Chapter 35: Slender
I can't see much with my vision abut one of the men, the one who Left, Has turned on the other two.
He makes quick work of the first one and wounds the second with a blade.
I'm grateful for the distraction, as walls of my prison seem to be growing tighter. I control my breathing trying to stay calm.
I don't even know what to call this feeling, this clawing fear. It has a name, I know, but it escapes me.
The third man steps towards me. His jacket is loose-fitting over a slim, almost feminine, frame. It reminds me of Lea, actually. Why didn't I notice before?
He reaches towards me, fingers outstretched. I tense but don't react.
He presses his palm against the invisible surface. I lean forward, what?
His fingers tap the barrier, then he knocks briskly. I can feel the vibrations from the impact. This makes no sense. He is human, but so is the other man and he had no problem passing through the barrier.
Whatever the case, the man turns away, drawing a knife. He approaches one of the strange symbols on the walls and slashes id down the middle.
There's a sound I can't hear, I see the man react to it. Nothing happens though.
He approaches the next symbol and repeats the process.
I don't know what he's doing. It's all very confusing, and I can't really think straight. I lean my head against the barrier, taking long slow breaths.
Then there's a moment of frozen stillness, and the barrier shivers.
Suddenly, I'm putting my weight on thin air and go stumbling forward, out of the confining space.
Relief floods through me, along with the feeling of space around me. I didn't realize how paralyzed I'd felt.
Then Lea's consciousness melds with my own, the wall between our minds removed.
Her happiness is contagious, though some of her other senses confuse me.
I'm about to ask why something's blocking the edges of her vision, and why her right hand is covered in blood. And how she can see me from where she is.
Then the man wearing the mask throws his arms around me.
I stumble for a moment, and Lea looks up at me, the borrowed mask coming undone and falling to the floor.
Her relief is overwhelming, and she squeezes me tighter.
It's an awkward embrace, since she's a good 5 feet shorter than I am, and can only reach my chest.
I put my hand on her head, ruffling her hair slightly.
Then I notice the two daggers and remember the hidden blade.
"What happened to you?"
She sends me some memories. The time lapse, when we couldn't contact each other. After a moment, I send her my memories of the time as well, figuring she might be able to decipher them more accurately than I.
Lea frowns slightly, blinking the information to the back on her mind to b examined later.
She seems to notice the blood on her right hand and makes a face, pulling away from me. She unzips the coat, tossing the stained garment to the ground.
No blood leaked through the fabric, thank goodness, but the blade itself is encrusted with drying gore. Still, all she has to do is wipe it off.
She does so, using the formerly discarded coat.
The telepathy is coming in handy. Lea is still a little giddy and having trouble thinking in words. I can understand her emotions though; the main one is still a mixture of relief and happiness. I can't fathom the origin of the feeling.
I'm still savoring the bright glow of color and sound associated with her presence. I hadn't noticed how much I enjoyed it.
Lea examines the hidden blade for any blood still left on the steel.
"Lea," I say.
"Ya?" She says aloud, not seeming to notice the vocalization.
"Thanks."
She glances at me, then smiles and hugs me again, "Just don't do it again. Ever."
I nod, placing one of my hands on her head protectively.
She sighs, pressing her cheek against my chest.
"P-pr- Proxy?!" Says a startled voice, "You're a Proxy?! You can't be, no Proxy acts like this!"
Lea whips her head around, staring at the figure in the doorway.
I recognize the man as Eyeless Jack, from Lea's memories. He must have followed her all the way here and into the house.
"Those Proxies…what…why did you?" He sinks to the floor, shaking his head.
Lea steps away from me, staring down at him. She seems a little embarrassed and a little color paints her cheeks. Mainly though she's purposeful, ready to explain.
I take a moment to look around the room. More accurately, at the people in the room. I still can't "see" the three men, just darkness where they should be, It worries me, but I file it away for later.
The creature, Jack, appears to be a normal human. He glows dimly, noticeable, but not painful. Human, or something very like it. I concentrate, and just make out a reddish aura mixed in with the regular glow. It intensifies, dying the light a bloody red. Still, he's human; the underlying characteristics are there.
Lea flicks her gaze towards me, "Are you sure?" She says aloud.
I nod, "Yes."
She glares back at Jack, "You're no monster; you're human. Why didn't you say something?"
Jack flinches, "What? How did you know that?"
Lea just stares at him.
"I was human one, before This," He gestures at his mask. "I was hit by some kind of bomb, in a war, my name was Jamie. That's all I can remember. I don't really know what I am now."
I guess it makes sense. It makes perfect sense , especially from my point of view.
Lea relaxes slightly. The words seem to calm her. Maybe she sense my acceptance of them.
"Should I tell him?" She says, speaking aloud unconsciously.
Jack tilts his head, confused, "What?"
I ignore him. "Go ahead." It perplexes me that Lea would ask for my permission. I don't think it's really necessary, but she feels the need to.
I listen as she briefs Jack.
AN: I'm a day late, I know, I know. I'm having issues right now in my social life, which are probably just in my head but still cause me to lose sleep. Writing calms me down though, so this is a good way to unwind.
If you need me, I'll be writing an essay and studying for a "states and their capitals" test on Tuesday. See everyone next week!