Chapter 6

CHEROPHOBIA: The intellectual fear of happiness.

I didn't know the time it was but i guessed it was nighttime. I could feel my eyed go droopy every second but i resisted the temptation to make sure Lux doesn't try anything stupid. I had to admit, he was mysterious, unpredictable and probably the only person i couldn't read. For instance, i expected him to explain all he said before Red interrupted but after the act he pulled, he took a seat behind me without uttering a single word. Not that i had a problem with it.

We'd been sitting here in silence for hours. Neither of us spared the other a single glance. He sat behind me in a way that our backs were facing each other. The only things i could hear were my heartbeats and my calm breaths. The silence was deafening but i couldn't care less. I'd been living in silence for eight years so i was used to it.

Memories of my first day here flashed in my mind. I was so devastated and pained, i couldn't say anything. I knew the things they said about me were false but i had no proof to justify myself and besides, the community already hated me enough. After all, they thought i killed their pope. They pointed fingers, cursed, insulted and did every other known thing associated with disgrace.

I could remember how it started. They were noises from outside. It first started with a scream i guessed was from the living room. Then, i heard masculine voices and sobs. Before i knew what was going on, three men barged into my room. I was on my bed when they came in and dragged me out. I didn't understand what was happening till i saw the lifeless bodies of my parents on the ground d with their throats slit open. Thick red blood surrounded their bodies.

People from the neighbourhood crowded the whole room, some weeping, some with sad looks on their faces and most yelling things at me.

I remained numb till i met myself in front of two policemen. I could see their lips move as they questioned me but i couldn't say a single word. It felt like i'd lost everything i had in just one day. It was_

"It's time" I heard Lux say before he stretched his legs and stood up. I stood up seconds after and watched him as he went for the door.

"You know you can't open that right?" I said before his first attempt. I didn't mean to kill his hopes but sometimes you have to be realistic.

"I want to make something clear before we leave. Not everything you think is impossible is actually impossible. I expected you to have understood that after the stunt they pulled on you earlier. Do whatever i say if you want to leave here tonight. No questions"

"Whatever"

He nodded and faced the door before placing his palm on it. I thought he was crazy but those thoughts ceased as soon as i saw his palm begin to glow. It started with a small glow in the middle of his palm. Then, it looked like he had a candle beneath his palm, just a little gold in the middle of his palm. Soon enough, the glow slowly covered his fingers with his nails slightly different. The glow surrounded his whole hand. It was golden and bright like the sun. At first it was like the warm morning sun but as every second passed, became brighter.

Smoke emitted from the area he rested his palm. The white thick fumes reminded me of the experiment they pulled on me earlier. The smoke was almost alike but this one had the smell of melting iron.

Of course, it had that smell. He was melting a hole through the door. It took me seconds to realize that but as soon as i did, his hand was already through the door. The light was so bright, i didn't see the drops of melted metal dripping from the hole till his hand regained their normal colour.

He stayed there for seconds, probably dealing the lock on the other side. I heard a click and the door opened.

As soon as we were outside, he turned to me and said "Be as quiet as possible. Don't talk to anyone, don't touch anyone and don't look at anyone. Alright?"

"Okay" I whispered "The men at the door" I pointed out.

He nodded and turned to the exit. We took slow and steady steps till we got to the metal door. Lux gave me one last glance before opening the door.

The men rushed in immediately. They were three in total. They were so big and muscular, they intimidated me. They pointed guns at us and Lux raised his arms immediately, as if surrendering.

What a chicken?

"Put your arms where i can see them" I heard the first one say. I looked at Lux and slowly raised my arms.

Before i knew what was going on, Lux's fingers started emitting something that looked like golden pixie dust. To say i was surprised would be an understatement. How much could he do? It almost looked like he was a god. He could melt metal with his bare hand and now, golden dust?

The dust found their way to the three men. Even they didn't understand what was going on till the smoke went through their nostrils. I heard the sound of the metal guns hit the ground before their arms fell to their sides. Their eyes became all droopy and red, like they were intoxicated. Their body soon followed and they fell limply to the ground. Their bodies were sprawled across the ground with their guns beside them.

I was impressed, it almost looked like he always had a plan for everything.

"I do" I heard him say.

"Get out of my head" I muttered "I don't like it"

"Then push me out" he said and just when i was about to reply, he kept his finger of my lips. I flinched and moved back at the heat radiating off his finger. It felt like he was a living fire and i had a feeling his hand was always like that.

"I don't bite"

"You're hot" I pointed out.

"Well, thank you. I d_"

"I don't mean it that way" I rolled my eyes "Your finger is hot"

"That's not normal" he paused "And it isn't the point of the_wait, did you get your doll?"

"What?"

"The doll i got you, where is it?"

"I'm not taking it with me. It's stupid and lame. I hate it"

"First, i don't appreciate your ingratitude and second, i'm not leaving this place till you get the doll. You should love it, it looks like you"

"Well, i don't" I said, hoping he would drop the topic and move on but he stood on his words. I sighed and went back to pick the doll. I would've called it ugly but it was a replica of me and i would only be insulting myself if i said so.

"Good" He smiled when he saw me with he doll and we continued our journey. We went through various hallways before we got to stage four.

They were kept in places i could only describe to be cells. Their rooms were small and could only accommodate one person. They were all dressed in red like i'd thought they'd be. Their clothes were similar to mine, the only difference was the change in colour. Most of them were sleeping but i wouldn't say all were sleeping quietly. Some were twitching and i could clearing remember seeing one or two laughing.

I stopped when i saw a little girl sitting at the far end of her small room. I couldn't see much but from the lights in the hallway, i could see she head tears wetting her cheeks. I could hear her little sobs. It was the most emotional thing i'd ever seen.

It took me back to my first days in the asylum. I was as young and vulnerable as she was. She too was probably here because of some messed up incident but she was too young for this. I could imagine spending all my childhood years in isolation. I had to face that because there was no one to save me.

"Hey" I whispered to her "Darling" I said and walked over to her cell. I placed my palms on the cold bars, flinching slightly at the low temperature.

"Caeli" Lux whispered "What are you doing?"

"Come" I whispered to her and she stood up immediately and ran to me.

"Don't!" Lux, whisper yelled. "She's insane"

"She's a child" I said and touched her cheek. The last thing i saw was her mysterious smile before she held my hand and dragged my whole arm into her little room. Her small palms were as cold as the bars. She dug her nails into my arm till i could feel my skin begin to tear. My cheek hit the bar multiple times with every attempt to pull me into her cell.

I did the only thing i thought was right. I pulled my arm out with all the energy i had left in me. She released my arm, moved back and did the most unexpected thing.

She screamed.

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