EMBER IN DARKNESS Chapter 2 (Knowing)

On my way home, I caught sight of some guys following me-again.
“Why do you guys keep on following me?” I yelled across the street. The goons continued walking towards me, until I realized that these are not guys from my year.
“Tell me why you’re following me.” I insisted, impatiently tapping my shoes.
“We’re just following orders.” One of them proclaimed.
“From who? Neon?”
He nodded. “He ordered us to follow you everyday so that we could inform him if you’re with somebody else.”
A brow raised its way to my forehead. “Tell him I am dating someone else, in fact, I’m getting married and I’m soooo glad it’s not him.” That oughta get rid of him.
“And tell Neon that my fiancé and I are living together and I don’t want you to follow me anymore. Scam!”
The five of them hesitantly walked away.
“Jeez! What a loser.”
I spent the whole night thinking about River’s silence which really intrigues me. I know he knows how to think, he might just be mute. That would explain his behavior.
I should learn sign language.
The next morning, I formed a set of letters, stating: Can you understand?
River ignored my signals. It’s pretty irritating when I’ve memorized those three phrases the whole night. What
about recognizing my efforts? That’s not too much to ask.
One of the two guys I saw yesterday stepped inside our classroom and grabbed River’s arm, the other one pulled on mine.
“This is Neon’s order again, isn’t it? Why is River involved?” None of them answered. “Damn it, I’m talking to you!” I raised my voice at him. His paws are squeezing the same part that Neon did yesterday-that part that still hurts!
His goons left us in an empty classroom. That guy is really going to get it later on.
“I can’t believe you’re replacing me with this retard.” Neon exclaimed behind us, toying with a baseball bat.
A baseball bat? Is he that desperate?!
“STOP!-“ I stepped in front of him, while he raised the bat and aimed it at River.
River’s eyes dissolved into black. I feel nervous when he does that, it’s a neat trick but still freaky.
“You’ve got to stop wasting River’s time. Dr. Burke just asked me to accompany him for the time being. Let him out.”
Neon seemed to understand; he hesitated for a moment but turned the knob and swung the door open anyway.
“River, you can go now.”
He looked at me for a second, then, back to Neon.
“Fine.” Neon banged the door and jammed his fist on River’s face. Blood started dripping from his mouth.
“Neon!” I slapped him back for River and dug inside my bag for a tissue.
“I’m so sorry. Here, wipe that off.” His uncle will surely kill me.
“For the last time, Lily. I won’t be asking you again. Is he your fiancé?”
I rolled my eyes at him and brushed my white, off-shoulder top. “No. I just said that to get rid of you. You are so possessive. Accept defeat and I assure you, everything will sail smoothly.”
For the first time, Neon shot me a violent glare and started taking deeper breaths.
Above me, the bat was making its way towards my head at full speed.
THUD!
I glanced up at River’s arm, blocking the hard metal from bashing my skull.
It only took a couple of blinks before he snatched it from Neon.
Cool.
“Uh…” What else do I have to say? “We’re going now.” I pulled at River’s sleeve to walk him out of there.
After that, our afternoon subjects passed by, undisturbed but a wave of anxiousness swept by me every few minutes.
“I…I want to go home.” I whispered to River.
He glanced up at me as I stood and excused myself for the clinic.
It feels like something’s wrong.
I jogged my way to the school gate and once out, burst into full speed until I caught sight of a cab.
“Third block, Masin Street, please hurry.” I blurted out before taking a seat.
The drive felt like forever…a few meters past Jellyace Mall…ten blocks more…three turns after passing by Heaven Park… eight stores after Miles Grocery Store, then, straight ahead…until our fairytale-like front showed up.
“Thanks. Keep the change.” I tossed a bunch of scrunched-up bills to his lap. I’m not that impolite, it’s just this uncomfortable feeling shooting from everywhere.
Ding Dong.
I waited for a few seconds, nobody opened the door. “This is really freaking me out.”
Before I could turn our gold-plated doorknob open, somebody pulled me from behind.
Together, we rolled down the steps. I will be having sore bumps on my face tomorrow.
“What the hell?!” I looked up at my attacker-River, stooping over me.
Anything else I needed to notice or dare to even think of was shut down by a sudden explosion filling my ears.
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“River…”
I extended my hand-a little surprised when someone took hold of it.
“What happened?” I sat up, feeling scared rather than relieved when I realized that I am in a room which is non-existent in my memory.
River stared at me blankly-of course, that doesn’t answer my question.
