Page 72 of The Not So Super Hero
Bailey wasn’t sure what to do.It didn’t seem like anything bad was going to happen, but with his luck, it would.Bailey took cautious steps through the void.The shadows felt cold against his feet, yet it never clung to him nor made a move to cause him harm.Regardless of that, Bailey was slow.He opened his bedroom door.Outside, the entire apartment moved like an ocean of shadows.The closer Bailey got to Zane’s room, the louder it became.The whisper became a shout.Bailey wondered if it was all in his head.It had to be because how could it be so quiet then feel like it was physically slamming into him after opening Zane’s door?Bailey flinched, his movement stopping completely because of the sudden jolt from the noise.He pressed his hands against his head and tried to speak once more.“Zane!Zane, wake up!”
Bailey could see he was still asleep, though he was anything but content.Zane’s brow furrowed, lips moving so rapidly that Bailey wondered if perhaps he had fallen into a nightmare.His veins became a dark black beneath his pale skin.His eyelids darkened, mirroring the shadows in the room.He almost didn’t look human with that constant twitch of his limbs.If it was a nightmare, Bailey really wanted to wake up.
He moved closer and closer to Zane, his vision blurring.When he reached Zane’s bedside, the words were practically screaming at him; “I’m sorry.”
Bailey grabbed Zane by the shoulders, shaking him furiously.He called out his name, but Bailey’s voice disappeared when put up against the shouting in his head.Suddenly, Zane’s eyes opened wide to show pure black.He shot up from bed with a deep breath, the words finally changing to a name that Zane practically choked out, “Isaiah!”
Everything changed in an instant.It felt like Bailey was suddenly put into a typhoon; the wind picking up in their apartment.The shadows around Zane and the apartment returned to him.His skin reverted to normal, eyes went from black to their natural blue, but his heavy breaths remained.
Finally, it was quiet.Bailey’s ears rang, so he wasn’t sure if he shouted or whispered his next question, “Zane, are you...ok?”
The peaceful Zane was gone.His head snapped to the side, taking Bailey in for a moment before growling, “Get out.”
“Huh?”
“I said get out,” he repeated, voice shaking, as were his legs, though he still got up and pushed Bailey out of the room.There was no time to struggle before the door slammed shut, leaving him confused, cold, and alone in the hall.
Bailey turned around to look at Zane’s door.He wasn’t surprised to find it locked, but definitely annoyed.Why weren’t they past the not talking stage?
Sighing, he knocked on the door and requested Zane to come out and talk.When that didn’t happen, he suggested talking to Chris, but all he got was a very stern, “Go away.”
Bailey scowled.It was obvious he wouldn’t be getting any answers.Grumbling, he returned to his room, getting into bed even if he knew there was no way he would fall asleep.With his face buried in his pillow, Bailey tried to piece together what happened.It wasn’t a nightmare; it was real, and that only made it more confusing.
What the hell happened?Why was Zane apologizing?And who was Isaiah?
CHAPTER 22
Theatmospherewithintheapartment completely changed.The following day Zane not only woke up in time but also woke up early.That left Bailey unbelievably baffled.Zane left to train prior to Bailey waking.If that didn’t screamI’m avoiding you, then Bailey wasn’t sure what else would.
However, Bailey was not the only one being avoided, or rather, treated differently.He went to meet up with Chris to observe like he had done the day prior.Natalia and Chris whispered to one another until Bailey arrived.The moment he stepped into the room, both were looking at him with a questioning stare.He assumed Zane was acting odd, even with them.
“Did something happen last night?”Chris asked.
“Zane had a nightmare, I think.”
“And?”
Bailey shrugged, then crossed his arms and tried to put the experience into words, “When I woke up, the apartment was dark.He kept saying I’m sorry and then—who is Isaiah?”
Bailey didn’t understand how a single name could change everything so much.Chris’ eyes widened.Natalia furrowed her brow and curled inward on herself.Their bodies tensed, gaze shifting to each other and returning to Bailey.Whoever Isaiah was, they knew him, and whatever happened; it had to be bad.
“Did he say anything about Isaiah?”Natalia asked.Her voice shook, a tentative response for one normally hot.
“No, when he finally woke up, all he did was call out his name.”
Chris nodded.Natalia gnawed at her bottom lip.She shifted away to approach the viewing window, remaining there in perturbed silence.
“I thought the mysteries were lessening, but it seems like Zane has more secrets than I thought.”Bailey chuckled, although the sound was anything but amused.
Chris rested a hand against Bailey’s shoulder.“Isaiah is one of the things Zane has to speak about on his own.”
Bailey nodded even if he wanted to pick at both Chris and Natalia till they broke down and told him every little detail.
“Don’t ask him about it, though.”
Bailey snapped his head to the right, staring at Chris in disbelief.Normally, Chris was supportive of Bailey trying to learn more.It seemed Isaiah was another story because Chris was completely serious.
“The more you try to force him to talk, the longer it will take for him to open up about it,” Chris explained.He ruffled Bailey’s hair.“I know you don’t want to wait, but Zane needs you to wait for him.Can you do that?”
