::Summary::
Ecterina is a simple girl with a rare illness... She prepares for the worst until a faceless man gives her an offer- but does the catch leaver better off than her precious fate? (Rated T for Language)
-Pre-story info-
Ecterina: means "innocent" Greek.
Dendritic cells (DCs): are immune cells that form part of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present it on the surface to other cells of the immune system, thus functioning as antigen-presenting cells. Named after the long slender appendages that sprout off the cell. They can be used as treatment towards Cancer and other diseases.
-Dendritic-
My hair pushed off my shoulders in a small gust of wind. I stood in the grass, hands numb and skin cold.
I stared blankly at my house from my position in the back yard. The small mist of rain wetted my cheeks and hair, causing a subconscious shiver to shake my body.
I fell down to my knees and pushed my hands through my dampened hair, the tangled strings catching on my fingers.
The Tall Man had brought me back here to think and decide upon my fate.
His voice rang out in my memory...
"What do you need assistance in?" I squirmed in his grasp a bit.
Now that you will learn- if you choose to be my proxy... he set me down and I faltered back a step.
"You were serious... a-about me having a... a choice?" I swallowed hard again.
My offer does not stand forever, though. He craned down to my height, his head tilted on his thin neck.
"You can keep me alive?" I reassured "Get rid of this... this cancer..." tears of hope reaching my eyes and I held a hand over my heart. My ice cold hands felt foreign to my own skin, prickling at the touch.
Eradicate it from your frail body- his voice turned dangerously low -in turn you are at my beck and call at any time of any day.
"What do you even do? Other than consume people?" I wasn't so sure I wanted to know.
I feed off the youth of your species. He was incredibly blunt.
He... kills children. I thought, that means I would have to help a... a child murderer.
A hard shake hit my body and I cringed. Did I really want to do that? Not to mention- be at his beck and call like a slave.
Is that really living?
You have 36 hours to choose human. He stood up straight before a wave of white noise static exploded in my mind and invaded my vision.
My memory cleared and I found myself curled in the fetal position, a puddle of the rain mixed with tears lay on the bridge of my nose.
I didn't know what I would want.
Did I want to continue to live yet be a slave to this tall creature of the forest? A child murderer... The idea wouldn't leave my mind, becoming horribly repetitive. The actions he would have me preform would undoubtfully end me up in Hell once I did die.
Was it worth it?
The rain started coming down harder and my already soaked clothes absorbed the cold drops of precipitation. The rain hid my tears that slipped down my cheeks, only my skin able to identify the warm beads of water.
"Ecterina!" My sister Caffara called out to me, running out into the yard barefoot. "What are you doing out here?" Her eyes where wide and her short bleached hair began to droop into her face. She kneeled next to me and I just stared deadpan at green blades of grass near my head. Her voice seemed so distant, the hard drops of water patting a small thumping beat against my skin.
She helped me to my feet and drug me back inside, rushing off to get a towel.
I just stood, knock-kneed, numb, and arms wrapped around me. My vision was blurred around the peripheral and a small wash shot down my spine.
Tick-tock, tick-tock…
I turned to see the creature standing behind the sliding glass door.
I jumped away and slipped, falling and cracking the back of my head against the linoleum floor. I writhed around, head in my grasp and my hearing was ringing at a high note. I wept for a minute before straining to sit up and look back at the door.
He was gone.
But in that instance- after that small simple appearance he made- I knew that for the next day and a half I was going to be followed closely.
"Oh god- are you ok?!" My sister had returned with a large fluffy towel, wrapping it around my torso. I simply nodded and clinged onto the towel, shivering profusely. I asked about my mother's absence and I felt like a moron forgetting her nightshift at the local dinner.
I was escorted to my room, pain buzzing from my sternum above, and left to change into a fresh pair of clothes.
My mind numbed and skipped forward as I found myself crawling stiffly under my covers; then laying back and following the lightly bumped texture of my ceiling.
The next morning I had realized I hadn't slept at all- I had just lied in my bed and stare at various walls of my room. My eyes burned from lack of sleep, I blinked and I rubbed them with a yawn.
I half fell from my bed to my feet, leaning back against the edge of the old mattress. The faint red L.E.D. glow brought my eyes to the alarm clock on my nightstand.
Shit... I had only an hour till I would go to school.
I laughed inwardly- a nervous, horrible sound- at myself before slipping to the floor, the small noise turning miserable and more tears slipping down my cheeks.
"What am I doing?" I shook my head and weakly got up then drifted my way to my bathroom to take a shower.
I didn't even bother to wipe of the salty beads dripping out of my eyes.
I reached out and touched the warm water, only to yank my hand away from the small spikes of pain. I had succumbed to way too much cold water yesterday, my body temperature was still readjusting. I brought my gaze to the mirror as it fogged- my lips where a darkened dead tone from my lack of heat, dark circles wrapped my sockets. My thick- almost black- brown hair was tossed semi wildly from the roots. Thick ropes of varying sizes laying over one another in a tangled mess.
I looked like hell.
Drawing out a sigh and I whipped a pale hand over my reflection.
The warm water of the shower felt so foreign to my cold skin, the smell of Cinnamon from my shampoo invaded my senses and calmed my nerves. Once the suds had spent their due time in my hair, I stood under the water and just stared at the wall.
After getting ready for the day; letting my hair fall naturally against my neck and touch my clavicles after running my straightener through and through; applying minimal makeup as well- only to hide the dark dead rings on my eye sockets. I slipped on a black long sleeve and just plain denim skinny jeans. I picked up my shoes and returned to my bathroom to brush my teeth.
