▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
A dark grey wolf with patches of light grey glared at a mysterious shadow sitting across from them. He didn't seem happy to be there. The ominous creature sitting across from him, who is hard to be discerned, leaned forward towards the patched up wolf.
"Sir, let's try this again. What's your name?" The creature said.
The patched up wolf looked up at him with an tired expression. "My name is Colton," He muttered.
"Your gender?"
"Designated male at birth."
"Okay, mister Colton, can you please tell me how you got here?"
Colton rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Why should I have to comply with you? I only just met you." He spat out.
"Mister Colton, we are only here to help. If you could please tell us more about yourself, that would be most beneficial."
Sighing, he shook his head and shut his eyes. "Fine. I will tell you my story."
"Sir, let's try this again. What's your name?" The creature said.
The patched up wolf looked up at him with an tired expression. "My name is Colton," He muttered.
"Your gender?"
"Designated male at birth."
"Okay, mister Colton, can you please tell me how you got here?"
Colton rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Why should I have to comply with you? I only just met you." He spat out.
"Mister Colton, we are only here to help. If you could please tell us more about yourself, that would be most beneficial."
Sighing, he shook his head and shut his eyes. "Fine. I will tell you my story."
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"I was a small town boy. I didn't have luxuries nor was a poor. Middle class, I suppose you can call it. My childhood wasn't all too interesting. Although, my dad was a firefighter. He was good at his job, too. My mom would always be worried that one day, he wouldn't return home, but I knew better. I looked up to the man. He was my inspiration and I knew he wouldn't go down without a fight. My dad probably was the reason I became a firefighter. I'll get to that later, though.
Ahhh... I guess you could say I was a flirty kid, at least when I was in high school. I knew how to pick up girls (yeah, don't judge). I never thought my reign of partying would ever end, until I met her. Her name was Cassandra and she strapped me down and brought me back down to Earth. I truly believed I could settle down with her. We were in college and we had a pretty strong relationship for a while. I had always known what I had wanted to do with my life, so when I got of college, I became a firefighter and I worked side by side with my dad. He was now the chief firefighter and I was a lieutenant. It's funny, you know... I could almost understand why my mom was so anxious about my dad going to the line of fire. Yeah, it was dangerous. Cassandra would worry, too.
So, that started my career. I was fresh out of college and ready to fight the fire. Of course, I went to school for it, but it's exhilarating actually working in the field. Life was pretty good. I got to help people just like my dad and I was loyal to Cassie. However, there was one small thing that I dealt with daily. His name was Zavier.
He was the driver at the station. His fur was a soft grey, almost like the shimmering moon... A scrawny moon, at that. Boy, was he annoying. He just wouldn't shut up. I don't know why, but he always tried to talk to me. He tried too hard and he was pretty persistent. The driver was about my age, maybe a year younger. It didn't matter. He still seemed to get on my nerves anyways.
I met him during the first week on duty. I had went into the break room for some water when a guy walked in. I was on my way out and he was in the way, but Zavier was scuttling to move out the way. I could tell he was anxious. All of a sudden, the wolf tripped. My instincts kicked in and I caught him. He looked up at me in my arms with awe. Strange kid, I know. 'T-thank you...' He said after a few awkward moments. 'You're my hero.' I sighed, rolling my eyes. 'Yeah, no problem, kid,' I told him. From that day on, he wouldn't stop clamoring at me. I mean like, I had a job to do. At least he would shut up when it was time to go save some people.
So, that was life for a while. Fighting fire, dealing with an obnoxious driver, working with my father, and settling in with my fiance. It couldn't be better. I had proposed to Cassandra on a romantic dinner. I knew I wanted to marry her at the time. So, I went for it... Just like I always do. Of course, luck is so short lived.
It was the day before Christmas Eve. I had come from the station that night where Cassie was waiting for me, as usual. That day, she seemed more serious... She asked me about pups. Okay, I don't mean to hate on lil' whippersnappers, but I don't really... Like children. They're so whiny and annoying (like Zavier)... I didn't really know how to put it into words because I knew Cassandra wanted pups. She had always been the motherly type... I loved her and I didn't know how... She was upset since she was ready to grow the RPW pouch and have a family. I tried to explain, I really did... Yet, she kept getting more hysterical and more upset. We debated until the dawn approached. She wouldn't let up. Cassie only seemed more determined to have children as our conversation progressed. I told her I had to leave in the morning. I was tired, but I had work to and not many of the staff would be at the station today because it's Christmas Eve. That seemed to anger her more... But I had to and I certainly did.
I arrived at the station that day... It was empty. Most of the officers were home preparing Christmas dinner and getting last minute gifts for their family. Family... Dammit. Anyways, so it was just my dad, Zavier, a few other officers, and me. I was Acting Captain for the day and Christmas. It was, surprisingly, pretty quiet for most of the day. Then, the alarm rang.
