Looks Can Kill

Pretend Love

As soon as Reusa wondered where Steve was, Steve burst into the room and glanced around until he saw Reusa. He breathed a short sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Reusa was so surprised by Steve's entrance that she forgot to answer for a few awkward seconds.

"Uhh... I'm fine." Reusa answered slowly. Steve blinked, then leaned against a desk and crossed his arms.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on?"

Reusa gulped. "No. We need to get to class. What do you think Mrs. Martin is going to think about us being alone?"

Steve made a face. "Okay. You're right. But I don't want to leave you alone with Ethan. He's..."

"Creepy. I know. Let's go." Reusa nodded and pushed for the door, hoping to escape the weird conversation she knew was coming.

Reusa's next class was art and when she entered the classroom, Mrs. Martin pinned Reusa with one of those glares from over the rim of her glasses.

"Glad you could join us, Ms. Reusa." Mrs. Martin commented sarcastically.

"Its all my pleasure." Reusa drawled and dropped into her seat. Mrs. Martin glared at her silently for a few minutes, then she went back to droning on and on about the Mona Lisa. Reusa completely ignored her and stared out the window. Reusa suddenly started in her chair so violently that everyone in the class turned and stared at her curiously. Reusa gulped.

"Man... I didn't know the Mona Lisa impacted so many people with her... smile..." Reusa was grasping at straws, she knew. Mrs. Martin nodded.

"Please do not make such exclamations as, 'Man.'"

Reusa nodded and waited with bated breath for the class to turn their attention back to Mona Lisa. Then her gaze jumped back to the window.

The object of Reusa's shock was still present, lounging against the wall with his arms crossed. He wasn't Ethan, thankfully. He wore a sleeveless black shirt and black cargo pants with big pockets on the side. He wore a black, nondescript baseball cap turned backwards and sunglasses. Tattoos decorated one arm, but Reusa's sharp gaze was drawn to one particular tattoo on his neck. It was a sun rising over a sword. Reusa had recognized that tattoo, and the realization of what it meant had hit Reusa like a battering ram. She had killed a few of them. She had seen their sin.

They were a terrorist group and their religion spread violence and hate. They basically worshipped God's enemy, in whatever form he took. The person who had changed Reusa's eyes had worked with these terrorists. And Ethan had sat by and watched. Now the terrorists were here and Reusa was certain they were working for Ethan. Probably even following Reusa around. She was surprised that Ethan had someone following her so soon.

Throughout the rest of the day, Reusa kept noticing the terrorist. Her tail, as she called him in her mind. She saw Steve a couple times that day, but she never told him about her tail, and always found a way to get out of telling him the truth about her sunglasses.

Reusa pretended to watch Mrs. Martin as she demonstrated the steps to a complicated dance that Reusa promptly forgot. This dancing would not help her in any way out in the world. Reusa glanced out the window again, catching sight of her tail. Then her gaze travelled up to the woods behind the school. Ethan was out in those woods right now, teaching rebellious young men how to hunt. Reusa also knew she could run away, like had always done. She could disappear in the woods and no one would ever be able to find her. Ever.

There was one reason to stay and two reasons to leave. The single reason for Reusa to stay at the school was Ethan. Which meant the possibility for revenge. The reasons for leaving were similar. One: Ethan. Two: Steve.