The Dark Gift

Poor Planty

1 or 2 hours later and Jacobs parents continue to question me about what what happened and how I ended up where I was. Most questions went along the lines of 'what did they look like' or 'do you know why they did it?'. And every time I would shrug my shoulders or try to avoid the conversation.

 'They would be disgusted in me if I told them why', it continued to get brighter and brighter outside until the blue night sky was at the edge of a pumpkin colored one, morning was creeping closer. Fire still crackling, mug empty, and I was starting to feel slight discomfort in my stomach.

"How long have you been up for?"

Mrs Sarlento replies, "we got up at around about 20 minutes before you".

"why though?" I was quite curious, and I felt bad if it was my doing.

"well, we just thought that you would wake up." Mrs Sarlento continued "And we would feel bad if you were by yourself if you woke up" "but don't worry we usually get up very early as you know".

I did know, Jacobs mom worked at a bakery and had to get up early to bake fresh pastries. And his dad spent all day in the forest, he chopped an assortment of wood and sometimes hunted deer to sell alongside it. But his wife did not approve of that last part.

"Nicole, Cole how come you're not at work?" I ask.

Mrs Sarlento laughed a little. "To look after you"

I felt my face redden. Damn, I didn't want them to skip work because of me. I yawned, stretching my arms over my head.

"Is it okay if I go to bed?" I asked quietly. 

"Of course hon" said Mrs Sarlento "just let me quickly warm up the guest room for and you can pop in their for the night". She walked towards the hallway but then swung back around and walked up to me, she asked "are you hungry?".

I looked at her, she was so close to my face that I could see all of her features. She almost reminds me of a bear, fierce yet to some people, interesting and cute, and she'll protect he child no matter what. I nod my head, she smiles back at me and brushes her thick brown hair behind her ear. Nicole then bustles off to the kitchen where pots and pans can be heard clunking and banging.

"I need to ask you something". I turn my head to Jacob and saw him staring at me with a worried expression.

I replied "Of course". Cole looked to me then his son and slinked away, leaving just me and Jacob alone. Silence stretched out for a while until.

"Why did they hurt you?". I froze, I was expecting to be asked this at some point, particularly  by him. I looked down into my lap, pulling the blanket closer to me.

"i'll tell you some other time"

"I deserve to know, I was the one who saved you"

I looked up and saw anger in his face, but even though he looked angry I knew he was worried. I sigh, "fine, but can we go someplace else?".

He nods, we both get up and head to the guest room. With the blanket still tightly hugging me, I quietly walk towards the door. It creaks open, the room was cosy and warm. Jacob sat on the fleece blanket that covered the bed, legs crossed.

He looked at me in the eye, "can you finally tell me what was going on?"

I couldn't explain what was going on. He would freak out, and never want to be near me. I looked into his eyes 'he deserves the truth'.

I slowly get onto the bed and sit down opposite to him, in the same position. I take my right hand and open it to only reveal my palm. He stared at me with a confusion but as I started flexing my fingers his face turned into a look of awe. My fingernails become about as sharp as cat claws,  they are long and flat. I reach over towards a ordinary pot plant sitting on the bedside table. And using just my fingernail I touch it.

The leaves of the plant age with rapid speed, turing brown then black, decaying and falling softly to the dirt at the bottom.