We all ran to our places as we had done so many times. I pulled on the hefty gear with a few other officers, including my dad. Zavier already had the fire truck on and we all hopped aboard. The radio was shouting the address -- an apartment building. A large one, too. Apparently someone let the kids light the candles. PSA if you have kids: Don't let kids play with fire. So, the sirens were wailing and the fire truck arrived at the blazing building. We all knew what to do. I was in the Rescue squad, so my small team and I hurried into the building while others began putting out the flames. I hurried inside, right after my dad. The carbon dioxide was thick in the building and a thin film began to form over everything. We had been told there was two kids and a guardian in the apartment that started the fire. Some men went to nearby apartments to get out the neighbors, but my dad and I went to the origin. I heard whimpering from under a table and I found a small child, coughing and gagging on the air. He was covered in soot and I picked up the small child, making sure to keep him as low as possible to the ground as I ran out of the building. The kid was surrounded by EMS people as soon as we exited. My dad was still inside and I plunged back inside the burning building.
My dad was deep into the building. I found him within in a few minutes. The fire was climbing up the ceiling and the support beams, making me feel uneasy. My dad was crouched nearby, picking up a kid. He handed me the child who appeared lifeless. There was an elderly woman also on the ground and my dad was scooping her up, too. I stared for a moment, almost forgetting what I was doing. 'GO!' He screamed as a thunderous crack split through the air. It was the support beams that were caving in. I began to move with the child in my arms, my dad not far behind me. Or, so I thought. I heard the crashing of the beams. I turned around to find my dad pinned under the beam with elderly lady in hand, his face shield crack and the air tank spitting out oxygen. 'GO!' He mouthed again. I didn't look back after that.
I sprinted out as fast as I could and let the EMS take over with the kid. I had no idea what would become of the kid, but all I could think about was my dad inside. Smoke tumbled out of the windows and I was going back in. It worse than the other times. The air was so dense with the putrid gas it was hard to see. I was lost. I searched as long as I could before I had to head out.. I just needed more air...
I blacked out. I didn't know for how long, but apparently I had somehow, magically, gotten a dose of carbon dioxide. It was a blur, really. They were getting oxygen back in my system, blah blah blah. You get the idea. An officer came to tell me about my dad when it was all fine and dandy. I kind of just... Sat there. I didn't know how to react... At first, I didn't believe it, but I had seen the cause with my own two eyes. It was quiet until Cassandra came to see me. I could tell she was still not happy with me, but pitiful. I wasn't in the mood for talking. She tried to help... and I snapped. 'DON'T YOU SEE, CASSIE? THIS WHY WE CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN. THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEIR DAD WOULD COME HOME FOR DINNER! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO LOOSE SOMEONE. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SOME BRATS FOR WHAT? JUST SO YOU CAN BE HAPPY?!' I shouted at her. I don't know if it was true at the time, but I was sick and tired of it. Her face was full of so many emotions -- confusion, hurt, anger, pity, and heck, she was pissed. She knew how to put up a fight when needed... So, she told me that we needed a break. Not like a 'breaking up forever' kind of thing, but just a hiatus from each other. It seemed like a good idea at the time... Until I realized I had nowhere to go.
Then... he came in. Zavier. Great, just what I needed. The EMS people said I was free to go and I had no excuse not to talk to this kid. I sighed. His eyes were filled with pity. Gosh, this kid... 'I'm sorry...' He said in a hushed tone. 'I kind of, umm... heard you hollerin' at your girl...' I spat out at him, 'Don't be sorry. She'll wise up one day and then she'll see.' I was caught up in the moment and I was still on rage mode. Zavier had looked at me sadly, sighing to himself. 'If you want... You can stay at my place until you can go back home to your girl,' He squeaked out nervously. 'You know what, Zavier? I'm sick of my family, so hell yeah, let's go to your damn place,' I had said, the remnants of anger bleeding into my words.
Zavier drove me to his apartment. The car ride was deathly silent. We entered his small apartment and he switched on the lights to reveal a simple living area. It was close quarters... Joy. His kitchen was on the left hand side and the small living room connected to it on the left. There was a set of two doors at the end of the room -- presumably one being the bathroom and the other being his bedroom. Zavier offered me 'tea or coffee', but I responded with 'Some beer would be good'. I got what I asked for, nonetheless. We awkwardly sat on the couch as he sipped a small cup of earl grey tea. Finally, Zavier spoke up.
'Do you want to talk about it?' He asked in a hushed tone. I just looked at him sternly. 'No.' I stated simply. Zavier looked at me timidly, then said, 'You talk to me, if you want to.' I shook my head. 'Okay... Well... I'm kind of tired, so I'm going to head to bed. Sorry that you have to sleep on the couch... There's no guest bedroom... But I'll grab ya some blankets and pillows,' He said and got up. He came back with a large, fluffy blanket and a couple pillows. Placing them on the couch, he looked up at me and hugged me awkwardly. I'm not much of a random hugging person, but for some reason, it felt good to hug him. I let Zavier hug me for a moment before he went into his room. I don't know how long it was, but I laid awake for a while until sometime in the very early morning... Trying to grasp the concept of everything that had happened.
And then, it dawned on me. It was Christmas. Gosh... I had almost forgot with all the... Issues... I've had to deal with for that last day. I had already prepared gifts for Cassie, but I doubted she wanted them... I thought that maybe when everything cooled down then we could have our Christmas.
I must've fell asleep sometime that early morning because the next time I saw the light was when Zavier was shaking me, telling me to get up. Sitting up, I looked at the short guy in front of me. 'You don't look so good...' He remarked, gazing at me shyly. 'Maybe you should take a day off.' That woke me up completely when he said that. 'No! I have to go in!' I snapped at him. I guess you could say I was one of those kinds of people who enjoyed their work. Zavier made me stay home. Damn kid. I wouldn't be back until Monday, since I usually don't work on the weekends.
