SAVANTS

The Chapture 15

 

I can't sleep tonight. It's no surprise to see what's going on down the road with Zed. Fuck, cocky. I thought that she could just announce that I was hers and I would fall into her arms. 

He might like me but that doesn't mean I like him. He's cold, not predictable, and rude. He'll crush me in five minutes if I'm so stupid as to go with him.

And what does it say, soul mate? it—yah, it's so weird.

And what are savants?

I got out of bed and put on a nightgown, too agitated to lie down, twirling the conversation in my mind. There are so many that I don't understand but I'm afraid to ask for an explanation. 

Those premonition things were really creepy—she made me half-believe in her. But I don't want to change my life just because a man dreams something might happen to me. 

What next? He's gonna say I have to wear an orange shirt or else I'm gonna get hit by a bus? Am I going to school looking like a tangerine? No, it was all just a trick to get me to do what he wanted.

'Which one?' that voice again.

The back of my neck felt pierced. The belief grew that I was not alone. Nervous now, I moved to the window and carefully pulled back the curtains.

"Sheesh!" My heart was about to fall, I found myself facing off against Zed. I really had to bite my tongue not to scream. He climbed an apple tree and sat outside my room, straddling the branches. I opened the window. "What are you doing here?" i'm hissing. "Down, go."

"Let me go in first" He poked himself along the branch.

"Stop—fast down!" Panicked, I wondered if I should call Simon.

"No, don't call your father. I want to talk to you."

I flapped my hand at him. "Go! I don't want you here.'

"I know." He gave up on the idea of forcing his way into my room. "Sky, why didn't you know you were a Savant?"

I was thinking of slamming the window on this weird Romeo-and-Juliet scene. "I can't answer it when I don't understand your question?"

"You heard me talking—in your head. Not only did you follow my lead, but you also heard my words Sky"

"I.... L'm... " Nervous.

'You answered me'

I'm staring. He did it again—telepati, right? No, no, I projected it myself—ini didn't happen.

"All savants can do it."

"I heard nothing. I don't understand what you're talking about."

"I can see it and I have to know why."

Confused, the only strategy I can do is to deny. I had to take it down from my apple tree.

"I'm sure it's very interesting but it's late and I want to sleep. So .. um.. good night, Zed. Let's talk about this next time." I said.

"You won't even listen to me?" He folded his hands.

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Because I'm your soul mate/spouse."

"Stop. I don't understand you. You're nothing to me. You are rude, cold and arrogant. Even you don't like me and have taken every opportunity to criticize me."

He put his hand in his pocket. "So that's what you think of me?"

I'm nodding. "Maybe, I don't know, your last plan to humiliate me in some way—pretends to want me."

"You really don't like me?" He laughed empty. "Good, my soulmate doesn't understand anything about me"

It seemed like she was frustrated because of my repeated rejection, she was moving towards me.

I took a step back. "Down from my tree." My fingers trembled as I pointed to the gate.

What surprised me was that he didn't listen to me, just observed my face, then nodded. "OKAY. But it's not over, Sky. We need to talk."

"out"

"I'm leaving." Quickly, he fell to the ground and disappeared into the night.

With a sigh of relief, I slammed the window shut and collapsed on the bed. Pulling the blanket around me, I curled up, wondering what was really going on here.

And what am I going to do with this.

That night the dream came again, but this time with more detail. I remember that hunger—I hardly ate anything for days except chips and chocolate.

They make me feel sick. My knees are dirty with my hair tangled. My mouth was sore, my lips were swollen on the inside of the injured.

Sitting on the sill of grass, I felt empty of anything but fear, a seething panic in my stomach that I could only conquer by concentrating on daisies. They were so white, even in the darkness they shone on the grass, the petals folded. I hugged my knees.

I don't like the smell here—anjing, car smoke, and garbage. And the bonfire. I hate fire. The roar of the highway continued to buzz; the traffic sounded angry and rushed, there was no time for a little girl who was as lost as I was.

I keep waiting.

Then the dream changed. This time it wasn't a veiled woman who came to me—but Zed. He stood in front of me and extended a hand.

"You're mine" he said. "I've come to save you"

I woke up, my heart pounding, just as dawn broke behind the mountains.

The next few days at school were torture for me. Compared to the first weeks where I had barely seen him, I now ran away from Zed at every turn.

I could feel her contemplative gaze as I walked through the dining room or through the corridor. I begged Tina to hitchhike home and even stop by Mrs Hoffman when I came back so as not to be alone at home. Zed made me a prisoner. That's one thing the wolfman did.

Saturday morning and there was a knock at the door early. Simon and Sally were still in bed, so I went to answer her, a cup of tea in my hand.

But how surprised I was when Zed was already in front of me. holding a bunch of flowers. She pushed him towards me before I could close the door for her.

"Let's start again." He extended a hand. "Hi, I'm Zed Benedict. And you?"

I noticed the flowers Zed— gave me that were my favorite colors of purple and blue.

"Continue—ini easy part. 'I'm Sky Bright and I'm from England." He wore an accent so silly that I felt like laughing.

"I don't talk like that." My word.

"of course. Continue."

"Hi, I'm Sky Bright. I'm from Richmond, England."

"Now you have to say, 'Wow, what a beautiful flower. How about going in for a nice tea?”

The accent must be removed. I looked back, wondering if Sally or Simon would come down.

"They're sleeping." Zed nodded into the house. "So?"

"Well, that's a beautiful flower." Maybe we should talk. It's better here than school. I stepped in. "Coffee?" He doesn't seem to be the type of person who likes PG Tips.

"If you insist." He smiled, it seemed like he was a little nervous, and entered.

"come into the kitchen." I busied myself lighting the kettle and looking for a vase of flowers. "Why did you come here?"

"Isn't it clear? I'm saying. I want to apologize."