COLD SUNRISE
Chapter 4: Mystery girl

The days that followed were pains, not in the agonizing sense more like the irritating, troublesome variety. I was stuck at home mostly in my room, couldn’t walk, couldn’t do anything useful constantly trapped in the comfort of my warm bed, frank and Judy treated me like an invalid although you wouldn’t blame them, I just didn’t want to be seen as fragile even though I was for now. I had problems getting used to the clutches believe me the damn thing was very uncomfortable and I hated the fact I needed them. Allan visited yesterday he’s been nothing but helpful covering for me in school and stuff, we chatted about what I missed for the weeks I was out, he told me about an upcoming test a week from now. I took some of his notes to study, that night in bathroom I removed the bandages wrapped around my fore head examining the redlined bruise from my left cheek bone to the of my right brow when I looked at the mirror. I was lucky too lucky, I should be dead or worse still stuck in coma until my body eventually shuts down. Then it hit me it wasn’t luck.

I recalled what lock Lansdale had said about his sister slowly patching me up, she had been visiting, healing me. I know how it sounds believe I know, you can’t just magically heal another person except in fantasy movies or miracles were there’s always some kind of crazy mystery involved. I don’t know how but I find myself starting to believe somewhere in the realm of possibilities it might have actually happened, I mean I can hardly doubt not after what I have seen, not after what I witnessed the people can do. Ordinary people to not posses’ abilities as such and before what happened that night I never believe such things ever existed for real. What are they, a family of secret magicians? And why was I saved, why did Raven save me? If I had died then they wouldn’t have to worry about their weird secret ever getting out. Not that I plan on revealing anyway, her brothers were clear on what would follow if that happens and I have seen firsthand what Adam can do, what I don’t know is really how far he’s willing to go to protect he’s family secret, believe me I sure as hell don’t plan on finding out. Right now in this town There’s nothing more dangerous than a self desired isolated bunch of rich super powered freaks, I can’t believe said that but that’s what they are.

Frank had asked if I was able to remember of anything that happened that night before the accident, I had to lie for he’s own safety besides who would believe me if I told them the whole story I’ll just have my own sanity questioned instead. For a moment I wished I could simply just close my eyes and I’ll have my leg back, this will all be one of those depressing dreams. Funny thing is that I know even if i do I’ll still be stuck in it. Reality sucks sometimes.

At noon I decided to take a walk outside, get some fresh air, clear my head instead of brooding in my room about how south my life went so fast, walking down the staircase was practically difficult and a whole lot of work like I said I had problems getting used to my used to my new tools. I managed to get downstairs, Judy laid at the couch in the sitting room watching some sort of women reality show on TV mostly women her age don’t know what it was about,

“Where are you off to honey,” she asked taking notice when I headed for the door.

“ I need some fresh air outside, I’m going to take a walk won’t be going be far.” She sighed deeply and nodded.

“Alright I get it, just be careful out there don’t want you hurting yourself and please try staying close to the house.”

“Sure,” i shut the door behind me, feeling the gentle breeze on my face for the first time since I returned from the hospital, I appreciated it.

“you look better, how’s the leg.” A female soft familiar voice said, Raven Lansdale standing at the front yard of the house to my surprise like she’s been waiting for me to come out, totally unexpected. How does she know where I live?

“ why are you here, what do you want from me now?” I scowled.

“easy Nate, I just wanted to check on you, see how you’re doing.”

“Funny, you say that easily like we’re friends, why do you even care,” I managed keeping my voice down not to alert Judy,

“ I’m half an invalid because you and your damn brothers chased me into an accident with a speeding truck, we’ll you’ve seen me princess, how do I look?”

“Look Nate I know your mad, I just want to talk.”

“Talk!” I laughed scornfully.

“Now the princess wants to talk, so what? You can threaten to hurt me and my family if I say anything, No need to worry your brothers already took care it. Adam made it pretty clear.”

“ I would never do anything like that.” She said solemnly.

“Please just walk with me a bit, my car is parked in front.”

“you can go ahead and say whatever you want say to me here, there’s no taking a walk with you anywhere. in case you haven’t noticed I’m having difficulty getting used to these things,” I replied frustratingly referring to my crutches.

