Part 4/ Crystal
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Part 1 - Full Moon
Part 2 - Witching hour
Part 3 - Awake
"What's up, Don?"
"Hey, man! You win the lottery or something?"
"Dude... you've been radiant all morning! What's going on?"
"Nothing," I reply each time with a wide smile. "I'm just feeling good, that's all."
I was feeling good. More than good --I was estatic, I felt fantastic! Everything was changed. Colors were brighter, birdsong louder. The usually harsh December weather seemed as cool as Spring. Even the very air tasted sweeter.
I could fly! Me! Donnie! I could fly, and heavens knew what else. I had powers! Hah!
Since I had accessed the supernatural energy in my room that morning, it had not gone away. It was all around me, an overwhelming presence. I could feel it from the tips of my fingers down to my toes. It made me feel like anything was possible, like I could do anything. I was super-elated. I couldn't help grinning all through the morning at work. Things were so about to change.
By 1am, I turned off my console and stood. "Alright, guys, I'm taking a break. Back in half an hour."
The other programmers barely looked up. "Sure, Don. Get us a burger or something."
I left the Code Pen and took the elevator downstairs, not really sure where I wanted to go. The truth was, the break was actually for all of us at the pen, but no one, including me, took it often --once a programmer was plugged into his system, he didn't get off lightly. Today however, I wasn't feeling much like writing code. I couldn't wait to get away from the pen and have some time to myself to just sit and think about what had happened to me. Or rather, sit and think about what I was. Hadn't the other nightprowlers made it seem like I've always been this way? But then, if I had been born with it, did that mean my brother was a nightprowler too? That the rest of my family at least knew about it? I wished I could remember what had happened between midnight and morning, but what came back to me was always the same --a swirling of colors, a dazzling smile. Only what I had felt had come back fully, and the power. I couldn't wait to find out what else I could do. And I was quite hungry. I was just wondering if I could summon food when suddenly, I ran headlong into someone.
I was mortified --I had been so engrossed in my thoughts I hadn't been paying attention to where I was going.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I exclaim, bending immediately to pick up the purse I had knocked out of her hands. "Forgive me, I was deep in thought and... and..."
I stuttered into silence as I stood. The girl in front of me was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. She looked at me with innocent, wide, dark eyes set in a perfect pear-shaped face, with shoulder-length hair of mixed vivid blue and red locks. She smiled at me. My heart skipped a beat.
Then she called my name. "Donnie."
Suddenly, I knew. I just knew.
My breath caught in my throat. It was her, the thrilling soprano and dazzling beauty from last night whose face I couldn't remember seeing. It was her!
"You're here," I breathed.
She nodded, looking just out of breath as I felt. I handed the purse over slowly, not taking my eyes off her face. I was afraid that if I did, she would vanish. And she was beautiful. So beautiful. We stood like that for a few seconds, just staring at each other.
Finally, she spoke. "We should probably get out of here." She said.
I nodded, "Yeah." I was, once again, slightly dazed. I shook my head to clear it. Then I smiled myself. "Yeah, you're right."
She smiled again, blushing slightly. "I'm Crystal," she said. "My friends call me Cris."
"Cris," I repeat, testing the name on my lips. I suddenly remember --one of the nightprowlers that had 'met' me had been called Cris, another Pam.
"I know initiation can be very disorienting," she continues. "You must have so much questions."
"Tons," I reply.
Her smile grows wider. "Fancy a bite?"
I let out a small breath of laughter. "Actually, I'm kinda famished."
She joins her laughter with mine --it sounds so sweet to my ears --and takes my hand. I follow her willingly.
"Donnie?" A voice calls from behind us.
We both turn. Chloe is standing a few feet away, a look of mingled shock and confusion on her face, apparently heading to the office to see me after my weird behaviour over the phone that morning. As I see her, the strangest thing happens --my heart gives an extremely hard beat and for a split second, it seems like there is something struggling inside me... sonething malignant. But then, it's gone and everything is back to normal.
"Donnie, what's going on?" She asks.
I can only think of Crystal and all the answers I'm about to get. "We'll talk later, alright?" I say. "I have a very important appointment."
And, with Crystal's hand still in mine, I turn and walk away, leaving Chloe on the sidewalk, looking extremely hurt and confused.