The kid came back home at night and we ordered in take-out Chinese food. The waters were still awkward between us... For once, Zavier was actually a bit quiet. Perhaps it was because he understood my pain or something. I don't know.
By Saturday night, I was calling up Cassie. She wouldn't answer her phone. I left her a couple messages, but I didn't apologize. I stand for what I believe in. I might've been willing to compromise, but I later found it that it was not worth the struggle nor pain to find common ground.
Spending time with Zavier was interesting. I was not overly fond of the idea at first, but the kid was actually pretty cool. Besides the fact that he was a whiny dork. I didn't leave his apartment for a couple days. I didn't want to plan the unplannable, yet I did. He was surprisingly diligent and helpful. It didn't change what happened, but it was actually nice to have someone there. Cassie hadn't responded to any of my messages, but she went to the funeral. She didn't talk to me... Actually, she hardly looked at me. She was a stubborn woman, that's for sure.
Zavier had forced me out of his apartment when I wasn't working. He said it would be 'good to get some fresh air'. So, I would reluctantly walk with him around the city in the brisk, winter air. One time, Zavier had wanted to stop for coffee at Starbucks because he was 'cold and thirsty'. Just as we were leaving, Cassandra pulled in. She looked at me from the corner of her eye and moved on with her day.
I don't remember how long it was since we'd been away... Maybe a few weeks, a month, a few months... Who knows. I wasn't counting. I kind of had been enjoying my stay with Zavier after the tension was cleared. Cassandra wanted an apology -- that I was sure of. Why didn't I just say 'sorry'? Maybe, deep down, I knew I didn't mean it. Sure, I wanted to talk to her again, but something was holding me back. Originally, I had thought it was simply because I didn't want the strain of kids. It took me a while, but I finally, truly realized why."
Ahhh... I guess you could say I was a flirty kid, at least when I was in high school. I knew how to pick up girls (yeah, don't judge). I never thought my reign of partying would ever end, until I met her. Her name was Cassandra and she strapped me down and brought me back down to Earth. I truly believed I could settle down with her. We were in college and we had a pretty strong relationship for a while. I had always known what I had wanted to do with my life, so when I got of college, I became a firefighter and I worked side by side with my dad. He was now the chief firefighter and I was a lieutenant. It's funny, you know... I could almost understand why my mom was so anxious about my dad going to the line of fire. Yeah, it was dangerous. Cassandra would worry, too.
So, that started my career. I was fresh out of college and ready to fight the fire. Of course, I went to school for it, but it's exhilarating actually working in the field. Life was pretty good. I got to help people just like my dad and I was loyal to Cassie. However, there was one small thing that I dealt with daily. His name was Zavier.
He was the driver at the station. His fur was a soft grey, almost like the shimmering moon... A scrawny moon, at that. Boy, was he annoying. He just wouldn't shut up. I don't know why, but he always tried to talk to me. He tried too hard and he was pretty persistent. The driver was about my age, maybe a year younger. It didn't matter. He still seemed to get on my nerves anyways.
I met him during the first week on duty. I had went into the break room for some water when a guy walked in. I was on my way out and he was in the way, but Zavier was scuttling to move out the way. I could tell he was anxious. All of a sudden, the wolf tripped. My instincts kicked in and I caught him. He looked up at me in my arms with awe. Strange kid, I know. 'T-thank you...' He said after a few awkward moments. 'You're my hero.' I sighed, rolling my eyes. 'Yeah, no problem, kid,' I told him. From that day on, he wouldn't stop clamoring at me. I mean like, I had a job to do. At least he would shut up when it was time to go save some people.
So, that was life for a while. Fighting fire, dealing with an obnoxious driver, working with my father, and settling in with my fiance. It couldn't be better. I had proposed to Cassandra on a romantic dinner. I knew I wanted to marry her at the time. So, I went for it... Just like I always do. Of course, luck is so short lived.
It was the day before Christmas Eve. I had come from the station that night where Cassie was waiting for me, as usual. That day, she seemed more serious... She asked me about pups. Okay, I don't mean to hate on lil' whippersnappers, but I don't really... Like children. They're so whiny and annoying (like Zavier)... I didn't really know how to put it into words because I knew Cassandra wanted pups. She had always been the motherly type... I loved her and I didn't know how... She was upset since she was ready to grow the RPW pouch and have a family. I tried to explain, I really did... Yet, she kept getting more hysterical and more upset. We debated until the dawn approached. She wouldn't let up. Cassie only seemed more determined to have children as our conversation progressed. I told her I had to leave in the morning. I was tired, but I had work to and not many of the staff would be at the station today because it's Christmas Eve. That seemed to anger her more... But I had to and I certainly did.
I arrived at the station that day... It was empty. Most of the officers were home preparing Christmas dinner and getting last minute gifts for their family. Family... Dammit. Anyways, so it was just my dad, Zavier, a few other officers, and me. I was Acting Captain for the day and Christmas. It was, surprisingly, pretty quiet for most of the day. Then, the alarm rang.