“or you can do us both a favor and just stay the hell away from me, got it?“I turned around to return to the house.

" I can help you with your leg,” she announced, I watched myself pause for a moment.

" I can fix it for you if you let me, you’ll be back on your feet in no time like everyone else, first what I have to tell you is very urgent and important, you have every right to be angry i understand but please you have to listen to me.”

i stood still for a sec, thinking of a good reason not to take it into consideration knowing It’s possible she can and for the past few days i have wished for more than to be able to walk again, i will give anything for it even endure listening to her.

" How? how do you plan on doing that.” I asked trying not to sound desperate.

" I can do things other people can’t.” She replied.

“so what, you’re magician or something? ”

" it’s not magic but i can, I want to help you.” her voice, the look in her eyes were sincere, i have to give it a shot besides what have i got to lose.

" Fine, I’ll humor you.” I crutched walk forward into the side walk of the street, she joined me.”

“But first I’ll ask a question and I want every answer to it nothing left out agreed?” I saw this as an opportunity a chance to satiate my Curiosity

“Alright, so what do you want to know?”

“I have seen some things about your brothers, crazy unexplainable things, like mind control recently, and as i can recall clearly that night in the woods your brother Chris, the skin on his arms were literally on fire but he wasn’t burning. Then the scary one lock, i saw what he did to that woman. How is that even possible? Who are you people?” I asked.

She seemed calm, the look on her face calculating as she stared blankly into the open streets searching for a possible way to give an answer.

" you know most people say every family has a dark curtain, behind it lies things they don’t want the world to know or see, well my family has that and its different from most.” she tried explaining

“Different how?”

“we are a different race from humans existing on earth, the stories of our origin wasn’t postulated from scientific theories like evolution or completely from the religious belief that states the creator gave life to dust, are you religious?” She asked.

" personally, no, not really but I was brought up in religious home, my mom is a Christian same with my grand folks, i remember going to Sunday school a couple of times, whatever stories they taught about

to me were simply just stories nothing more..”

" it is strongly believed that my ancestors were angels who came in unison with men, some say they were the fallen ones who rebelled against the creator. And people like me being their long descendant we’ve been described with so many names in different languages for over a thousand years, benei-ha -elohim, Neteru, Annunaki, urshu, and Nephilim. The first set of us were a natural imbalance, an abomination that affected the gene pool, the giants. They did so many horrible things, unleashing darkness and unto the world and one day the creator decided to flood the earth.”

" I think I have heard about this story before, Noah and the ark right.”

“Yeah.” She nodded slightly.

" religious history tells everything on earth drowned except the one’s given refuge on the ark. The reemergence of my people after the flood centuries later was living proof that somehow they had survived.”

" existing in clans, the rest of them were hunted down to near extinction by other unknown forces and humans as long as they had the creator on their side.”

“Wait, so you’re telling me that your great, great , great and so on grandparents were giants. Offspring’s of angels, that sounds uhmmm.” The thought alone was Marveling but...

“I know how it sounds, but that’s the history of our origin, I’m half of what you are and half of something else.”

“So I’m guessing you and your brothers, the things you all can do comes from the other half.” I said

" yes,”

" you said your ancestors were giants, but you guys look pretty normal, Something must have happened.” I sensed the hint of fascination in my own voice,

" something always does,” She answered.

“as the story goes, one of our fore fathers named Jahath made a prayer to the creator asking for an end and the bloodshed and for what remains of our race to be spared, forever shall we remain in the dark along with the secret of our existence, never again to interfere with man and his affairs. it was said the prayer was heeded and answered by the creator when he spotted righteousness in him amongst others.”

" the hunting came to came to an end afterwards a treaty was made with heaven by the leaders of my people, nature finally decided to keep us in balance when the next generation of our race were able to posses the complete qualities and appearance to the average man with most of our celestial abilities instilled in us but in variations which had never occurred before.”

“ we separated into twelve families spreading across the globe walking amongst men and hiding in plain sight, sticking to the rules layed down by forefathers in order not to violate the treaty and for thousands of years this story has been passed down to everyone of my kind till this very day.”

