Later that night after seeing the message that Xeta had left for me I decided it was time for me to go to bed. I had to get up at five so I could catch my bus, so to make sure I was not tired I made sure to go to bed early. Once I had fallen asleep I had a dream.
I opened my eyes looking up at the sky. Once I sat up I saw I was in a field of violets. I took my time standing up and saw that I was in a white dress. I took a look around at my surroundings and saw in all directions were more of these flowers. I kept looking back and forth, nothing but the Violets. I then looked up at the sky and it was cloudy, but the sun still shined through them. I decided I would walk until I got somewhere. I kept walking for hours. Even though I wasn't tired I was sick of walking. I decided to just sit in the flowers and rest. I sat there thinking to myself about what all of this meant until something tapped my shoulder.
When I looked back I saw Xeta! But he was different. He was wearing a simple black t-shirt and blue jeans. The scar on his neck was gone and his eyes were the normal bright blue!
"Looks like I found you!" He said.
"XETA!? You are here?" I asked.
"Yeah!" He said.
"But your eyes!? And your scar!? What happened to them?" I asked.
"What are you talking about? I thought you said we would meet out here remember?" He asked.
"Wait! D-did I?" I asked myself.
"Yeah! I thought you would remember!? Here I brought us lunch," He then put down the basket he had and laid out the blanket for us to lay down on. At this point I thought the thing was real, and I was happy! So I sat down with him on the blanket and started to enjoy the sandwiches and snacks he had brought with him. It was so great to hear his voice! I thought it was gone forever and I would never be able to hear it again. We just spent the time talking to each other, enjoying the others company. But after a while of talking his expression grew somber.
I did take notice of the change, "What is wrong?" I asked.
He looked at me with his blue eyes, then he closed them, "Elizabeth, I am out of time," He said sadly. He then stood up from the picnic and the blanket and food disappeared. The wind started to pick up too.
I sat myself up on my knees, "What do you mean?" I asked.
"You were my best friend Elizabeth… no, you were more than that, you were my life…. You were everything I ever wanted, and now… that fate is not possible" His eyes were still closed when he said this. I got surprised he had said what he did but I had to make sure.
"Wait! What do you mean I was more?!" I asked scared. The wind around us started to pick up even more than before.
"Just as I said, from what has happened, that fate is no longer possible, or even plausible, and I need you to hear this, because if this is the last time you see me, I want you to know I mean every word I am saying here." He kept his eyes shut tightly.
"What!? Xeta…. I feel the same, I always have! I always wanted to be with you! You were the one I wanted, all of my friends knew and would always keep the secret from you, because I asked them! I wanted them to let me be the one to tell you! So I want us to be together! I want to live my life with you!" I exclaimed while I held his hand.
His eyes widened to complete shock when I said that. But I realized his eyes were back to the bright crimson!
He started to cry, "I am glad to hear you say that but….," All of the sudden I started getting lifted into the air. The wind started carrying me away as I held on to his hand. He wasn't getting lifted into the air but stayed on the ground. The sky started turning black and the flowers started fading away.
"Don't let go!" I screamed!
"I am sorry….," His let his grip go and I started floating away. I tried struggling and reaching out to him, trying to push myself back to him. But as I did I noticed his clothing change to the black overcoat with blue trim appear on him. He also had the scar he wore on his neck now.
"XETA!" I screamed.
As he watched he reached for a flower, picked it up, and pushed it towards me.
"Farewell," He said. As it flew I saw the flower fall apart and inside was….. Oh my god!
It was the golden cross necklace that he used to wear. He would not take it to school because he is scared of it being stolen. It was apparently his family passed down piece. His grandfather wore it, then his father, then him. I reached out for it and took it in my hands. Then I looked back at him and saw him walking into the darkness.
"Xeta!" I called. He kept walking away.
"XETA!" I screamed. He kept walking.
"XET-" I was about to call again but before he entered the darkness I saw his body change. His head and body morphed to that of a canine, and he had a tail. I couldn't see details but I could see the shadow. Then the wind pulled me higher and higher away until.
"XETA!" I screamed after sitting up in my bed. I took a look around and saw I was in my room. So it was a dream. I took a huge breath of relief knowing that it wasn't real. That was a nightmare, I would never want to say goodbye like that. But the as I moved something jingled around my neck. I looked down at my chest and saw the golden cross necklace….
