Chapter 3: Chapter Two: Serpentine Sanctum
Silla gives herself a moment to shed the sleep from her brain, to allow the visions of the night to give way to the day, to move from that which she created on a whim to things more fixed and real. In a few minutes she'd open her eyes and be able to greet the sunlight, to see the colours as bright as the backlit images of holographic screens.
Her eyes now lazily open trying their best to adjust to the light and the arms encased around her.
Cuddling her in his arms was the bizarre green eyed boy she had met previously. Curious she gently inclined her head back to look at him, her eyes widening when she realized that he too was awake.
His sleepy emerald eyes looking into her own, he didn't sleep a wink last night as was per usual for him. The boy was still surprised from when she suddenly appeared in front of him last night. He clenched his fist as he tried to hide the blush that rose up his cheeks. He had this innate desire to see her beautiful face, her marvelous and soothing existence... He's never felt these emotions in his life before.
He leaned into her and brushed his fingertips against het rosy cheeks in an affectionate way as his shaggy blonde hair fell over his eyes while he smiled.
"Hmm... What should I do v'ith you?" he softly murmured in his gentle yet thick accent while snuggling into her shoulder, his nose tickling her neck.
Though he didn't realize that his sudden movements had terrified the barely awake girl. Seeing his mistake and her scared confused expression his face softened, an unknown emotion briefly flashing through his eyes. Only making his steely grip on her even tighter. He didn't want to be separated from her. She was too much like him. He couldn't bare to loose her just like he did his mother.
Previously he didn't believe in reincarnation but now he was starting to think such things were plausible.
"H-Hey Umm, a-aren't you a little too close? C-Can you speak... Umm... Further away? P-Please?" She spoke meekly snapping him out of his thoughts as she practically sweat dropped in nervousness.
"Nyet," He blatantly said ignoring her.
"Umm...Can I ask w-why?" She questioned hesitantly.
"I v'on't." He told her rather like a petulant child; which he was.
"But... I-I don't even know you." She told him seriously confused and kinda scared. What could he possibly want from her? Was he going to kill her and steal her organs?
"Z'en tell me your name," He murmured in reply to her concern.
"Umm... I-It's Silla," She told him rather skittishly a innocent blush growing on her cheeks from embarrassment; no one had ever asked her name before. She couldn't help but innocently stare at him with her big doe eyes for some reason.
"What's yours?" She asked the older boy with her childlike curiosity slightly tilting her head.
"Declan. But you can call me Del for short." For a split second She swore he sniffed her hair but ignored it and played it off as her imagination. She didn't smell that bad did she Though she didn't think anything farther of his strange tendency's and actions because he had made her laugh and smile with his funny way of saying things.
Sudden noises engulfed them, completely capturing their attention. Their greeting was cut short due to the metal door slamming open and startling them. Loud clattering and clanged rush of footfalls.
From the door came two burley frightening men. They both had greasy hair and rotted out teeth. Along with sprinkled blood stains on their clothes like they were butchers. One of the men went up to a woman situated on the floor and roughly grabbed her arm. "They've sold this one," he spoke grinning with yellow teeth. Declan knew these men all too well. He also knew that they liked to sell already purchased slaves.
The woman shrieked and thrashed around as they dragged her out the door. Silla immediately stiffened in fear as she watched. Her body wanted to run fast to safety of the alleyways. Sensing this Del's hands slid up to her shoulders, giving the girl a reassuring squeeze. Thankfully she remained where she was not drawing any attention to herself.
Once they left Del sat up and looked over at her with sharp eyes while scanning the area.
"Your coming v'ith and we need to leave now," he spoke demandingly as if he knew something she didn't.
"W-What?" She questioned confused and shocked. He stood up and took her with him. When she realized he was heading for a cracked window on the other side of the warehouse, she completely panicked. She didn't think he was supposed to take her like this. What if they got in trouble?
"Del? What are you doing? Y-You aren't supposed to do that... R-Right?" She asked him panicking. Ignoring her, he slowly snuck over to the window and gently lifted her up ushering Silla out to freedom when a loud voice resonated throughout the warehouse, shocking her into a state of fear at getting caught.
"Hey! They're trying to escape," a gruff man yelled at them practically zooming through the door. Panicking Del hurried her through the window. But before he could follow her escape the man grabbed onto him pulling him back through the window.
In fear, Silla quickly went to his aid only to be thrown back by the eerie silence. Scaring her even further lightning came, a brilliant shock of white in the graphite sky, forking silently to the unsuspecting ground - the thunderous boom always calling its warning too late.
She became even more panicked by the coming storm. As the clouds gather she felt her soul stir, the air electrified as it anticipates the quenching storm. Each small raindrop that slowly started to drop from the sky in a mist and burn everything it touched. The acid slowly eroding the pavement in front of her. The only thing protecting her being Del's jacket she put over her head.
Suspiciously, she slowly approached the window, praying that burley man wouldn't pop out at her. But the closer she got the more intense the storm became.
In mere seconds it was pouring and acid mixed with water washed over her so strongly that it felt as if she is in the flow of a river rather than a rain shower, one that leaves her standing yet lets her know that it is here to stay for a while.
Silla jumped in surprise from a spontaneous movement from the window. A fairly large calloused hand slowly reached out and latched itself on the edge of the window sill. The glass cutting into their skin.
Realizing who it was she ran over to the edge looking down seeing a slightly battered Declan.
Relief streamed through her body as she helped lift her new friend through the window. Once he was out she swiftly latched her thin weak arms around him not letting go. They held onto each other tightly; after their meeting they didn't think they would be able to tolerate the unbearable loneliness and solitude this time. Even after one day they had started rely on each other physically and emotionally.
