SOMEONE ALIKE
ELISH
I looked over, at the leotard turtleneck top and a hoody sweater. It all looked the same as when I wore to go out last week except this sweater was brown. I was going out with Leo again but no blocks for me today. We were going shopping.
… I know, I did not believe it either…
After Leo's father announced that I was going to their foster son, Leo practically grew into a boiling cauldron of hate. We never exchanged converse since then. I actually thought Mr Parker was joking and that It would die out but the next day, we were going to an office to have thumb prints taken and my surname became Elish Moore. He said his wife's maiden name suited me better after all it was her idea to run the adoption. Somehow I knew it was because Leo wanted no one as replacement for his dead brother. Not now and certainly not a total memory less stranger. I did not complain about anything. I was okey with it all. I needed companions and they were the only ones I knew in this world.
After that, a grade test was done. They were trying to see how much I knew so they would fit me into a class in school. Surprisingly, even to me. I knew enough to land myself in college. Leo did not find that funny. He too was in college. He would not go back to his old school because he was coping with Demetri's absence and some lady advising him said it was a better option. Obviously, where ever he was going, I would be too. Well, I had no intention of butting in to his life so I wondered what he worried about.
Never mind that, Mrs Parker must already be waiting for me downstairs. I picked up the hoody and put it on. Out my room and down the stairs, I was going now. Indeed, the fragile lady was waiting for me. I call her fragile because once I grabbed her hand to keep her from falling. I had to let go because It felt like I was going to break it. She was sore on that hand for a while. My grip hurt more than her fall.
Mrs. Parker smiled at me.
"Someone Is looking handsome. The hoody fits better than I thought. It is so easy to buy you clothes, you fit in to anything so long as it's big. Well, if not that you should make the choices yourself, I would have gladly gone shopping for you."
"Thank you. I really feel good when you tease me."
"Waaa, I really got a knack for this new foster mother thing."
"You really do," I cheered her on softening my base voice. She is a Lovely lady so I was willingly to be livelier for her. While we were chattering away, A gloom loomed in to the sitting room. If it did not take the stairs, I would never believe it was not sent by death. I smiled to this figure of ill intent. He, Leo, smiled back at me, coldly.
Mrs Parker pretended like she did not see his contense and pulled him by the hand, assembling him beside me. Close to me.
"Alright. You have your credit card right, Leo," she spoke first.
"Yes, Mum," Leo replied unenthusiastically.
"And Elish, you remember what you are expected to buy?" she asked me.
"I do, Mother." I had gotten a long lecture on how and why I should address her so. Mr Parker too, how could I possibly forget to. She beamed that smile she made with her eyes and I felt good about learning to say it. Family does not seem bad at all.
"Splendid. Off you go now."
I smiled, I do not know if Leo did. She walked us out the gate and bid us farewell. We were to trek to the mall. It was not too far, she had explained. So we were, walking quietly down the estate's road. If you think I will try to start a conversation, you thought wrong. I strode , lip sealed like he did. Keeping it until we got to the mall. Well, he had the money and he knew how things went so he had to talk to instruct me.
"This way," Leo finally spoke to me.
"Okay," I replied. He lead me down and then a corner into a large area full of clothes. Men's clothes.
"If you see anyone you like, bring over here," he pointed at a seat he would certainly be sitting on.
"Cool?"
"Yeah" was my reply. We separated. I went round the back, navigating until I found my self almost at the entrance of this part of the mall. I had not seen anything I liked.
"Are you confused, Sir?" I heard the voice from behind. I turned to see who it was. The lady smiled at me.
"I am Alice. What exactly are you looking for let me help you out."
"Oh," I let out a simple smile.
"Something for school… eh, college."
"Okay. What kind of person would you like to be seen as when you get to class." She asked a very important question. I gave the only reply I could think of.
"Just a normal guy. Who stays on his own."
"Alright."
She went around a little and came back with a pair of jumpers. Dirty black and a taint of dull brown. I like it.
"Good?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Well, you can test it out to see if it fits well," she told me. I took the clothes from her.
"I will."
She left me to attend to someone else.
