Survival

Skyrah

We go back to Emory’s house and we go upstairs to sort out sleeping arrangements.

“We have one spare room, so someone shares with me and the other two share the spare room” Emory says leading us into the spare room.

“Rick and I have shared a bed before so we will take this room” I say and Emory and Raine leave the room.

“We were born for this Skye, you don’t have to worry, okay?” Alaric says putting his hand on my face.

“I know” I say leaning into his hand. I look at a clock on the wall, it’s 8pm. We go downstairs for dinner. We sit at the table in the dining room and the food materializes. A hamburger sits on the plate in front of me with fries and a glass of black juice, I recognise it as Lifeblood berry juice. They are small black berries that are rumoured to have certain properties. They are supposed to make you younger, so you age slower if you have enough, I just think it is a berry, it tastes good though. I get through my burger with lightning speed, I don’t realise how hungry I am until I actually eat. We finish and the plates vanish to reveal a bowl filled with rich chocolate cake, it tastes good, but I notice that hollow feeling in my belly, after experiencing real food I know how fake it is. The food gives you the illusion of eating, it tricks you into thinking that you are eating, but it is just a hologram. We still have food stores so people have fridges and they can keep actual food but to prevent time taken cooking they came up with this. Smart. Controlling us even more by forcing us to eat whatever they give us without having to waste resources. Alaric and I go upstairs to get ready for bed.

“I have nothing to sleep in” I whine.

“Here” he says and takes his shirt off handing it to me, I try not to look at his abs but I can’t help my eyes wandering to his stomach.

“Turn around pervert” he says, mimicking my words on the beach, I give him a sarcastic smile. I take my shirt off and I hear the door open.

“Oh, uh, am I interrupting something here?” Emory asks, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

“Oh, no, we were, we were just getting changed” I say crossing my arms over my chest.

“I don’t have anything for you Skye but I thought that Alaric could have some of mine” Em says handing the pyjamas to Alaric. He smiles at me and walks out. I take the boots off and then strip away the tight trousers. I throw the shirt Alaric gave me on, I’m small so it goes halfway down my thighs, leaving most of my legs bare. I look at Alaric and he wears a pair of grey pyjamas.

“You tired yet?” Rick asks, I shake my head. I peel the duvet away from the bed and slide in, pulling the cover back over me. Alaric turns the light off and climbs into the bed.

“You lied earlier, you know that right?” Alaric says putting his arm around my shoulder. He smells like Sandalwood.

“What? When?” I ask. I don’t remember lying.

“You said that you weren’t perfect, and you lied” He says simply. I can feel my cheeks heat up. Alaric thinks that I’m perfect?

“There is a line between truth and opinion” I say matter-of-factly.

“It isn’t my opinion, anyone can see it” he says taking my hand in his free one. I feel my heart sink slightly. I’m flattered that he thinks I’m perfect. But I’m sad that he doesn’t mean it. It isn’t his opinion. It can’t be.

“I don’t think that’s true Rick” I say breathing out heavily.

“Why can’t you see how beautiful you are?” he says, I notice agitation in his voice.