Read Feathers and Fangs :: Surveillance I

Saru is situated at a tower across Callum's apartment. From there he was able to freely watch the angel and his friends' happenings after the three escaped.

Lying on a bed with a damp cloth on his forehead was Callum.

Even at a far distance, his heightened eyesight and hearing help him to see and hear the kid's condition.

The boy has yet to gain consciousness ever since he was rescued by his friends. He had been battling a fever on and off. The curse hasn't shown any sign of easing up. Even his friends are starting to feel anxious as they do not know why is it taking so long for him to wake up and for the curse to subside.

Turning away, walking to the exit. He was about to leave when one of the kid's friends appear in front of him.

“What are you doing here, Mr. Wolf?” Aren asks.

“ I just want to check on the brat's doing. I wonder why he has yet to gain consciousness even though three days had passed since you got him back from us.” Saru answers with a shrug and walks to leave but not before he hears the boy snickers and says.

“Tsk tsk tsk, Cal's beauty is so captivating. Isn't he?” Aren gives Saru a knowing look. Despite him having inner turmoil regarding his friend's well-being. Mischievousness still manages to crawl out of his system.

Saru just ignores the taunt and leaves the place like he was never there.

“Ren, what took you so long?” Marcus asks when he enters their apartment.

“I just search the place for suspicious people before coming in,” he said as he places the groceries he buys.

"Did you find any?"

"Aside from our friend Wolf, There's nothing else.,"

"Pftt, that guy had it hard huh?"

The two boys were busy discussing what to do to Callum if he still does not wake up today when they heard.

“Morning guys.”

Aren and Marcus's heads turn to the beautiful figure leaning on the door frame of the kitchen.

“Cal!!” Aren exclaimed as he hugs his friend tight.

Putting his hand over Callum's forehead he smiles.

“ Thank goodness your fever is gone.”

“How are you feeling Cal? You've been sleeping for three days straight," asked a worried-looking Marcus cupping Callum's face.

“Hey guys stop fretting, my body heals on itself and the long sleep is needed to relax and hasten the process of healing, Callum said with a sad smile."

Callum still talking walks to the cupboards, searching for food to eat, He's famished.

"Besides isn't the medicine you gave me, the same as before? Hence, this should still be common, right? Callum asks, still searching the pantry for food.

“Sorry Cal, but I only bought cup ramen, more noodles, and canned goods,” Kou said while pulling said items out of the grocery bag one by one.

“Oh! and here.” Aren fishes out a box inside his pocket and throws it to Callum who's smile gets even wider.

“Chocolate pocky!!”

Marcus just shakes his head at his friend's childish antics.

They spoiled their friend too much.

After eating lunch. Aren and Marcus prepared to go outside.
“Cal, Ren, and I are leaving for an hour. Now that your awake we need to buy more stuff.” Marcus said while fixing his coat.

“Why can't I come with you guys?” Callum whines also getting his coat but was interrupted by Aren who pulls the coat out of his hand and pushes him towards his room down to his bed.

“You are going to rest Cal. I promise we'll be back, as fast as we can.” Aren said ruffling Callum's hair before walking out of the door along with Marcus.

Callum, left behind sits crossed legs on the bed and pouts.

"Why do I need rest? They said I had been sleeping for 3 days straight, so why do I still need more rest? Aren't I supposed to be, well-rested enough to do usual stuff together with them?" Callum keeps on rambling as he lay down on the bed.

Sighing he just can't help but feel exasperated by his friends over protectiveness.

“They treat me like a kid sometimes.” Chuckling as he covers himself with the blanket and drifted off to Lala land.

Aren and Marcus decided to have their interrupted talk in a park near their building.

"I think Callum's recovery from that curse is taking a little bit longer." Aren started.

Marcus nods his head in agreement.

"Before, it is not like this. He always bounces back after a day of rest as if nothing had happened. I wonder what changes now?" Aren continued, pacing back and forth.

"Maybe the potion we are giving him is not enough to help him deal with the after-effects of the curse? Should we get a stronger potion then?" Marcus suggested.

"Potions won't be able to help him, Marcus. It never does," Aren said as he looked up at the sky. Staring on the clouds like he was seeing something seemingly.

"What do you mean?" Marcus asked.

"The potion we are giving him just helps him numb the pain and puts him in a deep sleep until his body recovers. It doesn't make the curse subsided. We both know that Callum's curse is different. That curse was supposed to banish all of his ability, but it did not. We don't know and have any idea what exactly that cursed stone was doing inside of Callum," Aren explained with a resigned voice.

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

Callum screams he was falling into a well of endless darkness. He tried to use his wings but to no avail, his wings wouldn't appear. He keeps on falling until his body hits the ground. Grunting painfully he slowly opens his eyes. Eyes widening he began to tremble. He was back inside a very familiar golden cage.

“ My beautiful boy.” said the Man as he caressed his pasty pale cheeks.

“ I will not let others, have you. You are mine, Forever.” Then he bit the skin of Callum's neck so hard, it bleeds and there appears a blazing mark.

Excruciating pain shots through Callum's entire being. Burning his inside. Needles stabbing his flesh. His heart beating so fast like it's going to explode. Breathing heavily.

"Callum wake up!"

Jerking awake. Breathing hard, chest-pounding, forehead, chest is covered in a cold sweat, and hands clammy. Callum, still out of himself. Touches the mark on his neck. Feeling a phantom pain as he remembers the last words the man had said to him before he wakes up.

“I will come to take you back, my beloved.”

Stomach-churning he throws up before losing consciousness for the second time around.

Aren and Marcus just get back to their apartment when they heard Akihito screams.
Rushing inside the room dreading that their enemies must have found them. Bracing themselves for a fight. However, when they open the door nothing was amiss.

Hearing a pained sound they found Callum having a nightmare.

Noticing the curse active. Aren rushes to his friend and wakes him up.

Aren can enter dreams through touch.
Upon touching Callum he then saw a glimpse of the Man who is torturing his friend in his slumber.
Dread fills his entire being as he realizes that the reason their friend is getting worst was that the Man is coming and is closing in on them. And the mark acting on its own was a response to its master's call.