning mark. There is more to come," he shrugged. More? So the pain isn't over? He pointed to his arm, showing me his vivid tattoos. "This one right here," he started. "This was my beginning symbol. Anger." It had an arrow type figure piercing through a small sun shaped object. Although it's visible to humans, I didn't want people to ask so that's why I have all of these." Does he have what kind of marked on he is on his body? I wouldn't know unless I knew what it meant. Oh god this was confusing. 

"I'm just..." I rubbed my forehead. "I need coffee." 

"I knew you would say that," he smiled bringing over a hot cup. Harry was acting totally different. Different than this morning, different than last night, different from last week. There was something totally different about him. Something... Comforting. Like... We've known each other for a long time. It was a familiar vibe I was getting from him. 

"What happened?" I asked, sipping my drink. His eyes went wide before tensing. "Where did you go last night?" He looked hesitant. Almost.. Afraid to answer. 

He was about to walk away when I grabbed his arm. "Harry..." I whispered. "We can't always hide in fear." 

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