Evelynn~
I wearily fluttered my droopy eyelids open, blinking back the haziness from my blurry vision. I felt woozy and weak all over, unable to get up or even move. I mustered all my energy and shot myself up from the bed. My attempt to stay upright was short-lived, as I soon lost my senses again.
A thud was heard in the bedroom as I rolled off the bed, hitting my head on the floor. My body sprawled out against my will on the cold marble floor. Feeling utterly worthless, I gave up on shifting into a comfortable position. I mentally sighed as a pounding headache made itself known to my conscience.
Today was my 16th birthday. I wanted to go out with my friends, to try out the new milk tea which opened up last week, to make a few lasting memories with them at the beach, but here I was at death's door. I felt tears prick to my eyes as I pictured all those happy moments I had lived before friends moved away, before my parents became too busy with their business to even say good morning to me. At least I had lived once before.
As time went past, the people around me grew distant to me. People I once called friends turned against me, snickering in the hallways until I came around the corner. Then they would go quiet, as if nothing had happened. How did this happen?
Genevieve, my only real friend, had been missing since my fifteenth birthday. That was exactly one year ago. According to the reporters and headlines in the news, her last known location was with me - in my bedroom, specifically. Of course, this led to investigations and numerous disapproving opinions casted my way. After a couple of weeks of fruitless searching, the case was discarded, too soon but already forgotten. My parents didn't believe any of it could be caused by me, but that hadn't lessened the impact of my friend going missing for me.
What exactly happened that night wasn't a mere accident. Nor was it murder. It was worse...what's worse was that I could have prevented it.
Yet I hadn't.
That was what I could never forgive myself for. It had left a scarring imprint in my heart which had been threatening to tear me open since. It had been so traumatising that I buried the memory so deep that I couldn't recall it anymore. But I knew deep down that that night, we were not at my house and that was all I could recall.
More tears trickled down from my eyes, which were now tightly shut. I couldn't bear to unravel the darkness that had been so delicately enwrapped over my neurons any further. They had been sealed for a reason, one that I wasn't ready to face yet.
I felt a gentle hand rub my back and another entwine with my fingers. I looked up to see the most endearing eyes I had ever witnessed. They contained all the indescribable emotions of a swirling storm, through flickering grey specks which seamlessly sparkled in the shafts of sunlight that beamed into my room. The next thing I noticed was the mess of auburn curls, which despite its unkemptness, was quite mesmerising.
He cleared his throat, snapping my senses back to reality.
"Oh...Xavier, you're back." I spoke in a small voice.
"What are you?" He inquired carefully, his eyes holding a conserved, measured look.
"What do you mean?", I reciprocated, "I'm human."
"No, humans don't emit their aura like this. Yours is very powerful and whether you know it or not, you're attracting unwanted attention." Xavier spoke in an even voice.
"Aura...as in energy? Isn't that from fantasy novels?" A baffled expression crossed my face.
Xavier chuckled lightly, before saying, "Yes Evelynn. Have you turned 16?"
"Today." For a second, his face was unreadable, before all hints of amusement had disappeared from his face.
"Evelynn, it's time to go."
I looked up at him, obviously confused again. "Where are we going?"
"It's a long story, and we're running out of time. I'm sorry I don't have time to explain, and I'd much rather not, given that it'll be a big shock to you. Trust me, you'll be glad that I'm doing this."
I frowned at his response, but kept quiet. A part of me wanted to trust him, but the other was sceptical. But what could go wrong? It wasn't like I hadn't lost everything already, so I didn't really have anything to lose.
Before I knew it, a translucent crimson screen materialised in front of the both of us. Inside it was an impenetrable swirl of rusty scarlet vapour which appeared to be tossing and folding in conflicting directions. It felt ominous, and I could feel the air thicken with a familiar dark energy. It was somewhat inviting, and I couldn't help but feel the rush of adrenaline flowing through my veins.
The hand that had grown so accustomed to my back recurred to me as it pulled me up, supporting me so I wouldn't topple over. I glanced hesitantly up at Xavier, expecting some form of encouragement but all was in vain.
"Wait I can't just disappear; I have school." I exclaimed.
"It's actually Saturday, so no you don't have school." He countered with equal enthusiasm.
I internally pouted, unable to come up with any other objections.
"Come on Evelynn. The earlier we get this sorted, the earlier we'll be back." He reasoned.
"N-no." I couldn't dare myself to say anything longer than that. I was quivering with fear - fear of the unknown.
"No?" Alright, you win. I'm out.
"The thing...it's scary." I whispered in an almost inaudible voice.
"Hush." Xavier flashed a small, innocent smile before he held my hands into his, lifting me from the ground. I whimpered softly, choosing to swim.