Miraculous: Tales of the Unknown (4 page)

Matt had a huge house on the west
side of town. He was quarterback for the school’s football team,
and homecoming king all three years of his high school life. We
walked up to his door, and right away I had a feeling this was
going to be one hell of a night…

Music was blaring and there were
crowds of people everywhere. Matt came down the stairs, beer in
hand and open arms to meet Jessica. He looked at me up and down,
turned to Jess, and right in front of me said “Wow is this the same
dog that always follows you around?” All of his buddies heard him
and everyone turned to look at me. Of course they all thought this
was hilarious and stroked his ego more by laughing with him. She
punched him in the arm and gave him the look to shut up. I sighed
and turned away, heading for the door. Jessica tried to pull my arm
to make me stay, but I pulled it as hard as I could and kept
walking. I was so done with this bullshit. As I opened the door a
cool breeze hit my face and Dustin was standing right in front of
me. Normally I would swoon and freeze right where I was standing.
This time I was so overwhelmed with what happened, I pushed him out
of the way and tears started flowing from my eyes. I ran outside
and down the steps, out into the dark starry night. Matt’s house
was isolated with acres of land in every direction. I ran into a
patch of trees nearby and sank to my knees. I was tired of this
life. I was tired of everyone who pretended to be in
mine.

I hated school, I hated my
dad, and I hated this life. I looked at my phone to see what time
it was and I had a missed text message from Jessica. She pleaded
with me to come back to the party, she promised Matt and his
friends would behave. We had been friends since Kindergarten but I
just didn’t see the point anymore. We were too different. I didn’t
belong in her world. I texted her back exactly what I felt in my
heart at that moment...
Sorry Jess I can’t.
I don’t think we should talk for a while. I don’t fit into your
life. We live in two different worlds.

With that, I deleted her number,
and everything else I kept on my phone that had anything to do with
her. I was determined to leave everyone in this town behind and to
start over somewhere else where I had a chance. I started walking
down the tree lined road. It was quiet out but it was still close
enough for me to hear the base from the music at the party. I knew
this town and the people in it weren’t right for me. As I continued
in the dark I started to hear things behind me. Every time I turned
around to see if someone there, there was no one. I was alone…or so
I thought. I heard a loud rustling this time and turned around as
fast as I could, ready to completely lash out at someone. With all
the anger boiling up inside me right now, I was sure I could do
some damage. When I turned I saw Dustin walking behind me. I
stopped in my tracks and asked “What the hell are you doing? You
scared the shit out of me.”

“
Sorry I saw you left the party
crying so I came after you to see if you were alright.” He said
sincerely.

“
Of course you did. So you and
your friends could have a laugh about it later? Fuck off dude.” I
demanded.

He gave me a look that made me
feel guilty for saying what I had said. But before I could speak he
snapped back at me “Those aren’t my “friends” up here ok? I went to
the stupid party hoping I would see you.” I was taken aback by this
and didn’t really know how to respond.

“
Why me? No one at that school
even pretends to like me.” I replied.

He looked at me with confusion in
his eyes and muttered “Well I’m not anything like the people at
that school. I just, like your art and you seem cool in math class.
I could use a friend. I really don’t know anyone out
here.”

I was speechless. Here I was being
a complete bitch to this guy who actually wanted to get to know
me.

“
I’m sorry.” I stuttered. “It’s
just that I never know who to trust around here you know? Everyone
is so fake.”

“
Yeah I’m catching on to that.” He
added. “By the way where are you going? There’s nothing out here
but dirt roads and trees. Let me take you back to the party and I
will drive you home.” He requested.

I studied him for a few minutes
and decided to give him a chance. After all what’s the worst that
could happen? He could end up being just as idiotic and mean as
everyone else but that was ok-I was already used to that. “Sure.” I
said reluctantly. We turned around toward the mansion which looked
so ominous now in the dim light of the moon and the stars. We
walked in silence for a while. I could tell he wanted to ask me
something, he kept looking over at me and opening his lips but
closed them quickly and turned away. Finally I broke the awkward
silence by saying “So, what made you come to this place? I mean I’m
sure Seattle is a hell of a lot cooler than Silver
Springs.”