That was very convenient, I thought. She would pick out the rest of my clothes after I was through with…
I unconsciously tilted my head. My eyes went out the entrance and I spotted someone. He was in all black, leaning on a rack. Pressing his cellphone. He was not anything special but I could not look away. There was just this feeling. I could not ignore it. I kept staring. He must have noticed it too and he looked up, directly at me.
It felt like a electric shock ran through my brain. I grabbed my Head instantly. I could feel burning intent increasing inside me. I lowered my head more and staggered back, shaking the clothes behind me.
"Ahhh."
I growled silently. The feeling getting worse. It seemed like my teeth was growing. I looked up sharply at the boy. He was still looking at me. When he saw my eyes the second time, he ran. I gave a chase, flinging the clothes on my hand onto the rack behind me.
Leo was yelling my name but I did not hear it. I pursued. So fast, people could not see me until I was past them.
He was on the same speed too. Faster in fact. We were at the mall entrance. I reached out to grab him, he was close now but he somehow make a inch more speed and leapt out the mall before me. I fell outside. Looked left, looked right but he has disappeared. I was still looking. Leo burst out the mall. He was after me, it seemed.
"Dude, what is you problem?"
He grabbed me from behind. I turned.
"Stay AWAY!!", it was a deep demonic echo. He stepped back immediately. I had fangs now. Blood stained fangs.
My glare raced off to the distance again, my back to Leo. I do not know whether he moved or not after that, I was still trying to find that man. My nose twitching to catch his sent in the air. That one was gone too.
"Damn it!"
That deep voice again, screaming in anger. I was so anger right now for a reason I could not understand or think about. My body controlling itself.
My hands flung a punch right to my own face. I arched to the side, careening but I did not reach the ground. There was a yell. I said it but it sounded like it was in my head.
"You lost it you idiot."
I clicked my tongue, in disappointed and turned back into the mall. Walking slowly. The deeper into the mall I got, the more I began to feel like I was returning to myself again. I was back to my senses too. Breathing slower now. Some how I felt like I was no more a wild animal. It was then that I began to notice that people were staring at me and talking. I also noticed that some men in uniformed attire were making their way towards me. I was alert especially to the following steps behind me. Even though I knew those were Leo's, it still felt like I was being Cornered and that did not sit well with me at all. The guards came to me first.
"Excuse me, Sir. Could you step in to our office with us for a moment."
The one who seemed to be leading them, was the one who spoke those Words to me. "Why? Is something wrong?"
"Of course not Sir, just a few questions."
"No," refused. I did nothing wrong.
"Young man. It would good of you comply…"
"He will," Leo spoke from behind me.
I heard his footsteps again, he was coming closer.
"Just go, Elish. You have done enough weird things already."
I was looking at him from the corner of my eyes
'Damn it… he was right'
I breathed.
"Fine."
Leo came to my side as we both followed them to the security office. It was a built outside the mall. They gave us seats. I refused to take it and Leo did not. He obviously saw I wanted no Dili Daly so he went straight to the point. The chief guy took a seat by a computer and rewinded a footage. I was in it. I saw my self crouch, fall on some cloth racks and then, run. I wondered why he did not show the footage of me chasing that guy in the main hall. I guess he too found it hard to believe it was as fast as it was.
"You care to explain this."
"I gave someone a chase. What else is there to explain." I said plainly.
"That cloth you flung aside was worth four thousand dollars."
I did not move but Leo gaped his mouth and his eyes. The man continued.
"And those hanging clothes behind you sustained some impairments. That is roughly six thousand dollars on your belt."
"Wait, Sir. He did not mean to do any of that at all," Leo spoke up before I could even think of a response. It was good actually because I did not understand it was bad situation until he spoke up. I needed a way to get out of this.
*The deer stole a diamond. Tell them that*
'What, who said that'
I looked around suddenly. The chief looked at me. I did not keep his gaze. He was not the one who talked. Everyone else seemed quiet so; who did.
*So you cannot even recognize your own voice. They really did a number on us*
… Shit. I am really hearing something. Who are you?...
*Am you, idiot. Just better looking and sane*
"What?"
I said it out loud before I even realized that I did. The chief had just told Leo he was willing to weaver if we did some work in the mall.
"What, pretty boy. You are not okay with it" He asked me, looking directly at me. I did not know what to say.