“that’s the full story describing to you who I am and what.” She concluded at the same time we reached her black cruiser,

" from what i understand you’ve told me, by definition what you’re is complicated I’ll leave it at that,” I said humouredly

" I’ll very much prefer not cloud the perspective of my own belief with stuff like angels, giants, heaven, God, stuffs like that.” i can’t even believe i had somehow bought into what she just told me, i mean it’s crazy right..for mutants to exist for real.

“you don’t believe in God?”

“I believe there’s a God somewhere, who designed everything because I’m sure the world didn’t just pop up on its own. But that’s as far as my belief about any of it goes. I don’t bother with the rest, I’m a simple ordinary guy that way.”

She chuckles faintly..

“yeah, maybe simple you are, but ordinary your definitely not.”

“Why do you say that? ”

" A few distinctive reasons, for one my brothers and i we returned to town four years ago and our secret has been safe and unrevealed to anyone, and within the month you show up you’ve already seen us for what we are and you’re still alive with the secret knowledge of an existing master race unraveled before you.” master race huh! That’s they proudly refer to themselves as..

“ lastly and the most fascinating, my brother Adam he’s memory expunging ability didn’t work on you which usually has never happened before on a human.”

“And why is that also?”

" I don’t know, i can’t explain it, perhaps another mystery but that aside there’s something else and it’s troubling.” She said.

“What? ”

" that night in the woods before Adam and i came after you, there was someone else we were looking for, hiding same as you, one of my kind, I’m guessing a telepath like Adam that’s why we couldn’t find him easily he must have been cloaking his energy, lock and Chris went after him.”

“You mean apart from those two poor people your brothers disintegrated and scorched to death, there was a third somewhere around watching you people.” I scoffed.

“What happened to those people that night had to happen, they were witches hired by an ancient organization my family had a fall out with, they tracked us back in California and then we moved over here and they found us again we weren’t just going to let them leave,”

“Well i won’t ask why because its non my business my life just got a whole lot complicated for knowing you people, right now the least i know about anything else the better.”

“He escaped,” Raven said. “The third lock and Chris never got him.”

“Ok, but what does any of that has to do with me.”

“Everything, by now he’s informed the people he works for about us and our current location, and I’m pretty sure he won’t forgot the detail about a human witness which won’t be a problem because he I’ll be expecting we’d have killed you ourselves by now, cause what you saw makes you an anomaly, it part of the rules that follows to keeping what we are a secret no matter the cost. ”

′ i know he I’ll be back and this time with stronger re-enforcement all of them my kind, and once he’s here he should be able to feel the essence of everyone in Franklinton, if he recognizes yours and that your still alive he’ll have take care of you himself.” From the stern look in eyes, she wasn’t kidding.

“Great! That is just great!” I exclaimed sarcastically.

“ just when I thought my life couldn’t get any worse, another super powered freak whom i know nothing of or ever seen will randomly just come kill me, after i managed to survive you people,” I leaned my weight at back running my finger through my hair scared and bewildered at the same time.

“All I ever wanted was a fresh start, i came to this town so i could get to know where I’m from. I moved in not long ago and already i have lost three weeks of my life in a coma and all these weird thing with you guys happening around me instead, amongst a thousand folks out there. My luck must really suck, mom was rights maybe i never shouldn’t have came here in first place,”

“Hey, look at me.” She said softly

" there’s no amount of regret your feeling right that can change what has happened but maybe we might have an opportunity to change what’s about to, so stop beating yourself up.” She said soothingly.

“What if he comes to take me out when I’m with my family what then... I’m guessing he’ll take care of them too, they’ve been so nice to me and i got to pay them back in return is by inviting death to their doorstep..“Depression in my tone, my negative side was always good at calculating the worst.

“Look, my siblings and I will handle our problem and if it comes to that we’ll protect your family , there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“your brothers will help protect my family that’s funny, when they maybe actually itching wherever they are to kill me in my sleep, why would they even care?”

“They’ll do it if I ask them to,” She replied looking down at my cast for a minute.

“Give me your hand,” Raven requested her right arm to me.

“why?”

“just do it!”

I pressed my body weight on my left arm crutch before my hand on hers, she gripped firmly with her warm soft hand more like an agreement handshake, she was still staring me right in the eye. In my head I was imagining inside my body flaring up with a supernatural energy surge travelling until it reaches my right leg and the bones will regenerate then I’ll be able to walk again. I felt nothing different within apart from her grip and uncomfortable gaze, seconds later she lets go.

