When hidden from the light

Chapter 9

I was still sitting in bed, starring at the page when I heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" I asked, annoyed.

"It's Elana." I small voice said from the other side of the room.

"I have some more clothes and some new bandages, can I come in?" She added.

"Okay." I said, just loud enough for her to hear.

I heard the door open and she entered the room. She walked over and put the clothes and bandages on a chair.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

I looked up from the page. She was looking at me with worry in her eyes.

"I'm fine." I replied before looking back at the page.

Why does she worry so much for a stranger? We knew nothing about each other but she seemed determined in helping me. My hands started shaking when I looked back at the names on the page. I quickly folded the page and stuffed it in my pocket. As soon as I healed I would be leaving and I wouldn't be going home, there is a place I have to visit now. A place I haven't seen in years. I got out of bed and walked over to the window. From where I'm standing I can see across the street to a cafe.

"You want to go to the cafe across the street?" I asked softly.

"Sure."

I turned to see Elana with a huge smile on her face.

"Let's go then." I said and I gave her a little smile.

I left the room, checking to make sure Elana was following me. We left the house and walked across the street to the cafe.

"I can pay." Elana said.

"No, it's okay, I'll pay, but because I'm paying, you have to talk to me and answer my questions, okay?" I said.

She nodded."Okay."

I bought two doughnuts and two hot chocolates. It was a cold fall day and the sky looked like it would rain any minute. I set a doughnut and a mug of hot chocolate in front of Elana and I started to eat my doughnut. When I finished eating I looked at Elana.

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because you seem lonely and in need of help."

"I seem lonely." I repeated.

"Yes."

"So you decided to invite a stranger into your home?"

"I guess, but you're a nice person, so does it really matter that you're a stranger?"

"Yes, it matters." I said.

"Josiah?"

I turned around. Damian Barton was standing at the door of the cafe. He looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep. He rushed over to me.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry, I should of protected you better, it's all my fault-"

"Barton, I'm okay." I said.

Then Barton noticed Elana.

"Josiah, who is this?"

I sighed.

"This is Elana, she was kind enough to let me stay at her house while I recovered."

"While you recovered? They hurt you?!"

"Barton, chill. I'm fine"

"Why didn't you contact me?"

"Because I didn't want to bother you, and it could of been too risky."

"Josiah, who is this person?" Elana asked.

"Uh, this is Damian Barton." I said.

"He's my boss." I added, trying to clarify.

"Both of you, come with me" Barton said.

We followed him out of the cafe. Thankfully Elana and I had finished our food, it would of been a shame if we had to of left it sitting on the table. We followed him to a vehicle and we all got in. All throughout the drive Barton kept looking at me through the mirror. When we finally arrived I noticed we were parked outside of a house. It was quite big. We entered into a living room and we all took off our shoes and Elana and I sat on a couch. The room was big with a flat screen tv and two couches. There was a painting on a wall and a big window. Barton stayed standing.

"Okay." Barton said.

He turned to Elana.

"You must not tell anyone about Josiah, you understand?"

"Yes." Elana said.

Barton then turned to me and what he said next surprised me.

"Does she know? About your eyes, does she know?"

It wasn't exactly what he said that surprised me. But the language in which he spoke to me. He spoke in my home language. He must of done a fair bit of research about me to know I came from Europe.

"No, she doesn't know." I replied in the same language.

Then I switched back to english.

"But why should you care Barton? Why do you worry about me? You should of left me. You're endangering yourself by being around me."

"That's my decision and I'm already in danger, they already know that I know you. It doesn't change anything."

"Yes it does! You should stay away from me. Everyone I've ever known has either betrayed me or I've put them in danger, I don't want you to get hurt!"

"It's my decision!"

"Barton, I'm scary, I look like a demon and dangerous people are after me, you should be leaving me."

Then more softly I said. "Why do you care about me?"

"Because you are a special person, you're kind and strong, and brave and you don't deserve to be alone anymore!"

"No, I'm not kind, I'm rude and I complain about everything. I don't appreciate all the good times until they're over. I'm not strong, I'm weak! I couldn't even protect my family and it was all my fault! I cry all the time, and I'm scared to sleep because of nightmares! I'm not brave, I'm terrified of everything, even my own face!"

I take off my mask angrily, not thinking about what I was doing. I didn't think about the fact that Elana was still in the room. I didn't think about anything. Tears poured down my face.

"It's these eyes... these terrifying eyes that have caused me so much pain and you saw my eyes and still want to say I'm a good person?" I say quietly.

"Josiah?"

I turn around to see Elana. She looks at me with wide eyes.

"Your, your eyes." She said.

Hello there! I hope you all had a great day. I auditioned for a part in a play today. I'm pretty sleepy. How did you like this chapter? What do you think will happen next?