Hey there! This is my first time publishing on this site, so I'm a bit excited and nervous to do this. I also have this same story on DeviantArt with a few more chapters if you want to read it there. This is a story I collaborated on with my friend EverStarcatcher, a rising star on DeviantArt. She also has some drawings of Ezekiel and Ally, so go check them out if you want. Constructive criticism is really helpful for a novice like me. I may go over this with my friend, but there are things that we might not have caught before I put it up. Just tell me, and I'll fix it ASAP. Now without further ado, my first published story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Ezekiel. He belongs to whoever the genius is that did create him.
Prologue
Ally's POV
I gasped at the sight of Ezekiel. He was terrifying. His entire body was black, except for his head, which was extremely pale. It reminded me of the color of new bed sheets. An awful, curling, trembling smile was fixed upon his face. His red eyes bore into me, but within their eerie glow, I saw a longing. Desperation? Loneliness... I could see it in his eyes, now that I focused on them. He was so lonely, all by himself with this sorry willow tree. My terror was slowly replaced with pity. I don't know much about feelings, but I do know what loneliness is like. Perhaps that's why he'd contacted me. He was monstrous, but he still had a heart, didn't he? My mother had always taught me that people, deep down, just want to be loved. Surely that applied to him? Yes. Yes, it did. Overcome with emotion I felt myself sprint forward and wrap my arms around him tightly.
Ezekiel's POV
I gasped at the sudden sensation of arms around me. For a moment, everything vanished and all I knew was Ally's embrace. Embrace. Love. So, this is what it felt like? This girl...she- she cares about me. I could feel the warmth of her skin tightly pressed against my own. Why? Why does she care? She's doing this of her own free will; I'm not forcing her to... I hadn't even noticed that my arms had been wrapped around her until her soft hair brushed against them. Her feelings were genuine and overwhelming. It's so...wonderful...beautiful... Tears began to unwittingly fall from my eyes.
Ally's POV
I smiled as I felt his arms slowly wrap around me, gently at first, as though he feared he would break me like fine china. Then I gasped as they gripped me with such an unspoken sense of desperation. For a moment everything was silent, then I felt him softly shake and faint sobs carried into my ears. I knew he was crying when my cheeks began to feel damp. After a few minutes of listening to this, I broke the silence with a simple, meaningful question, "How long has it been since someone's shown you kindness?"
Ezekiel's POV
Kindness? When was the last time I felt that? I don't think I ever really felt it. Suddenly, I was aware of a soft beating in my chest. My heart? I never experienced this before. Not before Ally. No, I can't do this. She's not like all the others, the ones that feared me and saw me as a monster. I want her to stay with me; I can't bear the thought of her dead. She's my only ray of hope in this dark and dreary world of mine. She's mine.
Ally's POV
After a while of just hugging one another, I tried to get out because of his arms gripping me too tight. But Ezekiel only held onto me tighter when he realized I wanted to let go. "Pl-Please...don't leave me. Stay, please," he said with such a pitiful tone, like a child who got a beating. "Don't worry Ezekiel. I'm not leaving, promise." "Promise?" he echoed with hope clear in his voice. "Cross my heart. I'll see you tomorrow." I felt Ezekiel's grip soften and I slowly stepped out of our hug. "Bye, see you tomorrow," I said as I looked directly in his eyes. I waved at him as I skipped back home from the willow tree. I watched as he stared at me until I couldn't see him. When I looked back, Ezekiel was gone, and I assumed that he went back into the tree branches.
Ezekiel's POV
"I have a heart beat," I said quietly to myself, as I brought a hand up to my chest to feel the serene sensation. It wasn't hollow anymore, my chest. I never knew I had a heart in the first place. But now I feel a slight ache in it. Why? I need her. I need Ally so much right now. I can't wait to see her tomorrow.