Untold Memories
Thanks to those who bothered to review, they make my life amazingly happy! Please enjoy this chapter. Onward!
And I shattered the silence with one word. "Galux!"
The man turned to face me, and I suddenly cringed. Even though we had the space of an entire lake between us, I could feel his stare drilling into my head. His demeanor was scarily powerful, and yet I couldn't help but be drawn to him. There was this feeling of hurt mixed with strength being radiated from his body. I wanted to reach out and hold him but at the same time I wanted to run away and never look back. Instead of listening to my head, I took a step forward. That one step didn't really let me come closer, but it got my point across. And his response was to take a step back.
I didn't realized that Galux had come back to me until I felt her nuzzling my hand, telling me she wanted to go home. So I backed away slowly, my gaze never leaving his. I had a feeling that if I looked away, he would suddenly appear before me. Once we were in the cover of the trees, I turned my back and ran. Ray had been right! There was someone in that house, a murderer, it seemed. Even if he wasn't, and he isn't, he definitely had that 'I will destroy' vibe. Very creepy, especially at night, all alone, at a lake surrounded by forest.
I gasped when a vice-like grip tugged on my arm, forcing me to slam into a hard chest. I was ready to scream, but a hand slapped itself over my mouth. I tilted my head back only to see him up close. His hair was not the sliver as I first thought, but more of a pale lavender, and his eyes were an hypnotizing grey. Like the calm before the storm. I shivered, hoping that the coming storm wouldn't get me hurt. And there was also a scar. From the corner of his right eye down to his jaw. It was faint, but there. He had a strong jaw with just a bit of stubble.
"You're that girl." He hissed in my ear. I shivered again, but this time because of the cold. I had just realized that he was sopping wet. I was surprised. He, this man I had never seen before, is dripping water while telling me, vaguely, that I'm a girl he knows. O-okay. "Don't scream." He slowly removed his hand, ready slam it down if needed.
It was then I noticed Galux hidden in a tree, ready to pounce. I whispered her name, and all hell broke loose. She leapt from the tree onto him, catching him by surprise. His voice, didn't scream, but was more of a moan when Galux bit him. That interested me, because whenever I had been bitten, I had cried like a baby.
His hand let me go and I raced down the path, legs pumping. I was going much faster this time, considering I didn't want to be caught again. And if I was, I don't think Galux would be able to save me. It wasn't long before my new best friend was running beside me. We both knew that this was the most exercise we had gotten in a long time.
I finally felt safe enough to slow down once I was inside the village. We walked quickly to my house where I locked the door and we ran into my bedroom. Both of us flopped down onto the bed when I smelt something awful.
"Galux?" She looked at me innocently, but I could see the blood on her fur. "What did you do to him?" I looked at her as she tried, and failed, to look innocent. "That's it. We are so brushing your teeth." I sighed as I walked over to my own bathroom.
Galux whimpered, she knew what was coming. The brushing of the teeth. We both knew that I did it rarely, but God did she have to draw so much blood? That made me feel worse then I already did. If I told anyone about what happened, they would tell me that feeling sorry for him is really stupid and they would probably, most likely, chase him down and do God knows what to him. And then I would feel even worse then I do now and I would never be able to forgive myself.
Ah. There it is. The dreaded toothbrush. I picked up the yellow device and slowly dripped water on it, drawing out the pain and terror. I cornered Galux and forced her mouth open. The brush moved back and forth over her teeth while I was gagging from the smell. Stupid blood and saliva mix smell.
After every inch of those sharp teeth were cleaned, and after I got a few small cuts from the struggling cat, I let her run away. It was very likely that I wouldn't see her for a few hours, since she'd be wallowing in the pain and injustice of me getting rid of the awful stench. And that gave me the time I needed to gather medical supplies.
Yep. I'm crazy. I am going back to the very person who could have killed me to give them medical help after my cat risked her life to save me. Yeah. I'm totally and completely sane. And yet, logical thinking didn't seem to be there. I realized that my mothering instincts overruled those of survival. So I packed a bag filled with everything from bandages to sleeping pills.
And then I changed my clothes. I was still wearing my dress from before, so instead I put on black pants and a pink shirt. Now that's so much better than running around in that dress.
I wanted to make sure that Lee didn't find out that I was gone, so I just didn't open my door. I was glad that Lee never ever goes into my room without permission, that meant that my method of escape was my window. The window was pushed up and I jumped down to the ground. I froze for a few seconds, just to make sure no one noticed me and my awesome jump from a second story window.
