Chapter 26
Going Forward…Slowly
"HEY YOU, COME BACK HERE!"
My heart seemed to have jumped into my lungs as they inhaled the cold smoke-filled air. I was had been running, we had been running, down an old cobblestone path leading into an apartment alleyway deep inside the town of New Hope.
Acsan, just like me, was soaked from head to toe in sweat. We had nearly escaped.
I never expected this to happen. I thought starting this new life with her would erase all the negativity and turmoil but I was deathly wrong.
About 4 hours ago, Ascan, her father and I arrived at New Hope's train station feeling tired and content. As the train began to stop, we had been talking about what life would be like with me living in a society of humans instead of my usual pack.
It was hard to think about them…when she came to mind. I hope that doesn't make me selfish.
The train station as I expected was crowded and nerve-racking. I noticed the great difference of people compared to Adventine's populace. The social groups were vast and there were many ethnicities surrounding us. There were kind people and then there were rude people but I guess you can find personality differences anywhere.
Nevertheless what I focused on the most was the certain abnormal atmosphere sweeping through the station.Acsan noticed nothing and Quent was far too busy smoking to even care.
There were a lot of military men around dressed in gray camouflage and holding black weapons. They looked suspicious observing everyone behind dark sunglasses. Now that I think about it, the sun wasn't even out.
The majority of the militants were posted outside the main entrance and exit leaving me feeling extremely cautious.
I grabbed hold of Acsan's hand informing her about the apprehensive guests that were waiting for us at the exit. She nodded understandingly and kept her focus on the outlet.
"Quent Yaiden!" We heard someone shout with authority.
The three of us turned to see a small group of militants approach us. Before anyone could ask, they explained their reason for being in town.
Apparently, there was a manic serial killer on the loose wanted for the deaths of 14 police officers and the government had steeped in to help. They needed to inspect any citizens who fitted the description of the murder and surprisingly Quent was a nominee.
The militants commenced with drilling him asking both personal and confusing questions. Whatever he couldn't answer the soldiers gave him a distrustful look and often I found myself trying to control Acsan from defending her careless father.
It was the first time in a long time that I have ever seen such a scared look on her beautiful face. She clutched my jacket when one of the soldier fellow redhead, glanced at her.
He advanced towards us with his heavy gun swinging against his hip. He looked so threatening I began to wonder if he was going to use it on us. He nodded at the two of us and raised his hand to shake Acsan's.
"You must be Acsan Yaiden." He asked with a country accent.
"Yes. How do you know my name?"
"Ma'am, we have a directory of every New Hope citizen's name and picture." He then looked at me. "But I don't remember seeing you in the directory."
"He's visiting." Acsan spoke for me keeping a close eye on her father.
He was being searched at the moment and Quent didn't seem very corporative.
"What's your name boy?" I turned my attention back to the soldier and remained silent.
I knew it meant nothing if I told him my name but the way he was looking at me…and Acsan, I didn't like it. It reminded me too much of Doctor Berrison.
The red-haired soldier turned away from us and joined back with the group that was holding Quent.I couldn't hear anything because of the loud commotion of the train station but the gestures signaled something bad was going to happen.
As I perceived, Acsan pulled away from me in shock as Quent was, with some struggle, carried off by the militants.
"Wait! What are you doing?!" Acsan questioned watching the soldiers walk off with Quent and then back at the redhead soldier.
"I sorry it had to come to this, Miss." He placed two gloved hand on her shoulders. "But your father matches the description of the killer."
The girl slapped the taller man's hands away furiously. "Bullshit! He answers a few questions wrong and you arrest him! This is the second time you militants screwed up here! Why can't you see no one likes you guys?"
The soldier squinted at Acsan and mumbled before clearing his throat looking at me. "I suggest you control your girlfriend before she gets herself into trouble."
I frowned at him watching him continue his little speech.
He shook his finger in front of Acsan like she was a child. "And I suggest that you watch your tongue or I'll rip it out myself."
When Acsan's hand connected with the soldier's bloody face, that's when I realized she did more than slap him.
