Okay, so I haven't written anything in at least 4 years, but this is the first story to go public. Your reviews are important! Also I suck at writing mystery stories so bear with me. But I hope you enjoy!
Note: I own nothing but the story.
The night was young, as was he. He straightened his fang like bangs to an almost perfect point, running his fingers through after to add a little fluff to them. With a small, nervous sigh, he stared himself down in the mirror.
'You can do this', he thought.
For the first time in 14 years, he was free. Free from the torture. Free from the control. Free from...Him.
Tala shuddered.
He quickly shook his head. Like that would diminish the memories. Or, rather, the nightmares.
Tala looked back at himself. His once lively frost blue eyes were paled with emptiness. The color had vanished from his skin, leaving him looking as porcelain as a doll. He was a shell. Just an empty vessel with no reason, no purpose. At least, not anymore. But after fighting for your life everyday of your life, being forbidden from feeling, from dreaming, from sunlight, what would you do when, or if, you gained freedom?
A knock on the door behind him jolted Tala from his thoughts.
"Are you ready yet?" Spencer called out. "The night won't stay young forever!"
Tala smirked at the closed door then turned back to the mirror. With one last quiet sigh, he puffed his chest out slightly and answered, with false enthusiasm, "Let's do this!"
The pounding of music drifted out from the night club as Spencer, Tala, and Ian searched for an open parking space. If he'd had known it would have been this packed, Tala would have just stayed home with his own whiskey and a movie. But maybe that's why Spencer didn't give any info about it. Being shut away like Tala, Spencer and Ian understood the anxiety of socializing, but considering they were 'released' long before Tala, it would be hell for him. So they'd just have to help him.
"Jesus, are we even gonna be able to breathe in there?" Ian joked.
"Well, princess here decided to take an eternity with her hair so naturally we're a little late," Spencer laughed, teasing Tala's hair.
Tala snorted, "Give be break, man. I need to look somewhat presentable. Conside-"
"Found one!" Spencer jerked the car into a small space near the end of the lot. Secretly he was thankful to have cut Tala off. He might never speak of the horrors he endured alone, but tonight Tala was to not think or mention the pit of hell they crawled out of. Tonight, they were different demons of the night. They were party animals.
Once inside, heat him them almost as hard as the bumping bass. Tala could feel his chest vibrate with every boom. The guys paid their fee, got their mark and pushed their way to bar, Tala following closely behind the others. He couldn't help but glance over his shoulder every few seconds. His palms were wet with sweat and he could feel his breathing quicken.
'Just stay calm,' he thought to himself, 'everything's fine. I'm fine..'
"What can I getting ya, sweetie?" The loud bartender shouted, interrupting Tala's thoughts. Poor guy can't get a thought today.
"Whiskey," he piped. He cleared his throat. "Whiskey. Any brand. On the rocks."
The bartender nodded and went to work. Spencer glanced at Tala. He couldn't help but pity the poor guy. At 24, he was so awkward, so on edge, never had any fun. Now he's got the chance, but can't even enjoy it.
'Maybe this wasn't the best idea,' Spencer thought.
With ease the bartender brought the guys their drinks, took the payments, and tended the others staggering up to the bar.
"A toast!" Spencer called. Ian raised his glass alongside him. "To Tala." Tala stared, puzzled, and raise his glass. "May tonight bring you many smiles, my friend. This is the first night of the rest of your life."
"To Tala!" Ian pounded his shot and plopped the glass down, calling out for another.
Spencer passed a wink at Tala before downing his and Tala followed suit. Ian pounded his second shot, replaced the glass on the bar and turned to the crowd. His eyes skimmed over everyone.
"There's a lot of cuties tonight!" He exclaimed. Spencer nodded. Ian's eyes stopped and fell on a blonde dancing the night away. "Hey, I'll be back." He tapped Spencer's arm.
Before he could say a word, Ian was on the move, leaving Spencer and Tala to just watch. They both smirked when they noticed where he was going. Spencer turned back to the bar.
"So?", he asked. Tala turned back to the bar. "Want another?"
"Yeah, why not?" he shrugged.
The two had their two shots each and decided to settle with a beer after. Tala didn't say much. He continued to watch his back. He just couldn't relax. What he saw Him? What if He was watching? What would Tala do? Tala breathing picked up in pace again. He could feel a knot form in his stomach and now he didn't know if that weight in chest was a result of the bass or an incoming anxiety attack.
