CHAPTER SIX:
ASHLEY’S POV:
2:10 AM
OCTOBER 28:
It is only a little over a half گھنٹہ later when I see a car pull into the parking lot. I note the driver pull out a flashlight and climb out. He has long dark hair, is skinny and wearing glasses. It is Harold. I motion him over to me. He walks over and hands me a pair of jeans and a sweater. “It’s all I could get in a hurry.” He said. We walk over to a restroom, and I ask him to wait outside while I change. سے طرف کی now he notes I am covered in blood, but I promise to answer everything when I return. After about five minutes, I return and find him waiting for me. “Why were آپ covered in blood?” he asks. I decide to answer, as truthfully as I can. “I got jumped. These guys pulled a چھری on me. I ended up stabbing one of them.” I say. I examine his expression, and it is clear he doesn’t believe me, but the اگلے thing he says makes me consider something. “Whatever آپ did was in self defense right? And don’t lie. I don’t know why, but I can tell when آپ are lying.” It is clear he is also aware of the connection I feel with him. I can’t explain it myself. I care for him, not in a romantic sort of way, مزید like a protector sort of way. “What I did was necessary.” I reply. He nods, and looks around. “Where’s your car?” he asks. This time I decide to be honest. “It had blood in the seat. I’ll get it tomorrow.” I reply. Harold nods. “You want me to take آپ back to your place?” he asks. I nod. As we walk back to his car, he seems deep in thought about something. When we finally reach it, he asks me a سوال once more. “Are آپ sure we haven’t met before?” he asks. “Pretty sure.” I reply, although I suddenly feel like I do know him somehow, that I’ve met him before today, but I still don’t know why. He climbs in on the driver’s side. “Are آپ hurt?” he asks, once مزید surprising me. “Why do آپ ask?” I reply. “You were walking kind of funny, like آپ were in pain یا something. I sigh; the battle with Pike’s newborn vampires did leave me with nerve damage, which does take longer to heal than a flesh wound. I still feel the pain in my back that tells me the healing process isn’t complete yet, but likely will be within the hour. “Just sprained my back I guess. I’ll be okay though. I’m a fast healer.” Harold looks at me, and seems to know pressing my injury won’t do me any good. He starts the car. “Where do آپ live?” he asks. I tell him, and he nods. “I know where that is.” He replies. As he pulls out of the parking lot and onto the street, I decide to ask him a question. “So what were آپ doing up so late?” I ask. He coughs, once مزید it sounds painful, but he smiles afterwards, trying to cover it up. “I was actually writing on a new story.” He replies. “Oh yeah. Danny told me آپ were a writer. He کہا you’re really good.” Harold sighs. “Yeah. I hope to be published one day.” He coughs again. “You actually inspired the story.” He says. I look at him. “What’s it about?” I ask. He laughs. “You’ll probably be offended.” He says smiling. “Come on. Tell me.” I reply eagerly. “It’s about a girl our age who’s a vampire.” He replies. “Only, she’s not evil. She’s trying to do good in the world. To make up for past mistakes.” He notes my expression. “I told آپ you’d be offended.” He replies. Of course I am shocked. His story is basically my life nowadays. “You کہا I inspired it?” I ask. Harold nods. “Like I کہا though, the character آپ inspired, the vampire, is not evil, just… trying to survive and do good to make up for everything bad she’s done. He coughs again, but I am locked too deep in thought to hear his اگلے sentence. I know of the connection from earlier. Maybe not my personal feelings about him, but why we both seem to know each other somehow. Harold is a telepath. He is connected to me because he can see my thoughts, just like, I assume, if I tried, I’d be able to link my mind with his. I’ve encountered a few telepaths over the years, but Harold… the connection I feel with him is stronger than all the others put together. This complicates things. If he is perceptive enough, he will eventually figure out what I am once he makes the connection. I don’t want to kill him, but at the same time, he could be valuable to پائیک, پائک if he found out about the connection. I believe fate made us meet, as I highly believe in fate. Although for what purpose? I don’t yet know, I do know, however that he is dying, and the only way to save him would mean exposing my true self. Harold notes the quiet, and realizes I’m deep in thought. He asks if I’m alright, and I assure him I am. He doesn’t say anything focuses on the road the rest of the way back to the apartment. Once we reach the building where I live, we exchange goodbyes, and I hear him cough again. I’ve already decided to help him, even if it means revealing myself, but I will only do it once پائیک, پائک has been dealt with. As I watch Harold drive off into the night, I hope پائیک, پائک won’t find out about our connection. I remember my flashes, and try to put a face to the boy from them, but I can’t remember if it was Harold. I sincerely hope it wasn’t, but I know wishing never guarantees anything.