I was finding it hard to believe, it was unbelievable. The Archer family were devoted to being good, they were Light, not Dark. He had me seriously confused, I couldnt listen to it anymore.
At that moment, to my relief the bell rung. I got up, grabbed my bag and ran for the door again.
“Stay away from them,” Sylar warned over my shoulder.
That only made me run faster, out into the afternoon coldness in my sports uniform. I didn't stop running when I reached the car park, I just kept going. What was I supposed to do?
I pasted Hunter and Sam, and as I did the tears started flowing down my cheeks. I didn't want to believe that Sam was evil, he was one of the reasons why I am still living, and I think I truly loved him.
“Layla!” I heard them both shout in concern.
The tears just gushed down harder. Hearing his voice, how could such lies be true, they couldn't. I was so confused, what was I going to do?
So I kept running.
I started to hear someone running up behind me, they were pursuing me. My heart started beating twice as fast. I didn't look to see who it was but I hoped that it wasn't Sylar.
Hands caught around my wrist and stopped me from running, then they spun me around to face them.
It was Sam.
“Lays,” he said in a confused tone, not even puffed or out of breath.
I was gasping for air and crying at the same time.
He pulled me into the warm encircle of his arms and rubbed my back soothingly while I cried on his shoulder. My face must have looked terrible because it certainly felt like it, but I didn't know what to do.
“What happened?” he asked, concerned.
I didn't want to have to look in his eyes so I hugged him tighter, burying my face in his jacket.
Could I tell him? What if he was Dark? Would he hurt me?
I thought it over, and I came to a decision that I would not regret telling him the truth. If he was Dark, it didnt matter. I knew he would never hurt me, it was ridiculous that I would need to ever doubt him and ever question that.
“Can I tell you about it later?” I asked into his shoulder.
He sighed. “If that's what you must do, but I do want to know,” he said, the agitation and concern clear in his voice. “I'm here,” he whispered in my ear, sending a shiver down my back.
“I know.”
Coming home I sat in the back seat of the SUV with Sam next to me. For some reason I was emotionally exhausted, leaning against Sam with his arms around me. I think he was more comfortable with me now, which sort of put my mind at ease.
James decided to ride with Fredric and Hunter today so it was just Elane and Jane sitting quietly in the front, and me and Sam sitting in the back.
I did not dare say a word of what Sylar had told me to anybody, and I would not tell anybody before I told Sam. But I needed time to come to terms with it myself, I knew I wouldn't be able to explain to Sam unless I was able to explain to myself first.
I trudged up the stairs slowly to my bedroom. I had Jane drop me off at home today. I could tell Sam was worried when I got out of the car but he said he would come over later. I took one last look at his flawless face before I went inside and I knew somehow he wasn't bad.
I walked over to my desk and out of the corner of my eye I saw something on my mobile screen. My heart thumped twice.
Could it be?
I picked up the phone slowly and slid it open.
Check message bank
Good lord, has he really called? I asked myself.
I took a deep breath, it sounded shaky, but I had to find out. I dialled message bank and the message played.
'Lays, I'm sorry but you have to believe me, this is for the best. I don't know how to explain, I don't think I can explain.
(Significant amount of silence)'
“I already know Adam, please say you're coming home,” I whispered to myself.
It was so good to hear his familiar voice.
'Lays, NEVER think this is your fault. I… I don't think Im coming back, but… (Deep breath) we will see each other again, someday. I love you, never think I don't. I… I have to go.
(Message broken off.)'
I sank to the ground slowly, my heart felt like it had been ripped in two. Adam wasn't coming back, thats what he was saying.
I started crying, quiet tears of despair soaking my face. It was like Adam had died, he wasn't here, he left me and wasn't coming back.
I tried to breathe but it felt like all of the air in my body was gone, my lungs felt punctured. At that moment I felt someone wrap their arms around me and I didn't care who it was, so I turned and hugged myself closer to them. I wanted to be comforted because of the grief that had overcome me... it was too much for me to handle alone.
I could not stop the tears, they wouldnt stop. I knew this would haunt me forever, not knowing whether or not Adam is alive, never seeing him smile again, never really hearing him.
I couldn't breathe and it was excruciatingly painful to think about, my chest had been ripped open again and it felt like I was seeping blood through my tears. With Adam in my mind, I drifted off into my sleep of absolutely horrifying nightmares of what will become of my life. I'd been screwed over again.
9. Separation
I wretched my eyes open when I heard my mobile ring from somewhere beside me. I rolled over and got it out of my pocket, answering it without looking at the caller I.D.
“Hello?” I said groggily.
“Good Morning Layla, it's Elane,” a perky soprano voice said through the mobile.
“Morning Elane, what's up?” I asked, my eyes already closed as I spoke sleepily.
“I was wondering if Sam spent the night at your house?”
I snapped my eyes open wide and sat up, spotting Sam in the single seater closest to my feet. I must have fallen asleep after I cried my eyes out and he put me on the couch. He was such a sweetheart, he even stayed and waited for me to wake up.
“Yeah, he's here.” Then I quickly thought about how this would look. “He slept on the couch last night after I… I got bad news from my brother so he stayed to comfort me,” I elaborated.
