Chapter 5

YRIC had a peaceful sleep which rarely happens to him. His mind was blank and not clouded by nightmares. At first, he just closed his eyes to give it a rest. But ended up in a deep slumber.

It didn’t last though because something unexpected happened while his eyes were closed. The glass door going to the balcony opened up on its own. The cold wind blew hard slipping through the doorway, making the off-white curtain covering the glasses sway. He shivered to the cold waking him up. As he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the presence of a man wearing a dark suit. He was creped out with Xurden standing on the side of the sofa looking down at him intently.

Without knowing what Xurden was doing there in their room, Yric immediately sat up and crawled to the sofa. He didn't have the chance to run when Xurden wrung his sweater raising him. His feet were a couple of inches high from the floor. Xurden's grip was forceful hurting Yric's neck.

"Put me down," Yric begged in a shaky voice. He tried removing Xurden's hand but only ended up hurting himself. Xurden raised him higher easily.

Xurden stared at him angrily. "What’s your real identity?" Xurden grilled him.

"I don't have to answer you." He had a hard time speaking because of the tightening sweater.

Furrowing his forehead, Xurden clenched his teeth to control himself and said, "Why did you help the man? Spill the beans before I do something to you. Foolish human. Hurting you would be a walk in the park to me."

"Why shouldn't I? You're trying to kill him," he said gathering all bravery he has on himself.

"Listen carefully, bubblehead. The man was no longer a human. He's evil. He's a demon. Do you understand? I am sure you knew what that is since you told me before creatures surround you even as a child."

"It can't be. He looked human to me," Yric objected.

"That's why you're a fool," Xurden reminded him. "You can't tell who's human and not. What's your relation to that man? Answer me. Are you his blood?”

Xurden tightened up his grip.

"I don't know him."

"I don't believe you."

"I am telling you the truth." Yric tried kicking Xurden's chest but it didn't hurt the man even a bit. Yric stopped kicking. "Are you going to kill me just like you did to the man?"

"Shut your mouth," Xurden said abruptly. "How can you be so sure that I killed the man? Answer me now. How come you still remember everything when I already erase your memories?"

Yric didn't have the time to answer his questions when Xurden turned his head toward the door. Upon hearing the heavy steps from the hallway, Xurden released his grip on Yric's sweater. Yric fell to the floor on his knees while Xurden disappeared into thin air leaving no sign that he went there in a short period. After a moment, the door opened up. Noah went inside carrying a black plastic bag in his right hand. He closed the door with his other free hand and walked going to the sofa.

"Why are you on your knees?" Noah asked wondering what happened to Yric.

Massaging his neck, Yric stood up and let himself sit back on the sofa. There were bruises on his neck and he immediately covered the sweater.

"I fell while sleeping," he answered. "What's on your hand?"

Noah raised the black plastic bag. "I bought some drinks at the nearest store. "We're not allowed to get even a single drink from the refrigerator. Here." Noah put his hand inside the plastic bag and let out an orange drink. He threw it to Yric without a warning.

Yric didn't catch the plastic bottle which made it fall on the floor. He picked it up as he stood. Opening the bottle, he walked toward the door and stepped out to the balcony. He stared below the road while drinking. His adam's apple moved up and down in his every gulp. He didn't finish the drink when he noticed Xurden standing under the flickering lamp post on the corner of the street. His heart skipped a beat as there were flashes inside his head of what happened earlier between them. The expression now on his face was drawn out of fear. He couldn't help to think that Xurden would have killed him if his friend didn't go back to the room. Closing the bottle with the cap, he rushed going back inside the room. He closed the glass door with shaking hands.

"Did Vivian go out already?" Yric asked his friend so that Noah wouldn't notice his shaking hands. He made his back to the soft sofa and sat. The cushion comforted his behind.

"What? She's still in the bathroom?" Noah blurted instead of answering his question.

Yric stared at the king-sized bed looking for a sign that Vivian had worn her clothes and went out of the building to get some fresh air while he was asleep.

"I guess so. Nothing changes on the bed. But I couldn't hear any noise from the bathroom. Maybe she went out without us knowing." He couldn't help to think that Xurden kidnapped their friend.

"I didn't see her," Noah mumbled. "That girl, what she's still doing inside?"

Noah put down the plastic bag on the low table. He walked afterward going to the bathroom and knocked a couple of times. But he didn't receive an answer. Looking back at Yric, his expression now was miming worries. He tried turning the doorknob. It wasn't locked inside so he went in and Yric followed him, finding Vivian sleeping in the bathtub. Her head rested at the edge. Noah let out a deep breath for Vivian out of concern.

"We should wake her up. She might get sick for staying too long in the water," Yric suggested.

His friend agreed to him without saying anything. Noah shooked Vivian on her shoulder waking her up. Vivian shot Noah an angry look as she opened up her eyes.

"Go out!" Vivian shouted hitting Noah on his arm.

Noah did stay away from the bathtub with a querying look in his eyes.