Human being were definitely social creatures and without human interaction they wouldn't last long.
Even the rain and lightning didn't cause Declan or Silla to move apart. Behind them the lightning came like a rip in the inky night, as if behind the dark canvass was a brilliant light just waiting to flood through any crack no matter how small.
The small young girl was especially clingy and held onto him for dear life, small tears in her eyes as she nuzzled her cold nose into his warm fuzzy jacket. After almost loosing the only companion she had had in a year she didn't want to be separated again; he was the only familial figure she had right now. Almost like a brother.
But Declan knew they had to leave and quickly as he heard the sounds of people yelling inside the warehouse.
He separated himself from her and grabbed her arm and took off at a high speed and the young girl wouldn't be able to keep up with long.
It was around midnight, and they continued to walk around and Silla followed behind Del like a lost puppy not quite sure what else to do. The orange lights of the lamp posts reflected off their skin, as the wind blew through her black locks. They were both soaked and cold from the rain. After a few hours of relentless movements Declan finally decided to slow their pace as they were almost at the location he was leading them to.
Besides, Silla needed a break, so she wouldn't completely deplete her energy.
It was dangerous to be out in the open the way they were but they didn't have anywhere else to go and much to their anticipation it wasn't long until they heard quiet footsteps of someone behind them; probably looking to rob them or worse.
Declan picked up their pace again that soon turned into a full sprint. Silla tried her best to keep up but was particularly left behind. "D-Del! W-Wait," she cried out after him not wanting to get separated, but he didn't seem to hear her or notice that she wasn't behind him.
Silla tried once more to call out for him before her arm was yanked back, and she turned to see the scruffy face of a drunk old man.
"L-Let me go!" She yelled weakly tears starting to roll down her cheeks.
She screamed but the man only chuckled, his breath reeked of liquor and cigarettes, his teeth were stained yellow and his eyes were red as if he hadn't slept for days. Pushing her forward the man was able to back her into a corner, as Silla's small figure shrunk in fear.
"You look delicious~" He told her licking his thin crusty lips. All she could do was cry for Del hoping he would hear her this time; though he seemed no where in sight.
But before he could get any closer bright green eyes suddenly came out of no where and pushed her behind him punching the dirty man straight in the face out of pure rage. His eyes turning dark and his knuckles bloodied. The man shouted out in pain as he fell to the ground. At the speed of light Declan crawled on top of him and repeatedly punched him in the face as if he was in some sort of animalistic frenzy. The mans blood splattering onto the concrete making her stomach drop.
"D-Del," she called out his name meekly. Hoping that he would stop before he killed the guy. His eyes were glazed over with crazed blood lust. The look on his face made a cold shiver go down her spin. Slightly afraid, she slowly approached him putting my hand on his shoulder.
He whipped around like lightning and stood up from the ground his eyes wild. Upon seeing her shocked and afraid face he seemingly snapped out of whatever daze he was in as he shook his head back and forth.
Without thinking Silla's body moved of its own accord; self preservation if you will. Her arms wrapping around him while she burrowed her head into his chest. Trying her best to sooth him by rubbing circles on his back.
She didn't want to be next...
They continued scurrying along the deserted alleys until Del found the place he was leading them to. He lifted up a piece of tarp to reveal a secret entry way. As they traveled down the dark hallway loud voices could be heard. Like a crowd of people chanting something.
At the end of the dark tunnel, they came upon a ring filled with two buff men beating the ever living daylights out of each other. All the while a crowd of people surrounded them cheering and betting money.
The men in the ring seemed to be severely scared and missing limbs that looked to have been purposely amputated. In place of the flesh was pure metal. One of them sporting a highly tech metal arm that could move around the same way an actual arm would; except for the fact it was much stronger than flesh and bone.
"You stay v'ith me tonight. Especially in the crowds. Okay?" Del told her seriously and she nodded understandingly.
"I have some quick business to do here. Z'en v'e'll leave," he tells Silla whispering in her ear but before she can decide anything Del grabs her hand and leads her towards a room in the back.
Inside the dimly lit room was a simple desk, a few maroon couches, a love seat, and a fancily embroidered fur carpet adorning the floor. The large room didn't have any windows but was lavishly decorated. Even with a simple concrete floor, they'd made it look five star.
Though, she couldn't enjoy it for long because of the loudly blaring music and thick fog that caked the room as an old man puffed smoke from this lit cigar.
"Knock next time," He suddenly shouted. He was a short, bulky, pale guy with tattoos and short brown hair. He must be at least 5'1, a bit taller than her but he looks to be in his mid to late twenties.
What caught Silla off guard the most was the large tattoos visible on his skin; she had never seen so many on one person before. In the past tattoos were just a form of body modification where a design is either purely decorative, symbolic, or pictorial.
But nowadays tattoos had much more meaning than simple art. The amount of ink you had showed people where you ranked in the City Of Bones social hierarchy. Which went to show neither Declan or her had any tattoos; telling everyone that they were barely bottom feeders.
"Declan since you're from the upper ring I need you to verify that these are real Crites and not fakes," the man spoke handing the boy some currency continuing to blow smoke in their faces.
Declan was from the upper ring? This was quite a shock to the young girl. If he lived there why was he down here in this junk yard? He could've done anything he wanted but stayed in the lower ring, there wasn't anything special about this place!
Most streets were covered in trash and graffiti. Housing was practically stacked on top of each other. The lower ring was basically a giant slum as small as it was.
Silla tugged on Del's shirt with the hand that's resting on his back beneath his jacket, trying to signal him to explain. Though he continued to ignore her.
"Who's that with you," The man suddenly questioned making the young kids freeze in their tracks. Del suddenly looked over at her silently telling her with his eyes not to speak.
To be continued...
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