After the jump, I kept to the darker shadows. It's not liked I wanted to be found when I was so close. The wind caused my hair to fly around even though I was just walking around slowly. As I moved down that path, my eyes scanned the ground. I saw where he had caught me and where Galux attacked him. There wasn't an alarming amount of blood, but it was still a lot.
I followed the trail he had made, realizing that he had shoes on. So he was the person hidden up in the rundown house. He had been dragging his feet and the blood had dripped onto the ground. I was feeling really sorry for him around then. I took it slowly until I found him sitting on a rock at the edge of the lake.
He was a decent distance away, so I relaxed a little and took in some of his details. He was wearing a black tank-top, ripped jeans, and scuffed up combat boots. One arm was bent in an awkward angle and I could tell it was still bleeding heavily, even though I was so far away. I think it was because his skin was so pale, like the moon.
This man before me had skin that could only belong to the brother of the moon. It's pale color was enchanting, but obviously flawed. But he also seemed to give off the energy of another nightly presence. The wolf.
Both are considered night dwellers, only appearing when the sun went down. Yet they are drastically different. The moon is feminine. It represents beauty, love, and unity. At night, the stars and the moon work together to create a picture that all can see. On the other hand, the wolf is a creature of power and dominance, a trait normally affiliated with men. When a pack of them work together, they are a murderous force. This stranger before me seemed to have qualities of both. So, would this beauty of a man bring people together? Or would he use them to get only what he wanted?
But if one is to analyze the night, they must also pick at the day. The day is also represented by two things. The first and most obvious, is the sun. The great ball of fire is undeniably thought to be masculine. The sun is egotistical, which explains why it is the only thing from space that shows at the time. It also has strength and fury on it's side, giving it a hidden fear factor. We don't know that we fear it until it comes after us. And then there is the cat. This creature is depicted to be feminine, even though people claim that the lion is 'The King of All Beasts'. Clearly, they meant the queen. Cats tend to be standoffish, even if they're in groups, they don't like outsiders. But they are also quite motherly, always there to take care of those dear to them. Does that mean I don't like others, even if I feel a motherly attraction to them?
So. Does this make me a sister of the sun? And are we attracted to those who are similar or opposite? Am I egotistical and standoffish, or do I search for someone with those qualities? Those are questions that will never be answered, most likely. I have a better chance to be struck by lightning.
As I watched him, I noticed that his head moved slightly, turning to face the shadows I was hiding in. "Come out. I know you are there." It was whispered, but loud. In a place where silence is the norm and sound destructive, any noise not of nature itself was deafening.
I moved into plain view, while making no sudden movements. He was something unknown, something I had never dealt with before. I had to be careful, he was something that I loathed. Unpredictability. "I just feel bad about Galux biting you. I want to help." I whispered back. And I knew he could hear me. It was interesting, seems like I'm not the only one with good hearing.
"I don't need your help." He said coolly. We both knew he was lying. Great. Another egotistical bastard in my life. Just what I needed.
"Yes you do. I met you an hour ago, and your still bleeding." I barked. It was kinda funny, considering I'm more of a cat than anything else. He either couldn't argue or didn't, so I took that as an invitation to come closer. And so I did. Even though I wished to get over there and help as fast as possible, I knew I had to take it slow. If I scared him in any way, there was nothing stopping him from killing me. I put my faith and trust into a stranger. Well, just a few days ago I was wishing for more excitement, so I guess I can't go around cursing fate or anything like that. I had to be cool, calm, and show no fear.
When I finally got near him, I knelt down in front of the rock and looked him in the eye. I don't know what he saw, but I know what I saw in him. His eyes, such a pretty shade, were almost blank. Almost. I could see the slight vulnerability he had when being at the mercy of another human. I knew, I just knew, that he hadn't had contact with another human in awhile. His ridged posture, his unwillingness to get too close.
Back in the woods when he was chasing me, I could tell he was acting on instincts. Predatory instincts. I have no doubt that he would have killed me, just because I had seen him. But when treating his wounds, I knew why he had tried so hard to get rid of me. If he kept having contact with me, he would grow an attachment. By my unprofessional guess, I was sure that he was a social outcast, and that he thought that if he had a growing a fondness of something he cannot have, it would leave all of his defenses open. And that would create a weakness that he doesn't seem able to cope with.
The few wounds he had were on his arm, but they were deep. I was grossed out that my sweet little Galux could inflict so much damage, but that's a mountain cat for you. I quickly cleaned and wrapped up his left arm. As I stared at my accomplishment he slid off the rock.
