Gods & Mortals

The approach of nightfall brought with it a sense of anticipation for Rose. She lay on her bed, thoughts consumed by the impending meeting with Klaus. Her gaze remained fixed on the clock, each tick resonating in her mind.

Agreeing to rendezvous with him at 9:00 pm, she resolved to wait patiently. But the waiting wasn't easy for anyone, particularly in her situation. A flood of questions swirled in her mind, wondering what lay ahead.

She had finally encountered someone who shared her status of having unique abilities.

As the clock's hands converged on nine, her heart skipped a beat. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes momentarily, collecting herself before opening them again. Determined, she set off for the designated location.

Upon reaching his house, which was a considerable distance from her own, Rose hesitated before pressing the doorbell, her anxiety palpable. The suspense was becoming unbearable; she was eager for the revelations that awaited her.

The door swung open, revealing a woman who had been interrupted from her evening activities. As Rose realized who stood before her, she introduced herself with a touch of uncertainty.

"Good evening, ma'am. I'm sorry to intrude. I'm here to see your son."

Meeting her gaze, the woman's features softened into a warm smile. Her response was equally friendly.

"Oh, hello there. You must be a friend of Shade's."

"Actually," Rose clarified, "I'm here to see Klaus. We're friends from school, and we had plans for this evening."

A momentary pause followed before Klaus' mother continued the conversation.

"Well, isn't that interesting? I'm Natalie Walker, Klaus' mother, as you probably gathered. Nice to meet you."

Natalie was taken aback by the presence of this striking young girl at her doorstep, claiming to be here for Klaus. While she knew her son had his own unique charm and enigmatic appeal, he generally avoided attention and preferred to keep to himself.

Hearing Rose's explanation left Natalie momentarily speechless. Summoning Klaus seemed like the best course of action to address the situation and confirm his awareness.

Shade ascended the stairs to find Klaus and deliver the news. Klaus, in turn, made his way downstairs, acknowledging the unexpected development.

"Oh, it's you," Klaus muttered upon laying eyes on Rose.

"Oh, come on. Don't be like that," Rose quipped, offering a playful smile.

His mother chimed in, seeking confirmation as well as understanding the unfolding situation. "So, you know each other?"

Klaus let out a sigh and mumbled, "I guess."

Rose, mirroring his sigh, playfully retorted, "There you go again with your 'I guess.'"

Keen on keeping the interaction brief, Klaus turned his attention back to his mother. "Sorry, Mom. We'll be heading out for a while. Is that okay?"

After a brief pause, his mother nodded, granting her approval as the two of them embarked on their intended outing.

Watching them depart, Klaus' mother mused aloud, "I should start expecting the unexpected at this point." A small giggle escaped her lips as she reentered the house, a sense of amusement lingering in her wake.

Klaus and Rose walked side by side, enveloped in an awkward silence. Rose was unsure how to broach the topic of Klaus's abilities, and Klaus himself was seemingly lost in his thoughts, avoiding conversation. The evident tension between them refused to dissipate, casting an undeniable weight over their interaction.

Then, breaking the silence, Klaus spoke up. "Well, I think we're far enough. Hop on," he declared, extending his arms in a manner that suggested he was offering to carry her.

Rose found herself momentarily speechless, her face flushing with surprise. "W-What do you mean?" she stammered, her gaze dropping to the ground to avoid his eyes.

"Have you ever seen my graffiti work up close?" Klaus asked, his tone remaining casual despite the unusual offer.

Rose shook her head, a mixture of confusion and curiosity swirling within her. She struggled to understand his intentions.

"There's a piece I think came out great, about eight miles from here. So hop on and I'll take you there" Klaus inquired, his hands still extended for an imaginary embrace.

Rose was a jumble of conflicting emotions and unanswered questions. Why was he so insistent on carrying her? How could he possibly carry her in his arms across the city to an artwork that was eight miles away? Her mind buzzed with these unspoken thoughts, leaving her unable to voice her concerns.

Then, before she could object, he uttered a phrase that sent a jolt through her, weakening her resistance and stirring a strange sense of submission.

"Trust me."

Klaus had never displayed such sincerity toward Rose during their time together. When he uttered those words, it felt as though he had finally granted her access to a part of himself that he kept guarded.

Drawing closer to him, Rose allowed herself to be lifted into his arms. Her cheeks were aflame with embarrassment, and she found it difficult to meet his gaze. He instructed her to close her eyes briefly, which heightened her curiosity.

With closed eyes, she listened to his guidance, and then, as he prompted her, she opened her eyes again.

They were no longer where they had been before. The surroundings had shifted dramatically, and Rose's expression shifted along with it. Confusion, amazement, and disbelief mingled on her face in a jumble of emotions.

For a few moments, she struggled to process the sudden change, until realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. The enormity of what had just happened hit her all at once.

"You... and we... but we were... and... but how?"

