***600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbENMSBe6X
Kwamé has been MIA for over a week now, and I'm beginning to wonder if he'll ever talk to me again. As I replay the scene of the last time we spoke, I begin to wonder if I really pissed him off, more than he let on. The truth is that I miss him; life seems so boring without him. I hate it. I'm sitting on the floor, staring at the tiny TV without registering whatever is being shown on it. That has been my life of late; eat, bathe, sit in front of the television for most of the day, eat again, bathe again, sleep. It is so odd for me to be emotionally dependent on someone I barely know. Actually, it's odd for me to be emotionally dependent on anyone. My mother and I exchanged numbers, and I do talk to her; not every day, but often enough. Every time we speak, Kwamé is brought up in conversation, usually by her. I figure it has something to do with her sixth sense. Every time he is brought up, she says things like "He'll come around," and even though she has a strange ability to know things like this, I am beginning to doubt her words. If he wanted to be a part of my life, wouldn't he have made some sort of contact by now? 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC9wMZfWQU
Silver comes over to me and rests her head on my side and closes her eyes, letting me know that she wants me to pet her. She is the only thing to really keep me from spiraling into depression. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJejHwyD3D
The shrill, loud ringing of the house phone is what pulls me out of my trance. I pull myself clumsily to my feet, almost falling over, to reach it on the other side of the room.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuyIUQOS5f
"Hello?"600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5i1JKB3t6
"Hello, Nya," says a smooth, silky voice. It's the voice of a woman, more specifically, a woman who I do not know.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpq9aKaVj4
"Good afternoon?" It comes out sounding like a question. I sound absolutely unsure of myself. I am absolutely unsure of myself. She, on the other hand, answered the phone as if she has known me my whole life. An uncomfortably long pause stretches after I say those words as I wait for her to reply.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lo3dm4EjJ
"Um, miss?" I say when the silence becomes unbearably awkward.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGR11O7L8w
"Yes, Nya. I'm calling to see how you are." It's nothing but sultry, seductive, as if it's trying to pull me through the phone. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O3EZE8zXe
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" I ask her. I don't want to seem rude but I feel immensely uncomfortable talking to a stranger on the phone, pretending that I know them.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO16wmS89d
"No, you don't. But I know about you."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNACk8MNMv
I don't know why, but these words sound damning, as if they have a deeper more sinister meaning than what is presented on the surface.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5VuXktxA6
"Um... Okay. Well, would you like to introduce yourself?"600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABDjIML4s4
"No, Nya," she responds. "However, I do believe that I will be meeting you soon, and that encounter should be... exciting."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPhDFI4YdS
When the words leave her mouth, I am sure that I've never heard anything so sinister in my entire life. Before I can say or do anything else, she hangs up, leaving me in my living room, shivers running up and down my spine.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOoL01dSAf
***600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoMzBawqIi
"I need to know where he is."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QGHHcW9Gl
Akatua sits on the couch opposite to me, holding a mug of warm ginger tea in one hand and rubbing her chin with the other. She likes "hot" beverages warm, as if it is too hot, it will scorch her tongue. That's something that we have in common. Probably hereditary.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsoauvjRxO
"I told you to wait-"600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnvp8qJ2KB
"Well, mi tiad a wait, chuh rass!" I shout, kissing my teeth. I never speak patois, unless I am extremely angry. When I do, it's usually frightening. "A more dan one bomboclaat week, an' mi nuh see ar 'ear fram 'im!" I snarl. I'm boiling with anger... and she laughs.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAviFcfIt3
"Mi mummaclaat," she says, grinning. "Mi neva' know seh yuh chat patois."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XnnNcIU2n
"When mi get real bex," I hiss, then try calming myself down. I let out a deep sigh of frustration. "My point is," I begin, switching back to standard English, "I miss him. A lot. I don't know why I've grown attached." The more I speak about it, the angrier I get. "I don't remember ever growing attached to anyone except for my bird. Tell 'im fi," I start, before taking a deep breath. "Tell him that I want to see him. That I need to see him. That I..." I take a deep breath again. I seem to be doing that a lot. "Tell him that I miss him."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3hOqwwbWv
"Yuh gwaan guh ketch feelings fi 'im," she states. I shake my head in denial, but she ignores me. "Well, he doesn't really come here much anymore. But I know he'll come back. He's done this before-" 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTc4z25aXK
"Where does he stay?" I don't have time for this anymore. "And no, I haven't caught feelings for him. I just miss the only friend that I've ever had."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsC2Gf4u8C
"Right," she says dubiously. She shakes her head and continues. "Well, there's a cotton tree near here, but no one goes there. He stays around it, he's usually under it. But he'll sense you coming long before you reach."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YQfo1Zicx
"He'll run from me?"600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv85RYD5gxI
"I don't know. Maybe."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGhjT4A0H7