We all ran to our places as we had done so many times. I pulled on the hefty gear with a few other officers, including my dad. Zavier already had the fire truck on and we all hopped aboard. The radio was shouting the address -- an apartment building. A large one, too. Apparently someone let the kids light the candles. PSA if you have kids: Don't let kids play with fire. So, the sirens were wailing and the fire truck arrived at the blazing building. We all knew what to do. I was in the Rescue squad, so my small team and I hurried into the building while others began putting out the flames. I hurried inside, right after my dad. The carbon dioxide was thick in the building and a thin film began to form over everything. We had been told there was two kids and a guardian in the apartment that started the fire. Some men went to nearby apartments to get out the neighbors, but my dad and I went to the origin. I heard whimpering from under a table and I found a small child, coughing and gagging on the air. He was covered in soot and I picked up the small child, making sure to keep him as low as possible to the ground as I ran out of the building. The kid was surrounded by EMS people as soon as we exited. My dad was still inside and I plunged back inside the burning building.
My dad was deep into the building. I found him within in a few minutes. The fire was climbing up the ceiling and the support beams, making me feel uneasy. My dad was crouched nearby, picking up a kid. He handed me the child who appeared lifeless. There was an elderly woman also on the ground and my dad was scooping her up, too. I stared for a moment, almost forgetting what I was doing. 'GO!' He screamed as a thunderous crack split through the air. It was the support beams that were caving in. I began to move with the child in my arms, my dad not far behind me. Or, so I thought. I heard the crashing of the beams. I turned around to find my dad pinned under the beam with elderly lady in hand, his face shield crack and the air tank spitting out oxygen. 'GO!' He mouthed again. I didn't look back after that.
I sprinted out as fast as I could and let the EMS take over with the kid. I had no idea what would become of the kid, but all I could think about was my dad inside. Smoke tumbled out of the windows and I was going back in. It worse than the other times. The air was so dense with the putrid gas it was hard to see. I was lost. I searched as long as I could before I had to head out.. I just needed more air...
I blacked out. I didn't know for how long, but apparently I had somehow, magically, gotten a dose of carbon dioxide. It was a blur, really. They were getting oxygen back in my system, blah blah blah. You get the idea. An officer came to tell me about my dad when it was all fine and dandy. I kind of just... Sat there. I didn't know how to react... At first, I didn't believe it, but I had seen the cause with my own two eyes. It was quiet until Cassandra came to see me. I could tell she was still not happy with me, but pitiful. I wasn't in the mood for talking. She tried to help... and I snapped. 'DON'T YOU SEE, CASSIE? THIS WHY WE CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN. THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEIR DAD WOULD COME HOME FOR DINNER! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO LOOSE SOMEONE. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SOME BRATS FOR WHAT? JUST SO YOU CAN BE HAPPY?!' I shouted at her. I don't know if it was true at the time, but I was sick and tired of it. Her face was full of so many emotions -- confusion, hurt, anger, pity, and heck, she was pissed. She knew how to put up a fight when needed... So, she told me that we needed a break. Not like a 'breaking up forever' kind of thing, but just a hiatus from each other. It seemed like a good idea at the time... Until I realized I had nowhere to go.
Then... he came in. Zavier. Great, just what I needed. The EMS people said I was free to go and I had no excuse not to talk to this kid. I sighed. His eyes were filled with pity. Gosh, this kid... 'I'm sorry...' He said in a hushed tone. 'I kind of, umm... heard you hollerin' at your girl...' I spat out at him, 'Don't be sorry. She'll wise up one day and then she'll see.' I was caught up in the moment and I was still on rage mode. Zavier had looked at me sadly, sighing to himself. 'If you want... You can stay at my place until you can go back home to your girl,' He squeaked out nervously. 'You know what, Zavier? I'm sick of my family, so hell yeah, let's go to your damn place,' I had said, the remnants of anger bleeding into my words.
Zavier drove me to his apartment. The car ride was deathly silent. We entered his small apartment and he switched on the lights to reveal a simple living area. It was close quarters... Joy. His kitchen was on the left hand side and the small living room connected to it on the left. There was a set of two doors at the end of the room -- presumably one being the bathroom and the other being his bedroom. Zavier offered me 'tea or coffee', but I responded with 'Some beer would be good'. I got what I asked for, nonetheless. We awkwardly sat on the couch as he sipped a small cup of earl grey tea. Finally, Zavier spoke up.
'Do you want to talk about it?' He asked in a hushed tone. I just looked at him sternly. 'No.' I stated simply. Zavier looked at me timidly, then said, 'You talk to me, if you want to.' I shook my head. 'Okay... Well... I'm kind of tired, so I'm going to head to bed. Sorry that you have to sleep on the couch... There's no guest bedroom... But I'll grab ya some blankets and pillows,' He said and got up. He came back with a large, fluffy blanket and a couple pillows. Placing them on the couch, he looked up at me and hugged me awkwardly. I'm not much of a random hugging person, but for some reason, it felt good to hug him. I let Zavier hug me for a moment before he went into his room. I don't know how long it was, but I laid awake for a while until sometime in the very early morning... Trying to grasp the concept of everything that had happened.
And then, it dawned on me. It was Christmas. Gosh... I had almost forgot with all the... Issues... I've had to deal with for that last day. I had already prepared gifts for Cassie, but I doubted she wanted them... I thought that maybe when everything cooled down then we could have our Christmas.