She scratched him. Her beautiful porcelain nails tore into the bastard's cheek both grazing and puncturing his tanned skin.
Sometimes its incidents like this that make me love her even more.
"HEY YOU, COME BACK HERE!" Another militant shouted behind us.
Unfortunatly, the flesh wound the girl caused was not forgivable. In a blur, I took hold of her quivering hand and yanked her out of the station. It was easy making it past the blockage of guards and it was even easier blending in with the crowd outside. Lucky for Acsan, red was a popular hair color.
We ran as fast as we could panting wildly but never wishing for a break. The old scenery passed by us as fast as the memories that came with it. The cars, the streets, nothing looked any different expect for the fact that there was no snow on the ground.
Puddles filled the sidewalks and avenues and a light mist clung to the air. I no longer felt unsafe now surrounded by the buildings of my beloved memories. We slowed down walking across a familiar street allowing cars to pass us by.
Even the air smelled the same.
Like old factory smoke after a rainstorm.
It was chilly as well and the wind crept up the back of my neck causing me to shiver a bit and hold Acsan closer to me. We walked the same way I've seen lovers walk back then; arm and arm, hip to hip.
We stopped our stride watching a couple of old men pass by raising their hats to us. Their wrinkled faces full of wisdom and self-satisfaction calmed me and I actually waved back at them.
The two of us watched them walk away smiling softly to ourselves.
"They're the only nice people in this town."
I looked down at her. "Those two?"
"No, old people. Old people are the only ones not caught up in today's angst. They don't have any fears or sadness. They're just happy being who they are with what they have."
I said nothing observing the bothered look on the girl's face. She gently pulled away from me and walked over to railing that ran along the arched road beside us. That's when I realized where we were.
This was the same place were I first expressed my feelings…
And my need for her.
The bridge instead of snow was filled with deep blue water and a few articles of floating trash. The society was quiet and Mother Nature sang to us. A clock tower's bell rang off in the distance and crows sprang into the cloudy sky.
As Acsan leaned her elbows against the wooden post, I couldn't resist putting my arms around her waist. I pressed my chest against her laying my chin on her shoulder. We watched the water together admiring the reflection we saw.
"How on Earth am I going to get Quent back?"
"To find Quent you have to turn yourself in."
Acsan slightly squirmed against me. "Are you saying that's what I should do?"
"No. Not at all. I was just talking."
"We could always sneak in."
"I don't want to do that."
"Why not?"
"What if we get caught?"
"Aren't wolves all about stealth and precision?"
"Yes, but you're not a wolf, Acsan." Acsan could never know how much I care about her.
She sighed and I helped move a few strands of hair out of her face. "Then we're going to wait."
"Until we can find a better solution."
Acsan's gray eyes seemed darker than usual as she looked at me saying nothing. She leaned closer to me until the space between our lips vanished.
She stood up completely pulling away from our unbelievably short kiss. I was slightly frustrated with the brevity of it and my cheeks felt warm so I looked away.
"Kiba?"
"Yes?"
"It's chilly out." She pulled on my jacket biting her lip. "Let's go home." Acsan grabbed my hand leading me like a child off the bridge.
I felt incomplete. My heart was impatient and it hurt just "obeying" her. I couldn't read her thoughts or her gestures and it made me irritable and desperate.
Halfway off the arch, I pulled my hand away from her. She whirled around giving me a strange look with her mouth slightly open.
"Ki-".
"No." I interrupted her taking a step forward. I cupped her chin staring into her soft gray eyes.
"What?" She whispered confused.
It was hard to word what my heart was saying and the difficulty only magnified when her eyes met mine. Finally I found something.
"It hurts when you're brief with me."
Acsan blinked speechless.
"Every time I get a chance to be alone with you, someone or something deprives me of that moment."
It's so much easier to be simple.
"I like being with you, Acsan.So stop moving so fast."
It must have been my face…
It must have been my words…
Whatever it was, Acsan was convinced to kiss me again and this time, there were no interruptions.
Hearing the town clock chime, I smiled a little on the inside.
3 minutes.