Chapter 2

You often hear others speak out about missing their bed, they say they can't wait to get home and just die where they sleep. 

But what if you can't relate? What if your bed is the house where all your nightmares live with you, tormenting you, every night! 

Do you remember the first restful, peaceful, deep sleep that you achieved.. in someone else's bed?

***

Noon quickly rolled in and although he was sleepy earlier, it wasn't something he easily gave himself over to for long.  

Tristan began to stir at one point. He didn't immediately jump up or anything. Just laying there with his eyes still closed. It felt like he was thinking, he thought he was thinking, but really he was hugging tightly to the memories of this slightly peaceful moment.

Until he squeezed just a bit tighter in hopes of not letting go of this momentary success and he felt a weight in his arms. 

He finally opened his eyes to see Alexiel resting on the bed in front of him. Slow even breaths, a slight snore, but definitely another sleeping person was right in front of him!

His mind immediately jolted awake! Trying to free himself he felt the cold wall at his back! Panic started to set in. 

All this commotion finally got Alexiels attention and he began to move about in a drowsy state. He shifted from one side to the other moving his back away and began facing Tristan. 

"Are you hungry? Why did you wake me?"

"Hung.. what?? Why are you sleeping next to me?"

Alexiel moved his eyes to meet Tristans. 

"Tris, calm down. You fell asleep in my bed, where else would I be sleeping if not next to you?" 

Tristan had no response for a moment. Alexiel was right. This was his room, his bed, his house…

What was he thinking just climbing into another person's bed even if they were best friends.

"I uh.. I wasn't thinking straight earlier? Skipping school, the emergency broadcasts, the hope of healing me… 

I think everything sent my thoughts into a mild disorder. Laying down and getting some rest seemed like the best idea earlier?"

Tristan finally moved to sit up and began rubbing his forehead. It was only at this moment that realization struck him like ten thousand lightning bolts!! 

"MY VEIL!" 

From shock to extreme paral flashed throughout his entire body! 

The same thought screaming in his mind over and over again

"He saw my face! He's SEEN MY FACE!! MY FACE!!!!!"

This was not an exaggerated reaction at all! Even his own family felt horror and disgust when they looked at him. 

They spoke about it very freely as long as he was in another room! 

The voice of his sister gossiping! Lying!!! To all her friends that would listen, that she was so pitiful for having to live with a deformed ugly brother! 

She would go on and on about how her mutant brother went from a normal child to a hideous monster after his awakening! 

No one at home knew that it was at her own hands that his face became like this! 

In a fit of rage one weekend while their parents were away on business, she wouldn't stop muttering about why they couldn't be happy having just one child! 

It wasn't that he was too loud, or obnoxious, just the simple fact that other people's attention would be on him and not her was enough. 

This particular weekend while her parents were away she vowed to get rid of him and say a burglar broke in and maimed her brother! 

Little Tristan was only 8 years old when his 12 year old sister took the baseball bat out of the closet and started to strike him over the head repeatedly!

She was laughing hysterically! This was the first ounce of happiness she felt in what seemed like forever! 

She screamed at him about how worthless he was and how he shouldn't be as pretty as she is! 

Only she was allowed to be beautiful, loved, and cared for in the family! 

Un-ironically extreme shock and duress is one of the known ways for a mutant to awaken their abilities. 

Some people have lived well into their 30s or 40s and have their life saved by the freak encounter! 

Tristan awakened a Unique ability, Crystallization! 

This ability allowed him to turn all organic or non-organic material into a crystal, including himself!

The first great blow which should have rattled his brains to smithereens and every successive blow afterwards only did a limited amount of damage. 

Even the blood that was spilling from his head crystalized all over the furniture. 

When everything was happening the young girl hadn't taken notice of the peculiarities but soon enough his whole body was crystallized and the rebound of the bat in such tender hands actually split her skin open creating a deep gash!

Tristan had been unconscious for 3 months until he woke up to a story that his sister spun saying he hurt her in a rage in the process of his awakening.

For 3 months she cried in her parents arms creating a web of lies about how Tristan yelled out horrible things, telling everyone she felt so threatened!

Although his ability extended and even saved his life, the damage to his skull wasn't easily fixed away. 

In the 3 months of his coma his body slowly reverted back from the crystallized state except for the parts where bone, flesh and brain tissue was broken away!

While the rest of his body is fleshy. When he woke up and cried out for the love and protection of his parents they shunned him. 

Their daughter didn't even need to speak up as prejudice for mutants ran very deep in their society. 

During this time even the neighbors were targeted, she facilitated her friends to start malicious rumors even going so far as to accuse her mother of infidelity!

She was a perfectly normal human girl! This other child must be a bastard love child! 

Thankfully the father didn't easily believe in the rumor mill flying about, but that's not the same as not having any doubts at all. Of course DNA tests were taken to prove their kinship.

Very quickly a dark shadow loomed in both of their hearts! They became one of those families they read about in the paper. Normal humans birthing mutants into the world. 

