Story- Chapter One I turn my head as I hear my name ring across the long hallway. I see my friend, Maverick, running down the hall, waving a piece of paper back and forth. He finally gets to me, shoving the newspaper into my free hand. My other hand was occupied by a letter I got about late fees for my small, underground apartment inside the Void compound. Most of the apartments are just outside the compound, but I chose to be inside the compound. Mostly to be closer to my job, but to also make sure I'm safer."Cypher! I heard you're gonna get a raise soon. I wish I would. Tiff still won't let me leave the piercing booth until all the customers are gone." He says, putting his arm across my shoulders. I didn't know how I could tell him that I don't like him like that. He's like a brother to me. I think. I step away, his arm falling from my shoulders."Oh, really? Where'd you hear that?" I ask, a snappy tone in my voice. "I heard it from Ace. Why're you acting so weird, Cyph?" He asks, grabbing my shoulder and yanking me to face him. I feel my face getting hotter, a tingling feeling creeping up my spine."I'm not acting weird. And stop touching me, Mav." I snap, taking a step away from him."You used to not care, you used to be okay with physical touch. What happened? And don't say nothing happened, because something obviously did." He steps closer, his tall height matching mine."I didn't change. Nothing happened. I just don't like you like that. I'm sorry." I say, it was obvious I was embarrassed about it."What? You're like my sister, Cyph. I don't like you like that. If you think I did, you'd be wrong. Everyone knows I don't like you like that!" He says, a look of worry in his eyes. "I-I know. It just feels weird. Like you're lying to me about something." I mumble, my face feeling hot and a sticky tear running down my cheek."What's weird about it, Cypher? I don't know what you're talking about, Cypher. But it needs to stop. I'll talk to you later." He says, brushing my shoulder with his hand. He walks down the dark hall, sliding a hand across the wall as he walks. I can't help it. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings, but at the same time, Kole needs me. I need him. Some of me wanted Maverick to like me like that. The other half wanted Kole to love me. I didn't know what was happening, so I just started towards my apartment. That's when I felt a cold hand grip my own. The hand was still on my hand, but seemed to double. Probably just the other hand. I thought. The person was bigger, more muscular, than me. Probably a male. "You are going to listen to me. Okay, Cypher?" The male's voice whispered in my ear, his breath warm against my ear and cheek. "If you scream, I swear to god, Cyph.""You know my name. And my nickname." I said, startled by the thought."Yes, I do. Why would that be surprising?" He said, putting his other hand on my chest. A knot forming in my stomach. "Because. My attacker. Knowing my name. It's kind of creepy." I say, trying to yank my hands from his grip."I'm not attacking you! I…uh…just didn't know how to approach you. You're kind of rough and snappy." He turned me around, finally letting me see his face. He was scratching the back of his neck, his hair messy. "Kole? What are you doing?" I ask, Kole's cold hands letting mine fall to my sides."Not here. I can't tell you here." Kole says, grabbing my wrist and pulling me down the hall, farther than my apartment, farther than Mavrick's apartment. I realize where we're going. We're going to the upper levels, where the initiates train, and where their dormitories are.
"Why are we going to the Upper Levels, Kole?" I ask, jogging to keep my shoulder from dislocating. "To get some privacy. My apartment is this way, anyways." He says, dropping my hand. He puts his hand on my shoulder, leading me to the back door of the arena. We go down the hallway, past the door to the initiate hallway, and down a long hallway towards more apartments. The ones that are expensive due to being right next to the Upper Levels Training Arena and being the most secure, guarded, and secretive."Wait, why're we going to your apartment?" I ask, I stop walking."Because, just come on!" He says, reaching for my shoulder again."I'm older than you. Just because you think you can push me around because I'm less muscular than you, doesn't give you the right to touch me, Kole." I say coldly, my voice moving the air around us like there was nothing but cold, underground, air. "Stop. Stop calling me Kole. It's not my name." He blurts out, his voice rising."Why? Too scared that your daddy's gonna come out and beat you by the sound of your name?" I mock, having had enough of his stupidity. "Shut up!" He snaps, his face bright red and his hands clutching at the hem of his shirt."Why should I? We have such a special relationship. I trained you when you were an initiate, Kole." I say, pushing him up against the wall behind him. I put one of my hands on the cold, stone wall. The other on his warm chest to keep him against the wall."I told you to stop using that name." He says, his tone becoming weaker as he realizes what I'm planning in my head."What name do you want to be called then?" I ask, sliding my hand on his chest to the wall opposite of my other hand."Red. I want to go by Red." He says, putting one of his hands on my stomach. I put my hand back on his chest, feeling the beat of his heart. "Okay, Red." I say, leaning against him. He pulls me in closer, his breath close to my mouth. His breath smells like maple. He puts his mouth to mine, pressing soft at first, then pressing harder. His hands move from my shoulders to the small of my back. I pull back."Why did you want to take me to your apartment, Red?" I ask, barely audible. "I have no clue." He whispers back, his breath warm against my cold neck. I look at the wall above us, the clock hanging on the, otherwise, empty stone wall. 9:30. "I'm sorry, but I have to go." I say, pressing my hand against his ribs. He pulls me in again, his heartbeat faster. His back is cold, but his front is warm. I pull away again, "Red, I need to go.""No. You. Don't." He says, forcing each word out like I'm about to go jump off the roof. "You could sleep in my apartment. You don't need to leave me alone, Cypher." He's probably drunk, or enjoying this too much. I think to myself. The next morning comes quickly. Maybe a little too quickly for some. But not for me. Red took me to his apartment, letting me be safe from the dark night. He let me sleep with him. He didn't just make me go down the dark hallway of the Upper and Lower Levels. Sorry for the long story =| I’m thinking of getting this published (I still need to revise and proofread) TYSM FOR READING!!!! - Ash <3