*The deer stole a diamond. Just tell him that and leave here*
…'Who the hell are you and who the freaking shit is 'the deer'
*You are mad. Thats more like me. That kid is no kid. He is a deer for the country home. He has quite the rank for him to be able to become human. He had a diamond in his pocket. Tell him to slow down the footage on the store selling diamonds. He will see the deer stealing it*
I wanted to question my sanity. I was convinced that I was mad now. I was even hearing voices and they were making sense… crap am mad. But I was also in physical hot cake, I had to do something even if it meant saying that. At least If it turned out wrong. Leo can claim I have metal disorder.
"Are you suddenly dumb, kid."
"The boy stole a diamond. Go to whatever place in your computer that keeps videos and check the nearest Jewel store. Slow it down, he is pretty fast."
I said it like I knew what I was doing. My gaze not leaving him own.
"Okay", he made a mocking twist with his face when he said that.
I watched him turn his chair to face the big monitor. He clicked on one of the recordings and rewinded. I peered at the time on the footage run backwards..
*Tell him to stop now*
"Stop. Stop now". He stopped, and gave me a stare. Leo gave me the same stare.
The chief clicked on the 'slow motion' option. I stared, not moving. The people passing so slowly. The record ran for over five minutes, three times that time for us. Mr. Chief got really impatient. He slammed his hand on the table. Rising from the chair.
"Are you playing me boy. Do you think this is a joke. I am locking you up here until you parents come."
"Sir…"
"No more from you, kid," he shot Leo up.
I looked so calm but I was not calm at all. I was surprisingly more worried than I thought.
*Are you quivering?*
There was disgust in the way the voice sounded.
'Your shit did not work. Do something. It's you who caused this. I am sure it was not me'
*Fine*
My eyes gaped. I felt like I sank in to water but I could breath. I looked, I could see what was going on but it was like I was peeping from my own eyes. I was not the one in this body now. Someone else was.
My left grabbed the arm of the chief and squeezed it.
"Ahh!"
He exclaimed, rushing to free from my grip. I squeezed harder, bringing his hand down and him on his knees.
"Look now, human," I said.
The chief looked at the monitor. He saw it. In the immensely slow pace of everyone, he walked like a normal person into the Jewel store, picked up a diamond and left.
"See. I chased him to get the diamond but I did not. You will let it go right." My voice was coming out deeper and more sadistic than it had ever been.
"Yes," the chief nodded in pain.
I let go of his arm.
"Come, Boy," I said to Leo.
My legs heading for the entrance. Leo followed me out. Everyone in the security office were obviously watching everything unfold and they could do nothing.
We bought nothing. Our hands empty and the money untouched, Leo and I walked home in cold silence. I did not hear the voice again. I was back in body now. It was so weird, I still felt a big light headed and my heart, it was like I was a tad more calmer. The feeling of being different from them had weaverd a little too… Gosh, what happened to me?
"Elish."
I looked to my left. Leo's eyes were on the road but it was him that spoke.
"Yeah," I replied with a simple statement.
Bro's talk like that all the time, I had learned.
"Are you sure you are okay?"
It did not sound like a mockery, there was concern, deep concern. I did not know how to reply cos I did not want to lie. All of a sudden I was caring so much about sincerity.
"Dude," he grabbed my arm, we stopped walking.
"Am worried, Man."
'Okay, I was struck by that'
I turned around. My gaze met his own. He was …cold but… in a very, good way.
"Am talking to you."
His voice came out full of masculinity. His eyes were even hazelnut in color. And he had a good build, athletic to be precise. In that two piece suite he wore, I wondered why I did not notice him before.
"Elish," it was an inpatient call.
"Am fine."
"What exactly happened back there?" he asked another question.
"It was one of weird instincts. I just acted. That's all I can say."
And that's all I wanted to say. I too did not know what was going on and I was not liking the sudden manliness I was feeling around him.
"Are you sure? It seemed out of the ordinary this time."
I smiled.
"Have ever done anything ordinary."
"Well, you did not grow fangs and radiate with blood lust like you did today. And you have never snapped at me no matter what I said. Today was something else. Not to mention you kept spacing out through out this week. I am not buying the whole 'Its just how it has been' idea."
I breathed. I noticed the spacing out too but I never thought it would come to this. I never thought I would make it so obvious.
