Because it's always fun being startled awake by a squirrel. XD
Waking up to darkness was starting to become a habit for me, as every time I closed my eyes or opened them that seemed to be exactly what I was greeted with. Oddly, this time instead of being cold, I was covered in warmth with something tickling my face and arms. A part of my mind wondered why my arms were being tickled when I had been wearing two jackets, but I slowly opened my eyes and found myself staring up at a pair of black eyes. I blinked, staring groggily at the face in front of me, before I shrieked and sat up-crying out in pain as I simultaneously hit my head against the stone wall and aggravated the wound in my side.
A hand on the back of my head where I got hit made me stiffen, alarmed at the sudden intruder. Turning my head I stared in surprise at the man who saved me, his face still covered by a mask with horns and a pair of bells dangling off of one. "You'll... reopen your head wound." He murmured quietly, gently pressing his finger against the bandage that was placed on my forehead beneath my bangs, just above my eyebrow and close to my temple. "It's not... safe to move." Seeing my blank, confused stare he pulled away. It was then I noticed that the fur he had attached to his mask earlier was gone...
I looked down at myself, shivering slightly and lifting the fur that was covering me up and holding it to my shoulder. "Um... you..." He looked at me, but I had no idea what he was thinking because of the mask. It was slightly unsettling, but I felt no ill will from him. Besides, if he wanted to kill me he would have done it earlier. "You patched me up?" He hesitated before nodding slowly.
"You... You are... not an enemy."
"What gave you that idea?" I asked, just for giggles more than anything. "I could secretly be an assassin or something. You never know."
He just stared at me. Blue Dragon, my mind thought. I still didn't know why.
"So," I began awkwardly, "Um, where are we?"
He was silent for a long moment, before saying, "We're in my room..."
His room? I looked around, but there wasn't really anything in here other than the two of us and the squirrel- "Ah! You're okay!" The squirrel stopped nibbling on the seed it had in its paws and looked up at me, quickly jumping onto the fur that was on my lap and climbing up it until it was on my shoulder, reaching up and nuzzling my face with its cold nose. "O-Okay, jeez. Aw... I was worried about you, too." I reached a hand out of the furry and ran a finger down its head and spine as gently as I could manage. "Hey, what did you say his name was?" Did he even say the squirrel's name? I don't remember. Everything is a little fuzzy.
"...Ao."
"Ow...? Oh, Ao. Nice name." He made a sound, seeming a little surprised at my reaction.
I nuzzled the squirrel with my cheek, the animal letting out the cutest "P'kyuu" sounds.
"You are just too cute!" I then paused, looking at the guy. "Wait, what's your name? I'm Irene." He stared, making me wonder if he was confused.
"...Blue... Dragon..." He finally said. "That's... what they call me." They?
"That's not... really a name." I responded in confusion.
He looked down and away from me, the bells dangling from his mask tinkling. "I don't... have a name."
I wondered how it was possible to not have a name, but decided not to dwell on it as my mind would only go to dark places. Instead I asked, "What should I call you then? "Blue Dragon" and "Masked Man" aren't really all that... good." He made a sound like he was about to say something, but he closed his mouth and looked away again. Every time he moved the bells jingled, catching my attention instantly. I wonder if he wore them because he wanted to be seen, but that just got me more confused as he was by himself. I stayed silent, waiting for an answer, but the man never spoke. "I have a question." He lifted his head and looked at me curiously. "Is your hair naturally blue or did you dye it?" The silence had been filling my mind with dark thoughts and memories, and at the moment I did not want to think about how I got here and so I decided to distract myself, using the only method I knew how to cope.
"...Natural..."
