chosen

Chapter Twenty-One : Hayden Coleman

"So where are the three of you heading?" a man suddenly groans hoarsely.

My consciousness very slowly starting to regain.

"Camping," someone says calmly next to my ear, "We were just coming out to the city to get a bite to eat. My sister here fell asleep just after the entrees."

"And I thought I would be the first to fall asleep!" a young voice exclaims, a voice I recognize to be the young boy that helped me in the alley.

They've saved me. They've really saved me.

"Where are you all from?" the man asks hoarsely again as the floor beneath me begins to sway for a split second. The sound of ignition working itself too hard. We're in a car.

"New York."

"Wow, far travels! And what brought you here to Washington?" the man, I now know to be the driver, asks.

"Our uncle owns a camp ground, and we thought it would be a good way to spend Christmas," the young man says beside me.

I completely forgot that Christmas Eve was tomorrow. Being that Cascade High gets out on the 23rd of December this year, which is totally unusual. Father is going to be devastated when he realizes I'm not home! He's going to hate me. He'll never be able to look at me the same, I know it! It's strange that once you become an adult and a hybrid species how things like Christmas don't have there magical touch anymore.

I notice the surface that I am lying on is slowly rising and falling. I'm laying on someones chest.

"But I bet Christmas in New York is nice," the driver sighs.

"It is," the young boy also sighs.

Slowly someone begins to press small circles on my shoulder and behind my neck. Soothing small circles. Which quickly brings a sense of comfort and safety to me. A feeling that I know absolutely one hundred percent that I am safe.

"No wonder your sister is knocked out cold!" the driver exclaims, "I'd be as tired as horse on a hot and sunny day if I were traveling from New York to Seattle!"

Sister? That's what they told the driver? That I am there sister? That's a pretty clever cover up.

Ever so slowly, I nudge my head closer to a strong heat source on the persons chest. My entire body rigid cold and numb.

I should be glad, grateful, that I am not experiencing nearly as much pain as I was before. Yet some of that pain still tingles through me.

Suddenly, a sigh of relief escapes from the person I'm resting on.

"Glad you're alive," he whispers in my ear in a contented way, "I was starting to worry about you."

The young boy and the driver begin to pick up small talk.

"I'm in a lot of pain," I croak, my eyes still sealed shut, "And I'm c-cold."

The young man ever so gently pulls me closer to his side. Placing what feels like a blanket or a heavy coat on top of me. Rubbing his hand softly on my arms to create friction.

"I know," he murmurs, "You took that beatin' real hard. It's okay though, Jack and I will take good care of you. You're safe with us."

The smallest smile inches it's way across face as I push myself closer to his warm chest. It feels good to know that I'm protected and taken care of. I feel as though everywhere I go now, those that know that I'm a hybrid, take care of me and look out for my well being. But these two, I don't think they know who I am. I'm just a normal person to them who got beat up in an alleyway! I'm not shy TommyGirl whose father is the joke of the small town, or the new hybrid that's best friend just went missing. I'm just no named, me.