*HAYLEN LOEVE *
Age: 22
Sex: Masculine
***
My body tore through glass and frame, landing on unknown grounds with a thud. Transparent shards from the window had pierced my flesh, causing me to wince in pain.
I wasn't sure if I was safe, but I knew they had stopped chasing. There were too many people, they couldn't follow me and risk exposing themselves.
Fate was cruel, still refusing me the relief I had fought for so fiercely. Faintly, at the edge of my senses, I could hear a low hum and the sound of running water.
Of course, this would happen. I had to crash into some kid's dorm. I wouldn't beat myself over the head for it, it was already a miracle I had made it this far.
[Relax, what would Levi do? She would probably break my arm for doing something so reckless, but then she'd tell me to take a deep breath and analyse the situation. She'd tell me to first assess my advantages and disadvantages.]
I thought, glancing around the small dwelling. Three rooms, living room, kitchen, and bedroom. My disadvantages were:
1.I had no clue where I was. Besides knowing this was some college campus, there was no way I could situate myself.
2. I was working on a timer, I had until the room's owner finished their shower to think of something.
3. My heart was pounding and my palms were sweaty. Despite myself, my eyes were unfocused, and my mind was scattered. I had put on a stoic face so they'd leave me alone, it had crumbled the second I left that place.
4. I was cold, sooo cold. But at least it kept me from bleeding.
As for my advantages, I had three: my senses, my dexterity, and the acting skills I had learned from that place. That was if I didn't count the frost covering my wounds. If I did then I had four, though I'd prefer not to use the last one on innocents.
The sound of water faded, leaving way only to the hum of a feminine voice. My time had just been slashed in half.
I ran towards the only room and threw myself under the bed. I didn't trust my luck enough to hide in a closet and leaving through the door would make too much noise. As for the window, I was too scared. Scared that they'd be waiting there.
"Mmmm-hhhmmmm- hhhmmm!" The humming grew louder as the room's owner threw a towel around their body and headed for the room. My heart now pounded against my ribcage like a drum, almost audible. With clenched palms, I waited for it to be over.
Despite the situation I forced myself to give the woman some privacy, blocking out my hearing as she changed. My ears were like a second pair of eyes, capable of recreating scenes almost purely off audio.
I repeated my mantra in my head, the thing that had brought me this far.
[Fuck Project LUCENT. Fuck Project LUCENT. Fuck Project LUCENT…] I almost let out a sigh of relief at the warmth that filled my heart at those words.
Soon, ten minutes had passed and I slowly crawled out from under the bed. I was lucky to have landed on a quick-sleeper. That alone had likely expended my luck for a year.
The bedroom door had been left half open, letting me sneak out. My movements were slow, not wanting to risk the floorboards being my ultimate undoing.
The distance between me and the front door shrunk with every step, filling my heart with impatience.
Three steps away, two steps, one, my hand landed on the handle right as a voice tore through the evening stillness.
"Who are you?!"
What could I say? What could I do? How could I diffuse the situation?
If I said the wrong thing, I'd likely be reported as some creep and thrown into jail. From there, they'd easily find me and take me back.
No, I couldn't return.
My head turned towards her, a grin plastered on my face. The shards of glass embedded in my face must've only made me look creepier.
"Tis ye? Tis ye that doth summon me?"
Internally, I kicked myself. This wouldn't work. Still, maybe I could pull it off if no one else.
The temperature grew chilling, much too cold for a late summer night. No, this was something abnormal. Frost formed around the walls and floorboard, and icicles hung from the ceiling. My hair went from a deep black to snow white.
"WHO DOTH SUMMON ME?!" I let my voice thunder, not caring about being heard.
The woman, whose blond hair could barely be made out through the darkness, slammed the door shut. Not many people want to deal with the paranormal. They'd rather ignore it.
A sigh of relief left my throat, I had never been good at playing the monster. The ice and frost thawed as I left the room in a hurry.
There had to be somewhere to hide, there had to.
My mental energy was already beginning to drain, the day's events were taking a toll on me. Curse myself for not planning this far ahead.
I left the dorm area and threw myself into a bush. My consciousness slowly left me.