“it’s done,” she said. I tried wriggling my leg, it still felt sore and unresponsive only giving out its usual prodding pain.

“You’re indirectly making fun of me aren’t you? For believing,” I chuckled.

“It’s still the same, I can’t feel anything.”

“try having a little faith Nate it’s helps, and what I just did is not automatic I exchanged energy with you, it should kick in completely in a few hours.” She walked over reaching the car door,

“ wait, so that’s it?” like I understood the meaning of the last part she said.

“ yes, and uhh, you feel some pains during the repairs then you’ll have leg back.”

“ just like that?’

“ just like that,” she repeated.

“ I’ll come pick you up for school by tomorrow,”

“ what!” I watched her get in the cruiser zooming forward away from the lot, turning left at the end of the street to the main road until it vanished.

What was she assuming when she said she’d come pick me up tomorrow is her brain on the fritz, does she think I’ll blindly go with her knowing how much unwanted attention would be drawn if we were both seen together coming out of the same car in the parking lot, assuming my first full recovery school day I show up with Raven Lansdale, she’s hot I get it and on a very good day I’ll very much like that but…. I need to feel normal and all that will just portrait is “strange” We’re two vastly different people, for a school like Franklinton high that definitely be the freaking gossip of a life time given the Lansdale’ history The elegant Raven Lansdale rolling with the new town boy who got drunk and almost got killed by truck. Why the hell I’m I even thinking about, I don’t give a shit what they think and it’s not happening, end of story .

Later that night during dinner my right leg started feeling a bit heavy to lift, the cast did nothing but seem to add more weight to it. Internally there was something else going on like a trickling of electrical charge coursing through my muscles with cramps. I tried hiding my discomfort from Judy and frank, it only got worse the slow aching pain penetrating into the bones.

“Nathan are you all right?” Frank asked, observing i had been staring down my leg under the dinner table for minutes after i ate a little and repeated the same thing.

“yeah, I’m fine.” I lied with a nod, when i felt a grip on my injured knee, it released seconds later. I knew it wasn’t the end, so i hurriedly ate before the worse takes over. But I couldn’t shove down all the food into my throat.

“on a second thought, i think i feel dizzy a bit and i need to lie down.” I said as a excuse not to finish my meal.

" are you sure, you’re okay honey?”

" yeah, I’ll be fine there’s nothing a good rest won’t fix.” i replied Judy, standing up to manage take out my plate to the kitchen with one crutch.

“No, no ,no ,leave it on the table I’ll clear it if myself just go lie down okay!” Judy demanded. “Thank you.”

I left for my room slumping into my bed once the pains escalated, an hour later the thing began hurting like hell, accompanied by a fever, felt my leg was being dissected i did my best not groaning too loud, not to tip off my folks there’s was something going on with me. I tossed and turned trying to relieve myself at some point dozed off eventually once the pain became bearable. I awoke the next morning to find myself lying on the room floor, my fever broke. i must have rolled out of bed in my sleep. The weight i once felt on my right leg gone along with the pains that followed, i tried wriggling my toes and took notice of them to my own Amazement, they moved rubbing each other like my bones had completely aligned and i could feel them. Without a second thought i rushed taking off the cast from my leg, my limb appeared a bit thinner than the left pale and dry, gave a little bit of smell due to it hadn’t been washed in a while, i rubbed my kneecap, flexing the joints and it looked good as new no bruise marks or scars.

I kept smiling the entire time i couldn’t believe my eyes the stuff Raven said she did eventually worked after the painful night just as she said, Unbelievable at the same a freaking miracle , she was right she did it i don’t totally get how but she did. The first step i took began with a slight limp, it improved quickly after i practiced walking around a bit, i dashed into the bathroom staring at my strange self right in mirror, the redlined bruise on my face before had faded completely, this the part where i say i looked pretty again, i laughed at myself in excitement as i washed my face, it was the most exhilarating moment of my life. After i had my bath and dressed up, i grabbed my bag leaving the room rambling to myself on how to explain to Judy about my right leg, taking the cast off and how I’m able to walk.

