| Wanted: Chapter 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sky was lightening by the time I reached the large old house Nathaniel and I now shared with Zane, Cherry, Gil the fox, and sometimes Jason. I bolted through the front door, ignoring Jason’s sleepy mumbles from the couch. Honestly, I never could figure out how he slept with the TV going full blast. My feet barely touched the steps that led down to the basement that served multiple functions: bedroom, dungeon, studio, and darkroom. I stripped off my sweaty, mud-covered, blood-encrusted clothes and threw them in the trash. I started the shower and took a look over my shoulder at my sleeping Nathaniel. He lay sprawled across the bed on his stomach, his head resting on his arm, his hair flowing behind him, a satin sheet of deepest amethyst covering only his hips. Most nights I would just sit watching him sleep instead of working. His sleeping habits actually became the subject of my first gallery show. I tore myself away and got in the shower. The tears began to fall. As I scrubbed away the dirt and blood I became aware of my own injuries: many slashes all over my body. I continued to think about my situation, realizing that I wasn’t crying because of what I had done. Personally I had no problem with that, she deserved it. No, I was crying because of what might happen to me. Losing everything I had worked so hard for. I thought of the vulnerable creature that awaited me in bed and my heart sank even lower. After thoroughly scorching myself under the hot water I got out, dried myself off, slid under the covers entwining myself around Nathaniel, and fell into a fitful dream-filled sleep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3 Index |