And.. they were done... she realized how boring she must have sounded to him, he must have visited these places dozens of times. They came to a stop and she turned and looked tentatively into his eyes. She hoped her nervous did not show as much as she felt they were.
"So... What do you think?"
He stared in her expectant eyes and knew not how to answer. Perhaps she already knew that these places were ones which he had traveled to before and was only asking to humor him. He decided to politely humor her as well.
ReplyDelete"Quite lovely. It's intriguing to see how you find solace in these places." He shifted from one foot to the other. "Says a lot about a person."
She wondered what he thought these places said about her. She couldn't imagine. Perhaps boring? He seemed slightly amused. Perhaps she really was acting like a fool. The thought hurt her, perhaps he was laughing at her. She looked away. She could no longer bare a single moment here anymore.
ReplyDelete"I... am sure you have better things to do Luka. I should be going anyway..."
The hesitation apparent in her voice and the small spark of sorrow alit within her averted eyes startled him. Did she feel as though she could not impress him? He was somewhat flattered and decided to impart words of comfort.
ReplyDelete"Ara... in all the years I have been alive, I have yet to meet someone who wasn't important." She turned her head slightly in his direction, somewhat skeptical. He smiled what he hoped was an encouraging smile. "Tell me more about yourself, Ara."
This demon was truly something special. That smile alone created feelings she herself did not understand. Her mind could not fully comprehend why he wanted to know more about her. if she had a pleasant past she would have gladly told him about herself, but alas it was not so. She had to change the subject discreetly enough as to not cause him to think she was hiding something. Of course, she was, but he did not have to know that.
ReplyDelete"As much as I would love to tell you about myself Luka, I do believe," She paused only slightly, but apparently this was enough to cause a slight raise of Luka's eyebrow. As if he knew what she was up to. She felt like a child caught causing mischief and quickly filled in the void. "I am hungry... perhaps we may go eat somewhere first?"
Here he sensed he touched a very sensitive subject and decided against encouraging the matter further. Truly, she must have been through great pain and sorrow to become the person that stood before him. It was usually unlike him to not pry into interesting matters; he was thankful his true nature was concealed deep within the human form he assumed to exist here in time. How often could he stroll calmly and dine whenever he pleased? Yes, he thought, this is truly a pleasant place.
ReplyDelete"If you like," he responded, scanning the surrounding buildings. "Where would you like to eat? Anyplace specific?"
She thought for a while. Just as she was about to answer her phone rang. "Oh!... One.. moment please." She turned her to the side and looked at the caller ID. Her blood froze as she noted the name. She glanced nervously around her, Luke noticed her sudden change but she had no time to explain to him. She had to run, and if she was right, she had to run as fast as she could and get as far away as possible.
ReplyDelete"Trouble?" he asked inquiringly. He took her quick change in demeanor as a sign of her coming departure. All was well, it was best he leave also... and yet he felt this compelling force to assist her; that something was wrong. Would it have been too bold to offer such? He chose to try. "Anything I can help with?"
ReplyDeleteShe had been so lost in her own thoughts that his voice startled her. She jumped slightly. "No.. no its ok. I.. i have to go.. Now." She cursed herself for her hesitant frightened tone.
ReplyDeleteHe observed her condition; clearly scared and frightened of something, she turned a complete 180 from moments before. Was it a desire to protect her that kept him from leaving? A small thought flashed across his mind; the demon sleeping inside him said it was the thirst for bloodshed, for clearly what else could be assumed from such a traumatic reaction from the girl? Luka shook his head as though to shake away the daunting thought, though he could not ignore the severity of the moment. He looked upon Ara. She had been observing him in an almost trance like state; her mind apparently elsewhere.
ReplyDelete"Right!" Again, Ara was startled by the sudden apparition of his voice. He would've snickered in delight to her reaction; indeed he felt somewhat light, as if his decision was as easy as a stroll in the park. "Where do we go?"
She looked at him with confusion. He seemed a little lost in thought as well.
ReplyDeleteHer phone rang again. The loud chirp of her ringtone only startled her further. She cursed under her breath, which seemed to surprise Luka.
"L-Luka i have to go, I.. maybe some other time ok?"Yet as she said this her mind only laughed at her.< Right, because you are so interesting enough to bother with again.> She shook her head and turned to take her leave.
"That time may be sooner than you think." She looked back at him, utterly bewildered. Indeed, he himself was quite surprised with the words that escaped his lips. Already a plan was beginning to form within his mind... but many options left him perplexed as to which was the best course of action. Trace the source of the caller and stop the person in question from calling? No, as a law of order within the time-space continuum, this would have already occurred if he had done so. No matter; his other option pleased the demon coiling inside: to find the caller before Ara would. Easy enough.
ReplyDelete"I will see you later, then? Ara?" He attempted to appear coy and gullible, though he found it difficult to mask the smirk wishing to line his face in light of his knowledge and intentions.
He was up to something, she could sense it by his change in body language, the smile that threatened to appear on his face. But she didn't have time to ponder what he was going to do. She simply nodded and turned to leave. Her walk turned into a sprint and before she knew it she was running full speed. *I have to find him, there is no question. Just find him Ara, don't mess up this time* The thought played and played through her mind, only when the black car pulled up in front of her did she realize with utter horror, she had found him sure enough, but SHE was with him.
ReplyDelete"Get in the car." The dainty voice commanded. As the two large figures closed in on either side of Ara she had no choice but to do as instructed.