"What?" I audibly asked. How did that? Who? Why was it here? I did not have it, and I shouldn't even have it, if anything Xeta should have it on him! How did I have it? I decided to keep wearing it and get ready to go to school. I got dressed, got my hair made, ate breakfast, and brushed my teeth before heading out the door. While I rode the bus I kept staring down at the necklace I had. I examined it and saw the name Shidel engraved on it. That was definitely his necklace, no way it wasn't. Once the bus finally pulled up to the stop I walked out and went to the lunch room where I always waited. I was clutching my chest in agony. That dream was too real, and I got scared that it would come true. My right hand clenched my chest as my left held the necklace. Thankfully a wave of relief came over me as I saw him enter the lunchroom. I was so relieved I audibly gasped. He noticed me and came over to where I was sitting and sat down. My dream made me thought he would speak but to my expectations he didn't.
He gave me a confused look as to ask what was wrong. Thankfully I replied, "Oh sorry, just a nightmare got me scared, sorry," I said.
He nodded in agreement. But then I remembered, "OH WAIT!" He seemed shocked to my outburst but even more so when I pulled the necklace from around my neck and held it up to him.
"Here, I don't know how but I woke up with it on my neck, I want to give it back," He seemed to shake his head and push it towards me, "No Xeta, this is not mine, this is yours, somehow this survived the fire and ended up with me, I don't know how but it was fate, you need it, it is so you can remember your family!" I said seriously. He seemed to tear up but he seemed to give in and take it from me and put it on. He then gave me a small smile.
"You know, you look better with it on! Keep it that way!" I said happily. I saw him get shocked and I saw his mood get better dramatically. He got out the pen and paper and we just talked until time to head to first period. We continued to talk in that class too. I wish I could hear his voice again, it wasn't fair that he couldn't speak and I couldn't hear him, it just wasn't fair. After first period we were heading to our next class but we had to go to the outside area to get to it. We were walking when someone blocked us.
"So… You are that kid who can't speak," The guy in front of us said. He was tall and I think I had seen him before on the football team.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"See this kid had stolen my thunder, everybody feels sorry for you because you lost your worthless parents, I am sick of it, and now I am going to make you pay!" He said.
I was going to say something but I got cut off, "GRRR….," I looked over at Xeta and heard him making a growling sound. But the craziest thing was his eyes, they were actually growing.
"OH! You think you are some hotshot huh? Well you don't have a chance!" He charged and I backed up scared. The guy threw a punch but Xeta caught it in his hand. The jock and I were both surprised. He tried to throw another punch but Xeta caught it as well. The guy tried to get away but Xeta had a firm grip and he wouldn't let go. Then with a loud crack the guy screamed. His hand got bent over his wrist. I was actually terrified at what I just saw. It wasn't the fact that Xeta broke the guys hand, it wasn't the fact of how horrific the sound it made was. No, it was the look in Xeta's eyes, not only was it showing anger and hate, but the main thing it showed was control, his eyes were in slits and they were unfazed, like he wasn't even shocked at what he just did. Then the last thing about his eyes was the way they moved, instead of looking back at me or looking at the crowd that had gathered, he was just focused on the guy. No, even then it wasn't that he was focusing on the guy, it was like he was forced to focus on him. But a second of screaming and waiting later his eyes calmed in their expression and stopped glowing.
A teacher had come up to the scene, "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!?" He screamed.
The jock on the ground ran to him in fear, "THAT KID IS A MONSTER, HE BROKE MY HAND!" The teacher took a look at his hand and saw that it got bent backwards over his wrist!
"YOU LITTLE YOU ARE COMING WITH ME!" The teacher yelled at Xeta. But I stood between them.
"YOUNG LADY MOVE THIS INSTANT!" He yelled at me.
"NO! That idiot behind you started a fight with Xeta, just because he said he was jealous of him getting attention, AFTER HIS FAMILY WAS KILLED! HE HAS BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH AND HE WANTS TO COME OVER HERE AND DO THAT, WELL I AM SORRY IF YOU PUNISH XETA YOU WILL PUNISH ME TOO!" I screamed.