I dropped my jaw, gazing at him in shock. "What? No fair! I always wanted blue hair!" Okay, never mind. Looks like I'm going to deal with memories anyway. "Mom and Dad didn't want me to dye my hair completely though, so I had to settle for highlights. How do you even get natural blue hair?" Some kind of mutation? "Aw, you're so lucky! I then wanted black hair like my dad, but mom completely hates his guts and vice versa so she got mad and yelled at me. Dad was all for it, since it's my hair and all-he doesn't really care what I do with it, but every time I dye my hair I get so annoyed and want my natural brown back." I pulled at a chocolate-colored lock, staring at it from behind my glasses. "It's weird and I don't really get it. But your hair is so cool! I'm jealous!" I looked back at him and grinned, beaming.
His mouth was slightly agape, as if he wanted to say something again but didn't have the words. He seemed surprised. I'm beginning to think this is a face he makes a lot. I blinked.
"You okay? O-Oh! I know; I'll just call you "Blue". Is-Is that okay? S-Since your title or whatever is "Blue Dragon" and your hair is blue... and you're wearing a lot of blue... I-I thought it made sense. I'd give you an actual name, but anything I come up with usually is completely ridiculous, so..."
He just stared. After a moment of awkward silence he nodded, placing a hand against Ao (who had ran over and climbed up onto his shoulder during the conversation) and let the squirrel nibble on his fingers.
I can't even begin to describe how awkward and suffocating the next silence was. I tried desperately to think of a conversation topic, forcing the events of the crash out of my mind, and settled on jokes. "Um, Knock Knock."
"..."
"You're supposed to say "Who's there"." I informed, making a dry face. I wondered what his expression was beneath that mask. It was hard telling what he was thinking only by the movement of his mouth.
"...Who's... there?"
"Deja."
"..."
"Deja Who"?" I offered. His mouth opened again, realizing his mistake, and said,
"Deja Who?"
"Knock Knock!" I exclaimed. Blue just seemed confused at this point.
"Who's there?"
"Deja."
"...Deja-" He cut himself off, seeming to get the joke. I laughed loudly, slightly wishing I could see his face. His reaction was probably something amazing. It bugged me that I couldn't see his eyes-really, really bugged me-because the eyes are the door to the soul and it gave me insight onto what kind of person you are. I can only go with actions and words with this guy, and the aura he gave off. It was a bit rough, but I don't think he's a bad person...? He helped me after all. I cuddled underneath the fur, still smiling in amusement.
I felt a little discouraged that he didn't laugh, but figured that he was just a serious kind of person. Eventually my smile wore off and I made to pull my knees to my chest, but winced as I did so as it pulled on my side. Luckily my other wound was on my foreleg, so it didn't really hurt that much unless I brushed something against it or put too much weight on it.
"P'kyuu!" The squirrel cried out, repeating the sound multiple times as it ran about out, stopping to nibble on a rock only to spit it out as it made a face. I laughed a little when I saw it do so, but soon grew depressed again. Mom... Dad... My family, the few friends I had... how are they reacting to my disappearance? My "death". I remember the car getting hit from behind and-and then flipping once it hit the railing on the side of the road.
My chest tightened painfully.
The seatbelt I had on unbuckled and came loose. I think the metal hit me in the head? I'm not sure. I just remember grabbing onto the wheel when I started to fly, trying to stop my descent into the air all the while throw myself in front of Mom.
I gingerly rested a hand against my side, able to feel the deep gash from underneath the bandages. I cringed.
I don't remember when I got hurt, or stabbed, but only remembered how the crash happened and after when I called the police. Mom was unharmed, probably only had a bump on the head, but I... I really think I died. I resisted the urge to bury my face into the fur that was covering me, wishing I had some form of comfort. "H-Hey... B-Blue?" The bells jingled as he looked at me, making another sound when he most likely saw the tears in my eyes. "Where... Where did you put my jackets?" It had to have been him to take them off of me. He was the one who patched me up after all, and in order to do so he had to have removed them. It hurts... why does it hurt so much? It was like a hand was clawing into my chest and digging at my heart, deeper and deeper. It hurt to even breathe.
