Birthright: A Phoenix is Born

Snitch.

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GK23

Kumar

Hauling deadened legs drained me. Fortunately, our destination, a gothic building named "The Southern" was positioned to the left. Though quick, the journey resulted in near flat molars and a series of nail indents dotting my thigh. My eyes continued to bore into the back of his head. Palms trembling in silent fury.

Why did it have to be him?

"When we get in, run for the staircase as quickly as possible." Damian called out. "People here are crazy. So don't be surprised if they try jump you."

I blew wind at the steel in his voice.

An uptown hotel like this held people of refinement. Only the poor jumped you.

As we passed a glass plane with large white letters spelling the establishment in question, I paused. And caught glimpse of the wretched being returning my stare. A tattered overcoat hung off his frighteningly slender frame. His hollow eyes pierced mine. Correction. His sunken eyes were mine. Skin crawled acknowledging that fact. I followed Damian's lead into the hotel's main foyer.

From the first step into the property, Damian raced to the stairwell. I mimicked his pace but fell short about halfway. Stopping completely after noticing, nobody cared. Two teenagers drenched in rainwater had smeared their floors and soiled their carpets. Even I gurned battling the fumes which clung to these clothes. Yet the receptionist lowered her head at our arrival. I searched for a guard or bellhop, no one in sight. My stomach knotted, grumbling in agreement. Yet Damian's order to hurry bristled my body to move.

This guy was an anomaly. Since finding him heaped under that homeless man, the lightening phone, that feminine voice that guided us here. It all confirmed a growing suspicion. One which started that day in the science lab.

Damian was not to be trusted.

Clouds of that reasoning clogged my vision. After willing them away, the acute detail in the ceiling's design became apparent. We thrashed at our interlocked limbs in front of the door to his room.

"What are you doing?" Damian cried.

"Get off me." I seethed as a dense shadow overcast us both. Its size correlated to the owner. A carob skinned man with puffed out chest and crossed arms. Eyes became slits ready to dice us into nothing. He took a large step into the hall which allowed a smaller honey-toned man behind him to exit, dressed in the same uniform I saw on the receptionist below.

He wielded bandaged clubs for hands. Yet his face warped at the sight of Damian, frothing violently at the mouth. He took a step towards us. But the bigger man got between. And softly said, "Go, you have no business here."

The employee seethed once more then lumbered down the hall. Howling when tasked to use his clubs to open the corridor handle. My nerves settled for a little while until the remaining the man bent low to our level.

"Both of you. Enter. Now."

Damian and I scurried quickly into the room, followed by the giant. My breathing ceased when the door behind bolted shut.

Past the passage, shadows clung to every surface of the spacious sitting room. Its skyline at dusk view gave the illusion of a modern city. I traced the mosaic styles etched into the cabin walls and admired the soft textures of the furniture. This place reminded me of home. But picturing my previous life was a mistake. Scenes of the past twenty-four hours infiltrated in their stead. Cold pavements, slurs from bitter teens, blistering pain tearing across my frame when boiling water poured down, grumbling stomach and looks of deadly contempt from strangers.

For the first time, this level of luxury riled up my stomach.

"There will be a consequence for your disobedience Damian." Gritted the man. "But first, are you okay?" The force behind his words temporarily shattered my disdain for Damian. I watched as Damian's countenance gleamed with an absurd level of fear while he nodded.

"Good." He let out a long deep breath. "Now, Pe-Mi recount the last 12 hours of Damian's experience."

"Certainly master Koju."

The device buzzed to life. Her voice the same high pitched American accent. The lines on Damian's face grew wider under this low light.

"Damian initially, left the penthouse at 12.45 pm to meet a girl in which he had interest in named Elaine Cathal. When warned that this action violated your order he cited.

"I am the prince here, not Koju. So you have to do what I say."

Koju's mere presence sent my nerves ablaze. Hot itches marked every inch of my body with cruel precision. Heart pumped rapidly at the sight of the lines on his face, waxing more crooked by the word. Damian seemed detached from the situation, staring vacantly at his grimed white shoes.

"Upon his arrival at Burger King, Elaine notified him she no longer shared feelings."

A different girl's voice chimed through.

"I mean, you're a nice guy and all, but I only said yes because I got caught up in the moment."

"Damian became deeply destabilized as she continued her date with another boy, Oisín Kelly. Causing excessive hyperventilation and erratic heartbeats. Ultimately, it led to a system shutdown in the form of a blackout. "

"As he slept, he was in the process of being robbed until Kumar Osman rescued him. I then immobilized the aggressor. Damian decided to return to the penthouse with Kumar citing.

"My...... uncle will know what to do."

The phone's screen blackened but it had just lit up Damian's story.

And I couldn't tell if it was better to remain in the dark.