“Oh my God, somebody has to tell me!” There I was, freaking out in the middle of the room. “The explosion…” I muttered. River just observed me like a dummy waiting for orders.
“Wh…wh…..where…is…my…family?”
He looked away-something isn’t right here. I jumped out of the bed and pushed River away.
“Let me out! I want to go home!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, pounding my fist on the door as loud and hard as I could, until I can’t do it anymore…I gave in to the weakness in my knees and sat on the floor.
“Did they die in that explosion?”I asked him in a shaky voice. River’s eyes solidified to a bright blue. What, is he thinking if he should answer that or not?
The television flicked on.
Local police identified a bomb scare at Diamond Garden Square at exactly two o’clock this afternoon. The Rione residence, home of veterinarians Dr. Shawn and Dr. Sheila Rione with their two children, namely Spade Rione and Lily Rione is now purely rubble. Three bodies beyond recognition were recovered: a middle-aged man and woman believed to be the couple and a teen-aged male believed to be Spade Rione. Their daughter, Lily Rione was last seen outside their home with another student, River Zardis, who, according to the Rione’s neighbors, came to her rescue. The girl is currently under the care of Dr. Justin Burke, recovering from possible physical and mental injuries. No evidence is found at the site as to the type of bomb used and who could be pointed as a suspect. The evening news proclaimed.
Please tell me that this is just a nightmare which I need to wake up from… I rushed to the television set and plugged the darn thing off and stayed there, staring blankly at the screen.
A warm cloth is suddenly draped over me. When I glanced up, River held a thick blanket, wrapping me in the warm material. I guess he knows that there is nothing much he could do. He stepped to the door and pulled out his keys.
“River, don’t go yet.” The last thing I need is being left alone when I obviously have no one here but him.
I clutched the blanket and lay on the bed. He sat beside me, eyes still at a brilliant blue.
” Give me your hand.”
Without hesitation, River opened his palm and leaned on the headboard.
Cold as ice, my hands took refuge in his, squeezing it tightly.
I don’t care if I’m weeping this hard.
My life vanished, just like that. My mom, dad, my older brother…they’re gone.
How could somebody use our home to make a threat? Why didn’t they make sure that there’s nobody there before they set the bomb? They could pulverize that whole block and destroy all the houses, as long as nobody’s inside.
Houses are replaceable…but a family? I can wait for another lifetime to have one, but it will never be the same.
“It’s unfair.” It was all I can say.
Whoever it was that killed my family will be sorry…I swear to God.
River’s fingers ran across my hair, giving an almost magical release to the pressure and pain. It’s like what my mom usually does when she makes me sleep.
Oh, God I’ll miss her…
“I’m going to ask the principal to excuse the both of you for three days. Watch over Lily, okay? She’s going through a tough time right now…and tell her she needs to eat.” I heard Dr. Burke speak outside the room.
I must be in his house. When I heard the door close, I immediately stood up and took my shirt off-an early morning ritual I have developed since childhood.
“Wow. Which of these lead to the bathroom?”
My eyes ran through the doors in sight: one heavily carved wooden door, another one which is already opened, showing the terrace, a glass stained door and the one that leads out of the room, just behind River.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!!” I shrieked, pointing my finger at him.
If it was another guy, he would have smiled and studied the display, but River kept his eyes on mine and handed me some clothes, and a towel, neatly folded and placed on a tray.
I shyly grabbed the stuff and more than surprised when he held up the bath robe for me.
After inserting my arms into the sleeves and tying the belt, he went out of the room.
Whoa. Am I supposed to feel good about this? He IS a guy and all guys should at least feel a little bit of attraction or be turned on in some way when they see an almost naked woman in front of them. Why didn’t he show the slightest bit of interest?
“Maybe he’s gay.” I muttered to myself and turned back to the room.
Damn it, I forgot to ask where the bathroom is.
No harm in finding out. I opened the one with a heavy carving. It’s a toilet room with a living room and the glass-stained door led to the shower…well, a shower, a queen-sized, gold-colored bath tub and a load of aromatic oils by the window, a towel cabinet, one side of the room dominated by a full-sized gold-framed mirror and a white-and-gold carpet above a floor tiled with a caramel color. The full-length curtain with gold embroidery hung at the opposite end of the room. Dr. Burke has spent a fortune on the sink alone…certified real porcelain, again, with golden accents.
White and gold, huh… I placed the clothing and towel on the marble stand and hung the robe on the towel rod, and stepped in the shower.