"Wow, there's something that you don't know," I reply, sarcasm thick in my voice.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG9P8HfzJV
"Well, I'm not omniscient," she says with a smirk. "But in all honesty," she begins, "Kwamé isn't the most predictable person. He is always changing his mind, so it's hard to really predict his future. My inference that he will come back is solely based on my acquired knowledge of him."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38ySKEh8pA
"Ah. I see. Well, thanks for the information."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIjc5uLLbp
"Yes, anytime dear," she replies, tapping her fingers against her mug. She puts it to her head, and finishes it, before placing it on the ground. "Well, is there anything else that has happened with you recently? I don't know why, but I sense something dark. As if someone has bad intentions for you," she murmurs in concern.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlS2eWVZWC
"No..." I murmur, thinking back. She stays silent while I recount the week's events. "Oh, this lady that I don't know called. I'm not sure why, but she gave me major creeps." Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Akatua narrows her eyes, as she regards what I told her.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZ5hwUmXHx
"What did she sound like?"600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqamhLLrF8
I bite my lip before answering. "It was sultry, sensual... and she said that she would see me soon, and that it would be "exciting", I tell her, using air quotations. She looks genuinely frightened now, as if she knows something that I don't. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmXVft9BDt
"Listen, Nya, if an unknown number calls again, don't pick up. Please. I'm going to cast a protective spell on you, okay?"600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00HizMVFu3
"Okay." Her concern is frightening, even though I have no idea what exactly I am afraid of. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8sFxo88Fc
"I'm going to need something of yours, a picture, or something with your DNA."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC9jawp0ES
I sigh, and pull some strands of hair from my head before giving them to her. She holds the sample in her hand, assessing it.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4Unc4xJ2s
"Do you want to follow me—"600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05Ezqp8xo8
"No," I answer immediately. Watching someone cast a spell on me is way too strange for me. I mean, I am relieved to see that she is taking steps to protect me, but watching her actually cast the spell is a bit unnerving. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rhuGfCP4S
"Okay," she says, letting out a sigh. "I'll be downstairs, in the basement. When I'm done, I'm going to go find Kwamé."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM8mO4dzIH
"Why?" I ask her. I'm confused as to why she has a sudden renewed interest in Kwamé.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl22n9ktQbH
"Because, Nya, in times like this, that I like to keep my loved ones closer than ever, so that I can protect them." After speaking this words, she goes in the direction of the basement. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3jTLOw7Ac
***600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRERrXU47v
I want to sleep. We've been driving for at least an hour, with me paying keen attention to every turn the car makes, despite my feeling of being on the verge of hibernation. Yes, I want to sleep, but at the same time I don't want to, if that makes any sense. I don't want to miss anything, since I was going to see pretty much my only friend again. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8jpF0PWJ0
Nya, you idiot, how can he be your friend? You barely know him. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZorQnHlVQL
I ignore my inner voice even though a part of me knows that she's right. I'm probably closer to him than he is to me. Strange considering that he was the one who came to me, who would stay outside my house. I remember the way that I would want nothing to do with him before, and now I don't know if I've missed anyone this much in my life. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7nii41GOW
Yuh gwaanguh ketch feelings fi 'im. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9WU3n3eo1
This sentence bounces around in my head as I think about the ridiculousness of it. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacsYug8Cbb
Me? Catch feelings? The idea is almost laughable. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhDqPsg4ml
"What are you thinking?" Akatua asks from the driver's seat. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz71WRHtfIK
"Nothing," I grumble. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNMcyh25Bd
"You're lying."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpKeGsGMIA
I sigh. "Listen, I really do not want to talk about this right now. Okay?" 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJhQe6CfO9
"Ah. Okay." There is silence after that, and I find myself falling asleep. My head bucks and hits the window. I curse silently, just in time to hear her say "We're here." 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb5fXhdF6G
I look up, and see that we're in the middle of nowhere. A dusty road is beneath us, with fields of vegetation bordering each side. She unbuckles herself and opens the door. I move to unbuckle my seat belt, only to hear her say "don't he'll smell you and run." 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47etI6Ydj9
"I can still smell her," I hear a familiar voice state. My heart jumps and I almost pee because its just so... unexpected. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg23jwkan80
"Kwamé," I breathe, without looking up. My eyes stare blankly at the dashboard. I feel a million emotions burn through me, but anger wins. I am angry. Angry that he won't try to forgive himself. Angry that he won't let anyone in. Angry that he left me. I step out of the car and look up at him. I realise that I am facing his tail, which enrage me. He doesn't need to be disrespectful. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWMg2JK64Z
