Arrow

Chapter Two: Trap

Darkness was quick to overtake, it was inevitable, it was that part of a person's life that needed to be overcome every single day, the part that everyone hated and wished was over dramatically soon, that was what darkness had meant to me.

The night air was cold, I could feel it even through the bricks of the home, it didn't matter if the days were hot, it didn't matter that it was the middle of summer, the night air remained cold, a reminder of the creatures inhabiting the darkness.
Creatures themselves were always cold, inside and out, their souls were fictional and it could be felt through the night sky, through the bricks of my temporary hide-away.

I couldn't comprehend how different things were and each night as I sat awake, my body relaxed but my mind on alert, I tried to understand how something as considerable had happened, how something that had once held so much hope had crumbled so deep down into despair.

Coby was asleep, had been for a good six hours. It was obvious to me that the kid hadn't been getting much sleep on his own and I found myself staring at his slumped body on the long lounge, my eyes roaming over his open mouth aimed at the ceiling in complete comfort.
Suddenly I felt myself brave pride, I was the reason this kid could sleep peacefully, I was the reason he felt safe, something about it made me feel good about who I had turned into.
Three years ago, I wasn't that person, three years ago I was the complete opposite, I was placid, laid-back and passive, I had no care in the world, I had no shame in allowing my emotions to breathe freely, and sometimes I missed that person, but that person died the minute the world changed, the minute I saw the news headlines as I sat with my family in my living room.

I sighed as I leaned my head back into a recliner; it was about midnight judging by how long the sun had been down and no sign of sleep seemed to tempt me. As usual, the nights that appeared after each new day continued to elude me, I was too on edge, I was too aware that at any moment a threat could appear and attempt to diminish me.

My ears were alert as I listened to the silence of the room, it was bliss, yet completely familiar. Outside, I could hear the chaos of creatures moving around the city in search of food, in search of humans and their pulsating blood passages. Creatures came in all shapes and sizes, the remnants of their past life being that of what they wore, their height, build and hair colour. It didn't matter what nationality a person was, once they were transformed their skin rushed white, almost blue with azure veins the highlight of their change. It wasn't just their skin that gave away the identity of a creature, it was many things, many frightening things I'd come across at many points of my life so far.

Eventually, Coby began to stir as I stared up at the stained ceiling, his hands were twitching and his eyes undertook the emotional war of flitting open, bringing his mind back into reality.
I had managed to capture a reasonably calm three hours sleep, the normal for me as I sat up, my head aimed at Coby as his eyes lifted and slit open to adjust to the new found light leaking inwards through the curtains.

I sighed before I leaned forward, I quickly but thoroughly stretched my limbs out wide before standing to take a peek out the living room window beside the front door. The sun had begun its ascent upwards, its light rays shining through the buildings cascading elegantly around the house.

"Morning sunshine" I groaned inwardly towards Coby as I aimed back towards the dining room table, my backpack and bow still in place beside each other.

"What time is it?" He grumbled as he rubbed his eyes, his posture stiff and uncomfortable as he stretched and winced at the same time

"I'd say about six thirty" I answered unzipping the main pocket of my bag, shuffling inside for breakfast

"We should probably get moving" He sighed as he stood, his arms above his head as he turned towards me with a small smile in place

"Here" I spoke, tossing a small can of baked beans in his direction, his hands rushing out to catch it before it could land against the hardwood floor