“
Actually I move a round quite a
bit, my dad seems to never want to stay in one place. Why are you
still here if you hate it so much?”

“
Good question. I guess I don’t
have the means to leave. I literally have no one.” I
grumbled.

“
Well maybe it’s not the place
that’s so bad, maybe it’s the way you approach things. Maybe these
people aren’t so bad.” He stated so gingerly.

“
Oh yeah they are lovely here.
Getting called a dog on a daily basis is super fun. Being tripped
in the lunch room and having your food fall down your clothes in
front of the whole cafeteria is awesome. Matt and his friends have
treated me like shit ever since we were young. It’s never going to
change.” I hissed.

“
I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was
that bad. I guess when you are on the outside you just don’t see
things how they really are.” He said. I could tell he felt bad
which in turn made me feel bad for being so rude to him. Maybe I
was just too dramatic. Maybe I should just give him a chance. Maybe
he’s not like them.

“
It’s ok look, let’s not talk
about them okay? I’m done with them always ruining things.” I said
defiantly.

The night was getting darker, and
colder. No wind, no birds chirping, no dogs barking. It was an
eerie feeling; like everything in the world was shut off and our
shoes were the only things making noise. He looked over at me with
this look, this sexy almost sinister look. I never noticed how dark
his eyes were. They were beautiful, but dark. Not just in a color
way, there was something behind them. Something…disturbed. But they
were surprisingly inviting and tempting.

It was a long way back to the
house, and I knew I was being awkward and whiny. I wanted him to
see me for who I really was; a kind, artistic, funny girl who
wanted nothing more than for people to see the girl behind the
glasses.

“
So do you like it here? Where are
you from?” I asked.

“
Oh here and there, my family
moves around a lot. You could say it’s part of our….religion.” He
smirked.

“
So where are your parents?” He
continued quickly, I could tell he wanted to change the
subject.

“
Oh my mom died when I was young,
and my dad, you could say he died when she did-not physically but
he was never the same.” I said solemnly.

“
That sucks.” He answered. I could
tell he saw the sadness behind my eyes, the sound of my loneliness
in my shaky voice. Then he stopped and turned to me. His eyes, dark
and ominous-swirling with wrong and right all at the same time.
They began to glow with a low light, like when a candle is down to
its last centimeter of flame; dying to live. Suddenly the silence
around me filled my ears, and everything around me turned black. He
took my hand. His hands were so soft and warm to the touch. It was
awkward, since I didn’t think anyone liked me enough to hold my
hand.

“
I wasn’t sure if I could help you
before, but now I know I can. Hear me out, listen to everything I
have to say-it’s very important you keep your mind open.” He
demanded. He was so serious I dared not disobey him. I couldn’t
look away. His eyes were drowning me in a pool of darkness and I
could feel a slight breeze brush my cheek that seemed to come up
from the ground below us. It was so quiet, not even the sound of
the leaves rustling could be heard.

“
Rhylan, what would you say if I
told you I could take all your pain away. All of your sadness, your
loneliness. What if I said I could make you happy? What if I said
you would find your true love within the next two days?” His eyes
were staring deep into mine, searching for some part of me that I
didn’t understand. He knew my deepest desires-to be loved, to be
happy. How could this even be true I thought?

“
I would say you are a crazy
bastard.” I answered sarcastically. The look in his eyes made me
feel like he was telling the truth, but my mind was telling me it
couldn’t be true. Paranormal stuff isn’t real, and if it was real I
sure as hell wasn’t lucky enough to have it happen to me.
 

There was silence between us. The
kind of silence where we studied each other closely. I wanted to
believe him. I wanted so bad to trust him.

“
Ok why are you looking at me like
that?” I asked quizzically.

“
Look Rhylan I’m offering you
something that you can’t resist. Don’t you want to be happy? Don’t
you want to find your true love?” He asked with his dark eyes still
glowing with curiosity.

“
Yes of course I
want to, who wouldn’t? I just don’t know why you are asking
me
?” I said, giving him
a questionable look.