“That's okay, I was just wondering where he was, no need to explain.”
“Oh, okay then. I'll see you in an hour or so then,” I said, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hands.
“Yes, see you then,” she said before we both hung up.
I stood up and crossed my arms while I had a good look at Sam. I heard him snoring quietly and even when he slept he looked handsome. His light brown hair was covering his face so I swept it back and smiled.
What was the time? I asked myself.
It was 6:30am according to my mobile. No wonder he was still asleep.
I decided to go have a shower then wake Sam up, giving him a bit more rest.
“Sam,” I whispered, shaking his shoulder, my long wet hair was brushing against his face.
“Umm,” I heard him sigh sleepily.
I smiled and put my lips to the hollow of his ear. “Wake up sleepyhead,” I whispered.
I felt him grab me slowly, looking into my eyes and making sure I was okay with it before pulling me onto his lap. I almost had a heart attack when he did though.
“Good morning,” I said, smiling.
He smiled at me and pulled me closer to him, so close I could smell his familiar scent. “Good morning,” he said, his voice soft.
He started stroking my cheekbone and his eyes filled with worry as he continued to look into my eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked, searching my face.
“Yes, I'm sorry you had to see me like that. I'm never like that.”
“I will always be here for you,” he said sincerely.
“You promise?” I asked, trying to make my face look fierce.
He laughed softly. “You have my word.”
With that I pulled myself closer to him, wanting to feel the warmth of his body and the feel of his arms around me. This was pre
tty much my happy place and I couldnt believe it was real.
“What!” I shouted.
“It is only going to be for two days,” Elane reassured me.
“But going to talk to them is pretty much… suicide,” I said, working to keep my voice level.
“Lays, if we don't they will come after you,” Sam said lightly.
I had considered that, but just because Elane saw them take me, it doesn't mean they could all run off to intercept the Warrigal coven. Now they finally decide to tell me.
“What if someone gets hurt… what if you get hurt,” I said to Sam quietly, trying not to look up.
I was distraught. Ive seen what people with abilities can do and it can be scary.
He sighed and pulled me into his arms. “We will all be fine, we are just going to make it safe for you first,” he said into my hair.
“I just can't stand knowing that someone may get hurt because of me,” I said, trying to not cry, while he rubbed my back soothingly.
This was pathetic. It has been barely a week since the Archers have been here, yet they are ready to risk their lives because of me.
“Don't worry Lays. We are just going to talk, not to fight, and we have all had training for these sorts of predicaments. Well, Hunter and Fredric havent had our sort of training, but theyve had experience with their abilities,” James said.
I looked over at James and his face was earnest.
I nodded. “Okay, just promise me that you will all come back,” I said, looking at everybody.
“We all promise. Anyways, we will be back by Saturday,” Jane promised, her face was honest so I didn't think they were hiding anything from me anymore.
I sighed and went to sit down in between Hunter and Fredric. I put my arms around them both and pulled their heads against mine.
“I'm really going to miss you guys. Ive grown so attached to you both,” I said sadly.
“Don't worry, well be back before you know it,” Fredric said.
He smiled at me and I looked at Hunter who was also smiling.
Maybe they were right, maybe I had nothing to worry about. After all, they are just going to talk, right?
I kissed both their cheeks and hugged them a final time, squishing both their heads against mine before looking at them sadly. I got up and went over to Elane, Jane and James, hugged them goodbye and then lastly I went over to Sam.
He took my hand and pulled me closer to him before whispering in my ear. “We will be together again. I know we will find each other.”
“I know,” I said into his chest, trying to hold back the tears.
He kissed the top of my head. “This is hard for me, to leave you. But… I will make you safe no matter what.”
The tears started flowing and I couldnt stop them once again. I swear, I have cried that much in the past week that I should be withered away to nothing already.
He bent his face to mine and kissed me. This kiss wasnt like the other ones, this one was hard and urgent. At that moment I knew something terrible was going to happen, I could feel it, but I was helpless against it.
Hunter dropped me at school, reassuring me that everything would be fine. And I took a good last look at him and I could see he knew this was risky, but they were all protecting me.
Hunter turned the car off and we sat in the silence of the interior for a few minutes before either of us spoke. “Goodbye Hunter, make sure you all come back alive,” I finally said to him, getting out as he started the Mustang back up.
I turned away from the car and started walking towards the front gates without turning back, tears sliding down my cheeks.
“Layla,” Hunter called, sounding awfully close.
I turned around and he was right behind me, and as I turned he wrapped me into his arms, pulling me to him fiercely and rubbing my back.
“Please don't cry... please. This isnt goodbye, its just going to be a few days before you see us again. Not goodbye, never say goodbye,” he said to me fiercely, kissing my hair.
I nodded into his jacket, understanding what he meant, and he was right, I was going to see them again... maybe.
“Okay, so it's see you soon.”
“See you soon,” I repeated, letting go of him.
He smiled at me softly as he walked back over to the Mustang and hopped in, speeding away, the tires screeching behind him.