I spit out the paste, sighed heavily and turned back up to my reflection. I looked so pitiful. My skin was horribly dead and sick.
God... Why?
"Ecterina?" I jumped at my name and saw my sister, curiously eyeing me from the doorway.
"What are you doing?" she seemed worried and perplexed.
"Getting ready for school." my voice was flat and emotionless. She just stared at me, tousled her hair then finally spoke.
"Are you sure you want to do that? You just got out of the hosp-" She started but I quickly cut her off, slamming down my hands on the counter.
"I'm fucking aware, Caffara, and I want to go to school. Not sit and rot in this house." My tone took on one of a snarl and she hesitated before complying to drive me.
I adjusted my plain black backpack on my shoulder, the book to my first period in my opposing arm. Once in the halls of school I took in my surroundings. Not a single person looked to me and quite honestly I wasn't surprised. I existed as a ghost.
I was invisible. I always am.
The understanding that nobody around me cared about my health was an adjustment that caught me more off-guard than I thought.
I drifted past the balcony of the third floor over the cafeteria on the first level. With a pause I peered over the edge and drew out a heavy sigh. 30 feet down. About 1.39 seconds from here to there.
I could fall face first.
My eyes traced the tiles for a second before falling onto a girl about my age staring up at me. She adorned a black sweater with white polka dots. Her hair was a copper orange-red color, shortened in a pixie cut. Her skin was pale but not as severe as mine. Her bright brown-orange orbs stared intently at me.
She grinned.
A bump on the shoulder scared me away from the railing and I looked to see the person who ran into me. I failed to find the perp and looked back down to see the girl gone.
Damn, I am going insane.
Rubbing my forehead, I headed to math class. I sat down at my seat, pulling out a pen and my notes. The other students did about the same, guys joking with each other about something or girls gossiping changed up the routine however.
As the day droned on I saw that girl again- only for quick instances though. If I looked away she would be gone when I looked back. She took role-call for my gym teacher; her voice was very calming but full of energy.
"Ecterina?" She called out, her tone was sweet. I hesitated and a shiver shook my body.
"Here" I croaked out, my voice partially hoarse due to not being used all day.
"Of course you are..." She hummed lowly and I just watched her walk away. She was gone for the rest of the period, I found myself constantly looking for her.
The final bell rung and I was last one out of the locker room. I pushed through the heavy oak door and stopped.
The hallway was dimmed due to all the lights shut off and it was somehow dark outside. A pressure filled my mind and my heart began beating intensely.
I looked down the hallway. My eyes widened and in a panic I turned and sprinted in the opposite direction. I hit a force and was blown back off my feet.
The Tall Man loomed over me and I crawled backwards, his form gliding along to keep a close distance with me. The static in the air intensified and his voice cut through.
Have you decided, human?
"NO! IT'S NOT TIME YET!" I shrieked and covered my face with my arms as his long pointy hands shot out to me.
"NO!" I screamed again and the pressure left as soon as it had appeared.
I looked up from my sleeves and found myself alone. My breath huffed out in a hurry and I looked around.
Well- I was almost alone... the male gym teacher stood down the hall in his green track suit, chewing gum and staring at me, worried.
However he didn't say anything nor move- just stared.
He apparently wasn't worried enough though because he turned and left me.
Asshole.
I picked myself off the floor and recovered my books and insides of my backpack. I shuffled the loose papers around and stopped when I saw a piece of loose leaf drawn on crudely with charcoal.
It was a faceless head with two X's over where the eyes would be; above and below where the words "ALWAYS WATCHES. NO EYES."
With trembling hands I shoved it in with the rest of my papers and scrambled to where Caffara would take me home.
I refused to speak the whole way home, just staring out the window as the world passed us by. She chatted about something I had no interest in and stopped once in the driveway of home.
I headed directly up to my room, shutting the door. I let out a breath and then my fury exploded.
I threw my math and history books across the room then tore open my backpack.
I grabbed the bottom and turned it over, dumping out everything. I picked up the weird drawing and steamed at it. I grabbed at the top with both hands and pulled in separate directions. The paper never gave way and a screeching noise shot into my mind. I let out a yelp, dropping the note. I breathed heavily and glared before shuffling up and yanking open the top drawer on my desk. I ripped off a piece of tape from my dispenser and taped up the drawing on my wall.
I kicked the other papers and notebooks, throwing and scattering them.
"FUCK YOU." I growled at the idea of the Tall Man, knowing he could hear me from somewhere.
A pain shot my chest and I collapsed to the floor with a cry of agony.
My mother rushed in "Rina what is going on?!" She was horribly worried and bug eyed. I looked up to her. She was getting ready for work and her apron was drooping haphazardly from her waist.
"Nothing... nothing... i just..." i tried to gain composure "Just a little break down... I'm ok now." I forced a sad smile. She didn't force a convincing one either, the corners of her mouth rising and almost immediately falling.
"Really Mom... Just had to purge my system." I said shakily, wincing inwardly at the word 'purge'. Unconsciously, I started picking up my mess. Her attention turned from me to the charcoal drawing on the wall.
"Honey, what is this?"
I froze without an answer, how was I supposed to explain this?
Hi everyone~
Sorry for such a long wait! i had been stuck on this chapter for the longest time and i am quite happy with it now!
I'm ending it here so i can have time to think about what Ecterina will say to her mother and not leave you guys without another update!
please review and let me know what you think!
~FurrReal