Chapter 14: Persecutions and Impulses

We were going south, and the wind was coming from the southwest. That kept Anthony tense as the wind carried our scent to potential predators and evolved people further east, but he hoped they didn't want to fight or were far enough away that they wouldn't make it to our way in time.

We were near another ghost town's outskirts. I had asked to get as far away as possible, but we still saw some broken houses. Anthony said he didn't smell anybody but was unsure since the wind didn't help.

I was surprised when a small fox crossed the street, fleeing from us. Anthony didn't take his eyes off it until the animal slipped away. The wind blew into the building next to us. I heard how it ran inside and came through the broken window again.

Anthony suddenly lifted me in his arms, making me scream in surprise, and jumped backward, dodging a couple of claws. I even could see one passing too close to my face. He ran, made me enter through a window into a dark room, and received the evolved man's attack.

"No!" Anguish devoured me again. He was still recovering.

My blood ran cold when I saw another person jump down from the roof while the other two were still fighting and turned around. She was an EH, a woman. I had not seen a woman of their species.

She had huge, bright green eyes, cat pupils, brown skin, and short dark hair. Her muscles were also marked. The man had the same characteristics. Both seemed to be nomads. They wore loose and somewhat light clothing. She looked at me with those expressionless feline eyes, and I got terrified.

"Anthony!" I screamed, running into the other room and closing the door.

The woman crashed into it, and I fell. I screamed and ran when the door was smashed. Something broke the glass, and I backed away further. Anthony stepped in front of me fast, and the other two got up off the floor, starting to growl.

"Where are you taking her? If you want to kill her, just say it, and we will help you," said the man.

I was breathing hard and noticed a drop of blood running down Anthony's arm.

"Sorry, but I'm not going to let you touch her," he replied.

"They attack us!" the woman claimed. "They deserve to die!"

"I know it! But she is the only one who can help stop them. If you kill her, you'll ruin the opportunity!"

The evolved siblings seemed to think for a few seconds, although they were still ready to attack.

"How do we know if you don't lie?"

"For what other reason would I protect a human?"

And that shrunk something inside me. I swallowed with difficulty. Although, to my regret, it worked. The siblings relaxed their postures and breathed slower. The man signaled to his sister, and they left after fixing their hateful gaze on me, chilling my blood more than it already was.

"Are you hurt?" Anthony asked.

"A little." And in different ways. He turned around and wanted to take my injured arm to see the scratch I got after falling, but I moved on. "Let's go, please."

"Uh... Okay. I'll go get your backpack."

I hugged myself as I walked. He was right about something: we were using them, the stories were real, and I hadn't known about it. Now, there were two things to stop: the toxin's use and what these people wearing the government's uniform were trying to do. If it really were the government, that would be difficult, if not impossible.

I took a deep breath and saw the little fox sniffing something.

"Hello," I mumbled, and the animal moved a foot away cautiously. I squatted down. "Come," I asked as I stretched my hand.

The animal hesitated a few seconds, took a step, and backed away again. I kept beckoning it, and it strode towards me. I smiled.

"What are you doing?" Anthony asked, and the little fox shot out. "Be careful. He can be sick."

"Uh. I know. I'm human, but I have studied, you know?"

He laughed softly and reached out to help me to my feet.

"You have something that attracts wild creatures, including me," he commented with a smile.

I got blank. Did he feel attracted to me? He had just told me. He had just said it that simply...! Although I didn't know in what way or to what level I attracted him.

The afternoon was getting over; the sky was a gorgeous orange. I spotted a house that looked in good shape and had no broken windows so that it wouldn't be so dirty and cluttered, unlike others, and we entered.

Everything was almost intact if it were not for being dusty. Although it probably had some rodents, it was not necessary. There was no water, but I could put on pajamas and sleep on a mattress. I found a candle on a large, dusty table, so I lit it.

The sky was now a violet color.

"Marien," Anthony said my name. I realized that he had seldom called me by name. It was strange. I also knew they identified each other by the smell, so they rarely used names.

He was leaning on the threshold of the door. His beautiful and feline eyes studied me carefully.

"Yes?"

"I'll bring water in one of those containers if you like."

"Thank you. Just be careful, please."

He seemed restless and deeply looked at me for another couple of seconds, wrapping me in some way.

