In the beginning, it was only himself. Coming out of water completely alone and unsure of what he was. Or why he even existed at all. But it didn't matter. All that mattered was that he was alive now. That what he needed was a purpose.
At first, he tried to find out what that was. By helping others find their happiness and safety. Which, for a while, felt like the best thing in the world.
Then, it started to get difficult.
He felt empty and unfulfilled with himself. There were things that he wanted to do that weren't exactly, good. Or nice. Feelings of harming others, or at the very least inconveniencing them, that was growing hard to ignore. Sometimes, he'd indulge this little feeling. Either tempting someone else or even nudging things to chaos. The nudging things into chaos was more fun than tempting others. As he found it rather difficult to properly tempt someone else. Yet, he found it easy to indulge himself.
Something that he, Ainsley, wasn't entirely sure of. All he knew was it was fun.
Ainsley spent time wandering. Changing himself to suit the times. Style, feelings, beliefs, and countries. Walking mostly. One time he had ridden a bike. Though, he didn't keep it for very long. As the second that he left it alone, it got stolen. By whom, he didn't know. All he knew is that he cursed them to forever get flat tires. Then never got himself a bike ever again. Continuing on his walk.
Where to? He wasn't entirely sure. It was just this pull that he felt over the years. One that he barely felt the urge to ignore as he made his way towards it. Or, towards what created him in the first place.
One time, he felt like he was close enough to the feelings. Close enough to his, Makers? It was one way of calling the feelings. Calling whatever breathed him into existence. Ainsley was so sure that he was close. Then it just suddenly disappeared as quickly as it had come.
From then on, Ainsley didn't go after the feeling. Instead, he just spent time finding things to keep himself occupied. Pretending to be human and moving periodically to go unnoticed. By who, he wasn't entirely sure of. Aside from possibly humans that surrounded him on a daily basis. Then he started noticing that there were people following him. None of them seemed to be normal human beings.
They had a strange feeling about them. Few times, he thought he had heard wings beating. Or something close to that. One time, he was completely alone at the bus stop. Sat himself on the bench that was there. While Ainsley was watching for the bus, a man just popped up out of nowhere. This man was wearing a gray suit with nice shoes. His hair was slicked in a strange style that Ainsley hadn't seen before.
But it looked very neat.
Ainsley gave the man a gentle nod and a smile. The man did not return the gesture. Instead, he seemed to be examining him. In a way that made his stomach twist in anxiety. So he decided to turn his attention back to looking for the bus. When his eyes left the man, the man asked,"Excuse me, sir?"
At the sound of the other man's voice, he froze slightly. Ainsley politely smiled as he turned to him. Raising an eyebrow as he said,"Yes? Can I help you?"
"I don't need help. But, I believe that you just might.",the man answered. The tone of his voice indicating that he was entirely serious. Which made Ainsley feel highly uncomfortable as he stared at the strange man. It wasn't scary. Just confusing as all out. Why did this man think that Ainsley would need his help for? Scooting away from the man, Ainsley stated,"Nah, I'm fine. I just need to go home is all."
"But uh, thanks for the concern I suppose?",Ainsley muttered. Noticing there was a strange look on the man's face. Something that the little creature couldn't entirely understand. So he continued to scoot away from the man. And in a gentle voice, he questioned,"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I wasn't exactly asking if you need help. I was saying you need help.",the man insisted. In the similar tone that made Ainsley feel weird. Making him glance back around for the bus before looking at the man again. Wondering where in the world that bus was. And why today of all days that the bus decided to be late. It had to be the day when a strange man was harassing him. The man added,"I know you're not a human, Ainsley."
That made him freeze. No one knew that he wasn't a human. At least, as far as he was concerned they didn't. Since he went to great lengths to keep his charade up. Such as wearing sunglasses that hid his strange eyes. Making sure that his employers didn't force him to take them off. Faking doctor's notes for it. Persuaing co-workers into believing it as well. Which took a lot more effort than he initially anticipated it would be. Ainsley pushed the feelings down as he grinned nervously. In a gentle voice, he asked,"What? I'm human. I have no idea just what you're on about."