I must've fell asleep sometime that early morning because the next time I saw the light was when Zavier was shaking me, telling me to get up. Sitting up, I looked at the short guy in front of me. 'You don't look so good...' He remarked, gazing at me shyly. 'Maybe you should take a day off.' That woke me up completely when he said that. 'No! I have to go in!' I snapped at him. I guess you could say I was one of those kinds of people who enjoyed their work. Zavier made me stay home. Damn kid. I wouldn't be back until Monday, since I usually don't work on the weekends.
The kid came back home at night and we ordered in take-out Chinese food. The waters were still awkward between us... For once, Zavier was actually a bit quiet. Perhaps it was because he understood my pain or something. I don't know.
By Saturday night, I was calling up Cassie. She wouldn't answer her phone. I left her a couple messages, but I didn't apologize. I stand for what I believe in. I might've been willing to compromise, but I later found it that it was not worth the struggle nor pain to find common ground.
Spending time with Zavier was interesting. I was not overly fond of the idea at first, but the kid was actually pretty cool. Besides the fact that he was a whiny dork. I didn't leave his apartment for a couple days. I didn't want to plan the unplannable, yet I did. He was surprisingly diligent and helpful. It didn't change what happened, but it was actually nice to have someone there. Cassie hadn't responded to any of my messages, but she went to the funeral. She didn't talk to me... Actually, she hardly looked at me. She was a stubborn woman, that's for sure.
Zavier had forced me out of his apartment when I wasn't working. He said it would be 'good to get some fresh air'. So, I would reluctantly walk with him around the city in the brisk, winter air. One time, Zavier had wanted to stop for coffee at Starbucks because he was 'cold and thirsty'. Just as we were leaving, Cassandra pulled in. She looked at me from the corner of her eye and moved on with her day.
I don't remember how long it was since we'd been away... Maybe a few weeks, a month, a few months... Who knows. I wasn't counting. I kind of had been enjoying my stay with Zavier after the tension was cleared. Cassandra wanted an apology -- that I was sure of. Why didn't I just say 'sorry'? Maybe, deep down, I knew I didn't mean it. Sure, I wanted to talk to her again, but something was holding me back. Originally, I had thought it was simply because I didn't want the strain of kids. It took me a while, but I finally, truly realized why."
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"The warm air and the aroma of hot food filled my nostrils as I glanced up to see Zavier coming through the door with our take-out. It was February and I hadn't made up with Cassandra yet. I had managed to talk to her, but we couldn't agree. We broke up. It was that simple. That day, I felt heavy sag in my heart. Why? The day was a constant reminder of what I didn't have: love.
It was Valentine's Day. Of course, I usually did not spend my Valentine's Day sitting in a dingy apartment, eating take-out food with my friend. Yes, I would call Zavier my friend... We had grown close over the months. It's funny to think that this kid was just another annoyance in my life at one point. Now, we're stuck like glue...
So, there we were. We were eating Chinese take-out food, like the usual Fridays. There was casual conversation and food (of course). Zavier was good about not bringing up Cassandra. We ate, we talked, we ate, we talked... It was then I noticed there was a small smudge of duck sauce (which is not actually made from ducks, mind you) on the side of his lip. 'You have something on your face, Zavier,' I said calmly. The boy wiped his face and I just shook my head. 'Here, lemme get it,' I had said and I leaned towards him and pressed my thumb against his lip gently. I wiped away the sauce, then gazed up at him. Our eyes met and Zavier eyes seeped into my red eyes. His face reddened and his tongue flicked across his lips quickly. Suddenly, I felt a magnet pull my face towards his and then before I realized what I was doing, our lips met were pressed lightly against each other.
So... Yeah. There's not much more to say about that moment. He apologized, but I told him I was the one who started the whole thing. Zavier just shook his head and put his face in his hands. I had discovered a new side to him... He came out to me. More than that, I discovered a new side to me. I'll be honest... I kind of always liked guys, secretly, but never really had the guts to act those emotions. What do people these days call it? Pansexual? Yeah, I guess that's what you'd call me. He had grown on me over time and I guess you could say that's why I did it. All this time, I had been suppressing what I had been feeling...
It was slow -- our relationship, that is. I'll admit... I was a bit reluctant at first. I was afraid to fall in love again, but I soon found it was too late to be saved. Our relationship wasn't public, not for a while. Zavier had dealt with things in his life I didn't even know about before. Neither of us wanted a public relationship... Which was fine. It was a-okay just snuggling on the couch while watching The Walking Dead. Of course, secrets never do last, now do they?
Cassandra approached me one day after work, probably sometime in June. Zavier had been home sick that day and I was just leaving when she got back to me. She explained how much she missed me and she wanted to get back together again. Cassie was smart, so when I hesitated to respond, she got the message. Unfortunately, she did not take it too well. Her words pierced my heart as she questioned me. 'Who is she?' She had demanded. I just shook my head and started to walk away. I couldn't listen any longer. I didn't want to listen. To be fair, I did still care about her. I just had moved on and she didn't. Before I managed to get far enough, Cassandra called to me, 'It's that annoying driver, isn't it?' That made me turn around swiftly. I suppose it should've been obvious. I had talked about him to her before the happening happened and I basically lived with him. My body ached with rage. 'Nobody calls him annoying but me,' I had hissed at her. She simply stared at me, but after a few moments, a smirk spread across her face.
