Fright

Fast approaching footsteps could be heard behind Nathan as he ran across the woods. Everywhere was dark and silent as a grave yard, the only thing that could be heard in this pine forest was Nathan's running footsteps and another footstep running behind him. Each time Nathan took a glance at the back, he would see nothing. He saw no one chasing him, but he knew there was something chasing him.

He ran as fast as his leg could carry him, he was looking for a way out of the woods but the wood seemed more vast than he thought. There was strong wind, making the pine trees to moan in an eerie way. Nathan became nervous and exhausted and he dropped on his knees, he couldn't breathe normally anymore just as he fell he began to hear the sound of the running footsteps again. He turned left and scramble down the path, running blindly through the trees and calling for help.

He was still running towards the western part when he saw rays of what seemed like a light from the sun far away until he got closer to where the light came from and gently, with slow steps a huge creature step towards him.

This creature had a very large fire wings, fire was emanating out of its huge body. It had two straight horns and they were inverted, but the most shocking thing about him was that, right on his chest was the hugely inscribed concentric circles marks and if he could count properly the circles were up to fourteen.

Nathan fearfully stepped backwards as the creature moved towards him. He could remember that he had seen this concentric circles mark but he couldn't remember where or when. His brain was empty that made him start to feel dizzy. Unaware of the huge lowland behind him, he took some steps backwards and fell off the cliff, screaming very loudly.

He jerked out of his duvet, gasping for breath. He was sweating excessively, he was drenched. "So, it was all a dream?" He sighed in relief.

"Knock! Knock! Brother, the school bus is here, come out." He heard his sister's voice from the door. He reached to his watch quickly, taking a quick look at it. It was past seven. How could he have slept so deep to the extent that he couldn't hear the beeps and buzz of the alarm clock.

He jumped our of his bed, slid into his robe and rushed into his bathroom. Hurriedly, he took a quick bath and dressed up. He ran out of his room, heading down the stairs.

"Mum, I am sorry for delaying you guys. I won't bother taking breakfast today, we can just leave... I will get something once I get to school." Nathan hung his backpack to his shoulder as he moved door wards. "Kristen, Joe, come out!"

"What are you saying Nathan? They are gone... Joe told us you want to have some rest and won't be going today, so...?" Alicia narrowed her gaze as she stared at Nathan confusedly.

"What are you talking about mum?" Nathan shrieked wide eyed. "Joe told you all of that? I haven't met with Joe at all today, so when did I tell him all of that? Now that the bus has left, what am I going to do now?"

"You are not a kid anymore, are you? I don't even have an idea of what is going on, I need to dress up for work... I suggest you take a cab out there. You're getting late."

"Mum, I can wait for you... You will drop me at school, I can't be thumbing cabs around." Nathan slumped on a sofa, flinging his backpack to a chair next to the one he was on.

"Nathan! Get up and get out!" Alicia yelled, making him jerk up in shock. "You will get late to school, I can't drop you... I am going to be late as well, so leave!"

Without thinking twice, Nathan picked up his bag, hurried out of the house and went to the pavement. He stood there, waving at taxicabs but none of them halted at his call, he thought of going back to his mum and beg her to drop him at school but he knew his mother never took back her words.

"Why would Joe do this to me? First he saved Nimah from going with the police, Second he blackmailed me with that stupid recording of his and now he wants me to suffer in this scorching sun." Nathan soliloquised, looking left and right for any vacant cab and finally after a long wait, a cab stopped in front of him.

"Can you drop me at Marvel high?" He asked the driver, who brought out his head from the car's window.

"Sure! Sure! Come in... I am heading there as well." The driver nodded as a sign of go ahead. Nathan flung the cab's back door open and bumped in.

There was also someone in the cab apart from the driver, he was putting on Marvel high uniform, he dressed just like he did. Nathan stared at him for a while, he couldn't recognize him because he couldn't see his face. He covered his head with the hood of his hoody, there was also a spectacles sitting on his nose and he also cover his nose with a nose cover.

"Hey!" Nathan waved at him as he tried to balance well in the car. "You can move on now Cabie." He said and the driver drove off.

"Hey man..." Nathan waved again but he didn't say anything nor make a gesture that signifies something. At this time he began to feel uncomfortable with the him, his silence suddenly became a threat. He felt like asking the driver to stop so he could get down, but he didn't want to. Was he dumb for not being able to speak? Or deaf and didn't hear him? Or blind? Many questions wandered around in his head.

"You need not to be scared Nathan." The guy finally spoke. Nathan froze on his seat, and stopped breathing. His voice sounded familiar to Nathan, but couldn't recognize it.

Gently, the guy took off his hoody which revealed his long blonde hair. Then, he took off his glasses staring at Nathan with his two weird eyes, his face was becoming familiar but Nathan couldn't conclude until he removed the nose cover from his face, unveiling his well structured pink lips. Nathan was shocked to see who he was sitting with, Hixton!

Nathan's eyes travelled to Hixton's neck to be sure of what he was thinking. It was still boldly inscribed, the mark.

"Hi - Hi - Hixton?" He stuttered as he mentioned his name.

"Is there a problem? Ain't you pleased to see me in the cab? Should I get down... I will gladly do it." Hixton said wearing a serious look and at once he bursted into laughter.

"Nathan, what are you doing in this cab? Let me start from there." Hixton asked, staring at Nathan but he kept like a mute spectator.

'You are a brave my son, you shouldn't let anything scare you. Courage is very important, once you are courageous then you can face any difficulties.' Nathan remembered his father's word of motivation. Would being courageous in this situation safe him from this fear? He was sitting right next to the person who had always trouble him in his sleep, would he be able to muster up some courage to say something?

"What are you?" He suddenly blurted without even realizing it. He was shocked of his question and now afraid of Hixton's response.

"You mean me?" He pointed at himself. "Oh forgerrit... This question is becoming too much, and I am tired of repeating myself..."

"Don't try to act smart Hixton, who are you? And what is this mark on your neck?" Nathan queried even though he wasn't aware that he was speaking.

"You mean this mark? Do you want to know what it is? Then, let me tell you." Hixton resat for comfort. Nathan became enthusiastic, raising his brow as he listened to what he was about to say.

"You see, this mark behind my neck is..."

"You both have reached your destination." The driver said as he halted in front of the school gate.

"Thanks Cabie." They both paid the cab man and alighted from the cab.

"Nathan!" Hixton called as they both entered the school building. "You shouldn't want to act courageous in front me, it won't in anyway save you... I just want you to be careful."

"Careful of?"

"You should be careful of me." He sounded like a mistake that slowly faded away.