The Sentries

Chapter Two

I was laying on a bed in a dark purple room that I did not recognise.

I was dreaming.

But from the way my body felt exposed to the warm air, I knew I was naked. And it didn't feel much like a dream then.

I couldn't move. The two bodies on either side of me were so close. I couldn't even move my head in any direction to see their faces. I was holding both of their hands. Their hands felt so warm, soft and comforting. From the size of their hands, they seemed male.

I was confused. How did I end up here? Who are these people? I could only see the ceiling. It was a white ceiling, the room had purple walls, and silver decor from what I could tell.

"What the..." I heard the deep raspy voice from male on my right murmur. I tried to crane my head towards the sound of his voice.

He moved his hand that was holding mine towards what I was guessing was his face. As soon as he removed his hand from mine, I felt like a part of me had left and there was a small emptiness in me.

I realised there was some room left for me to move around since the guy on my right moved his arm. I tried to sit up.

I didn't let go of the hand from the person on my left. I tried to pull my weight up with my arms to a sitting position, but I felt so weak. The motion to sit up felt so draining.

Once I sat up, I looked around. The room that I was in, wasn't really a room. It was just an open space with purple curtains everywhere, like how a secret backroom to a fancy club would look like.

"Hey, do you know where..." I trailed off, once I I finally looked down at the bed, to look at who the strangers were.

My heart skipped a beat, and I nearly forgot to breathe. There were more people on this bed than I had assumed. These human beings next to me were so beautiful. I couldn't help but feel a sort of attraction to all of them. I shook off the alien feeling in my stomach and tried to analyse their faces for anything that could help me remember if I had seen them before.

To my right, there was the guy who had moved his arm, and another girl next to him. Also holding his hand. The guy on my right seemed like he was pulled back into his sleep. His left arm now resting on his face. As if shielding his eyes from the sunlight. Even though this room was pretty dark.

"Excuse me," I said in their direction. Hoping that hearing me would wake them up. "Excuse me" I said louder this time. But nothing happened, not even a stir.

A sense of panic was about to wash over me as I imagined that they were dead, but then I saw their chest rise and fall and I suddenly felt calmer.

I couldn't help but notice how starkly different their skin tone was. The boy next to me had very deep warm skin. He had a strong jawline with high cheekbones, his brows full, hair thick and in a texture that I recognised as being coily. He was perfect, not one mark or scar on his skin. Only a birthmark that strangely resembled mine on the arm that was over his face. His birthmark much dark than mine.

I felt compelled to be closer to his body. I wanted to feel how warm he could be.

My eyes travelled to the person he was holding hands with. The girl next to him was breathtaking. She had very pale skin, that opposed her thick black straight hair. She looked smaller in frame to me. Her collarbones much more prominent than mine. My eyes travelled down to the top of her breast. Feeling uncomfortable, I did not further lower my gaze. I have never thought of another woman this way. For that I was certain, but her body was so beautiful. Even her face. She had thinly shaped high brows, her top lip thinner than her full bottom lip.
I wanted to wake both of them up. I felt like it was important for me to know how their eyes looked like. How it would feel like to have both of their eyes on me. Would they find me attractive?

I cleared my throat, at the alien feeling I felt toward these strangers.

I finally decided to look to my left, there were also two people laying there on their backs. A girl and a boy. I was still holding this boy's hand. The first thing I realised when I looked towards them is that they were also holding hands and the girl had a similar birthmark to mine on her shoulder. Her skin was much more tan than mine, so her birthmark was also much darker. Her hair a very dark brown. Her heart-shaped face looked so peaceful, her lips were naturally full with a so unique indentation on the middle of her bottom lip that made her already beautiful face much more stunning. Her skin looked so supple and soft. I wanted to reach with my free hand towards her face and feel her skin.

The boy next to her was a blonde with the prettiest face. His eyebrows so pale that they blended with his already pale skin. He had high cheekbones, with a significantly fuller top lip with a sharp cupid's bow. I never wanted to let go of his hand.

A feeling of warmth and comfort washed over me. A feeling that I don't think I have ever felt before. Somehow I felt safe. So I reached for the guy on my right's arm and laid down on his chest, whilst wrapping his arm around me. I still had not let go of the other guy's hand.

I could hear the stranger's heartbeat as I laid on his chest. Like a lullaby, I closed my eyes.

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When I opened my eyes, I was laying on a hospital bed.

I sighed.

It was a dream.

But it felt so real.

Deep down I could still hear that boy's heartbeat.

Thirsty. I pressed on the green button above my bed for any hospital staff that could explain to me why I was here.

Once I pressed, 30 seconds later a red-haired nurse appeared. She had a friendly face, but held an awkward smile. She looked to be in her mid 30s. Her cheeks flushed, as if she had ran a marathon.

"Hi Enez, I see that you're awake" she said. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, thank you. But why am I here?" I rasped. My throatt felt so dry.

"Well, an incident occurred and you were one of people we found in need of medical care" she said. "Do you remember anything?" She asked me.

An incident?

Like a wave, the memory of the machines blowing up, the doctors passed out on the ground, my birthmark lighting up and Grandma's empty hospital bed came crashing down on me.

Oh no. Grandma!

"What happened to my Grandma? Is she okay? I remember that she was not on her bed and the doctors... How did they all fall to the ground like that? And the machines? Did you see them?" I uncontrollably rambled. I just wanted answers. I needed them.

I wasn't used to not having control.

"Sweetie calm down" she said this as she gave me a plastic cup with water. "Now drink this slowly. You don't want to throw this up. You're a bit dehydrated".

I sipped the water she held out to me in response.

"Now, I can't tell you much. But the police are here to take your statement and explain everything". She said. Her eyes looking apologetic.

It made me uncomfortable the way she looked at me. It resurfaced the familiar feeling of vulnerability. A feeling that I promised myself that I would never feel.

I nodded in response.

"Now rest Enez, the police will be here in the afternoon to collect your statement."

I nodded. Suddenly, I felt tired again.

I closed my eyes and this time I dreamt of dancing around a fire on a beach at night, with the strangers who now seemed to haunt me.