Never say goodbye. With that I walked through the school gates miserably to carry on with the school day.
I moped through most of my classes today. I was thinking about ditching for the rest of the week but that would be ridiculous, so I'd stick it out.
The first three lessons passed slowly and I was finally making my way sluggishly to the cafeteria.
I didnt have much of an appetite today so I decided to just go and sit down at the normal old lunch table and pretend everything was going to be fine.
“Hey Lays. Long time no see,” Liz commented as she saw me sit down.
I looked at Liz skeptically. It had been a week.
Liz Palmer was a very hyperactive girl but when she was sad, she got really sad. I noticed she had changed her hair, it was now short and a shade of dark blonde.
“Nice hair,” I complimented.
“Thanks,” she said excitedly.
“Hey Mara,” I said, waving slightly to Mara Smith; a young junior who picks on boys.
Even though she is small and slight, she would always stand up for herself. Really she was just a flirt though.
“Hey,” she said, surprised.
I smiled at how normal things seemed, and how easy it was to be here.
“Hey Layla,” someone said.
I turned and it was Sandy Norm, I hadn't seen her in a while. She had got a hair cut too. She had dyed it black but it was in a style that looked like one of those very cute dolls. The fringe is cut straight across the forehead, then the rest is long to her shoulders and cut straight.
“Hey Sandy,” I greeted her as she sat down.
“Layla,” someone else called.
I rolled my eyes and smiled, it was Evie Sampson; a tall girl who wore glasses and had short wavy dark ginger hair.
Looks like the whole gang was here, except Rosetta, Megan and Luke. Funny, Eddie and Jason were here and they never usually left his sides. I wondered where they were.
“Lays, what have you been up to?” Evie asked while sitting next to Mara and me.
“Ah, same old same old,” I answered.
I didn't want to tell anybody anything about the Supernatural stuff and I figured it was a secret. “You?”
“Nothing, really. Did you notice Luke and Megan are missing though?” she asked, scandalously.
I smiled. “Yeah, where do you reckon they are?” I asked, trying to get into the conversation.
Mara, Whitney, Liz, Mandy and Sandy were all leaning forward now, joining in on the conversation.
“Maybe they are ditching together,” Mara suggested.
“I doubt it,” Sandy said, putting too much faith in them.
“Megans in my next class so well find out then,” I assured them.
How girly they can all gossip, I thought.
“Well see. You know it is Valentines Day today.” Whitney pointed out.
Valentines Day, I didnt even notice. How could I forget something like that when there were signs up all over the school. Aw well, I didn't have time for it anyway, between finding out my ability and trying to stay alive, it would be pretty hard to think about stuff like that.
I walked to F block morbidly after lunch, I hoped everybody was okay and I hoped nobody got hurt already. I knew I was acting childishly, but what else was I supposed to do, announce it to the entire world so I could get over it faster? No, I had to deal with this someway, and the sooner they got back unharmed the better it would make me feel.
I walked into Biology class and sat at my empty table. Without Sam here I felt alone, not abandoned, but completely vulnerable. I couldn't help but feel alone even th
ough I wasn't, not really. Gym would be even worse, by myself and with Sylar.
I groaned and let my head fall forward towards the desk. I wasn't expecting it to fall that hard and it really hurt.
“Ouch,” I mumbled into the wood. “This sucks.”
As I walked home in the cold weather after school had ended, I was again recounting what has happened to me so far, just so I can recap.
From the start, lets see, I thought to myself. Adam left on Thursday; a week ago today. Thinking of that made me a little sad but I had to think everything over and not dwindle, it was important. I met the Archers Friday and they moved in that same day, then that night Elane and Jane found me at the cemetery. That was the first night I stayed over at their place. Saturday Sam tried to kill me, but after that he stopped looking at me like he wanted to kill me. That made me happy to think about and I smiled remembering. Then that very same day Hunter and Fredric showed me what they could do, and that was the day I became closer to them. Monday I found out Rosetta wanted to kill me too! Whoa, what a life. I remember that was when I almost died from a knife wound and when Sam first touched me, and not in a sick sense.
A chill ran down my back remembering his touch, his smell and his eyes. I wanted him to be here so much, safe with me and only me. I knew I sounded ridiculous, I knew it, but some things you just cant help.
Peter and Summer left after everybody had showed me their abilities so they could take Rosetta to the Supernatural council in London. And now Sam and Elane, Jane and James, and Fredric and Hunter had gone to intercept the Warrigal coven so as they wont come here. Apparently they should be back by the weekend. Its a wonder how Elane saw them killing me, I cant imagine how many nightmares she would have after seeing people die.
I think I got it all in my head, and to tell you the truth; it has been one heck of a week.
I trudged up the stairs sadly when I got home, chucked my bag in the corner and fell down on my bed. It took me just under half an hour to walk home, the school was technically in The French Forests and I lived in Forestville, which is the next town over. Making it one painstakingly long and difficult walk.
What to do, what to do, I thought to myself as I was lying down. I decided after a long time of thinking that I would go out and work on my car. It would be something to take my mind off things and maybe I would be able to get the thing finally tuned up and the squeaking noise out of it.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 18