Chapter 15

Chapter 15

 

            In plain sight, I pulled the doorknob in so that I was hidden. I heard things crash; my eyes were squeezed shut. I crouched down so I couldn’t be seen. I felt like a child latching on the last hope: The rule of ‘if I can’t see him, he can’t see me’. He stomped into another room, leaving the door open. I stood up and looked through the slender opening behind the door. I saw him in full view.  He had his sleeves rolled up. He was breathing hard, and on his arm I could see a tattoo. I squinted to see. It was a strange, curvy sign with a line though the center; a very unique tattoo it was. He went into the bare room across the hall and was unsatisfied. My hearted pounded so hard it strung though my whole body. I was as if a mallet was thrown against my chest, and my heart was the gong. I prayed that he wouldn’t come to double cheek the room I was in. He finally headed down stairs. Then I gained bravery. 

Ok, Rhi, let’s play spies. I made my way to the hallway. I had a good view of the foyer. I took a deep breath as I crept down the stairs. I peeked around the corner from the first step. I could tell by the wreckage that he had gone through the down stairs already. He made his way to the dining room. The dining room was so frail looking that everything seemed to be glass. He stood on the table, and without thought, he ripped the chandelier from its bolts and swung it around on the chain. When he released it, a fountain of shards dispersed through the entire dinning room, living room, and even the kitchen. He jumped down from the table, flipped it over and ran for the china cabinet. He shouted like a barbarian, turning it over and shattering the plates into a million pieces. All that was left of it was the wooden frame. He stood there for a while. Then he spoke to himself quietly; it was something I couldn’t hear. Then he touched his arm, but I couldn’t see that too well. Then I closed my eyes to take a breath. Then he was gone, in the blink of an eye. In confusion, my first reaction was to find Rhi, but she found me.

            “Whhhhaaaaaoooooww!” Her eyes were wide, blue skylights. I never thought I’d be so happy to see her, but I was.

            “Rhi! Thank god! Where were you?!” I hugged her so tight she gave out a little groan of pain. “You missed it! A man was just here, and he did all this! He was looking for something and I-”

            “Relax! I know. I heard a voice on the microphones, and it did not sound like you.” We laughed at that, but her laugh was a lot more stable than mine. “Come on we need to get the heck out of here.” The bold red head then walked right out the front door. Not wanting to be seen, I thought it would be smart to leave the way I came: Out the bedroom window. I made my way up stairs and into Undalio’s room.

            The room was suddenly spinning, so I sat on the bed. I just sat there thinking things through. Then in the corner of the room, I saw a shadowy figure fade to life. I could feel my heart sink, my eyes widen. My body weakened and I couldn’t move! It was coming toward me. Before I could scream, it was on top of me! He had me pinned. I could see him clearly now. It was Undalio!

            “Don’t scream… please.” He released his grip, and we sat up. “Courtalia, I have something to say.” He locked his eyes on mine. “I have powers… I don’t know where they came from, but you can’t tell a soul… And one last thing.” His hand brushed my hair back. “I love you.”

            “How? I barely know you!”

            “But I know you. I see you in dreams! I know it sounds creepy, but I’ve been watching you for nights… And I have loved you for so long I can’t remember when it started.” It seemed unreal. My vision was still blurry, and my head still felt light. I didn’t know what to say. He was quiet and didn’t talk for a long time. “I’m sorry I startled you...”

            “That’s ok.” I was a little scared and charmed all at once.

            “I mean I’ve just started to feel love, and I just don’t know what to think of it! I just don’t understand it!” He started to speak so fast; it was hard to understand. “You would probably know because I saw you with that boy Dylan he loves you and you probably love him back. How could you not, he trusts you and I-” I forced his lips on mine. I kissed him. I didn’t even think, it just happened. It was like something carried me forward to make me do it. He was tense for a while. We were fully frozen for some time, but then he weakened and it was… beautiful. All our worry and paranoia dissolved like sea salt in boiling water.  And everything in my mind was bleached in the white light.