The scent of fear

The morning sun casts a gentle glow through the dorm room’s window as I tiptoe around, my friends still lost in slumber, recovering from last night’s festivities. I carefully gather my things, attempting to be the silent ninja of early departures.

As I prepare to stealthily sneak out for the barbecue lunch at Aleksander’s place in New Jersey, my phone disrupts the silence with an incoming text message from Liam. I fight the urge to wring my phone’s neck, if only it’s got a neck, but my heart leaps at the prospect of seeing Liam again, adding an extra layer of excitement to the day’s adventure with Hannah’s book.

I snatch my backpack and head toward the door, ready to embrace the mysteries of Aleksander’s world. But, of course, nothing escapes Sarah’s keen sense of hearing.

“Liv… where are you going?” Her voice is hoarse, likely a result of too much partying and perhaps a hangover.

I turn around, grinning at my still groggy friends. “Out… with Liam.”

Sarah’s eyes widen. “On a date?”

I hesitate for a moment, then playfully reply, “Um… yeah… something like that.” A mischievous wiggle of my brows seals the enigmatic response.

Anya, apparently more awake now, adds her own curiosity to the mix. “So, Roni is out of the picture?”

I nod, knowing they won’t let me leave without some explanation. “Tell us… what happened last night? At first, Liam goes off with Roni, and you hit it off with Nikko. Then suddenly, you and Liam disappear… and Roni was going crazy, looking all over for him. Then we see you and Liam rushing off to the car like thieves—what was that all about? You didn’t even say goodbye.”

“I’m sorry about that… well… it’s a long story,” I begin, not wanting to spill the dragon-shaped beans just yet. “I promise to tell you everything later… but Liam is downstairs waiting for me. So, I gotta go, okay? Bye!”

With a final wave and a grin, I slip out of the dorm room, ready to embrace whatever the day brings and, perhaps, share them with my friends later on.

I exit the dorm building and spot Liam waiting at the curb, perched behind the wheel of a sleek BMW SUV. “Show off,” I mutter under my breath, my lips curving into a playful grin as I hop into the vehicle beside the driver’s seat.

“Good morning, girlfriend,” Liam greets me, his voice warm and inviting.

“Whoa! I’m not your girlfriend yet, alright?” I tease, a hint of laughter in my words. “I thought we agreed to take it slow?”

Liam seems a bit puzzled by my response. “Yeah… but aren’t we—”

“We’re not anything… yet,” I clarify, “just friends, okay? Let’s start there and see how it goes. We barely know each other, Liam.”

He hesitates for a moment, seeming to weigh my words. “True… but then, how can we get to know each other if—”

“If what?” I inquire, my curiosity piqued.

“Okay… we’re friends,” he concedes, “but isn’t it awkward for friends to be dating?”

I contemplate his question. “What’s wrong with that?”

Liam appears a bit conflicted. “Nothing… it’s just not normal…”

“Aren’t you and Roni just friends you said?” I remind him. “Do friends snog each other?”

He lets out a sigh. “Yeah… but that’s different. She’s a friend… with benefits. You can’t be like her—”

“Can we just avoid putting a label on it?” I suggest. “Being friends feels more comfortable, don’t you think?”

Liam shrugs and shifts the car into gear, rolling onto the highway. “Sure, whatever you say, my friend.”

“So—why are we leaving so early? Aleksander might not be ready to receive us just yet.”

“Because we’re not seeing him just yet,” Liam reveals cryptically. “I want to show you something first.”

My curiosity piqued, I press for more information. “What is it?”

“Patience, Liv,” Liam replies with a sly grin. “Just sit tight… we’ll get there.”

Liam guides the car towards Hudson River Park. When we arrive at the parking lot, he takes out his tablet and leads me towards the esplanade.

The gentle lapping of the water creates a soothing sound to the already relaxing ambience of the morning. The early sun casts a warm glow on the park, painting everything in a soft, golden hue.