“
I’ve seen you around school. I
see what you go through. I understand your pain. I can see your
sadness peering through your beautiful brown eyes.” He reached up
with his warm hand and touched my cheek.

“
All it takes is a
kiss…technically. There is the part where you swear to give up your
soul to me. But that’s just the wording on the contract. If you
look at it this way-who knows what it’s like in heaven? I sure as
hell don’t. Wouldn’t it be better just to give yourself to me and
know where you are going? Hell is so much more fun.” He gave me a
devilishly sexy grin and pulled back my hair behind my ear. It was
impossible to resist him. He made it seem so easy. What was my soul
worth anyway? If I was happy and found my true love what harm could
it do? I would be dead anyway. I took a deep breath in and stared
him back in the eyes.

“
What exactly does it entail? I
just swear to give my soul to you and when I die it’s yours?” I
anxiously exhaled.

“
Seems so simple doesn’t it?” He
said so casually cruel.

“
Well um yeah. I don’t mean to be
rude but what the hell are you?” I asked with a cool tone, trying
to shake off my nervousness.

“
Some say I’m just a handsome
devil in a meat suit, but Rhylan I’m so much more.”

He pulled me closer and put his
hands over my eyes. We were traveling through some sort of
wormhole. I could still feel him holding me tight. He was so warm
and he smelled so good. The atmosphere around me was swirling by,
colorful and picturesque. I could see him, always the same age,
always handsome and dark and mysterious. I saw him through
different centuries making deals with the sad, the sick and the
poor.  All I saw was the happiness that exuded from the
unfortunate people who came across him. In a way he was like an
angel, coming to the aid of those desperate souls. He brought them
love and fame and popularity, happiness and health. All it took in
return was a simple agreement. A small gesture for his generous
gift.

Finally everything started to
fade. The scenes I saw were leaving us behind, rushing back to live
forever in the grace of their memory. He still had me held close.
Close enough to where I could see the small light glowing in his
eyes. I never noticed how beautiful his eyelashes were, or how soft
his lips looked. Maybe that was all part of the scheme and really
he was some scary, ugly demon with horns. I just couldn’t think of
him that way. He was too beautiful. And he understood me. What else
could I be asking for and actually be receiving at this very
moment?

“
Ok Dustin. If that’s even your
real name. What do I need to do to make this happen? I’m tired of
this life, I’m tired of the people in it who don’t give a shit
about me. I want to make the deal.” I said firmly, with a small
tear starting to fall down my cheek. Yes, I was desperate. Yes I
wanted happiness and love. Who didn’t? It was my turn now. He did
what he did best. He gently wiped my tear from my face and looked
at me lovingly in the eyes.

“
Kiss me Rhylan. Kiss me and I
promise you won’t regret a thing.” He said casually romantic with a
mischievous yet utterly breathtaking smile on his face.

It was happening. He pulled me
closer. His breath was hot but sweet on my face. His hand was
resting on the small of my back, pulling me closer every second.
Then it happened, he pulled me in for the kiss. I didn’t resist-I
couldn’t. I couldn’t risk this not being real, it was literally the
chance of a lifetime. Kissing him felt so right; not just for the
deal but because I kind of liked this “guy”. Truly he was something
out of this world. He was like me in a way-an outsider.

His lips pressed against mine.
They were softer than I thought they would be. His gritty exterior
and casual coolness left me believing his lips would be cracked and
cold. They were far from that. His kiss enveloped me into this dark
place inside my mind. I found myself craving this happiness he
spoke of. I wanted to find my true love and I would do ANYTHING to
have it be mine. I knew he was still kissing me in reality but what
happened in my mind was like a dream. We were standing in the
middle of a dark and cold desert. The sky was not filled with
stars, but with words. I had no idea of the language of origin but
it looked old, unspoken or forgotten. I could hear the contract
being whispered to me, through thousands of voices surrounding us.
Each dialect was different, but one started to get louder than all
the others. It was Dustin. He stood in front of me looking like the
demon he was. His eyes were pure white, no color, no pupil. He
slowly recited to me the contract of which I was so anxious to
seal.