"Honestly, I did not know either. It just happened." Leo looked away.
"Next time, say something, maybe I can help. I know you think hate... Hell, I think I did too but watching you grab your head like that; it really scared me. I may not be comfortable with you having this new brother status but I am still a next door away if you need to talk."
I kind felt all mushy inside. That was very sweet.
"Mum will kill us both if we return with buying clothes. Tomorrow is the first day of school." Leo turned to my face and let out this crafty smile.
"I know a place and it is cheaper which means more bills left for us."
He made money counting signs with his fingers. I found myself beaming from cheek to cheek. This guy really likes money.
"Lets go."
He threw his hand in the air like a ten year old and start forward with the same age's gait.
'Oh, explains why I never saw that side of him'
I smiled again. I knew things were not going to be the same after today so I decided to make the best of it while it was still here.
"Hold up".
AUTHOR
…8:07pm…
In that quiet house, someone was still awake. Sitting on his window pane. Thinking about today. He had been trying to find answers to who he is since they left that cottage house but now something looked like an answer and he was dodging it, pretending like it was not there.
He made kicks at the air with his legs. A puff leaving his lips. Self deception is only going to make things worse. If this 'Him' was as powerful as he was now and found it so easy to control him then he would certainly do it again. Who knows what he will do next time. He breathed… he was ready for 'Him' now.
"I know you are there," Elish spoke into the wind but he heard it.
*It's about time. I thought I would wait forever*
"Who are you?" Elish did not want to joke around.
*Do we have to go over this again. I… am… YOU*
"How can you be me. How can I be two. And how come I can not see you? How can you… Are you snoring?"
Gosh, Elish could not believe it. He was freaking out and this dude was ignoring him.
*Opps. I got so bored I feel asleep*
There was mockery in his voice.
"Answer the first question, Moron," Elish was mad.
*That's more like it. Anger means power. You cannot see me because I am the part of you that controls your other form*
"What form?"
"A wolf. A werewolf."
Tsk, Elish clicked his tongue… to think he was my toes and everything thinking he would say something insane. He heard a chuckle.
*You think it's a joke. Go to the mirror and see for yourself what you are. What you have done*
Elish was silenced by his seriousness.
ELISH
I turned around, stepping back in to the house. I still had the guest room as mine. They did not build the mirror to stand on any of the walls like in Leo's room. It was built to stick to the back of the first door that closed my closet.
I walked, without making noise, to the wooden contraption that kept my clothes. Hands on the handle, I gave the door a push. It opened ajar. A reflection was right in my face except…
I saw dark and grey fur like mild spikes running down the body of this figure. I looked down at it's legs. They were foot but they looked like they belonged to an animal. I could hear heavy breathing, its back still turned to me. Honestly, I felt like I knew what I would see next but could not look away. I was not in control again.
The creature's head turned a little, it peered at me from the corner of its eyes. I could see no pupil in that gaze, just dark redness.
*What. Are not glad to see me, Elish*
It turned fully…. That was no wolf. It was a nightmare covered in blood. My eyes gaped.
"Shit!"
I took a step back, crumbled to the floor, looking away from it.
*Look at me, Elish!*
My head flung fast, my eyes wide open. They fixed on the mirror immediately. Shaking on the ground, I could not run, I could not move. I could close my eyes.
Frightened as hell, I begged him with my sealed lips. The beast smirked at me with the tainted fangs.
*Are you scared? A creature like you should know no fear. Not after what you have done*
light flashed through my eyes, the mirror revealing the woods. I saw Anamay running from something. Running from it… no, running from me.'
Leo once told me that he never wanted to remember that night. Watching Demertri scream and cry. Watching him get ripped apart. Anamay flung to a tree like paper. Watching those two couples get eaten up. I felt the desire to die. Tears were flowing out of my open eyes. I could not even scream.
The beast came back to stand before the other side of the mirror. I heard him say.
*You are crying over something so small. They may have taken our memory, but the feeling is still there. The heart that knows it had done worse*
It was still looking at me, pitifully. I did not want to keep my eyes open anymore. He knew that
*Do not worry. You will get use to me being here you soon. For now, just sleep*
The room began to blurr, my Eyes closing. I tried to keep it open, to fight the sleep. To get out of this room. But in the end, he won.