XLIX. Chill

Raine’s POV:

One topic leads to another, and soon, the streets were barren. My emotions only dulled with the atmosphere.

“Need a place to stay?”

“You’re going to stretch a hand out for a stranger?”

Sonny leaned back, “It’s not really my place.”

My eyes flicker towards the workers. They’re cleaning. If we don’t leave now, we’re pushing their gratitude. “I don’t know,” I said. “You’re not really a friend.”

He chuckles, “So you’re suspicious about my sudden kindness.”

It’s not like I don’t trust Sonny, but-

Actually, no, I don’t trust him.

I did have a nice conversation with Sonny, but it doesn’t mean I’ll put my life in his hands.

“Are you older than 16?”

That’s a suspicious question.

I nod.

I hope my response didn’t lead me down to death lane.

“There’s a homeless shelter nearby,” he said. “Adults only.”

In this world, once you’re sixteen - you’re an adult. How weird.

Then again, in a world filled with mythical creatures, you’re forced to grow up.

“Want me to help you get there?”

I didn’t respond.

“No dark alley.”

I smiled, “Alright.”

I have two options. One, I can sleep in the streets. Two, I can follow a stranger towards a used bed. It’s a lose-lose situation.

With my hands hidden inside my back pockets, I followed Sonny towards the homeless shelter. True to his words, Sonny did not lead me into a dark alley. Finally, we reached a nice looking building. In front of the building was a line.

“Check-in line?” I asked.

“Looks like it.” Sonny pat my shoulder, “It was nice meeting you. Have a good night.” Before I could respond, Sonny left.

Maybe, he really wasn’t going to kidnap me.

I slightly regret not accepting his offer.

My body shifted back and forth in the line. Behind me stood a young girl who kept mumbling to herself - something about running away from the one eyed monster. I wouldn’t be surprised if one eye monster exists in this world.

In front of me stood an older man who would burst out laughing once in a while.

I maintain a distance from both of them.

The longer I waited in line, the crazier people seemed. Not all of them. But, a good amount of them.

A man shifted into a werewolf.

No one flinched.

He howled, then shifted back.

He’s naked.

No one bats an eye.

A woman from inside the building walked with a large coat. She hung it around his shoulders and left.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

I watched as another young girl laughed. It’s not a typical laugh, but one of those crazy laughs. Her wings sprouted. It doesn’t look right - her wings. The edge of one of them is curved downward.

Then, it happened.

A man five feet away from me hissed. - vampire. Out of nowhere, he slammed his forehead against the brick wall.

This isn’t a homeless shelter.

It’s a mental institution.

“Next.”

I couldn’t look away from the vampire man who started crying.

“Next.”

“Y-Yes.” I made my way to the front.

The woman smiled, “For one?”

I nodded, “Yes.”

She placed a piece of paper down, “No alcohol. No drugs. No weapons. Species type?”

“Human,” I responded.

The man behind her wiggled his nose. They made eye contact. He nodded.

Her eyes went up and down my body, “No bag?”

I rubbed my forearm and shook my head.

“Too clean to be homeless for a long time.”

I smiled awkwardly, “Homelessness is made every day...I guess.”

She placed down a pen, “Sign here. It’s a spellbinding agreement that says during your stay here. You won’t hurt or kill anyone.” The tip of the pen ran down the paper, “Which means no decapitation, no spelling casting, no potions, no shifting, no-”

After a ten minutes explanation of what is not allowed, she finished.

“What would happen to someone who purposely tried to hurt me?” I asked. Let’s be real. I won’t hurt anyone.

“Burn. They will be burned.”

“I see.” The place sounds safe. I grabbed the pen and signed my name at the bottom.

After I signed my name, she grabbed the stamp and approved the contract.

I felt a stinging sensation inside my chest.

“The contract will terminate after you leave the shelter territory.”

“Okay.”

She placed my paper on top of the pile of papers beside her. “Next!”

The door beside us opened and I made my way inside the shelter. The more I walked, the more tired I felt. I yawned lightly and rubbed my eyes.

“Tired?” The man asked.

I nodded. “I’m not sure why.”

“Your first time at a shelter?”

“Yeah.”

“Shelters are open mainly at nighttime. To avoid conflicts, we cast spells inside the building, which makes everyone sleepy.” He stopped at the door. “Your room would be here. There are four beds. The three others are already occupied.”

When he opened the door, there were three bodies in the bunk beds.

I rubbed my eyes, “Thank you.”

“Good night.”

“You too.” I made my way towards the empty bed. Immediately, my body falls on it.

When I woke up, my body felt refreshed. The shelter offered breakfast before we left. The bed and food were equally amazing. I gulped down the soup, bread, and juice.

To my disappointment, after breakfast, they kicked everyone out. They said the building isn’t open during the daytime unless it’s winter. They need the extra time to sanitize everyone’s prep for the upcoming night.

I kicked the rock outside the building.

I don’t know what to do until Cory and Helen arrive.

With my hands shoved inside the jacket - there were donated clothes - I walked down the streets.

I need to figure out a way to call Cory and Helen. My eyes flicker towards a woman with a cell phone.

“Pardon me,” I said.

She lowered her phone and turned around. Her eyes went up and down my body. “Yes?”

“May I borrow your phone?”

Her eyes flicker towards the shelter behind me. “I’m sorry. I’m using it.”

“Oh. Okay.”

I watched as she walked down the streets.

It’s a cold world.

My fingers fumbled around each other. I inhaled a sharp breath and walked further away from the shelter. I probably have a better chance of borrowing a cell phone if people don’t think I’m homeless.

It worked.

After the shelter was out of sight, someone allowed me to borrow their phone.

I updated Cory and Helen on my location. In return, they updated me on where they are.

“Raine?” Helen called for me.

My eyes flicker towards the woman. She looked at her wristwatch.

“Yes?” I need to return the phone soon. Her kindness meter is running low.

“Be careful.”

“Of?”

“Shelters. I mean, I don’t know much about them, but from what I know, whenever someone’s conscious is involved in magic. It’s never a good thing. Check your body just in case. Okay?”

“My body?”

“You know if they’re doing someone. I don’t know. Just in case, okay?”

The woman tapped her heel.

“Okay. I got to go. I’ll call you tomorrow. Bye.” I end the call and hand the phone back to the woman. I smiled, “Thank you so much. You’re a lifesaver.”

After the phone call, I went to a public restroom and checked my body as Helen suggested. I locked the individual bathroom.

I took off the sweater and threw it on the sink. I checked my arms, front chest, and back. “Maybe Helen is overthinking things?”

Any normal person would stop investigating at this point.

Well, not me.

I took off the shirt and checked my body.

Nothing.

I took off my shoes, sock, and pants.

Anyone would think I’m exaggerating, and over two years ago, I would think the same thing.

I unclicked my bra and threw it on top of the pile of clothes.

I have issues - a lot of trust issues.

My thumb slips inside my underwear, and I pull it down. I turned around and checked my butt.

Nothing.

My body didn’t feel any pain. I don’t see any shot needles or wounds.

I pulled my underwear up and grabbed my pants. “Helen is probably overthinking.”

I chuckled, “Geez, Raine. You get kidnapped twice, drugged twice, beaten up, nearly sold into human trafficking, almost died a few times, forced to stay with a werewolf because of his crazy father, teleported into space, met your dead father, and thrown get into another world.”

I button up my pants, “That’s all. Why are you overreacting?”

I reached for my bra and strapped it on. “So, chill.” I inhaled, “Chill. Chill. Relax.” I exhaled.

I reached for my shirt.

My hand halted.

I sat on the toilet and looked at the soles of my feet.

Needle shots.