The car ride to the city is quiet.
I figure that the reason why it is that way is because I was half asleep in the first ten minutes (or longer) of the ride. I wonder why that is possible, since I remember that ever since I met these people, I was mostly asleep. Two days of not waking up, passing out again from my wound, and falling asleep again after Selene took me outside. Could it be that I may haven't received any blood for nourishment? I wonder, even if I do not have any complaints for hunger.
Even so, even if the silence is occurring in the car could be because of my drowsiness, I don't believe that that's the only reason.
I am half asleep, yet I pay attention to the silent yet noticeable stares being passed around in the car. I am seated behind Selene, who is driving, making me forget that she must have serious conditions from what I've seen. Michael is in the passenger seat, giving struggling glances to his love like an owl. Eve is next to me, along with David on the right window seat, and I can see the right side of her face. I wonder, just for a moment, if my half that must be manifested to her can complete the broken void. It is only a brief suggestion, of course, as it is knocked off course once she looks over to everyone in the car.
Nobody but Eve looks towards my direction.
No look.
No stare.
No gaze.
No glance.
No quick moment of a flash in their eyes, normal eyes contrasted from my too bright green, connected to any part of my code to assure me of my existence.
All I see as an assurance is their fast gazes to each other is the sign of judgement.
Judgment.
I hate that word.
Confusion and anxiety, and maybe malice, courses through my veins in the slow yet natural pace of a vampire's life line. I try not to let it show, as I was always good at keeping secrets with Tabitha and Wyatt, when all I want to do it think.
My mother used to tell me to always analyze your environment whenever you feel I eased or uncomfortable. She always talked in the sense of attack or like a predator. Even if the environment is not what she would expect, I follow her words and try to notice the problem. I think about myself, about what I had ever done ever since Selene and her group found me. Whether I was a use to them or not.
Then again, I am only looking through my own eyes. I am not looking through everyone else's.
I remember when Selene told me that I am no longer a vampire, but rather a hybrid of one and a Lycan. Two enemies both creating a child. The fact that my parents, my true parents, are the people who presented proof that enemies can rewrite the laws are mixed. Too mixed for me to even try and fix it. What is there to fix? What's done is done, I suppose.
However, that doesn't seem to surpass Selene. Even now, she shows no emotions. No changes since I have first met her. A cold woman. One that must know too much, in her favor. Too much and yet has the choice to no say anything. I would say she's not paying attention because of her focus towards the road as she drives, but that can't be an excuse.
It's all too much for me.
After some time, we finally arrive at the city. To give an insight on my reaction, I figure that it might be the same as my first views of the sun. Whenever I went out at night, I would usually be around the forests where Tabitha would mostly be. I used to be afraid of going further than her, like a silly little lamb. It's weird how I was afraid to experience new things. And yet here I am, being the black sheep.
"Mum," I hear Eve say in the silence, "why are we back here?" Ivan suddenly her fear in her voice.
"We have to find another safe house," Selene answers. I don't do anything to look back on these people. "I thought you knew this."
"I mean," Eve begins again, "why are we here? We could have chosen any place for a safe house. Why are we back in this city when people are aware of our existence?"
"I understand what you're saying, Eve. I can assure you that we won't stay here for long. I only asked that we could stay here so that I can contact someone•
"Is it that one detective from the other day?" I hear David add.
"It is," Selene replies. "I just need to figure out how we can contact him first.
I don't pay attention to the conversation or anything else after. I think Michael also adds who the detective is. Even so, all of my attention span goes straight out of the door and into the sights of the city. It is all I pay attention to.
When we finally stop, I continue to still look out the window until I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn my head, expecting to see Selene, and I came across Eve's face instead. "We're here, Hale," she says, as if she didn't think I know that.
Remembering my rude behavior I displayed in front of Selene and how it was necessary, I only nod in comprehension and start to unbuckle my seatbelt and leave the car. The building we arrive at is hard to see if it's one for work or apartments. I still don't know which of those two would fit for the name for it once we went inside. It was so dark that I'm almost intimidated but how it would be once it is nighttime. I can't even describe the other random objects in the building; it's too dark to even figure which is what and where is what. Even if there were windows, they had odd blotches on them and there is barely any light to let in.
Selene is the first to enter the building. "Okay, this place will have to do for now. I'll call Sebastian and hopefully, he will help us from there." She turns her head and I don't even expect anything other than her frozen lips in a straight line. "Let's just lie low here for now."
There are no sounds of approval from everyone, but I am able to notice a nod from Eve. Even if it was just her, Michael and David walk past both of us and into the darkness. Eve and I follow, the door behind us being shut as soon as we leave our positions.
I expect the place to be even more dark than when the door was open. That changed once I see that once the door was closed, everything was perfect clarity. I can't say that it was the same and it naturally is in the outside. It's almost like there's a green tint to anything I set my gaze onto. Despite the color change, I am able to be aware of the current setting of our so-called new "safe house". I remember that vampires have the same ability as well, but from my experience, I'm even more surprised. I'm reminded of the weak sense vampire have.
Met new revelations are being given to me everyday (despite it being at least a day for me). Is this the life of the hybrid that Selene told me I was? It's almost tingling in my bones, waiting for me to pass out from all the tension.
