Word Count: 1599
~Rosie
Time and I returned to the cottage before darkness fell.
We are both silent, unsure of what to say to each other. I've just witnessed something very personal to him, and I'm still trying to decipher why he wanted me to see that. I'm assuming it is to gain my trust, but with Time, I can never be too sure. I mean, he's an immortal, and you can never trust an immortal.
"Thankfully, I keep food stocked here, even when I'm gone," Time tells me, opening the cupboards. I watch him skeptically, seeing him pull out a variety of canned food. He seems to notice my shocked expression. "This stuff is from the future. I don't particularly like a diet of homemade bread and butter."
"The rumours are true, you really are crazy," I murmur, letting him slip a can of peaches into my hand. He must really trust these people in this village.
What would they do if they found this stuff?
Time smiles, but it's weak. We prepare our food in silence, light diminishing as shadows shift and consume the room. Night has truly fallen, and all my hidden thoughts of fear and discomfort decided to appear. I swallow it, though, sitting down at the table to eat the peaches Time has given me.
He watches me, silently.
I'm not uncomfortable by his study. I let him watch me, his golden gaze drifting over my every movement. I'm fine with him observing me, because it means he is curious. He wants to know what my reaction is to what I witnessed. I quite like him not knowing something.
"How are you feeling?" he asks softly. His voice is the only sound in the room, aside from the breeze tapping against the window.
"Exactly how you would expect," I comment, looking down at my bowl, moving the peach slices around slowly with my spoon. I'm not sure if Time has any idea what it feels like, to be here, against my will. It's not like he would listen to me if I asked to leave.
Time eases back. "You look like you're doing fine."
His nonchalant tone suggests he isn't prying at me to get a reaction. He genuinely believes that because I have outwardly not broken down, that I'm okay with what he has done to me. For the first time in a few days, real emotion sparks within me, my mind refusing to protect me from any more trauma.
"I don't think fine explains what I'm going through right now," I seeth, glaring up at him. He doesn't seem to have noticed a shift in my mood, despite how close he watches me.
"Somehow I knew you would take this well. You're adaptable like that," he comments. Maybe he really is pushing my buttons, or he is as oblivious as I hope he is, because he is truly fueling the burning anger that is starting in the pit of my stomach.
I let my spoon clatter into my bowl, getting his attention.
"You took everything away from me. Who knows if I will ever see my family again. And freedom...Will I ever have any again? Or will I live my life as your eternal slave?" I snap, trying to remain calm in my seat, no matter how hard it is to do so.
Time takes a moment to answer, not looking bothered by my tone, or even what I am saying to him. "I'm saving your life, my love."
"Saving my life? You call this saving my life? You took me away from my life," I growl. All the emotion I have been concealing seems to be suddenly roiling in all at once. It builds up in every limb in my body, ready to explode if Time says one more thing other than sorry. I somehow doubt he knows what an apology sounds like, anyway.
"We can talk about this calmly, can't we?" Time says softly.
Maybe we can, but right now, that doesn't concern me, as I get up from my seat, not bothered by the sound of it scraping against the wooden floor. Time watches me impassively, not saying anything. I'm not going to stand around here with him in the room, knowing how little he is taking me seriously.
"Find me when you want to take me home," I say. Turning around, I walk out through the front door, letting the gentle kiss of the evening breeze greet me.
There is no protest from the Immortal, which is a relief. I've never felt this angry, and if I have to look into those golden eyes a second longer, I might not be able to hold in my physical frustration any longer.
However, I don't know where to go from here.
I'm in an era I know nothing about. According to this current time frame, I'm not going to be born for another couple million years. That thought makes me shiver, but I try not to think about that too much. Right now, I'm going to enjoy a walk, and try not to seen by anyone around here. As much as I hate Time, I don't want to go that far.
Wading through the grass, I head toward the village lights, which glow brilliantly in the not so far distance. I'm not playing to go in, but I want to get close enough to not get lost. I can't imagine not being able to make it back, even after my parting words to Time.
I'm not even mad at him. How can I be? I expect nothing from him but how he has treated me thus far, and seeing him as a young boy does not change that. He's an immortal, and I'm not going to pretend like he betrayed me. He is doing what immortals do best.
And that is ruining people's lives.
The village is quiet as I approach. Torches blaze within the streets, lighting the area. Despite it not being too late, it seems that no one remains outside.
Walking behind homes, I don't see much reason to sneak. No one is about, as I try to find any sense of life. Quite frankly I'm interested in maybe hearing some conversations to find out what life is like here. Might as well make the most of my time here. Plus, it is distracting me from what is going on between myself and Time.
All of a sudden, I see someone walking down the main street. They are tall lean, head down, walking aimlessly. That is until I notice a girl approaching him.
Is that the same girl who rejected Time?
That's just when I realised how familiar this other person is. It looks like Time, but his hair is longer, curlier. When I see a flash of silver eyes, I know that it is Thought, instead. Sneaking around through someone's garden, I conceal myself within the shadows so I can watch safely, hoping to find out more about the Immortal I've only met once.
Eyeing the girl who just rejected Time for being an Immortal, I consider why she did it. Do I blame her for being frightened of an Immortal? No, of course not. But I do blame her for being with Thought and Time at the same time. They are brothers...
"I'm so glad to see you," I hear her say. Kneeling down in a garden patch, I avoid damaging any produce as I watch secretly. They have no idea I'm here.
"Did you finally do it?" Thought asks.
"Yes. And you won't believe it, but he thinks he's an Immortal. I pretended to believe him in order to have an excuse to get out of there as quickly as I could," I hear her say gleefully. My throat goes dry at her words.
Looking out, I see Thought holding her arms, looking down at her. Does she seriously not see how much he resembles an immortal? Their eyes alone are like glittering gems, which they cannot consider normal. I know they are not used to immortals, and they are a new idea introduced by the Moon, but how could she not believe Time?
"I'm glad you ended it with Time, he's a naive guy who isn't ready for a serious relationship yet," Thought tells her, to which she giggles.
My stomach turns. How could he do that to his brother?
A creaky sound alerts me, as I look to my left. Someone walks out onto the porch, looking out at the pair standing in the middle of the dirt street. It's the young Time, who thankfully doesn't notice me due to the surrounding shadows. I watch him carefully. How long has he been standing there, watching the exchange between Thought and the girl.
There is a solemn pain on his face, as he watches them. Despite what happened between Time and I today, it still tugs at my heart looking at the young Time having to witness this.
He is right. Life turned him bitter, and Thought got better from it. It's unfair.
Resting against a bush, the sound of a stick suddenly broke from behind me. It pierces the silence with a snapping sound.
And Time jerks his head, and looks straight at me.
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Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, you can head over to Radish and read Time ahead of Wattpad!
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Hey guys! I've released Thought's own story on Radish, which is available now! I want to see by the end, which of the brothers your prefer
Instagram: Sophie_Midika
~Midika ðð¼