"You've got the wrong man entirely.",Ainsley added. That's when a little fact fully dawned on him. This man knew his name too. Then, he glanced down at his chest. Fully realizing that the name tag from his workplace on his chest. Taking it off, Ainsley said,"So good luck finding your guy."
"No, he's got the right man.",a voice from behind him. Noticing that there was a feminine person dressed just as nice as the man next to him. Hair done in a similar strange way. But dressed more like something out of Labrynth. Ainsley raised an eyebrow as this person sat down next to him. Before they could continue, the bus finally arrived and he practically bolted off his spot. Telling both folks on the bench to have a good night. Then swiftly walking into the bus and taking his usual spot in the back. Soon as he got on the bus, they were gone. Like they had never been there at all.
It was odd, but he ignored it. After all, he probably was never seeing them again. So there was no reason to dwell on them.
This was enough to keep him relaxed as he leaned into his seat. Nearly completely relaxing until he noticed someone was staring at him. A strange pale man with white hair and super-black eyes. There was an odd object sticking out from under the hair. At first, he had no idea what it was. That was until he took a good look at it. Then he noticed it was a strange frog.
Well, maybe it was a toad.
Ainsley wasn't entirely certain of it. Instead, he just turned his head to the front. Deciding to ignore the man as the bus continued to drive along. That was until the man decided to come sit next to him. Sitting close enough that Ainsley could smell him. A gross thick scent that nearly made him gag. And made him wish that he could open up the window.
Instead, he just sat there in silence as the man stared him down. Keeping his head facing forward. But glancing at the man from the side of his vision as they drove. And for the first few minutes. That's all that had happened. Then the man spoke. His voice was raspy and had this odd quality to it. Like he didn't speak that often or something. He asked,"You new?"
"Uh, I guess so? I've only lived here for a few months.",Ainsley answered. That was strange to him. Why did the man bother to ask him this? Was that the only reason he got so close to him? To ask him if he was new? Hell, he could ask that too. As he hadn't seen this weird frog wearing man on the bus before. Instead of voicing this, Ainsley turned his head to look at the man. Who's face looked a bit confused as he stared at him. Then he clarified,"No. I mean are you newly fallen?"
"...what?",Ainsley blurted. Now, that was the oddest thing he could have possibly heard. Newly fallen? Newly fallen. That was the oddest thing in the world to him. He couldn't understand what the man next to him meant. So he answered,"I have no idea what you're on about. But I think you might want to give up day drinking, sir."
Soon as the bus stopped, Ainsley got out of his seat. Sprinting off the bus towards where he was currently staying. Getting his keys out of his pants pocket as he reached the front door. Locking it as soon as he got inside. Checking the peephole to see if the strange man had followed him.
He had.
The man was now standing on the sidewalk outside of his home. Watching the door in a way that made him uncomfortable. Ainsley backed away from the door as quietly as possible. In a soft voice, Ainsley muttered,"For the love of the principality what does he want?"
While Ainsley debated what to do, there was a knock at his door. Causing him to jump and almost yelp in fear. Instead he put his hands over his mouth as he checked through the peephole again. Noticing that the man was there. Standing right next to the door. Having moved faster than Ainsley thought he ever could. The man called,"Come out, newbie. I know you're in there."
"Just come out, please. I just want a little word with you is all.",he added. In a voice that didn't feel like that's all he wanted. Ainsley ignored it as he decidedly headed towards the backdoor. Not once making noise as he made his way through his house. Only pausing when he heard the sound of his door being broken down. Then speeding up until he was outside again. Heading through his backyard and the little gate that was there. Hiding in the big bush as he heard the man calling to him again. While he hid, Ainsley saw the man walking past him. Not noticing him there as he searched.
Which lasted a good half-hour before he gave up and left. Leaving Ainsley to sit in the bush near his house. Wondering what in the serpent's name that was all about. Or even why the man was so keen on following him at all. As well as how to fix the now broken and off its hinges door.