Cassandra got the cruel idea to blackmail me. It took me by surprise at first. I didn't realize she had it in her, but I knew she was desperate. Yet, she knew me and she knew I wouldn't want to be 'embarrassed'. As much as I hate to say it now, I was embarrassed. Everyone I knew was so... Straight. Our community wasn't incredibly diverse, either. I wasn't sure how other people would react and I wouldn't be able to bear the though of Zavier getting hurt. He was feeble and I knew what I had to do.
I agreed. I regret it all so much now. Cassie made it so that we had a 'public relationship' that was totally fake in return for keeping her mouth shut about Zavier and I. Maybe she thought I would magically become straight and love her again. I hated her and I hated what I had to do. Zavier was upset. I hated myself so much for it... I tried to bear with it for a couple weeks, but it was absolutely terrible. I loved Zavier and I couldn't stand seeing him so depressed. Zavier went through with it, but I knew him... He was rotting from the inside out. It killed me over and over again. I was being resurrected into hell constantly and I constantly kept dying. I don't know why I didn't break the agreement with Cassandra... I should've, I know. It's so stupid when I look back at it now.
One day, I just didn't show up to work. Zavier was so close to the edge. He was sensitive and I knew he couldn't bear it. I had ran into the woods, trying to find somewhere quiet to just think. I plopped down under a large tree and sobbed. I heard a rustle in the wind and suddenly, a shadow loomed over me.
'I can help you,' a gravely voice said. It was a cloaked guy and I couldn't see his face. Fog wrapped around him, but he seemed to give off a small glow. 'I can fix all that has been wrong and allow you to stay with your lover for all eternity,' He said again, but his glow began to fade as the next words sprung from his mouth. 'It comes with a cost, though.' I sniffled and agreed instantly. I didn't care how much it cost. I just did it.
The sky was dark by the time I got home. Time flied. Zavier was so relieved to see me come home, but he said Cassandra was mad. I didn't care. I told him the good news, but he seemed reluctant. He accepted it, though. We felt like one, for once...
The next day, I returned to the station. People brought up where I had been, but I didn't care so I just told them I was sick. There was a call for a wildfire a few miles north of the station. We all ran over there (not literally) and went there.
Fire spread from tree to tree. The treetops crackled as they were becoming chard. The vegetation in the area was ignited, too. It was a grotesque sight. We were told that helicopters with fire retardant should be arriving shortly, but we had to keep it under control. It was a blazing fire... And it was kind of dangerous. Sure, the carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere, but a tree could fall down after the trunk being burnt to a crisp. It's possible.
And it did happen. Gosh... I wish I could've stopped it. There may not have been people in the woods, but there was us, the firemen. Zavier was so stupid... He should've known better not to park so close to the inferno. I can't blame him, though. It's always a rush to get there... Not to mention it wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so foolish.
All I heard was the splitting of wood and a crash that collided into the truck. There was another splintering sound and I was out cold.
I woke to find myself back in the woods where I had encountered the cloaked man. He was hanging over me and I could make out the lines of his teeth. He wore a conniving smile. I then realized I was on the ground and roots were restraining me to the earthen floor. I was still dizzy from the blackout... Most of all, I felt different... Heck, really different. I tried to move my arms and legs, but it was no use. The cloaked figure cackled and shook his head. 'I told you there was a price,' he told me. With that, he vanished into thin air.
I was all alone. I fidgeted and squirmed within the roots that held me back. I then remember that I was on dirt. So, I fervently dug my wrists into the ground to push away enough soil to get my hands free. I soon accomplished that task and I sat up. I looked at my wrists and realized that they were not my own. With dismay, I yelped. One was a soft, greyish white fur... Like Zavier's. The other had my arm, but the hand was not mine. There was claws and it was similar to that of a dragon. I now figure it's the cloaked man's hand or someone he borrowed it from. My eyes then fall to my legs and see part of my leg has been taken and replaced with Zavier's grey one. I begin to panic and I free my legs. I run as fast I can away from there. I stopped at a lake to catch my breath. I gazed into the water. It was not my face that stared back at me. It was a pale grey.
I was wearing the face of my lover's."
It was Valentine's Day. Of course, I usually did not spend my Valentine's Day sitting in a dingy apartment, eating take-out food with my friend. Yes, I would call Zavier my friend... We had grown close over the months. It's funny to think that this kid was just another annoyance in my life at one point. Now, we're stuck like glue...
So, there we were. We were eating Chinese take-out food, like the usual Fridays. There was casual conversation and food (of course). Zavier was good about not bringing up Cassandra. We ate, we talked, we ate, we talked... It was then I noticed there was a small smudge of duck sauce (which is not actually made from ducks, mind you) on the side of his lip. 'You have something on your face, Zavier,' I said calmly. The boy wiped his face and I just shook my head. 'Here, lemme get it,' I had said and I leaned towards him and pressed my thumb against his lip gently. I wiped away the sauce, then gazed up at him. Our eyes met and Zavier eyes seeped into my red eyes. His face reddened and his tongue flicked across his lips quickly. Suddenly, I felt a magnet pull my face towards his and then before I realized what I was doing, our lips met were pressed lightly against each other.
