Predator

Chapter 22

18. July, 5 am

Something about this morning reminds me of the last day I spent in the pet store. The chilling breeze from the window that I forgot to close last night, the torn rags that felt so right under my fingertips, it's all still there and the moment is frozen in my mind as a painted picture.

The smell of rotten food and cleaning supplies that lingers on my hands like perfume is a reminder of how I used to live before I came here, and I can still feel the anxiety that came with it

It's been so long since I last slept in the cage but as I laid there with my back against the hard metal surface, I realized that even when the sun rose and the warm light blessed my face as I laid in Luise's bed, the bars were still there.

They're always going to be there for as long as I remain here, forever chained to a world I don't belong to.

A world where my freedom belongs to someone else. Someone who will never want me the way I want her.

So I stayed awake in my cage until the birds started singing their morning songs. My heart felt lighter as the sun began to rise through the small opening between the curtains and into Luise's room.

It felt like something had broken in my chest, the feeling a bit less painful than before. But not gone completely, like if I took a deep breath, the pain would return.

Luise was still asleep, her arm sticking out from under the covers as she curled up close to her pillow. Laying there, her hair was strewn across her face in unruly waves, giving the impression of an uncontrollable, wild forest fire.

Her soft features and delicate body curves gave her the appearance of a porcelain doll. Then she appeared to be searching for long gone comfort as she moved in her sleep, slightly swaying to reach the portion of the bed I typically sleep in.

My heart raced in response to her movements.I couldn't help but stare at her figure as I followed every movement, as if I had forgotten how to act normally and how to live without her. I wished the hours would slowly pass by so I could spend an interminable amount of time keeping an eye on her as she slept peacefully here.

But I was sure it wouldn't happen. It couldn't, and I knew she wasn't mine to keep, no matter how often I tried to ignore our situation or thought about trying to change it.

My ginger companion in the cage caught my attention.I might even have forgotten about it if I hadn't returned to my rightful place as a pet.

"What are you looking at?"As the doll's empty eye sockets appeared to peer directly into my soul, I whispered to it."What should I do?".I asked of my cage's empty shell. In the stillness that surrounded us, my voice came out quietly and was barely audible.

"You should get up and stretch, it must be incredibly crowded to sleep in such a small cage." A voice spoke from behind me. My heart leaped into my throat as I turned to look at the source of the sound. Standing next to my cage, with his hand resting on top of its bars, was the man who gave me this doll.

The same man-or vampire, more accurately-who bandaged my hand the previous night.

"What are you doing here?" I said, attempting to hide the panic in my voice. He chuckled and I got an unsettling feeling. I hadn't seen him much lately, only a few times in the past week or two.

"What are you doing in my room?" Hissed Luise from her sitting position on the bed.

The vampire looked at Luise before turning back to me, "She asked you a question." He said. "Answer it"

"I'm not in the mood Calius." She scolded her brother.

Calius rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning back to me. "Why is he in the cage? I thought you were fond of him." He smirked, knowing full well that teasing his sister would only result in an icy glare in his direction.

Luise glared at the vampire as if he was her worst enemy. "It's 5 am so unless you have a good reason as to why you're here, I suggest you leave before I make you!" Her tone was harsh, words clipped and her arms crossed.

There was a pause as he just stared at her. "I'm sorry my dear sister, I just came to inform you that mother wants to see you." He said, his voice sounding almost apologetic, although I doubt that it truly was.

Luise scoffed. "She can wait." Her response was blunt and final. "I'm tired and I don't want to talk to her. Just let me sleep." Her voice trailed off after a moment.

"Are you sure?" He raised one eyebrow quizzically. "You know she won't take no for an answer."

Luise sighed in defeat before standing up and trudging towards her door. Calius placed a hand on her shoulder, "If it makes you feel any better, I'll accompany you."

"How nice of you." She scoffed. With that, they both disappeared out of sight.

Once the door clicked shut, I was left alone again, listening to the sounds of birds outside. They were singing a tune I had grown accustomed to, the notes blending together into a pleasant melody.

For a moment, I wished I could go and join them.

For a moment, I wished I was free.

For a moment, I wished things were different.

Only for a moment.

But it was too late for wishes, even if I still held onto some small shred of hope.

However, hope is a perilous quality, a beautiful illusion, and a lie that keeps people believing that there is more to their reality than there actually is. Even when life becomes twisted and shattered, there may be a glimmer of hope beneath, hidden from prying ears and eyes.

Hope is priceless, fleeting, and delicate. That flicker of light vanishes like an ember in a snowstorm, leaving nothing behind when it does. It briefly burns in your eyes before going out and disappearing into the unknown's gloomy depths.