I could hear her in the kitchen and the smell of bacons she was preparing for breakfast, frank in the living room watching some big game. I can’t go down there walking completely normal it would definitely raise questions i don’t know how to answer and sure not ready to, i went back to get the clutches, the only way out at the time i could see was too keep playing the injured victim, God knows for how long.

I figured the cast wouldn’t really matter, i could just say i had it removed it started feeling too uncomfortable, i had an instinct that suggested i pick up my keys from the table, now i had my legs back i wouldn’t spend another moment here at home I’m so going to school, i need the change of environment so bad right now, my head was calculating everything i looked out my window, my car was parked across the street where i left it, Raven said she’ll be here now I’m hoping she actually shows up, she ’s likely to be my ticket out of this place. I put up a good show while walking down the staircase with my crutches, Judy saw me first from the dining room her eyes first on fact i had a bag and then my leg.

“Morning Judy,” i said eagerly

“morning honey, where are you going and what happened to your cast.” She dropped the empty plate on the table looking down my right leg.

" i took them off they were getting too uncomfortable, i think my leg will heal better on it’s own,”

“No, Nathan you shouldn’t have without seeing a doctor first,” She objected.

“I’m fine Judy, my leg feels a bit better now and i want to go to school, i can’t stay here doing nothing anymore.” I groused

“Frank come help me out here please.” She announced. Great! Now This is a family debate.

" sure, I’ll be right there.” He replied with his eyes clearly still on the game, he stood from the couch and strolled down. I knew this is how it likely would play out, it either this or showing them how miraculously I’m able to walk.

“What’s going on?” I sighed deeply as he approached.

“Nate took his cast off,”

“Oh! Son you know better when that should be taken off is when your leg has fully recovered maybe a month time,”

" i know, but my leg feel kind of better without it, i prefer it that way.” i flexed my right leg a little, not to much then placing gently on the floor pretending to stand on it with a limp keeping my clutches aside.

“See! A day ago i couldn’t do that, it’s progress.” i wanted to prove myself, the little hint of surprise by the expression on their faces,

“wow, that’s great i see that, but don’t you think your pushing yourself too hard by wanting to go to school so soon, i mean you just got out of hospital couple of days ago.” Frank persisted.

" i need the change of environment grandpa, i need it.” I said firmly

" okay, i get it but how do plan on getting to school, i mean you can’t drive, not like that do you want me to take you?” That’s why i like frank he’s old but he’s a guy, he understands and i get Judy and why she’s being protective.

“No, there’s someone......” then there was a gentle knock at the door, Judy left to answer it. I knew it had to be her Raven, i guess she was serious after all.

“Hi I’m Raven, a friend of Nate I’m here to pick him up for school.” She said introducing with a warm grin on her face, Judy seemed dumbfounded and confused at the same time, she’s prettier than normal everyone gets that at first, but it not what i was worried about,

“Uhmmm, Nate there’s someone here to ....” i was already behind Judy once i heard her voice.

“Hey Raven you showed up, thanks.” I said over politely, stepping into porch to get away from Judy.

“Yes i did, I said I would didn’t i.” She played along keeping her steady smile though it won’t be a surprise if she’s faking it.

" Hello, my dear.” Frank said as they hands shook when he came at the door, I was a bit nervous he could identify who she is but from he’s expression seems they’ve never crossed paths before.

“Hello, Mr. Bale” she replied politely, her girlie charms flying everywhere, she’s had cut all the debate and conversations that followed by showing up.

“We’re already late we need to get going.” I urged Judy cleared her throat smiling in admiration before tapping frank at the shoulder for them to go back inside, give us some space.

“Alright Miss I’ll be leaving my boy in your hands watch over him,”

" Jesus frank, I’m not Nine years old!” I murmured in embarrassment, Raven laughed.

“Honey what about breakfast won’t you eat something at least,”

“I’m not hungry, I’ll eat when i get back.”

“Okay good luck, you two be good,” she waved at us before shutting the door.

“You’ve got good timing showing up when you did, wasn’t really sure on how to evade those two.”

" a simple thank you would be nice,” she said smugly. Flipping the remote of her key chain, unlocking the doors to the cruiser parked at the corner of the street

“fine, thank you but there’s no way you’re driving me to school, i appreciate the offer anyway.”

“why?” she asked..

