Scent of Blood

Chapter 7

Music for the chapter: 'Superglue' by Bittermilk, Parxed

_____________________________

Elis Lynn POV

It is funny how guilt can become a driving force. More so, a need to justify your actions. I wonder what I am seeking truly?

I have to pretend to be annoyed at the idea of us not pursuing the (non-existent) leads because I don't want to accept the reality of the situation.

What is that I am angry about? Our faces being flashed on the news or the information that we are going to lose by going into hiding?

Or was I angry that it was my mistake that we are in this situation, to begin with?

I can't talk to Neil until my thoughts are coherent. At the motel, I could keep my composure but now I feel I'm getting impatient.

Neil is behind the wheel and the air feels thick in the car. He concentrates on driving, maintaining the no speaking rule that I had set up.

His silence is almost mocking. I've known this man for so long that he became a part of my everyday. He came into my life like a gentle breeze. An indication of the cruel winter being swept away by the warm, approaching summer.

Just being with him makes you hope for a better tomorrow. He was so bright that it differed from his cold eyes.

He was so timid when I first met him. Standing at the doorstep of my home, a boy with dark hair and darker eyes, a shy smile who spoke gently to my aunt.

Kiyo was having a hard time with some boys from school. He told me Neil was there to help him. As much as I wanted to teach the boys who hurt Kiyo, I was happy that he found someone that he was comfortable around.

~flashback~

Kiyo was honestly a bubbly kid. But soon he started to change after joining 1st grade. A year had passed and he still hadn't made many friends.

The boy at the doorstep did show his kindness but I couldn't trust him completely until I knew more about him. Kiyo being 8 years old had poor judgment of people. So getting a boy who he just met was something out of the ordinary.

He invited him to spend the weekend with us. And I'm surprised the boy agreed to it. He looked older than me. And since he wore a similar uniform so I assumed he was from my school.

After that night, I walked around our classrooms to find him. He didn't look suspicious, but he seemed weirdly non-existent in school, like a ghost. I gave up on the search and decided to wait for the weekend to meet him.

Our doorbell rang on a Sunday morning and there he was, his cold eyes looking at me. But they soon leave my face to stare at the ground. When Saturday passed and he didn't show up I thought he'd never come.

Kiyo rushed to the door. Yesterday he was upset that his new friend forgot their promise. But the boy standing at the door brought the excitement back.

"Neil, you came!" he gushed, holding his hand and taking him into the house.

Neil was the topic of conversion during dinners. Kiyo wouldn't stop telling us how they both love basketball and how they planned to play all weekend. So having him finally at the house made me realize that this boy was real and not a ghost that Kiyo picked up somewhere.

After being dragged into our room by Kiyo, Neil was sitting on his bed. They were talking and seemed to get along really well.

I enter and Kiyo starts to introduce us.