So... Yeah. There's not much more to say about that moment. He apologized, but I told him I was the one who started the whole thing. Zavier just shook his head and put his face in his hands. I had discovered a new side to him... He came out to me. More than that, I discovered a new side to me. I'll be honest... I kind of always liked guys, secretly, but never really had the guts to act those emotions. What do people these days call it? Pansexual? Yeah, I guess that's what you'd call me. He had grown on me over time and I guess you could say that's why I did it. All this time, I had been suppressing what I had been feeling...
It was slow -- our relationship, that is. I'll admit... I was a bit reluctant at first. I was afraid to fall in love again, but I soon found it was too late to be saved. Our relationship wasn't public, not for a while. Zavier had dealt with things in his life I didn't even know about before. Neither of us wanted a public relationship... Which was fine. It was a-okay just snuggling on the couch while watching The Walking Dead. Of course, secrets never do last, now do they?
Cassandra approached me one day after work, probably sometime in June. Zavier had been home sick that day and I was just leaving when she got back to me. She explained how much she missed me and she wanted to get back together again. Cassie was smart, so when I hesitated to respond, she got the message. Unfortunately, she did not take it too well. Her words pierced my heart as she questioned me. 'Who is she?' She had demanded. I just shook my head and started to walk away. I couldn't listen any longer. I didn't want to listen. To be fair, I did still care about her. I just had moved on and she didn't. Before I managed to get far enough, Cassandra called to me, 'It's that annoying driver, isn't it?' That made me turn around swiftly. I suppose it should've been obvious. I had talked about him to her before the happening happened and I basically lived with him. My body ached with rage. 'Nobody calls him annoying but me,' I had hissed at her. She simply stared at me, but after a few moments, a smirk spread across her face.
Cassandra got the cruel idea to blackmail me. It took me by surprise at first. I didn't realize she had it in her, but I knew she was desperate. Yet, she knew me and she knew I wouldn't want to be 'embarrassed'. As much as I hate to say it now, I was embarrassed. Everyone I knew was so... Straight. Our community wasn't incredibly diverse, either. I wasn't sure how other people would react and I wouldn't be able to bear the though of Zavier getting hurt. He was feeble and I knew what I had to do.
I agreed. I regret it all so much now. Cassie made it so that we had a 'public relationship' that was totally fake in return for keeping her mouth shut about Zavier and I. Maybe she thought I would magically become straight and love her again. I hated her and I hated what I had to do. Zavier was upset. I hated myself so much for it... I tried to bear with it for a couple weeks, but it was absolutely terrible. I loved Zavier and I couldn't stand seeing him so depressed. Zavier went through with it, but I knew him... He was rotting from the inside out. It killed me over and over again. I was being resurrected into hell constantly and I constantly kept dying. I don't know why I didn't break the agreement with Cassandra... I should've, I know. It's so stupid when I look back at it now.
One day, I just didn't show up to work. Zavier was so close to the edge. He was sensitive and I knew he couldn't bear it. I had ran into the woods, trying to find somewhere quiet to just think. I plopped down under a large tree and sobbed. I heard a rustle in the wind and suddenly, a shadow loomed over me.
'I can help you,' a gravely voice said. It was a cloaked guy and I couldn't see his face. Fog wrapped around him, but he seemed to give off a small glow. 'I can fix all that has been wrong and allow you to stay with your lover for all eternity,' He said again, but his glow began to fade as the next words sprung from his mouth. 'It comes with a cost, though.' I sniffled and agreed instantly. I didn't care how much it cost. I just did it.
The sky was dark by the time I got home. Time flied. Zavier was so relieved to see me come home, but he said Cassandra was mad. I didn't care. I told him the good news, but he seemed reluctant. He accepted it, though. We felt like one, for once...
The next day, I returned to the station. People brought up where I had been, but I didn't care so I just told them I was sick. There was a call for a wildfire a few miles north of the station. We all ran over there (not literally) and went there.
Fire spread from tree to tree. The treetops crackled as they were becoming chard. The vegetation in the area was ignited, too. It was a grotesque sight. We were told that helicopters with fire retardant should be arriving shortly, but we had to keep it under control. It was a blazing fire... And it was kind of dangerous. Sure, the carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere, but a tree could fall down after the trunk being burnt to a crisp. It's possible.
And it did happen. Gosh... I wish I could've stopped it. There may not have been people in the woods, but there was us, the firemen. Zavier was so stupid... He should've known better not to park so close to the inferno. I can't blame him, though. It's always a rush to get there... Not to mention it wouldn't have happened if I wasn't so foolish.
All I heard was the splitting of wood and a crash that collided into the truck. There was another splintering sound and I was out cold.
I woke to find myself back in the woods where I had encountered the cloaked man. He was hanging over me and I could make out the lines of his teeth. He wore a conniving smile. I then realized I was on the ground and roots were restraining me to the earthen floor. I was still dizzy from the blackout... Most of all, I felt different... Heck, really different. I tried to move my arms and legs, but it was no use. The cloaked figure cackled and shook his head. 'I told you there was a price,' he told me. With that, he vanished into thin air.