" pride I think, and I’d very much prefer to drive myself, haven’t done it a while.” it beats saying out loud, i didn’t feel like being the subject of unwanted attention and awkward gazes. I had the picture of the scenario painted in my head, people with eyes as question marks. i joined both crutches together walking normally once i was out of sight Away from the front yard. i got to my car parked at the corner, took the keys from my pocket unlocking the door, tossing the clutches to the back seat. i saw Raven in front take out her bag from the cruiser and shut the door, then coming over to join me. What is she doing?

“looks like that leg of yours is fine now, let’s see how good it is on a clutch I’ll be riding with you,” She said opening the front passenger door. i knew better than to say anything or argue i just drove out. it was a quiet trip we said nothing to each other, i kept a stern focused look to avoid exchanging awkward glances but inside I was filled with an overwhelming gratitude towards her for whatever she did that got me my leg back with no idea on how to express it, Truth be told I couldn’t, didn’t want to.

“just say thank you, it won’t kill you if you do.” The voice in my head, but I won’t listen not right away I peered briefly a her through the rear, she stared blankly out the window with music in her ears, who knows what’s going on in that mind of hers,…she’s a total puzzle. we entered the parking the lot, the school premises crowded with students, my first day at school after the accident who’d have believed I’ll be sitting in the same car as Raven Lansdale, there were curious prowling eyes around pointed at us when I parked, I pondered on leaving the car some minutes later after Raven had left for the school block but it would make me look timid and I don’t want that.

She grabbed her bag reaching for the door, I took a long deep breath before following suite, glancing around to find Chris and Adam at the line in front standing close to their silver Mercedes facing our direction, more like they were waiting for her. Maybe she told them we’ll be arriving to school together which clearly explains why their looks towards me were less hostile than usual, it was the gawking by students outside that me a bit uncomfortable I took out my own bag from the back seat.

“ hey, Raven.” I called as she was about walking away,

“thank you. For my leg I mean,” She smiled faintly and nodded heading to join her brothers, they marched into the school block together.

class routine to me seemed normal again after a few periods, i was welcomed by friends and others. Allan mostly was relieved to have me back but surprised at the time on how i healed up so fast and was able to walk normally with my face almost unscathed compared to some days ago when he visited.

I had catching ups to do educative and socially, Raven Lansdale was back her normal distant self, the only class we had together was math’s which we sat at different tables acting like we barely knew each other , actually i don’t think the fault is from my part, my eyes peered constantly towards her throughout the entire period and she never glanced my direction not even once not ever, she just sat still with her undivided attention focused on whatever Mr. Shaw had to say, for a second i assumed she was doing it on purpose or maybe not. I didn’t set eyes on her again until lunch break which i left for the cafeteria early cause i skipped breakfast, i sat on a lone table taking a bite from my burger when four people came along joining me in my spot, i assumed it was Allan, wade and some other folks didn’t bother enough to look i was hungry.

" well, well, well, look whose all tidy and healed up, Raven you sure got an angels touch like they say.” The voice definitely not Allan’s or the people i was expecting. Lock Lansdale with a crocked smile sat directly opposite facing me, Raven at his side.

" how are you holding up mate,” said Chris with a mocking grin sitting at the left end of the table and Adam at the other quiet didn’t bother with anything else apart from his soda he popped starting with it. the expression in his cold face when i briefly looked at him, i was more frightened of him at the moment than anyone at the table. What now? What do they want again?

" i thought you guys usually have a private table of your own, why choose to sit here?” i asked gruffly.

“that’s very unwelcoming of you Nathan, haven’t we already bonded for sure back at the hospital, you better get that attitude of yours checked out or I’ll have Adam here check it out for you.”

“Lock, Stop it!” Raven scolded.

“Oh! don’t mind me I’m just messing with you,” he chuckles

" you should see the look on your face right now, aren’t we already past all this unpleasantness,”

" you made that nurse almost bleed herself to death in that hospital just make a point and threaten me ,we’re never getting past that.” i said surly knowing he couldn’t harm me not in a place this public.

“come on, don’t be so grumpy it doesn’t suit you, besides you’re part of our problem now since my sister decided to keep you as her pet instead of letting us get rid of you,” Chris mocked.