"Wait!" I called without thinking. I was still on the ground where his feet used to be, and I didn't want him to leave. I felt a certain kinship with him even though I've only known him for about two hours and he tried to kill me.
He stopped, but didn't look at me. I smirked and, once again, took that as a good sign. "What should I call you?" The brother of the moon did nothing for a few seconds before continuing on his way towards the south shore. "Bye, Bird Boy." I called after him and giggled as I saw him tense. Little did he know, I was so totally going to visit him again the next day. You know, to check up on that arm of his. It's always better to be safe than sorry, and I'm not exactly sure where Galux puts in her mouth.
After watching his retreating form, and knowing that he did live in the old house at the top of the south shore, I stood and brushed off my pants before packing all my medical supplies and heading back home. I almost skipped down the path, skirting scene of the scuffle. I was in a rare state of happiness. My motherly instincts that I normally have for random weeks at a time, were gone all in one night. Wanna know why? Half of them were scared away by a person I don't know but they obviously know me. The other half was used up on the same guy when I had a sudden guilty phase and decided to help him recover from wound that were caused by my cat! Maybe I'll go home and bake cookies even though it has to be, what?, nine at night?
When that little sarcastic moment was over, I noticed that I was in front of my house. And I couldn't go inside because then my brother would hear and then he would wonder how I got out without him noticing and then he would want to know why I was even out in the first place. And the door was locked. That wouldn't do. My solution? To somehow get back up in my room without a lot of noise. Now this would be tricky. Sure, I had jumped out my window to escape the stresses of life countless times before, but then I always seemed to be able to find someone to help me back up.
If Galux wasn't angry at me, I could have her open the front door, close it, and then have me walk in. Random openings and closing of the door was normal for my family, and I really don't know why.
And then my one and only wish for Christmas was answered. Gary, one of my best friends, came walking along the road at my very moment of peril. "Gary! I need your help!" I whispered, waving him over. He looked at me questioningly. "I'll give you a huge batch of cookies tomorrow if you let me onto your shoulders and let me jump into my room."
I didn't have to say anything more. Once there was the promise of food, he was like putty in my hands. Not like I would ever take advantage of him, no way. I just like to use his height to my advantage. I jumped onto his shoulders as he moved under my window. With me on him, we take up a little less than a story, so I jumped up onto my ledge before waving down to Gary, who was heading off again. At a slow yet dedicated pace.
I slid off the window sill and flopped down onto my bed. It had been an exciting but tiring day. I fell asleep with all the lights bright, the window open, and my clothes still on.
Two things woke me the next day. The first thing that brought me out of my deep sleep was the sun. My room faced the west, so it must have been late. Very very late. The second thing was a random bouncing. Up and down, up and down. I groaned and mumbled something incoherently while trying to swat the moving thing that was disturbing my peaceful sleep. When my hand connected with fur and a rough tongue began to roughly attack my cheek.
"Me up, me up!" I mumbled as I sat up in bed. Galux laid there, her lips curled back into a grin. Most people would think that she was feral, but I knew that it was her way of playing. "Thanks to you, I was almost killed, and now you're smiling?" I forced myself out of my bed and into the bathroom, Galux following. She laid down on the cool tile while I took a cold shower to wake myself up.
Cold water is such a great thing when the heat of summer is here. It always feels good against my skin, and it helps me think. Why did I want to help him so much? It's not like I have attachment issues. Okay fine. I do. I just can't let go of things, which probably explains the mess in my room that I can't get rid off. And that's the reason why I try not to get too close to people. I stay locked up in my room or out on my rock almost all the time. I have almost no contact with my family, and just a bit more with my friends. The only one I see almost constantly is Galux, and if anything happened to her, I don't think I'd be able to continue on without her.
Back to Bird Boy. Considering that he won't tell me his name, I think he doesn't want an attachment either. Too bad for him, I'm already interested. It's just like me to want something I can't have. All I want is to know him better, but if I learn more that I what I already know, I'll never leave him be. Poor man. I wonder what he'd think if I kept popping up every night. For now I can go under the disguise of wanting his arm to heal properly. But first I'd have to find out how to even treat am arm that's been attacked by a large cat. Hmm. Maybe I could ask Lee. He's been bitten countless times by his lion, he might be willing to tell me.
Sadly, I also have to make cookies today if I even want to leave the house today. Heh. Gary will probably even come to my house to get them. I should probably get out now so I can figure how I can get everything done without anyone figuring out about Bird Boy.
I turned off the water, hopped out, and started to dry off. My pink hair was plastered down to my head, which meant that I was not going outside until it fluffed back up. The clothes of the day were very similar to the ones of the night before, but clean.
