And so the plot thickens…
The dreams were back with a vengeance and Kurt found himself once again running through the maze of the now familiar pine forest. Every step felt just as it had before, his bare heels digging into the soft earth, desperately seeking to escape the chase. The creature was closer this time around. It's heated breath licking at the nape of Kurt's neck, seemingly zeroing in on its prey. He didn't remember it ever being so close and it didn't terrify him nearly as much as it should have.
The blood moon, it's surface full and luminous, casted a red hue throughout the branches of the trees that fractured its limited light. Kurt rounded the corner, the same one from his previous dreams and looked for the crevice to hide. His heartbeat thudded against his rib cage as he waited. For what he did not know.
The shrill howl ripped through the still night air as expected. It still sounded pained but with a touch of finality. The predator had at last found its prey. But Kurt was still out of reach from it'a clutches. Kurt stood as still as his trembling body forbade him, his breath spurting out puffs of fog in the chilled air. He couldn't withstand the suspense. It was easier to trust the fate of the chase. Working up his fragile nerves, he pushed aside the underbrush blocking his hiding place and ventured a look outside. His heart plummeted to the depths of his stomach when he realized he wasn't alone. He heard a deep grumbling; like a large beast ragged breathing after stalking its prey. Kurt's eyes squinted together in an attempt to improve his limited vision in the pitch-black darkness. He could only make out one terrifyingly familiar feature.
Two gleaming pools of gold shined brilliantly in the dead of night.
And Kurt was caught in the cross-fire of its baleful stare.
Kurt awoke, just as he always did, covered in sweat. His erratic breath poured out in uneven spurts. "Those eyes", Kurt muttered plainly. They looked just like the mysterious man in the library. Kurt needed to get a grip on himself if the objects of his fantasies were interjecting themselves into his weekly nightmares. Kurt's body, primarily his lower regions, began to respond to thought of the aloof stranger interjecting himself into other more...carnal locations. His fair cheeks flamed in embarrassment. He had thought he left the hormonal teenage phase long behind him. The growing bulge in his pajama pants said otherwise.
Kurt opened his drawer to find to his favorite workout clothes to go for a much-needed run. The library and his research could wait. His body felt entirely too sporadic, like something underneath his skin was begging to be released. Running, as Kurt hoped, would perhaps help release the pent-up energy he was likely experiencing. His mind drifted to the stunning stranger once again. Kurt just couldn't stop; almost as if his brain were on a continuous loop of the raven-haired beauty.
On his way to the park, Kurt encountered his usually jovial acquaintance Frank. Frank was the resident homeless man with a heart of gold and a slight touch of what Kurt suspected to be schizophrenia. He always gave his friendly regards to Kurt whenever they crossed paths. He either quieted or amplified the voices depending on their reactions to Kurt. Kurt tried to always keep food or spare change on him for moments such as these. The world could be entirely too harsh to misunderstood people like Frank.
"Well, well. If it isn't the elegant Kurt." His homely brown eyes shined with friendly banter. "On a run I presume?"
"Your presumption, per the usual, are correct. And How is your day going?" Kurt smiled easily. Talking to Frank was always simple and enjoyable.
"Oh, just like all the others. Same shit, different toilet. You know the drill." They both shared a laugh at Frank's vulgarity. Kurt fished through the pocket of his track pants for his wallet and pulled a five-dollar bill. Frank's eye lit up. He was starving. Kurt could always tell the subtle pangs of hunger behind those awfully kind eyes. Their fingers briefly touched and something unexpected occurred.
Frank's eyes rolled back, and Kurt gasped in alarm. The brown irises glazed over with a milky-white film and his mouth twisted, uttering a language Kurt didn't recognize. A deep ominous voice, rough as gravel, spit itself out of Frank's mouth.
"Hello, Kurt. The voices tell me that you're the one we've all been waited for." Kurt's hand was shaking. He never saw Frank react like this before.
"Frank? Is this one of the voices in your head? You're scaring me." His high voice sputtered out in concern for both the elderly man and himself.
"Your mother says hi. She misses her darling dearest oh so much. She told me to tell you...to trust the chase." His cracked lips settling into a terse line as he took a pause. "The secret world of creatures have been waiting for your power to arise once again. The elements are strong within you, young one. Trust the black wolf. He will protect you and guide you on your magical journey. When gold and cerulean meet, the prophecy is catapulted into motion. Remember that." Frank's eyes returned to their normal brown and he passed out from exhaustion. Kurt's hands were shaking as he made sure the elderly man was still alive and breathing.
Kurt was visibly shaken, his already fair skin paled in shock. He never told Frank about his mother. How could he have possibly known what she said to Kurt on her deathbed. Frank had conjured up a deep well of pain that Kurt thought was good and buried. His heart ached at the thought of his precious mother who died far too young. He didn't understand what the old man meant either. He had no such elemental power or magic. Magical power was the thing of fairytales and the imaginative work of supernatural novels. It wasn't real.
With one last look at Frank, Kurt turned on unsteady legs to leave, his intentions for exercise diminishing with the strange encounter. He needed to caffeine to steady his unnerved feelings.
What troubled Kurt the most was that, deep down in the depths of his gut, he somehow believed whatever it was that possessed Frank.
I know, I know. No Klaine just yet. But don't worry, it's coming next chapter. Please review and offer critiques. They inspire me :)