Toxicity || Chapter Two: Strangers

Angels… strange creatures always portrayed as beings of light, completely harmless and the absolute guardians of humans; what an inaccurate show. They are beautiful creatures, yes. Like the most flawless human being you have ever seen. But, any above a Guardian is cold-hearted; and those Fallen are hateful.

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The girl backed away, her own eyes opened wide and full of fear. He looked so feral, and she so much like a small child. Any who may have been taking a run through the woods at that moment and whom may have glimpsed this meeting would have attempted to intervene and rescue the small brunette. The boy whipped his head about looking wildly around once more before letting out an anguished growl. ‘Someone has hurt him..’ the girl found herself thinking. The dark haired boy swept his legs up and under him, managing to stand, then collapse back to the ground with a painful grunt. The small girl scrambled away from him, biting her lip as she watched his futile attempts to stand, over and over.She spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, “Maybe you should rest…?” At that moment, the boy glared at her, then spit at her feet.

“Shut up,” he huffed, trying to stand again. He was so bitter and angry. Someone had to have done him wrong. She sat there in silence, watching him try and try again as the rain battered down upon them. She sighed, curling her legs up to her chest and resting her forehead against her knees. She was tired, and with her tiredness, she was also upset. She couldn’t help the boy, nor could she bother trying to make conversation. He’d just send her away, as all others eventually did.Save for the rain, she heard nothing. Looking up, she saw the boy had finally gotten his ground in standing. She sighed, looking at him a while more. He turned an angry glare upon her once more. “What do you want? Stupid Girl.”

The girl’s lip quivered slightly at the insult, but otherwise she showed no reaction. Words often stung her in such a fashion as his did. “My name’s Ali,” she said, her voice steady. He looked her over in the assessing stare that an unimpressed teacher would give a new student. She had round hazel eyes and layered light brown hair, a small body structure, slightly tanned skin where it showed on her face and hands, and was soaking wet from head to toe. His stern look seemed to grow colder as he met her eyes.

“Well, Ali, I don’t give a damn,” he spat. She stood up, coming only to his chest in height. She stepped around him, shaking her head. She didn’t need to put up with such an attitude from some random guy. She began walking away from him, in the direction she hoped she had come from. The rain was still pouring down on her. From behind her, she heard him sigh. “Wait!” She paused, turning back to him. He had shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and tilted his head just slightly to the right, so that his hair would move from his eyes. “Where are you going?”

She shrugged, kicking a small sneaker against the ground. “Hopefully, home,” she said, trying to be as aloof as possible. She shifted how she was standing, leaning slightly against one of the many trees within the forest. They looked as dangerous as the strange boy was. But at that time, she didn’t know he was dangerous. He was just a stranger, whose only flaw was that he was abrasive and bitter.

He appeared flustered for a moment, rolling his shoulders as he tried to figure out what to say next. He obviously has something in mind, for he was embarrassed by it. With a frustrated sigh, he spoke, “Listen, I know… I know I’m a stranger, but can I join you? I mean, can I stay at your home for the night?”

Ali blinked twice, and then began to laugh. “Are you kidding? Why would I let you stay in my house? I try to help you, you tell me to shut up. I don’t say anything, and you insult me as if your problem were my fault! I don’t think so, Mister-Bitter-Random-Stranger-Guy-With-Obvious-Issues.” With that, she turned and headed for home.

She huffed, listening to him walk through the underbrush behind her. He grunted as a stick slapped him in the chest. He was still following her though, close enough to reach up and touch her back. “Ali, I’m sorry. Please, just for tonight,” he asked, his voice strained, but sincere. Ali turned, sizing him up again. She nodded, moving her sopping wet bangs from her eyes.

“One condition: you have to tell me your name.”