As Liam and I sit on a bench, the world around us carries on its rhythm. Elderly chess players engage in their strategic dance nearby, their laughter and murmurs a comforting backdrop. A young mother’s laughter chimes through the air as she pushes her baby in a stroller, their joy infectious.

Lovers stroll along the esplanade, their presence adding a touch of romance to the tranquil setting. The occasional jogger or cyclist passes by, their determined strides a testament to the city’s ceaseless energy.

Liam’s voice brings me back to our conversation, and I focus on him as he holds the tablet, a glint of anticipation in his eyes.

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” he finally says. “I was worried that someone might have seen us… so, I checked the CCTV cameras around Upper Manhattan, with a little help from Chelsea—”

His explanation about Chelsea, the mysterious voice in the elevator, piques my curiosity. It’s fascinating, and yet, a part of me can’t help but feel a slight unease at the notion of tapping into artificial intelligence.

“Did you hack into Chelsea?”

“Something like that… but I did nothing to jeopardize the building’s operations. And no one knows… except Chelsea. And now you.”

“Are we gonna get into trouble?”

He waves a hand, dismissing my concerns. “No— just watch this…”

I lean in closer to the tablet screen, my heart racing as I watch the video with a mixture of fascination and disbelief. The intersection on the screen looks familiar, and there I am, barefoot and seemingly in a trance, crossing the street. The moment when the truck’s headlights flash, I vanish.

“What... what just happened? The CCTV camera didn’t catch you? How can that be?“ I stammer, my eyes still fixed on the screen.

Liam lets out a heavy sigh. “I wish I had all the answers, Liv. But this is as baffling to me as it is to you.”

I tear my gaze away from the tablet, my thoughts swirling like a whirlpool. “This is unreal... It’s like a magic trick or something.”

“It’s more like a magic mystery,” Liam says, a hint of concern in his eyes. “Apparently, when I’m in my dragon form, I become invisible. And I don’t know if it’s something to be excited about or terrified of.” He chuckles. “I wracked my brains trying to figure out how I could shift in an instant, but I don’t know… it felt more like a primal instinct.”

The park around us buzzes with life, a stark contrast to the weighty conversation we’re having. The gentle rustle of leaves and the distant laughter of children create a soothing backdrop, grounding me as I grapple with the extraordinary revelations.

Liam’s vulnerability touches me. The uncertainty in his voice resonates deeply. It’s easy to forget that beneath the veneer of his supernatural abilities, he’s still human, susceptible to fear and doubt.

“We’ll figure this out together, Liam. Let’s hope Hannah’s book has more to it than just a story.” My words hold a quiet determination, a promise to navigate this uncharted territory with him.

His gaze follows a flock of birds that flitted around the branches of a nearby tree. “This all seems exciting at first, but to be honest— I’m scared. What if I turn into a dragon and never be able to shift back as a human?”

His fear is palpable, and I can’t bear to see him like this. My own apprehension simmers beneath the surface, but I push it down, focusing on being his anchor. “No— don’t say that. There’s got to be some explanation for everything. And I won’t rest until we find it.”

“Really? You’re not abandoning me?”

“Of course not. Stop being so clingy now.” I tease him, trying to infuse a bit of lightness into the heavy atmosphere. It’s my way of assuring him that he’s not alone in this.

“It’s just— I’ve noticed my senses have sharpened, somehow. Okay… don’t look now. But there’s a couple two lamp posts away to your left— the guy acts like he’s saying something like a joke to his wife, because the woman kept laughing, but he kept looking this way. He’s looking at you, actually.”

I suppress the urge to glance over, not wanting to fuel Liam’s concerns. “Stop it. It’s your green monster that sees things.”

“No… I think I’m being paranoid. It’s growing. And it’s eating me up.”

“Hey… maybe you need therapy. I’d suggest you see my therapist, Dr. Mead. She’s good—”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “No way I’m gonna do that. No one else can know about this.”

“Then deal with it.” My tone is firm, laced with genuine concern. Liam’s well-being is important to me, and I’m determined to stand by his side, no matter what challenges lie ahead.

“How? I don’t even know I got it… what if it goes out of hand and I start hurting people?”