"Hey," Spencer planted a hand on Tala's shoulder. Tala jumped. "Dude, relax. It's all over."
"I know, I'm sorry," he panted.
"Don't be, but really, you gotta calm down. You're going to send yourself into an attack and you don't want to do that here."
Tala took a deep breath in and exhaled. He did this a couple of times. Spencer had said his little sister used to have them when they were younger. Their mother used to have her do the deep breathing to help calm her and it helped. Most of the time.
Ian returned, the blonde girl practically hanging off his arm.
"Dudes, what are you doing? Come out here! She's got some friends for ya!"
Spencer smiled. He turned to Tala, saying, "That sound great."
The guys followed her to a corner of the club where wrap around couches and chairs decorated the floor. She led them to a spot where two other girls, one brunette and one with dyed pink hair, sat with three other guys. The brunette jumped to her feet and approached the blonde.
"Alex!" she chirped, "who's your new friends?"
"I'm Spencer," he took the brunette's hand softly. "My friend, Ian, seems to have taken to Alex. And this one here is Tala."
Tala simply smiled and gave a little nod. The brunette beamed. "I'm Hilary!"
"How lovely," Spencer winked. She giggled.
"The pink haired girl, that's Mariah and the guy next to her is her boyfriend, Ray. The other two are Max and Tyson." Hilary leaned in close, "They're a couple, too."
Spencer nodded at them all. Tala stood silent, fighting with himself not to look over his shoulder.
'You're fine,' he told himself.
"You okay there?" Hilary asked Tala.
Before he could respond or even grin, Ian spoke up.
"He's just shy. Now let's go! We gonna dance or what?" Almost lifting Alex off her feet, Ian swept her away. The other two couples followed suit eagerly and laughing.
"Tala," Spencer started.
"Go," Tala responded. He offered a smile. "I'm sure I'll be fine. You go have fun, I'm just going to relax."
Looking him over, Spencer nodded solemnly at Tala who offered another small smile. Hilary looped her arm through Spencer's and off they went.
Tala placed himself on the red wrap around couch and sank in, hoping it would calm his nerves. He watched his friends enjoy themselves. Watched them laugh, smile, and dance with two lovely women. Watched them from a distance.
And then it hit.
From a distance.
That's all it had ever been like for him is seeing them from a distance. No way to help them.
His palms wet with sweat.
No way to ease their agony.
His chest tightened.
No way to save them.
Tala gasped. He couldn't breathe. The attack was hitting and getting stronger by the second. He leaped to his feet. Looking back and forth, he panicked, searching for a way out.
He needed air.
He pushed past a couple grinding heavily on each other. Past a waitress, almost causing her to drop a tray of beer.
He stopped. He only saw a wall of people, no door. He gasped for air and turned around, then turned again. His vision began to blur.
'Where's the god damn door?!'
Suddenly, a hand gripped his elbow and he felt another fall on the opposite hip. He felt the strength of those hands push him. Where? He didn't know. Nor could he focus enough to.
Tala flung his hands, one hit a wall in front of him, another what felt like a wall behind him.
There was a grunt.
Then, unexpectedly, cold air smacked him the face.
The hands pushed him a few more steps, a turn, and a few more steps. Then he hurled over, landing on all fours on the pavement, gasping.
He felt a hand press on his back, another pulled the hair from his face.
"Just breathe," a deep voice cooed.
Tala took a deep breath of cold in and shakily pushed it out. He did this again.
And again.
And again.
After what felt like an hour, Tala's breathing began to ease, his pounding heart calmed. He opened his eyes and stared at the crack in the sidewalk beneath him. Dark spots decorated the concrete from the tears he shed during his spasm. He felt weak, tired, cold.
'No wonder I'm cold, I'm outside,' he thought. 'Wait... When did I get outside? How did I get outside?'
Tala summoned what little strength he had and pushed himself up to his knees. He quickly registered his surroundings, he was in a dark alley right next to the club.
He vaguely remembered feeling those rough hands. That soothingly deep voice.
'Who,' he wondered. 'Who brought me out here?'
Tala rose to his feet and walked toward to the glow of the street light out front of the club. With tired eyes, he looked up and down the street and sidewalk.
'Who...'