He suddenly stood, walking over and scooping the squirrel up off the floor. It made a squeak, surprised, but let Blue carry him as he walked back over to me. I lifted my head, bangs covering my face as I stared up at him confusion, watching him. Then, to my surprise, he knelt down and set Ao on my knees, the squirrel letting out another "P'kyuu" as it ran up my arm to my shoulder and nuzzled my face, my tears sinking into its fur. I stared with wide eyes, unable to respond. Blue then patted my head and stood, walking off and leaving me with only Ao for company.
I was at a total loss. It didn't take long for me to break down into tears, only hurting my throat as I tried to choke them back. My head pounded as a migraine began to form, my eyes burning from the waterworks. Ao nuzzled my face again, trying to comfort me, and I whimpered, saying, "I-I know, I know... I'm sorry..." I pulled my arms out from underneath the fur, hugging the small animal as best as I could. "I-I shouldn't be-I shouldn't be crying..." I'm so pathetic. I'm just... "I-I'm scared, okay? I-I'm scared and I'm worried. I-I have no idea how I got here a-and I... I just-" I wiped at my eyes, sliding my hand underneath my glasses and pushing them up as I tried to stop the tears. "I-I don't know what to do! It hurts!"
"P'kyuu..." I sniffled, hiccuping, and ground my teeth together as my lips kept curling back. My jaw hurt from how hard I was clenching it.
"A-And then I wake up with this stupid pain and-and some guy tries to kidnap me and I just..." I want to see mother. I want to see my brother and sisters. I want to see my dad and step-mom. My four friends-Chris, Eliza, Andrew, and Lilly.
I-I know Chris, Eliza and I were growing apart... even Lilly and I were starting to get distant. B-But Andrew has always been there. He was like a little brother (he's younger by a year, maybe a year and a half) and even as I grew more annoying and obnoxious, he's always stayed by my side. Back in elementary school, when it was just me, him, and Liam, he followed me around like a little duckling would its mother. And then once we hit middle school and we grew apart from Liam and he moved away to another school, Andrew and I stuck together, still best friends. Then I met Chris and Eliza-people he already knew- and we all just kind of clicked. But now that Chris, Eliza, Lilly, and I all had different classes we never really spoke anymore, and because of Chris and Eliza dating they started pushing me away.
They even started changing a little and... I'm not too sure how I feel about it. Chris has been more of a jerk and Eliza just... kinda ignores me. Andrew's in show choir instead of band, and I have no classes with him, so I only get to see him in the mornings before class and during lunch. After that I'm always by myself. Always sitting alone, always hiding in a corner or by a trash can.
Will they even care that I'm gone?
I suddenly remembered the kid who died. All those sticky notes on his locker, all those teachers and people mourning him... he was important to everyone. He was straight A's, active in a whole bunch of school activities and what not-he was important. Not only as a human being, not just as himself, but as somebody plenty of people probably looked up to. He was an older brother and a son. He was a friend to many people. I never really knew him, but I didn't have to in order to feel and see just how many people he touched the hearts of.
But what's the difference with me? Sure, my family will miss me and heck, Andrew probably will too, but will anybody else? Not likely. I'm just an annoyance in their lives... somebody they're better off without.
I've only started to get on better terms with Melissa recently...
Another wave of tears came and I choked, squeezing my eyes shut and hugging myself, Ao letting out a sad squeak as he pressed his cold nose against my cheek. "P'kyuu..."
Why did that man even bother saving me? Why did he bother patching my wounds up? I'll just be an annoyance to him as well... I have no other place to go. I know nobody but him, and he was the only nice person I've encountered and am starting to trust. The other man I saw tried to kidnap me, not giving a single care about the wounds decorating my body. "W-Why are you two... being so nice to me?" Aren't I just a bother?
I took another shaky breath, trying to force myself to stop crying. I took a long, painful sniff to try and rid myself of my runny nose and made a face as I only grew dizzy, my headache worsening.