He turned around to look at the jock, "Is this true!?"
"NO! She is lying! Everyone saw what happened!" He screamed.
Then a guy came out from the crowd, "Yeah what is saw was you picking a fight with someone who went through hell and you thinking you wouldn't get repercussions for it!" I looked over to see Xeta's friend Bruce. We don't talk much but I have met him before and know who he is.
"I saw it sir, this guy here provoked him and tried to attack, in his defense Xeta probably did the best way to subdue someone with minimal damage, so how about you punish the person who actually deserves it instead of causing a court case.
The teacher looked toward the jock in anger, "You are coming with me, not only will you be charged with assault but also for provoking the fight!" He then dragged the jock off without another word.
Xeta came up to me and Bruce and gave us both a nod, "I guess that was a thank you, don't mention it! I will always be here to help you out man, especially if it comes to speaking!" Bruce said.
"Thanks Bruce that was a big help," I said.
"Again it is no problem, let us get to class before we get in extra trouble," I went to my next class with Xeta and it was our same routine that we had done. After that we had met up for lunch again but Xeta has a different meal this time. He had a plastic bag filled with what looked like jerky and grilled meat.
"Uh…. What is up with the food?" I asked. He then wrote down on a piece of paper that he had bought grilled food and jerky at his new home. He got a lot of money from his life insurance so he was having to use that as food. He said he would try to get a job soon but he wanted to wait a little while which was understandable. After lunch I headed to the rest of my classes. I didn't see him for the rest of the day since of course we shared no classes after lunch.
At the end of the day I was heading to the car ramp to get picked up when I noticed Xeta. He was walking towards one of the large forests this town had. Didn't he ride the bus? Why was he walking, if he did get a new house he definitely would not be going in that direction. There is no houses for miles past those woods, so why was he going there?
I started walking in the direction and pulled out my phone to call my mom. Once she finally picked up I told her I was heading to a friend's house. She was a little pissed because she was already there to pick me up but she gave I and agreed. I put my phone up and picked up pace. As he I followed I noticed the same thing happen again. His stature got shorter and so did his coat. He started going a lot faster in the forest and it was hard to keep up. Thankfully I don't think he noticed me. He was so fast that I lost track of him. About ten minutes later I was about to give up and start walking home.
Before I could though there was a rustling in the forest. I held perfectly still and held my breath. I was scared for my life, that could have been anything! I waited and waited and waited. THEN!
Out of one of the thick bushes walked out a deer. It's tan fur and long horns standing proudly, it was a buck. I audibly gasped because it wasn't a predator and I was glad for that. He seemed to notice me but went on to eating some grass. This was my first time seeing a deer this close so I was actually very giddy and excited.
But it all turned to travesty. With growling type scream a wolf would make something pounced the deer. A noticeable stabbing sound rang through the air and the buck started screaming. It terrified me. That wasn't just an animal attacking the deer, it was Xeta! He had his hood over him and he had stabbed the deer with a sword. The sword seemed familiar to the one he showed me at his house one time. I thought maybe I was seeing things but from around his neck fell the same golden cross necklace I returned to him. It kept dangling as he kept removing and stabbing the sword back into the deer. All the while the deer kept screaming, that scream was something I would never forget, it was such a horrible scream that petrified me. Then with one finishing blow it was over. The deer stopped screaming and stopped moving. Xeta got covered in blood and so was his jacket. The grass and dirt was stained red from the innocent deer's blood. It was a grueling scene, something that you would see a pack of wolves do to an animal.
Xeta started to look up but before he could I hide behind the tree that was next to me. Was that really Xeta? Why would he do that, and how could he do that, I didn't see him! Did he see me? It doesn't matter, I he was terrifying, was this what the dream meant!? Not that I would never see Xeta again! But I would never know the same Xeta again, was that it!?
I heard rustling and took a look around the corner of the tree. He was walking away with the corpse of the deer. I took this as my chance to get out of this forest and away from him. I don't know what that was but I am never coming back here!
I could have sworn I saw him notice me but he kept walking, guess it was just my imagination. I decided that was all a mirage and the forest was messing with my head. I would have to walk home now since my mom told me she wouldn't pick me up. Guess it will be a long trip home then.