"I want to apologize for having failed against those three men. It will not happen again," he assured. I silently denied it. I couldn't believe he was worried he had lost. "You also got hurt when facing that human who manipulated the evolved men. I shouldn't have let you get involved. I should have been stronger."

Before I could muster up the courage to say something to him, he left me alone in the room to rest. I sighed and started getting ready to sleep. There was a large bed, so I dusted it off.

No... I was not calm, so I barely lay down, stood up, and looked for him.

I went downstairs slowly. I took a few steps towards the living room and saw him with his back to me. He had removed his shirt and seemed to be healing one of his wounds. The candle was dimly lighting his bare skin.

"All good?" he wanted to know, focused on what he was doing.

I didn't answer. I ambled toward him, with my heart starting to race. I touched his strong back, and he stayed still. I gently slid my hand down his skin, the fingers of my other hand tracing the lines of his arm. I put my forehead against the center of his back and closed my eyes.

I loved his scent.

How would I make him understand that I cared about him and not what he could do? How would I let him know that I didn't want anything to happen to him because I felt something for him, something he didn't know...

He turned around slowly. I looked up and got caught in his deep gaze, as usual. Those green eyes shadowed by his black eyebrows reflected the dim candlelight. I raised my hands and touched his face, then went down, touching his pecs until I reached his sexy six-pack. My heartbeat was extraordinarily fast.

He took my face and slowly caressed my cheek with his thumb. I looked at him again, wanting to tell him everything I felt.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a whisper. "Your face is red..."

I smiled, took the alcohol swab from his other hand, and made him sit down on the nearby stool to disinfect his shoulder wound.

"I'm fine. You shouldn't die, okay? I might only be a human, but I care about you and won't let them take you..."

"You are not just a human. Why...?" He seemed to realize. "I said that for them to leave, and if they didn't, I would fight to the end... for you... because I want to take care of you. I thought I told you already."

I was blushing again. It was true. He said that to me the day I saw what he was. I looked down, embarrassed for having doubted him.

"Forgive me too," I said. "I'm an easy prey."

"Of course not. You did a good job."

"From before... I only put myself in danger because of the toxin. I only hinder you, and now..."

"Don't say that," he interrupted me in a sweet tone of voice, and I looked at him. "I'm glad you're here. I don't want you anywhere else, seriously."

My impulse overcame, and I approached him, kissing him on the cheek. It took me another millisecond to realize that he had backed off in surprise, but his position had obstructed him from getting entirely away from me. I moved out in shame.

"What—?"

"Sorry!" I interrupted, blushing and more embarrassed. "Sorry, I shouldn't have done that..." I tried to walk away.

"Wait," he took my hand. "What was that?"

My heart was beating so fast that I felt he would hear it. I had made another mistake; now, he would ask what that had been, and I was lost. I looked into his flashing green feline eyes.

"My mom did that too when I was very, very little," he explained. "It symbolizes maternal appreciation, but she gave it to me on my forehead. I only remember a few times."

"Oh, well." I was relieved that he didn't ask or know anything else but worried it meant something else to him. I was afraid to explain my reason and that he would reject me. "Here... We, humans, kiss as well." I cleared my throat. "Sometimes, of course." He raised an eyebrow. I had to explain more. "A kiss means I appreciate you too, and I want you to trust me, just as I trust you."

He smiled slightly, gently tugging on my hand, getting me onto his warm body as he stood up. I blushed again as I felt his warmth approaching. He brought his forehead to mine, and I could feel his breath caress my lips.

"I feel the same," he whispered. "And this gesture means the same thing too, but..." I could feel his tempting lips against my cheek, and my heart bounced. "This feels better with you."

I made every effort not to tilt my face to end the inch remaining between his lips and mine. He had already released me, and I was free. I reacted, pulled away, and looked at him, smiling.

"That makes me happy," I murmured.

He showed a slight smile again.

"Good evening, miss," he said in that voice that melted me, continuing to treat his wounds.

The moon was already in the sky. It took me several minutes to fall asleep. The desire to kiss him burned in my chest. I bit my lower lip. This was the first time something like this had happened to me.

If I didn't steal a kiss from him, at least one, I would die! I wanted to kiss him, bite his lips, and feel their thickness. I had to devour that mouth, but I was too shy. I had been shy my whole life. What would I do?

I just knew I had to do it because he wouldn't. I got the courage to touch him. Maybe I could kiss him the next opportunity...