Stunned and rendered nearly speechless, Rose grappled with the shock of the situation. In the blink of an eye, they had traversed eight miles.

Seated on the ground, Klaus took a moment to catch his breath, while Rose continued to grapple with her astonishment, trying to make sense of the impossible.

Finally recovering his breath, Klaus confirmed her suspicions. "So yeah, I can move at an incredible speed, but only during the night. And the toll it takes on me is the same as if anyone else had covered the distance."

Rose remained in a state of disbelief. Klaus had covered eight miles in the blink of an eye, and he managed to catch his breath in just a minute or two. It defied all logic and understanding.

Still grappling with the enormity of what she had witnessed, Rose found herself torn between doubt and a strange intuition that told her Klaus was telling the truth.

After a flurry of questions and a tumultuous whirlwind of confusion, Rose gradually settled into a state of relative calm. They both reclined on the roof, their gazes fixed upon the street art that Klaus had collaborated with Wallpaper to perfect.

CONVERSATION

Rose: So you're fast at night, huh?

Klaus: I guess.

Rose: How long have you known?

Klaus: It was about a few years ago. I can't be more specific than that.

Rose: Wow. This is just so insane, I'm speechless.

Klaus: At least now you know how I get away so easily.

Rose: I guess that's true.

They remained quiet for a while, their gazes alternating between the sky and the artwork on the wall.

Rose: How about your brother? Shade, was it?

Klaus: Yeah, and I don't think it's the same with him.

Rose: But it doesn't make sense. Aren't you guys brothers?

Klaus: Yeah, but we're not related by blood.

Rose: Wait, WHAT?

Klaus: Not many people know, but Shade is my adopted brother. My mom adopted him when we were just babies, so we grew up essentially like biological siblings.

Rose: Wow, that's a shocker.

Klaus: Well, it should be, considering you're the first person I've told.

Rose was left speechless by Klaus's openness. He was sharing his life with her for the first time, and the revelation made her happier than she had anticipated.

Before learning about his abilities and getting to know him better, Rose had been irritated by Klaus. Out of everyone she wanted to attract, he was the one who didn't pay her much attention. That irritation had driven her to engage with him in the first place.

It had started as a challenge to make the most popular nobody in their school fall for her, even though he was known to resist such advances. However, over time, she found herself genuinely enjoying their time together. It was almost as if their friendship was destined.

"Maybe even more than friends," a fleeting thought crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it in disbelief.

Rose had never experienced this kind of connection with anyone. It wasn't solely because Klaus was the only person not easily swayed by her attention, but rather, he was someone she felt comfortable around, someone she could lean on.

As she drifted back from her thoughts to the present moment, she noticed her eyes locked with Klaus's. His concern was evident as he asked, "Are you okay?"

Startled, she averted her gaze in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing.

"I-I'm fine," she stammered in response.

After a while, Klaus recognized an opportunity to gain insights into the origins of their abilities, and he decided to ask Rose.

"So, do you have any idea what might have caused all of this?"

She turned, gazing back at the sky, her expression serious. "I'm not certain, but I do have a theory," she replied.

"I believe it's connected to the giant men we see in our dreams, considering we both experience them."

As she mentioned it, Klaus recalled her earlier mention of those dreams. While he couldn't quite grasp the connection, her point intrigued him, and he wanted her to elaborate on her theory.

"I think there's a possibility that it's related to entities beyond human, hence the appearance of the giant men," she explained.

Klaus had a look of confusion, as he was beginning to understand her perspective.

"Do you mean Gods?" he asked.

Rose turned to him, her explanation continuing. "In the books and stories, the Gods were often depicted as larger than humans, sometimes around eight feet tall. This description matches the figures in our dreams."

Klaus responded with skepticism in his tone. "But that's impossible."

"Why do you say that?" Rose questioned.

"Because the Gods aren't real."

A moment of silence hung in the air as Rose gazed at him, clearly perplexed.

"After all that you've experienced, do you still think it's impossible for the Gods from the stories to exist?" she asked, her tone curious.

Klaus found himself at a loss for words. She had a valid point.

"I guess not," he mumbled, his gaze shifting to the sky.

He pressed on, uncertain. "But are you genuinely convinced of this theory? Or do you simply want it to be true?"

Rose fell silent for a moment, contemplating her response before finally answering.

"I suppose it's a bit of both."

Subsequently, they lingered on the rooftop for a while, soaking in the atmosphere before finally deciding to call it a night and return to their respective homes.

For Klaus, the evening had shed light on some of his queries, though he knew he still had much to uncover about his own abilities. He was surprised by his newfound zeal for understanding, a fervor he hadn't experienced before.

In an unfamiliar twist, he found himself feeling a sense of relief as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He believed, even if only temporarily, that he could slumber without the haunting grip of peculiar dreams.

Following a quick shower to cleanse himself from the night's excursions, Klaus slipped into bed, ready to embrace a peaceful sleep, free from the influence of enigmatic visions.

Or so he thought...