“I’m not anyone’s pet or problem, it’s not my fault you guys were sloppy when committing murder, look i said i wouldn’t mention anything to anyone about that night and i haven’t, so you guy should just leave me alone.”

“Told you i like this one Chris, he fascinates me,” lock added smugly,

“Alright cut it out both of you, I’ll do the talking,” Raven said. My eyes strayed around a bit, to find my friends sitting few tables away from us with their eyes darted towards me inquisitively as much as everyone else in the lunch-room,

“Nate, i have to ask about that night, i need you to try to recall every detail about it, like how you got there in the first place.”

“Why? what does it matter anyway,” i replied.

“please just try..” she asked, her tone was calmer and easier than anyone else and at the same time i sort of owed her for today it made a bit willing to comply.

" how i happened to be there is a little bit hazy and you wouldn’t believe me if i told you,”

“try me,” Raven seemed more attentive instead so i continued.

" at first i was in a party at wade’s house that Friday, got a little boozed up, came out to get some fresh air, there was this guy outside standing in the street watching me, couldn’t make out his face clearly cause it was dark, he had a hat and a trench coat that’s the only description i have of him, i thought he was sort of some stalker because i had seen him before, the night before that from across the street staring at me through my window when i tried getting a closer look he vanished like he wasn’t even there in the first place i figured maybe it was just my head being funny.”

“Really! a strange man with a hat and a trench coat that’s the best you can come up with!” Chris mocked.

“let him talk Chris,” Raven said defensively. On purpose i decided to leave out the part when he was standing close to a street lamp and it blew the moment i tried getting a glimpse of his face, didn’t want sound like i was too intoxicated and it made me see things.

" my confidence was high, i wasn’t thinking straight i decided to follow him to figure out who he was, i trailed him into a nearby gas station, he walked straight into the men’s room and i followed him just before he could shut door. Everything else went white like i was struck by a bright light from inside i don’t know if i passed out or not, Next i saw myself standing in the middle of the woods with no idea how i got there that’s when i heard the screams and found you guys.”

“Seriously guys are you buying this, a white light!”

“i don’t really care if you believe me or not, you wanted to know and i have told you my part,” i said.

“what other logical explanation do you think there is to it Chris, if you don’t believe what he says, i mean you can’t say he was following us he’s human we would have sensed him before we started.”

“but that’s the thing we didn’t, not even Adam not immediately, clearly he watched us the entire time and Adam was sure he had his memories expunged right after the accident but still he was able to remember everything about that night, that should not even be possible.”

“he’s telling the truth, everything he said.” Adam spoke for the first time, those weren’t the words i expected would have come from his mouth.

" the only problem we seem to be having is that he’s odd from the rest of the flock and we can feel it in his energy but aside from that he’s normal and as much as in the dark as we are.” He said with his eyes intensely steady peering into mine, i had a feeling he wasn’t directly looking at me but inside my head. Raven described him as a telepath, he can read minds, control minds, enter thoughts, remove memories, with psychic powers like that it makes him better than a human lie detector and they all rely on his instinct.

" the men’s room door at the gas station, when he walked through it all i see next is him in the woods, he was unconciously transported somehow. the question we should all be asking the man in black he described who is he?”

Lock scoffed.

“Lock, is there something you know we don’t. ” Raven asked “perhaps, but I’m not sure.” he replied

“what is it?”

“if I’m right about what I’m guessing he might have seen then you all know should there are more ominous things in play than any of us can truly comprehend,”

“What do you mean do you have an idea whom it is?” asked Chris.

“It not about a who but more of a what, the watchers.” this was the part i got lost, i had no idea what they were talking about.

“come on, that’s ridiculous even for you, the knowledge of their existence has always been a myth.”

" i have seen a lot of things that walks the earth Chris, including them they are no myth. Whatever it is we’re dealing with here is a plan already set in motion by a higher power from a totally different class?”

“so what your saying is that Nate’s presence there that night and everything that happened isn’t a mere coincidence?” Raven said puzzled

“Yes, him being a witness to what he saw was meant to happen, not by chance, they must have orchestrated the whole thing for a purpose unknown. The last time a watcher was spotted in Franklinton was seventeen years ago, If they here already it means something big is about to happen in this town and trust me when i say it, its never good.”

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