"Why did you leave?" I ask in a quiet voice. Quiet, but by no means small. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYeVFQGhKj
He keeps his back firmly turned from me, as if to prove some kind of point. All this serves to do is to piss me the hell off.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFUHrRHVeR
"I know that you can hear me," I growl. I hear him sigh in response.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAitZrvR34O
"Nya, please leave." He says the words in such a motonous voice, it's frightening. He isn't looking at me, but I know his eyes are burning.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4zGGfw6qu
"I'm not going anywhere," I respond stubbornly. Angrily. He simply sighs, but in aggression, annoyance, and as if he's trying to keep his inner emotions at bay.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIKv9hlFZM
"Nya," he begins, "I know that despite your bravery, you're terrified. I can feel it... smell it... I can sense your emotions your desires. They're dangerous," he continues when I shut up. I feel as if something grand will occur, something that is not necessarily good.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrYoaAr9XS
"Kwamé," I say my voice wobbling. "Do you want to know why I'm terrified?" I ask. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DAUjjRcFX
"I know why," he grumbles. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoILaOyTrBB
"What do you mean?" What could he possibly mean? As far as I've seen, he's not like Akatua in that sense.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvzC35l4s4
Suddenly, he's facing me, nostrils flared, eyes ablaze.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRvFZf9xtA
"Nya, let me explain something to you," he starts. "I'm dangerous. For someone's soul," he clarifies, when I look at him with confused eyes. "So, understand that I'm trying to help you, and I'm serious, when I say stay. Away. From. Me. I mean it, Nya."600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4jNvlnyKe
I look down at my shoes, suddenly overwhelmed with depression. For some reason, my heart breaks from hearing these words from him.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI0wcEcsMQ
"I am terrified, Kwamé," I tell him. "I'm terrified of—" 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1HCWkmdlS
"Losing me," he finishes. "You're terrified of losing me because you've developed some sort of attachment to me." 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIoXeIWInp
"You're the first friend that I've ever had. Of course I'm attached." 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDj0MFSLTR
He laughs, actually snorting loudly, the sound spreading throughout the large, empty field before returning to his serious tone. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDFnIyjZIf
"You really think that that's what's happening?" he asks me, and even as an animal, I can see his left eyebrow raising with incredulity. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsio2Cm5uO4
I remember being told as a child not to lie, that it went against God. Funny of me to remember that now, at this moment. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4DJ4dGXLE
"I'm not lying," I mumble. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiMRFwzH41
"That's not what I asked," he grunts. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHIj0BS6wE
"What do you want me to—" 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTtriHXvwY
"Oi! Lovebirds," Akatua calls, arms resting atop the car as she leans on it standing between the car and the open door. I actually forgot that she was there. "If I remember correctly, this," she says, gesturing wildly at us with her hands, "was not a part of our plan." Kwamé sighs, and the fires in his eyes subside to leave them with a reddish glow, similar to that of hot metal. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXvpQ5Jivv
"What's up?" he asks, the irritation in his voice still very clear, while my mind is anything but. All kinds of ideas are bouncing around in my head. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA8PAIYenG
"We have a problem," Akatua says with stress in her voice, rubbing her forehead with her fingers, eyes closed. She takes a deep breath, and although I'm not looking at Kwamé, I can sense that his energy has changed. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoxSRS6n0N
"She called Nya," she says. "On the phone," she qualifies. There is a beat of absolute silence, save for the rustling of the long, straw-like grass in the wind. Then, I see movement in my peripheral vision. When I turn to look, I see Kwamé in human form, naked as the day he was born, with a look of fear in his eyes. Fear and anger. I stand there and wonder what significance this woman has, why the idea of her is enough to get such a reaction out of Kwamé, and out of Akatua as well.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn2QpRmrGy
"I'm driving home with you," he says to Akatua, no question in his voice. It is a statement, and the sound of his voice makes all other thoughts and issues cease to exist. He opens the trunk and to my surprise, he takes out a shirt and a pair of pants. No underwear. I can't even think about anything else, apart from the fact that he's coming with us. I won't be alone anymore. I watch with affection as he drags the clothes onto his body. He pulls out a pair of black flip flops and throws them onto the ground, his biceps flexing with the motion, before pushing his feet into them, swiftly but gracefully.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE0CeLYshX
"You really think that that's what's happening?" 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKzOER2Vno
His words come back to me in this moment, and I can't shake the hidden message in his voice. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZV3FvcNGF
"Get into the car, Nya," he says to me. I look down and realise that Akatua is sitting in the front seat, waiting on us to join her. I sigh, and sit beside her, the denial slowly leaving me with a feeling of dread. Kwamé joins us, and as he shuts the door, the words actually rush through my mind:600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYf6Pzcjom
I'm falling in love with Kwamé. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCThXbN06ed
Shit.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