"I-I'm sorry, Ao..." I gave a weak smile, trying to grin as I showed off my teeth. I pet the squirrel with my index finger, fighting against more tears. I somehow managed to hold them back. My chest still felt heavy. "I-I'm just being a wimp again, huh? I-I'll stop crying now. I-It's not like I can do anything about my predicament right n-now, anyway. Haha!" I just have to buck up and deal with it. I-I can... I can just go with the flow. Like I always do.
Nothing like some life changing event to mess with you, right? Right?
I hung my head, thoroughly upset.
"P'kyuu...?"
I heaved a long sigh. "I'm fine... I just... can't stop thinking, that's all. So don't look at me with those big eyes." I gave a small laugh again. "I'm sorry. I'll shut up now." I bet you're tired of my voice anyway.
The sounds of bells suddenly caught my attention. I lifted my head and turned, seeing Blue enter the room with my jackets in his arms. He knelt down and set them on the ground beside me, before taking a seat. "I was... getting the blood out. There's... a room with a small stream nearby." I looked at him in surprise.
"Really?" That would make sense as to where he gets something to drink, seeing as he lives down here... where does he get food though? Please tell me he isn't eating bugs... Wait, he did what? I was stunned, but grateful. "Th-Thank you..." He simply nodded before turning away from me. "Ah-! D-Do you want your fur back!?" I quickly pulled it off and held it out, feeling like a jerk for hogging it for so long. "Th-Thank you for letting me use it..." He looked at me, mouth open again, before he slowly took the fur and reattached it to his mask, successfully covering up most of his azure hair.
Without wasting much time after (Ao having jumped off my shoulder to head back to Blue) I pulled my jackets back on, one at a time as I stood. I winced as I pulled on my side, stretching the wound accidentally as I tried to put my arms through my jacket sleeves. I fumbled to zip up the plaid, but after a moment I succeeded. I then promptly cleaned my glasses with my green jacket sleeve, blinking multiple times as I got used to being able to see clearly again. I relaxed and sat back down, wondering what I should do, and fiddled with my sleeves. "So... what's up?"
No response. He just stared at me as if he didn't know how he was supposed to answer.
"...How old are you? I'm sixteen."
He stayed silent again for a few moments, but actually responded. "I'm... eighteen..."
"You're two years older than me? Huh. Okay then. Wasn't expecting that." I laughed. "Then again, it's-it's kinda hard to guess someone's age when they're wearing a mask." He lowered his head again. My smile dropped instantly, realizing that I may have stepped onto a sour topic. "O-Okay, um, how'd you meet Ao?"
At the sound of his name the squirrel lifted his head. "P'kyuu?"
Blue looked at the squirrel sitting in his lap. "...I... saw her sitting in the rain..." He hesitated, looking at me before staring at back at the squirrel, lighting pressing his finger against its cheek and allowing Ao to bite his finger. "I grabbed a leaf... and held it over her head..." Wait, Ao's a girl? Oops. "Then she ate it. She just... followed me after."
So he basically tried to used a makeshift umbrella. "You... You tried to protect her from the rain?" He nodded timidly. A smile spread across my face. "Daw~! That's so sweet."
"...mm..." He didn't seem to know how to respond. Blue refused to look at me. I blinked. Did I say something wrong?
"Well, uh... Ao seems to really like you."
No response. I took a deep breath and buried my face in my arms, closing my eyes and making sure I didn't dirty my glasses. I ignored the slight pain in my side.
"Thanks again for... you know... helping me and stuff." I yawned, feeling extremely tired all of a sudden. My eyelids started to droop. "You're... really nice." I tried to stay awake, but I was just so tired that I fell asleep the second my eyes closed. It was probably stupid to fall asleep in a cave next to a random stranger and his pet squirrel, but if he really wanted to hurt me... wouldn't he have done it when I was at my most vulnerable state? Though... Just what did he mean by "enemy"? Why does he carry a giant sword like that around? I'm not too sure if I want to find out, but...
I'll... probably ask tomorrow... or whenever I wake up.
