Unique~ Chapter 4

"Kaleb? Is that you...?" I asked uncertainly as I wandered over to the oak tree, the autumn leaves crunching under my feet. "If you're trying to make a joke here, it isn't funny."

The dark silhouette suddenly dissapeared and a hot breath whispered in my ear from behind me, "I'm not joking, love." Hands gripped my arms and my heart beat faster, I felt a fiery tingling sensation spread all over my body. But this wasn't a dream, and I wasn't in a trance, so I spun around and turned to face-

Wait where'd he go?! I panicked. All that surrounded me were trees and a howling wind. I shrunk down and leaned against the oak. Was I just imagining things?

Kaleb's upside-down head came into my view. "Looking for me?" He asked, smirking.

"AH! KALEB, WHAT ARE YOU-" I shrieked but was cut off by his hand covering my mouth.

"Shh, settle down. People might hear and think something's wrong," he assured, still hanging upside down. Once he figured I wasn't going to scream anymore, he took his hand off.

"Something IS wrong!" I whispered fiercely. "How did you do that??"

"Do what?" he asked innocently, his puppy dog eyes blinking.

"Like you were by the tree, then behind me, then all of a sudden you were hanging from a tree branch. What's up with that?" I interrogated.

"I'm magiiic..." he said mysteriously.

"No, seriously. And why did you call me 'love'?"

"I am serious." His face pulled into a tight grimace. I noticed he didn't answer my other question. And how could he be serious? Magic, the last time I checked, wasn't real. He must've been delusional.

So I laughed. "Magic isn't real. You learn that when you're in like 3rd grade." He really WAS an odd one. Note to self: Stay away from Kaleb L. I got up and brushed myself off. "Nice meeting you and all, but I've got to go."

I was a few feet away from the tree when he taunted, "That's a lie. You don't have any homework, and you don't play sports. And you sure as hell don't hang out with anyone. You don't need to go anywhere."

I whipped back around. "What do you know about my social life?" I snapped. What did he know? He was just a stupid, cocky, self-centered jerk. Nathan was the only one I talked to about that stuff. He was the only person I trusted, the only person who understood me. Who did that know-it-all think he was? I thought in frustration.

"Oh, I know EVERYTHING about you, Brooke." A chill creeped down my spine. Everything? A slight breeze swept my hair to the side. "The fact that you don't have any parents, the fact that your brother takes care of you, and the fact that you basically hate everyone in our school." How did he know that?

"Th-that's not true," I stammered, my body shaking. "Emmy's my best friend."

"Oh yeah? I see how you treat her, even though she doesn't. Emmy doesn't mean shit to you." I winced at his words. Being a person who doesn't cuss, and for him to use that kind of language, it hurt, a lot. Made me feel bad that I wasn't Emmy's friend. Why didn't I like her? I couldn't remember.

Things were silent for a while. "So why did you ask me to come here? Just to make me feel guilty?" I questioned, not trying to hide the ice in my voice.

"No, not at all," Kaleb answered, his voice suddenly soft and right next to me. I didn't see him get down from the tree.

"Then why...?" I asked warily.

"I have to tell you the truth." He took a deep breath, looked up at me and sighed, "About me."

Ok, so this guy is officially psycho, I thought. What truth? He couldn't be serious about the magic thing, could he? I waited.

I counted to 163 before he started talking again. "I've watched out for you ever since you're a kid. Like a guardian angel. Making sure you never got hurt." Ha. Didn't stop me from crashing my bike when I was 7, did he? I think not. He must've read my critical expression because he said, "More like, supervised, I couldn't change fate." I nodded for him to continue.

"I was assigned to watch over you, because you were the first to be adopted by one of the humans..." He paused to see my reaction.

Adopted? Adopted?! ADOPTED?!?! No. Freaking. Way. Calmly, I stated, "I'm going home, you're crazy."

But he caught me by the arm. "No, you're not. You're going to stay here and listen to me-"

"Listen to you?" I cut in. "Why should I? You're telling me I'm adopted and that magic is real. Just- just leave me alone." I jerked away trying to run. But he blocked the exit so I sprinted in the other direction.

I was running, running through the forest. My heart pounded, my breath came out in gasps. Leaves crackled under my feet and branches tangled through my hair, trying to restrain me. Jagged rocks and thorns tore at my legs, making them bleed and burn. But I kept going.

Kept running. Adrenaline shot through my veins and I sprinted faster still, my lungs about to explode from my chest. I knew now, who I was escaping from, because the dream was becoming real.

"You can't hide from me forever, Brooke!" Kaleb hollered and the sound echoed all around me in the forest; through the trees, in the wind, and right next to me- making my body shudder with fear. I tried to scream but nothing came out except a muffled whimper. I started sprinting harder and faster, though I knew it would be useless. He was faster than me and I knew that now, through what he had shown me.

Tripping over an outstretched branch, I fell on my face. NO! I mentally shrieked. I tried getting up but my ankle was sprained.

Branches snapped and leaves crumpled as he got closer. "No," I cried and squeezed my eyes shut. It was all so real now.

"Brooke," Kaleb comforted, "I don't want to hurt you. If you'll just let me explain-"

Right then the starting notes of "Misery Business" blasted out from my pocket. I answered my phone. "Hello?"

"Brooke, where are you? Are you okay?" It was Nathan.

"Yes, Nathan, I'm fine." My voice sounded suprisingly irritated, though I was glad he called. "I'm in Oak Woods, just, um, studying...with a friend."

"Really? Are you sure you're okay? You sound a little frightened. Want me to come and pick you up?"

I sighed. "No, Nathan, really, I'm fine. Thanks for the offer, though. I'll be home in a bit."

"Okay. Just call if you need me. Love you."

"Kay, love you too."

"Bye."

"Bye." I closed my phone, sighed again, and glanced up. Kaleb was staring at me with a worried expression on his face.

"What?"

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head.

"Ok, fine." I grunted. "I'll listen now and be more 'open-minded'."

I was open-minded up until the point he said he was a nymph. And that I was a nymph too. "Um, sorry to interrupt, but what exactly is a nymph?"

"A nymph in Greek mythology is a nature spirit, different nymphs have different elements they use. Nymphs are usually also known for their lustful personalities." Kaleb grinned.

"Oh. So is there different types?" I asked, ignoring the last part.

"Yes, our group in particular associates with trees. You are a Dryad because you are a girl. I am a Dryfaun because I'm a guy. There's also; Naifauns, Naiaids, Oreads, and Orefauns. But we can only control things that have to do with trees. See, watch..." His eyes closed as he touched a nearby branch. Slowly, it started to climb up his arm and around his torso. His other arm reached out and a branch did the same. Then they engulfed him more and brought him against the trunk, which molded to his figure.

I heard a blood-curdling scream and then when I realized it was me, I clamped my mouth shut. How did he do that...? It has to be magic right? I wondered in awe. He soon dropped from the tree's grasp, opened his eyes, and smiled.

"You want to try?"