Deadwood Stains

4: Shake

[Shake]

Pieces of shattered glass were everywhere. Raven-boy tossed aside the worn out chair he used to break the window and gestured me to come with him.

“You gotta be kidding me."

This is a suicide mission!

“Jump!"

“Are you insane?!"

While I was complaining, the door burst open. Goosebumps covered my whole being.

“Stop bickering and start moving. Here it comes!" He pushed me towards the window and forced me to jump.

For goodness sake, this is the second floor!

“W-wait!!"

I closed my eyes and shrieked. Memories of my life flashed before me.

I am too young to die!

I was expecting a splatter when suddenly something caught me. Thick foliage. It somehow mitigated the impact of my fall.

I stumbled on my side and hit the ground. Raven-boy followed as well. He hurriedly extracted me like it was nothing and excruciating pain shocked my senses.

I twisted my left ankle due to the fall.

I looked back and saw the thing screeching loudly. I was afraid it will follow us but the thing just turned and left the window.

Relief flooded my senses and the rush of adrenaline made me wobbly.

“Oi!"

Raven-boy paused and turned his head to the source. I quickly followed his line of sight.

A young man about my age ran towards us. It was already dim and my vision was obscured. As he got closer, my eyes widened.

He was tall and well-built with a mane of red and features of a young rogue.

Will?

“What the fuck is that thing?! Are you alright?! What the heck is happening?!" He barraged me with questions, one after another.

I was about to respond when I noticed that Will was eyeing Raven-boy.

“I'll explain later. We need to find safe grounds to stay. It's no good to discuss things here."

Raven dismissed the talk promptly and walked away. I limped along with him and Will followed me.

“Need a lift?" Will asked with a worried face.

“No, I'm fine. H-hey!! Put me down!" He carried me like a sack on his shoulders.

“I can't hear you." He answered with a smirk.

“Give up. I won't put you down no matter what. It's futile to resist." He boldly stated. I smacked him hard on the shoulder blade.

“Oi. Quit that, Loris. You want that thing to catch up to us?"

That made me stop. He's right. I was slowing them down. I should be feeling grateful that he carried me.

“Sorry if I am heavy." I mumbled. He shifted my position, carrying me like a damsel in distress.

“No problem." He got this easy looking face staring at me. I smiled deep inside.

It felt good that there was a familiar face around. I met Will on a hospital my Mom was working on. He was usually a regular there due to the fact that he's a magnet for brawls. And I was a bit surprised to see him here 'cause I thought that he went missing a few months ago.

“Where have you been these past few months, Will?"

“Hmm? Inside your heart, I guess?" Then he gave a hearty laugh.

Flirty as usual. That's our Will, alright.

“So you're the one giving me heartburns. Great. " I shot down his line while laughing gently.

He flashed his white set of teeth. “That stings." He feigned hurt. I can't help but to laugh even in this situation.

“Seriously, this is not a good time for flirting." Raven snidely remarked.

I frowned at him as Will looked bothered yet we said nothing as they jogged along.

“Why are we not heading for the gate? We must get out of here." I queried Raven-boy after a while but Will answered.

“The school gate's all locked up, princess." I rolled my eyes at his endearment.

Then the thought settled in. “What?!"

I was about to question him more but drops of cloudburst started to fall. Rain poured heavily before we reached another building. I was soaked and freezing all over. Same goes to the other two. I squinted my eyes to see better. The place was out of electricity.

It looks like the guard's quarters.

I hugged my knees to conserve heat as they knocked on the entrance.

“Where are these people? They should be on duty right now." Will released a few curses.

I was shivering all over. My left ankle was in pain accompanied by cuts and bruises I got from the incident. I closed my eyes and imagined that everything must just be a bad a dream. But I know its all real.

The pain is real. The cold is real. The thing is real. All damn real.