I was happy that day. I got extra sleep, and I had the chance to help someone I felt like I knew, even if I didn't.
With Galux following, I pretty much skipped down the hallway and knocked on Lee's door. When I heard I grunt, I took it was a sign to come in. It was then I realized that Lee and Bird Boy had a lot in common. Both used limited words to get their point across. Maybe I could use one to learn more about the other.
Only my head went around the door, making sure that only my face was in danger if Lee got angry. Short tempers are always so much fun. "Hey, Lee? How do you treat bite wounds?"
"Why do you want to know?" I stayed silent while glaring at his head. Come on! It wasn't hard! I could see his bare arms filled with the many scars that Galeon had so lovingly given him while wrestling. "Fine. You treat it like ay other cut, just use more alcohol."
"Thanks Lee." I darted out of the room and down the stairs before he could say anything. It would be a whole lot safer downstairs because he was too lazy to even go leave the top floor. There, I moved towards the kitchen. After eating three apples, I began to make cookies from scratch. I didn't have to, considering that we had those pre-made cookies that all you had to do was put them in the oven, but I wanted time to think over random things.
I don't even remember what I was thinking about at the time, just that I was thinking hard. The only thing that I even paid attention to were the cookies, the cookies that held my life in their stupid little hands. Do cookies even have hands? Anyway, Gary hates when people lie, and I don't to be on the receiving end of that anger. So those damn cookies better taste awesomely good.
As I waited for the cookies to finish baking, Galux spent her time weaving in and out of my legs as I tried to pace. Tried the key word. I kept falling hard, landing on my hands and knees. Galux, that sneaky kitty, would dart away before I fell, stay away for a few minutes, and then come back. That tricky kitty was getting revenge on me since I brushed her teeth last night. And afterwards I helped Bird Boy.
"Argh! Why can't I forget about him for just two minutes?" I groaned as I stopped pacing and rested my head against the wall. One good thing about baking cookies is that I now have fluffy hair again. Which means I can leave this house before my parents come back at two so they can't question my mood. Today's day mood? Confused, flustered, and annoyed.
"My baby sister is growing up!" Lee smirked as he jumped onto the counter while grabbing an apple.
"Shut up."
"Not only can she cook, she has a crush!" He laughed while Galux growled. She never did like Lee. "Who's the unlucky guy?"
I smirked as I pulled out the cookies and throwing them in a container. Screw letting them cool off, it'll take me forever to find Gary, anyway. I knew exactly what to say to Lee that would make him avoid me like the plague for the next month, at least.
Lee watched me, waiting for an answer as I grabbed a lunch I had made the day before and threw it all in with the cookies. As I headed for the door, I turned to him and smiled. "You are." I laughed inside at his shocked face before bolting outside, Galux close behind. I noted that I wasn't wearing shoes, oh well. Not like I haven't done that before.
When we were safely down the path, I started laughing and she purred contentedly. Lee's face had been hilarious. A mix of horror and total surprise. There was nothing funnier than a normally calm Lee who was completely flustered.
Ah. The joy of making of older siblings crazy was my life force, kinda sorta. It was a good way to keep contact to a minimum. Yep.
After I laughed myself to tears, I continued down the path, wiping away the salt water. I hoped that no one would notice the red-ish tint in my eyes. The nature was soothing, and it reminded me of last night, and yet the noise of the lake didn't bother as much this time. It was still uncomfortable, but at least I didn't have the want to run away from it all. Man, that must be a gift from God.
I moved slowly, randomly looking around to see if I could spot Gary. He normally spent his time with Ray when at the lake, something about liking to know most of the gossip before anyone else. And Ray normally spent his time in the middle of everyone else, sending his 'minions of gossip' out to find everyone's dirty laundry. Fun fun fun.
I scanned the lake area before I found Ray bouncing up and down excitedly. Gary wasn't too far off, sitting under a large tree. I moved over next to him and held out the cookies.
"Hey Gary. I brought cookies!" I smiled as he took them. I plopped down next to him, too lazy to move. Why move all the way over towards the south shore when I could stay here? And it was quiet here because people don't like to get to close to Ray when he went into full 'get da dirt' mood. I'm was sleepy, so there was no want for me to move, anyway.
So I cuddled into Galux, who was next to me, and spent the rest of the day under Gary's tree. I only moved when sunset came and Ray left, causing people to almost blow my ears out with sound. It was then I stood up and headed for home, laughing, because of the remembered prank on Lee.
