A Journey On Wings Part Four

[*Hope*]

I can never tell Aunt May. Thought Faid. He had stayed at the hospital for two weeks recuperating and doing physical therapy. An amazed Dr. Sherman had told him the day before that he was probably in the best shape of his life and he could go home. Aunt May and Jason had questioned him countless times on the contents of the letter but he had only sadly shook his head. He still wasn't sure if he entirely believed it himself. He turned his head and looked out the window of his Aunt May's station wagon. The day was warm and sunny, as beautiful day as anyone could wish for. Faid ran his hand through his white hair. The doctor had said his white hair had been caused by the shock of being stabbed and that it would probably remain pigment-less the rest of his life. Not that it really mattered.
"We're here!!" Sang Aunt May from the front seat. Faid watched as they drove into the driveway of Aunt May's small two story house. Everything looked just the way he had left it. Sometimes he thought he was the only one who had changed. He moved to unbuckle himself and his hand brushed against his pocket. He frowned as he remembered he had stashed his father's letter there. His hand moved to the door handle.
"Say, Faid, why don't you come over here for a moment." trailed the voice of his Aunt in the backyard. He stepped out and rounded the corner of the house to see what his Aunt wanted.
"Aunt Ma..." He stopped midsentence. John. Jason and several of the more popular kids were standing in his backyard. John and Jason were waving in greeting.
"What are they doing here?" He whispered to Aunt May.
"Well, John came to visit you in the hospital shortly after you fell into a coma and I thought it might be nice if we threw a kind of 'waking up' party." she whispered back. "Hey, look everybody, it's Faid! Nice hair, what die did you use?" John said as he walked over to Faid and gave him a slap on the back. Faid could definitely tell he'd grown. He was a whole five inches over John, who had done some growing himself.
"I didn't die it." He replied sullenly.
"Oh, well... Hey guys, lets welcome our best buddy!" Cheers went up around the crowd. Aunt May smiled and looked over to Faid. Her smile stopped abruptly. Faid's eyes flashed in anger. His hands were balled up tightly at his sides, his knuckles white.
"Faid?" she questioned. Faid drew a hand across his chest in a cutting motion.
"You think you can just play all buddy buddy with the comatose, huh?" This startled the group. "You never paid any attention to me before. And now I get your sympathy! Well, I don't want it! Give it to someone you really care about!" His tongue lashed like a whip with these words, cutting deep. Aunt May looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were gathering faster than she could make them out. The once gentle breeze had picked up speed and now blew with deadly force.
"Oh, wait, you don't care about anyone, do you!" A lightning bolt cracked behind them. Jason couldn't believe his eyes. Faid was magnificent angry! The wind tossed his white hair in all directions and his eyes flashed with intensity. He had never seen this side of Faid before. What had happened?
"Let me tell you something. I'm not a little kid you can bully anymore. If you even think about I'll show you a true nightmare!" Something snapped in Faid's eyes. They widened in horror. He dropped his head down and looked at his hands. He raised his eyes and gazed up at the haunting sky.
"I...." His shoulders slumped in silent defeat. The wind calmed down and the clouds began to disband. "I didn't believe him. It's not true, it can't be..." His voice trailed off in uncertainty.
"Faid?" Aunt May questioned.
"No! Stay away. Don't come near me!" He backed away from her and ran frantically into the house. Aunt May walked over to the spot he had stood. A folded piece of paper lay on the ground. She picked it up and opened it. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the signature. Raidon Alcaust. She swallowed the lump in her throaght and began to read.
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Faid raced into his room and shut the door. He leaned his back against it and took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. Sweat dripped off his face and his hand shook. What if….? His mind would not finish the question. He exhaled deeply and lifted his head up to look around the room. Everything looked the way he had left it. Then his eye caught something lying on his bed. He cautiously walked over and bent down to see what it was. A long, thin box that resemble an instrument case, but much longer, rested comfortably on his sheets. He reached down and flipped the cover opened. I'm dreaming. That has to be it. It's all a dream. His mind was telling him. But something in his heart was telling him otherwise. A beautiful katana lay on a velvet cushion. The hilt black and the grip had a long, red cloth wrapped around to provide better handling. The cloth was tied so that two long ends extended a foot or so off the sword. Faid was reluctant to pick it up, but in the end, he knew he had to. It was surprisingly light and felt familiar to his hands. After he had juggled it about in his hands to get a feel for it he removed the sheath. The blade sang as he removed it and shone like a star. It was truly a magnificent weapon. Faid could tell it had been used before, but it was not stained with human blood, and it was definitely in good shape. A crash of lightning drew his attention to the window. It had starting to rain heavily in the few minutes he had been indoors. The rain was an unwelcome reminder of the scene outside. He ran back to the door and clicked the lock shut. "I just want to be alone right now." To think things out. He told to know one in particular. One more glance at the window and he had made his decision.
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Aunt May had sent Jason and the others home, explaining that Faid was probably not quite himself just yet and he needed a little more time. But she knew better. She sat at the kitchen table, Raidon's letter across from her. Now why would someone start a horrible hoax like that? She questioned herself. It just didn't make sense. She knew Faid was feeling a little different but goblins and Windmasters had nothing to do with it. She was sure of it.
"Maybe I should go check on him. She proceeded to walk up the stairs and knock on Faid's door.
"Faid, can I come in?" No answer. "Faid, I just want to talk. I'm not mad at you." Still no answer. She tried the doorknob. It was locked.
"Faid?" She tried again. She felt panic starting to rise in her throaght. The door lock broke, (it was old anyway), and she half fell into the room. Faid was no where to be seen. His window was open, the wind tossing his drapes about. May walked over to close it and stopped. Bed sheets had been tied together and made a rope hanging out the window. The box from Faid's father she had set on his bed for when he got home was open and the contents removed. She took one more look at the window and bolted down the stairs.
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