Sighing and not letting this new disclosure get to me, I walk to the nearest window and sit on top of one of the objects. I don't even care about what went on with the others. I realize that I am still continuing with my regular behavior as I had in the car. I almost become concerned in why I am acting this way, but I am too busy thinking about what I had experienced ever since my family was killed.
I'm probably too deep in thought, because I don't notice Eve coming up to me.
"Hale," Eve says sheepishly. "Are you okay?"
"Why?" I ask. "Did Selene ask about me?"
Eve shakes her head, but she seems scared now. "No, she's with my father."
I raise my head a bit, trying to remind myself that I can't always be rude. Why am I acting this way? "I'm sorry," I apologize, after I take a sharp breath.
"It's alright," Eve assures before she takes a step forward to me. "Mind if I join you?"
I move away from Eve, but only so there would be more space on the edge of the object I was sitting on. "Be my guest," I say, watching Eve as she sits next to me. She doesn't say anything else, but I suddenly feel calmer. Like the odd rudeness I had before was quickly passing away into wherever my deceased family went. I'm instantly glad for that.
"Are you scared?" Eve suddenly asks. I turn my head and see her looking at her lap, her skin almost being distorted from the tinted sunlight passing through the window.
I shake my head slowly. "I'm fine."
"Why not?" She asks calmly, but is like she wants to blurt it out to the entire world. "Your coven was killed by Lycans. How can you not be scared after that?"
My confusion being cleared up, I realize that she's right. I did grieve for my family's death, but it was brief. The rest was just me worrying about surviving and having to deal with whatever was given to me. Maybe it was what Selene told around when she first found me that made me forget about the loss of my coven.
"I honestly don't know," I finally say. Even switches her head so that I can see her blue orbs. "Everything that has happened to me is very hard to take in all at once. I became whatever you are now, Eve, so I'm somehow giving a lot of thought about my new body and what I should do with it. I never really thought about my family."
"So are you saying you don't miss them?" Eve wonders aloud.
I try and not show myself biting my lip. Every question she asks makes me wonder myself if I'm really that careless.
"Of course, I miss them," I defend. "But I shouldn't mourn them. I'm still alive and that's all that matters. If I was dead, then I wouldn't remember them and all of the times I spent with them. That would make for a boring purpose in life, right?"
"You're so brave," Eve says, and I loose my grip on my lip. Eve, however, lowers her head in shame. "I don't deal with things the way you do."
I raise an eyebrow and let myself come closer to her. "What happened to you?"
Eve lifts her head and she freezes for a second. I wonder if she's paying attention to my eyes, forgetting what she was going to tell me. Most people do that when they meet me for the first time. After a while, Even takes a big sigh and straightens her posture. "My mum, father...we were taken in by Antigen. They were both asleep for twelve years, and the people at Antigen made sure I didn't sleep. All they used me for was to make sure what I did was for their benefits. They didn't even give me a name; they only called me Subject 2. But all that time, I was scared. I didn't know what they would do each time they came, but I was always afraid. I would remember everything they did to me, back when I didn't know what to do."
I don't say anything as Eve told me about what she had dealt with. I don't do anything to give her any comfort. I am both in shock and at a feeling of pity. I have heard of Antigen, but I had no idea that they kept Eve and her family there. And for twelve years? Eve's is probably the same age as me, and whatever she dealt with is more worse than me. I am, at first, confused as she shouldn't worry about me, but then I think. And then, I offer a small smile.
"I don't think I could've handled all that," I admit. "So then that proves it. You're more brave than I am."
Eve blinks, but I can see surprise in her eyes as she stares at me. I don't know what the calm beating sound is or where it is coming from, but I hear it at a low pace. Whatever it is made me feel warm, especially when Eve gives me a small smile. I don't know if I managed to help her. That was the best I could give after that explanation about her, but at least I have an idea of what my comment did to Eve.
Suddenly, the warm feeling starts to grow warmer.
Then hotter.
And hotter.
It's burning.
I start to breathe heavily and I can barely see Eve anymore. Everything is all blurry, almost matching the blotched window. And yet I still know my surroundings as I fall off the object and collide with the solid ground.
"Mum! Father! David!" I hear Eve shout. It doesn't take long for them to arrive, as I can hear their footsteps come to me.
"Hale, what's wrong?" Selene asks with worry. I don't answer as the heat starting to rise in my throat starts to take away my ability to. I feel a hand on my arm and I suddenly feel cooler. I hear the sound of four hearts and they are at a normal rate. They almost feel like a light snow in the morning, or so what I've been told what snow is like from Tabitha's point of view. The same heat is still there, but the rates of the heart's calm me down and I start to regain my sight again.
What I find more odd than before is that I can see everyone, while they are all looking down on me, and I can see their hearts right through their chests. It's in an interesting shade of blue, but the sight of it is even more soothing. More sounds of hearts appear in my ears, and it makes me feel warm again. I widen my eyes when I realize something.
It the calm hearts are coming from everyone in this building, then where are these hot, fast-pacing hearts coming from?
The roof of the building breaks down before I can find an answer.
THANK GOD FOR SPRING BREAK! I don't even know ho long it was since the last update, but I am back and I am able to write again! Frciking senior is being senior year like always! Anyway, I'm sorry again for the wait but i hope that this will fill in for my absence. I hope that I will be abl to give another chapter soon, so ait as much as you can guys! I promise!