CHAPTER 32- New flames
CHAPTER 32- New flames
KYLIE’s POV
Growing up we read and heard stories of the supernatural. Folklores that spoke of werewolves and shapeshifters. I had believed them to be all myths. Really good myths regardless. Now I’m older, and perhaps all of the stories they told us to fascinate us as kids weren’t merely stories after all.
This was one of the reasons why I decided to broaden my research. Another reason was the situation at the restaurant.
I heard what Elijah had to say about what he thought I saw. And for a moment, I had tried to convince myself that he was right. Maybe I really did not see anything. But I couldn’t get the images out of my head. Especially the manager. The marks I saw on his body were real. So in the end, it really didn’t matter what Elijah was trying to make me believe. I knew the truth. Werewolves were real. They lived among us and I needed to know as much about them as I possibly could. That was the only way I was going to survive this new reality.
There was this library outside of campus that offered me hundreds of books to mull over for hours. I would have used the library on campus, but everyone in the library already knew me. How was I going to explain my new fascination with the mystical without looking weird?
Looking weird wasn’t really my problem, but I really did not need prying or familiar eyes. And so, It was two in the afternoon, I was in an unfamiliar library and I reached for my third book of the day.
* Ancient man–beasts: Tale or truth.” I was startled at the sound of the voice and looked up from the book to find none other than Matthew David looking down at me with a charming smile.
Matthew was my senior by two years and very popular amongst students and faculty alike. But he was never arrogant about his popularity. He treated everyone respectfully and never made anyone feel like an outcast. He was pretty great. But why was he here?
“Uh, Matthew. You gave me quite a scare.” I said and playfully hit him with my book.
“Sorry about that.” He said and leaned against the wall,” so… mythical light reading?” He asked jutting out his jaw toward the book in my hand, and I shrugged.
“That’s one way to put it. I guess I’ve taken interest in the whole thing.” That was another way to put it, seeing as I couldn’t possibly talk about what I was witnessing lately without sounding crazy.
“Don’t tell me you believe in all of it?” He asked a bit surprised and I shrugged.
“You know what they say… Never say never.” I told him and he raised his hands in surrender.
“Who am I to judge? ” he said and leaned forward, “between you and me, I believe in dinosaurs.” He told me, and I smiled.
“Well now,” I said and he smiled too.
“You know if you aren’t too busy, and would spare me a day, I’d like to hang out. I mean… if you are interested.” He said gently and I spotted the affection in his eyes. I had noticed from time to time that he sometimes looked at me differently, but this was the first time he ever did something about it.
“Well…” I began. I was almost about to decline, almost about to tell him I had a boyfriend. Then I remembered that said boyfriend was with another woman right after being with me. I’m not sure I owed him much at that moment.
“If you aren’t up to it, I totally understand.” He said kindly and I shook my head.
“No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that, I didn’t really see this coming. But nevertheless, of course, I’d like to hang out. ” I said and I watched a charming smile spread on his face.
“Great. Here’s me painting a warm picture. Coffee, or pizza, the two of us, and you tell me about all you learned about these mystical things.”
I smiled even as my mind wandered back to Elijah. Matthew sounded a bit like him just right then. Making plans and making those plans look really good.
I felt a bit of frustration as I wondered if there would ever come a time when Elijah didn’t have a choke hold on my happiness. A chokehold on me.
“It’s a nice picture, Matthew. I can’t wait.”
“Perfect. I’ll text you, Kylie.”
Successfully unlocked!
“That would be nice,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. But try as I might, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was saying yes to the wrong man.
After that, he left me to my books and search for knowledge. But my mind had become divided.
Sometime in the evening, I opened my email and pondered on the message from
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CHAPTER 32- New flames
The stranger Alas, I sent him a reply.
“Tomorrow, by midnight. At the university’s basketball court.”
I pressed send and waited. It was probably risky to be meeting with a stranger at night. More risky that I wasn’t telling
anyone about it. But this wasn’t something I wanted everyone to know about.
I would be fine. I had to believe that.
But for added security, to feel more safe, I spoke to the statue at the school’s lab.
I hadn’t known I would find it there. Perhaps it was instinctive. Perhaps it was the fact that that was the first place we met. But I found it there.
“Do you even know this person?” The sculpture asked, sounding worried and I shook my head.
“I don’t. That’s why I want you to be there. It’s also why I chose an open space.”
“I see. I’ll be in the background though. Just waiting. In case they try anything funny.”
I nodded, “That’s works fine for me. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Because it was late, the sculpture walked me back to my dorm. And because it had been a long day, I fell asleep as soon as I hit my bed.
The next day, Elijah caught up with me before my second class. I had managed to avoid him for as long as I did. But I suppose he had had enough.
“Kylie. Listen to me!” He groaned, grabbing me by my arm when I tried to walk past him.
“I don’t really want to, Elijah. Let go of my arm. Run along and be with Lisa.” Her name burned on my lips, but not as much as my eyes burned while I looked at Elijah.
“So you saw that. Kylie, I can explain.”
“Don’t. Really Elijah, just don’t. I don’t really care.”
“I’m sorry for however it made you feel. But I promise there is a genuine explanation.”
“And I promise, that it’s none of my concern.” I said stiffly, dragging my hand out of his grip.”
“Kylie.” He called out, but I was walking away again.
I was on the very edge of being livid. It was one thing for him to do his bull crap. But trying to lie about it to me? Did he really think I was stupid like that?
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