In Our Image: Bloodline

Chapter Eight

The next few days at school Immy and Colson are connected at the hip, it seems their unannounced relationship is taking root and Harkyn is not without notice. He doesn't say anything but Immy can sense uneasiness in her lifelong friend whenever Colson is around. In the end it's not enough to deter her from the feeling she has when she is around Colson, the feeling of being fragile, of being vulnerable, of being normal, of being just a girl.

If the ability to shadow walk, to have to live off of the life fluid of humans and animals, of speed and agility and strength inhuman were not enough to remind her she was anything but normal, her mother drove the point home. Not out of cruelty but out of worry and protection.

Harkyn was spared no less, his training and teachings have bonded him and Immy together. Until Colson Immy never stepped outside of her comfort zone, to school, home and interactions when necessary as to not draw too much attention. This is uncharted territory and a welcome change to her.

It is this that made it all the more blissful when he finally did it. During lunch, outside on a picnic table where Immy sat scrolling through her phone and away from the prying eyes of students who wonder why she never eats he...

"Hey lady, why you always out here alone?" Colson asks as he approaches the table Immy sits at.

Immy smiles as her screen times out and goes black, "I don't know, guess I've never been a fan of cafeteria food."

"Yeah, shit is awful right, I mean we're supposed to be the future but the feed us like... well you know. On the upside, the chocolate milk though... now this is the nectar of the gods." Colson replies smiling as he removes a small carton of chocolate milk from his blue Redeemers letterman jacket and peels it open.

"So what's up coleslaw, why are you out here with the cool kids?" Immy asks jokingly knowing she's the only one outside alone.

"You know, can't be seen with you in there, my reputation and all." He replies teasingly after taking a drink of his milk.

"Mmhm, we can pretend." Immy shrugs while opening her phone back up.

Colson notices the news article she has open, "What you got going on there Immy?" He asks curiously.

Immy still perusing the breaking news article, "It's so damn weird, you know these murders and killings that have been happening?"

Colson nods and takes another drink, "Yeah creepy as hell, I mean horror movie status you know? Like Manson from back in the day with the occult crap."

"Yeah it's worse... well the Pope is actually speaking on it, calling them a crime not only against humanity and the sanctity of life but also god and the church is aiding law enforcement in any way it can, whatever that means."

"I mean I hope it ends, hitting a little too close to Jasper for my liking. Hey Immy, you're reading about the Pope, you religious?"

Immy shrugs, "Yeah I guess you can say that, I mean you won't find me at church on Sunday but I think there's more out there than just us."

I know there is coleslaw, but it's nothing like the stories... its worse.

Colson looks down at the ground kicking his feet around for a second in thought then takes another drink, "I don't know... I mean I've never felt the holy ghost or anything like that, I think maybe it's just... I don't know."

Immy looks up at him, "So you don't believe I'm guessing."

"I just don't have a reason to I guess, I mean like I said I've tried praying, never heard anything back, no sign no voice not even goose bumps. I guess in the end as long as I try to be a decent person it'll all even out in the end whether I'm wrong or right you know?"