I was all alone. I fidgeted and squirmed within the roots that held me back. I then remember that I was on dirt. So, I fervently dug my wrists into the ground to push away enough soil to get my hands free. I soon accomplished that task and I sat up. I looked at my wrists and realized that they were not my own. With dismay, I yelped. One was a soft, greyish white fur... Like Zavier's. The other had my arm, but the hand was not mine. There was claws and it was similar to that of a dragon. I now figure it's the cloaked man's hand or someone he borrowed it from. My eyes then fall to my legs and see part of my leg has been taken and replaced with Zavier's grey one. I begin to panic and I free my legs. I run as fast I can away from there. I stopped at a lake to catch my breath. I gazed into the water. It was not my face that stared back at me. It was a pale grey.
I was wearing the face of my lover's."
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"That's when I ran and ran. I was lost, no doubt. Then, I stumbled upon you. I didn't know if I could trust you or not, but I was so sick I didn't even care if I lived or died. You were in the forest, walking... You claimed you could help me. My plea has not been answered." Colton looked at the figure, his words descending with an angered tone.
"Ahh, mister Colton. Thank you. Yes, yes... That creature has been encountered before. He is a real oddity. I wander the woods on the chance that he makes a deal with anyone. My wife had made a deal with him. By the time had I got to her, she was dead. You would've been, too. She was experimented on... Now, I make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else," The figure glanced up at him. "His name is unknown, but he has the power to rewrite and combine genetic codes. Henceforth why those limbs work when you use it. Of course... it's power is only so extensive. It is said that two souls cannot combine fully, but only one can. The onsets of the other will occur, though. You'll gain all of his memories within time. It'll be bits and pieces, but you'll feel all the things he felt."
Colton looked up at the creature and squinted real hard. Underlying the mysterious creature was the venomous trickery he had faced only so recently and it caught his attention. "You're the cloaked creature, aren't you?"
The creature laughed and looked at the ground. "You are pretty smart," the familiar gravely voice said, "But not smarter than me!" The cloaked figure raised his head to act, but when he looked up, Colton was gone.
Now, Colton wanders the countryside, a state or two over from where he lived. He is said to be a "legend" and a "myth" and has been referred to as "Frankenstein's Monster". There have even rumors that this patched up creature steals the limbs and organs of others. It is said he is blood thirsty and devours his victims that he took organs from. His history is unknown to the people, but some say it is because he wants revenge from what was taken from him. Is it true, you may ask? I'll leave it up to you to decide.
"Ahh, mister Colton. Thank you. Yes, yes... That creature has been encountered before. He is a real oddity. I wander the woods on the chance that he makes a deal with anyone. My wife had made a deal with him. By the time had I got to her, she was dead. You would've been, too. She was experimented on... Now, I make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else," The figure glanced up at him. "His name is unknown, but he has the power to rewrite and combine genetic codes. Henceforth why those limbs work when you use it. Of course... it's power is only so extensive. It is said that two souls cannot combine fully, but only one can. The onsets of the other will occur, though. You'll gain all of his memories within time. It'll be bits and pieces, but you'll feel all the things he felt."
Colton looked up at the creature and squinted real hard. Underlying the mysterious creature was the venomous trickery he had faced only so recently and it caught his attention. "You're the cloaked creature, aren't you?"
The creature laughed and looked at the ground. "You are pretty smart," the familiar gravely voice said, "But not smarter than me!" The cloaked figure raised his head to act, but when he looked up, Colton was gone.
Now, Colton wanders the countryside, a state or two over from where he lived. He is said to be a "legend" and a "myth" and has been referred to as "Frankenstein's Monster". There have even rumors that this patched up creature steals the limbs and organs of others. It is said he is blood thirsty and devours his victims that he took organs from. His history is unknown to the people, but some say it is because he wants revenge from what was taken from him. Is it true, you may ask? I'll leave it up to you to decide.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Art //
All credit is given to the artist! Please click for full size.
All credit is given to the artist! Please click for full size.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Credits //
Lyrics from "The Unknown Soldier" by The Doors.
All coding is done by myself, Vox Nihili.
All art is done by myself, Vox Nihili.
All writing is done by myself, Vox Nihili.
All ideas and concepts were written by myself, Vox Nihili.
Good luck to anyone judging this contest and the best of luck to the other contestants!
Big thanks to Nodell for the support, too! Thanks to whoever critiqued my form, as well~!
NOTE: I know my form is long, but please take the time to read and look at everything! Trust me, everything in my form is there for a REASON. None of it is just a "filler". Even the lyrics have meaning that pertain to him and the way the story is told is you can feel his character and not have me just tell you his personality. I know it's a pain thinking and putting everything together, but if you really do take the time to do so, it would be most beneficial. Symbolism is included in some parts of my form, so please keep that in mind.
Lyrics from "The Unknown Soldier" by The Doors.
All coding is done by myself, Vox Nihili.
All art is done by myself, Vox Nihili.
All writing is done by myself, Vox Nihili.
All ideas and concepts were written by myself, Vox Nihili.
Good luck to anyone judging this contest and the best of luck to the other contestants!
Big thanks to Nodell for the support, too! Thanks to whoever critiqued my form, as well~!
NOTE: I know my form is long, but please take the time to read and look at everything! Trust me, everything in my form is there for a REASON. None of it is just a "filler". Even the lyrics have meaning that pertain to him and the way the story is told is you can feel his character and not have me just tell you his personality. I know it's a pain thinking and putting everything together, but if you really do take the time to do so, it would be most beneficial. Symbolism is included in some parts of my form, so please keep that in mind.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