Even more so, a psychotic one that tried to murder their only other human child. Years of counselling helped lessen the tension so cohabitation became slightly easier. 

But Tristan knew the frequent business trips were really not all about business. At an early age he learned to keep his face covered, always, even refusing to glance at his bare face in mirrors in fear that he couldn't take the hideousness of himself. 

After so many years the self brainwashing was getting deeper and deeper and sometimes he wondered if he really did have a mental break and hurt his sister. 

It wasn't until his first friend came along and stuck by his side regardless of the evil chit chat of others. 

Alexiel became the only light in a very dark tunnel. 

And now the only person he cared about was taking the full image of him in, his eyes licking every corner of the scars that have imprisoned him to this life of hell! 

Tristant was breaking down under the stress of his own thoughts! He finally thought he would be healed and would be able to show this friend of his a full toothy grin. 

He thought that he wouldn't have to see the world only through one eye. 

He thought he would be safe from the madness of others. 

And one innocent nap ruined it all… 

His heart was broken before Alexiel even had a chance to speak. 

Although his eyes were open his awareness was hyper focused on the horrifying scenes playing through his mind! 

The shouting of his thoughts rattling his senses! 

There no longer was any doubt, the memories of the night his sister took his life were chiseled into the concrete of his mind.

He was so beside himself in grief that it wasn't until he felt his face being cupped on both sides that he finally refocused his gaze…

Foreheads touching their eyes locked in place. One normal green eye, and one crystallized cerulean eye stared into Alexiels light brown, almost golden eyes. 

"Tristan, breathe. Slowly breathe. You are okay! You are safe here. I promise I won't throw you away!" 

This was the first intimate act of human contact in 6 years. 6 years!! Do you know what that does to a child who has at one point known the love and tenderness of his parents? 

Tristan was so shocked that he didn't notice the tears that flowed from both of his eyes. Down his face, over his friends hands, and onto the bed. 

What was this feeling? Why does it feel so close to fear? But why is it so comforting as well? 

Tristan couldn't even muster up any words to say and brokedown into a deep sob, the tears flowing even more heavy. 

His mind was screaming for help all these years! Even now he could hear the voice in the back of his head. But warmth? He could finally feel a warmth in this cold dark life of his… 

He knew that the fear he felt was from finally feeling the depth of his despair truly. He had been so numb to the cold for so long. Warmth, this is the help he'd been crying out for. 

It's one thing not to know, but now that he knew, the trauma of losing this warmth was an insurmountable weight in his little heart. 

Alexiel cradled Tristan's head on his shoulder and just let his friend cry it out. No one, old or young, should have to suffer so deeply.

***

Tristan finally calmed down after a half hour or so. He had just been sitting there head resting on Alexiel's shoulder, Crystal side down. 

He was so nervous and embarrassed. They had been friends for a while now and Alexiel did everything right. 

He never went out of his was to ask him about his traumas or poke fun at him for being different. 

He treated Tristan like any normal person which is why Tristan took it upon himself to open up on a few occasions giving Alexiel a spoon full of information here or there. 

Eventually Alexiel was the one who stood out and said he would help heal him. He told Tristan that it was an innate part of his gift. 

It was nothing like a promise, just a sure declaration that since he, Alexiel, said it could be done, it would!

The use of mutant abilities is very frowned upon, its not like its illegal, but all the mortal minded humans couldn't help but get their panties in a knot out of jealousy. 

So although Tristan had a very unique ability He knew very little about it except for the experiential he would try secretly behind closed doors. 

To his parents any reminder that their son was different was shameful to their core, and the absurdity of allowing him to play with something dangerous enough to hurt them or their daughter was maddening. 

Even when going for check ups they refused the doctors in depth ability assessments and only allowed him to participate in the mandatory ones. 

This was not only stunting the growth of his abilities but stagnating the healing process of his wounds. 

A few times he imagined it was their devious way of punishing him, but that was exaggeration. His parents were really too simple minded to think that in depth. 

It's not like there were no other mutant children, but many of them easily passed for human, and regardless of his deformity, even if they never saw it with their own eyes, had spun many haunting stories about him.

Even if they didn't participate in the bullying they figured it was better to steer clear of any possible trouble and danger. 

Tristan had to mature very early on so it's not like he couldn't understand their young, immature, and impressionable mindset, it was just a terrible feeling when you are the one they are avoiding. 

He felt so weak facing this only friend of his right now. Too embarrassed to start talking first, too scared to move, this was not how he planned for today to go at all. 

GRUMBLE**

And just like that his stomach was crying out for food!!! Crying actually burns calories! 

He felt Alexiel begin to move and he decided to finally sit up.

"Here let me get you a wrag, I'm gonna go heat up leftovers. My mom and sisters should be ready to eat as well. 

In this house you are very very safe, don't rush to cover yourself back up. Give us a chance, we won't disappoint you!"

Alexiel hurried over to grab a wrag then pointed Tristan to the bathroom. 

While he was in the kitchen setting up the plates and heating the food he hear a cry from the hallway

"OH WoW!!"