DJ in the Shelter

With a disturbing jerk to his whole body, DJ Snapped open his eyes in the dark place. He clutched his fingers around the vibrating mad cell phone cuddling him on his chest and pulled it away to see the caller ID with his bleary, dewy eyes. A blurry ‘private number’ appeared on the blue screen and that was enough to make the boy sit up on the dirty ground.

A wince left his parted lips when his sore body protested in pain, all the muscles and joints cried as he stretched his small tired body to straighten up and get ready to function properly. In his dazed state, DJ went to pick up the call first thing just to stop that annoying device that throbbed in his aching head, to finally talk to that unknown man and gab about things that happened previously. The detective also wanted to learn about the future actions that they had to go through in order to get help now that he had lost a chance.

But all that to-do list set off only to land in the trash when the phone, calling for attention, went silent and the vibration stopped indicating that the call was missed.

Sighing, DJ slumped back to his previous position to get comfortable again only to bump his head on the hard ground when he mistook the harsh reality of his current status as his soft and cloudy dream that he had earlier. Uttering an ‘O-Oww’ fairly loud, DJ looked up at the ceiling while holding his head in both his small hands. A gasp of fear left him and his breath hitched witnessing a dark, scratchy and suffocatingly low ceiling staring back at him.

‘Where am I?’ the boy thought with a racing heart and building anxiety as he lay still where he was mimicking the rocks surrounding him. Such scary and unpredictable situations were always too much for Jerry; he wasn’t the kind to accept a change or move with the flow like people would in most cases. DJ needed much more space, time and surety before he managed to do things.

That was one of the reasons he couldn’t leave Ferra Market even when he was mistreated and bullied almost every day. But then, the past few days were already messing with his depressed mind, and his mental comfort routine and was giving him more anxiety than any other days.

With wild thoughts already running wild and out of his grip, Jerry closed his eyes and took a deep breath to compose himself and not cry in helplessness. He slowly started to sit up again, breathing through his nose as he examined his whereabouts.

Looking around cautiously with those big round eyes, DJ took notice of the strange surroundings he was alone in. A large, imbalanced rocky structure roused from all his sides, tall enough for DJ to stand on his knees only and wide enough to accommodate a pair of humans easily. There was a small opening at one side, shining light inside the dark place and illuminating it lightly.

DJ concluded that as an entrance to the structure.

The ground he sat on was a little bit bearable compared to the otherwise humid and damp environment of the place. Then surrounding his small body were small rocks and twigs and dried leaves, at a small distance sat his minimal luggage in a piled-up small mountain.

Thankful to see his belongings and himself safe and sound, Jerry discerned the fact that he was residing in some sort of cave, a rock shelter. A flash of events from the night before started to play before his eyes, from the start of the wild chase to him tripping and dropping on the ground, the constant change of path to distract the people following, Yael finding a hidden spot and shoving him inside then both of them going almost unconscious, instantly, after hitting the ground.

It was like superhero movie making, in which DJ was casted without his permission.  

Another fact that made a self-discovery was the man who he had risked his life for was nowhere to be seen in that horrifying, slightly dark rock shelter.

‘Now where the hell is he?’ the boy thought speedily in his mind.

While processing his tragic condition and looking around for Yael frantically in that small space, DJ yelped horrified when suddenly his phone, that had slipped under his thigh when he sat up, chimed with another call. The boy hurried for the device before it went silent again, he pressed the button for attendance and placed the gadget against his ear.  

 “h-hello?” he stuttered hoarsely, a strange pricking pain running from his tongue to his parched throat made him aware of his thirsty state. He rubbed at his scratchy throat uncomfortable and glanced at his bag, which contained a small gallon of water and other stuff, in a desperate need.

There was a mild shuffling sound emitting from the other side of the phone as the caller didn’t utter an answer right away, maybe the man was searching for a good spot to start the conversation. As he waited for the response, Jerry crawled his way on his knees and one hand to get to the bag but then he stopped mid-act of retrieving the water gallon when a low growl echoed in his eardrums.

“Where the hell are you?!!” a question with a harsh tone was enunciated in DJ’s ear, taking his diverted attention, so clearly and demanding that the boy had to pull the phone away for a second to stare at the screen in disbelief.

What did he do to deserve such a tone of voice?

“w-what?” he managed to ask as politely as he could, trying to convey his disappointment through his voice. But that didn’t help Jerry the way he thought would, the caller was still very much displeased and he made sure to deliver that.

“Where are you DJ? I have been calling you non-stop……..where the hell are you? Why weren’t you picking up!!!” the boy winced when the caller nearly shouted through the device, he couldn’t help but gather tears of helplessness and vulnerability in his big eyes.

The detective didn’t like being shouted at. With his anxiety and constant stress, his fragile heart couldn’t manage harsh treatments.

It was how he was, soft and innocent.

“I-I don’t kn-know….” He tried again calmly, breathing softly to compose himself but it went in vain with the caller’s next words.

“you don’t know? What the fuck does that mean?....” the man on the phone barked agitated, his harsh intake of breaths told DJ how frustrated the man was.

“I told you to go east to find help didn’t I?.....than why the fuck are you not there?” Jerry closed his eyes to not let the tears slip and listened to the continuous scolding with heavy heart but that couldn’t work out for so long. The caller was accusing DJ at an unmatched pace, he raised his voice and said pretty bad things to the detective until the boy couldn’t take it anymore.

Soon that heaviness lifted itself from his heart and DJ felt himself getting mad at the now ranting man.

“you know what boy……you are lost and that too with lord Yael” the man announced with a strange accusing tone. Without bearing any sympathy for the unfortunate boy or a gesture of thankfulness for freeing the lord from that unforgiving dungeon, the man kept charging at him.

And that’s where DJ finally lost it. Although he was hurt and was on the verge of crying, Jerry was adamant about not letting those salty drops get him this time. It wasn’t his fault what happened at the cottage, the detective was ready to head where he was directed to rid himself of that huge man as soon as possible and go his own merry way to never see any of them again, but luck wasn’t on his side and he was stuck for another adventure.

He wasn’t to be blamed. If anyone, then it has to be Yael and DJ decided to deliver the fact and make it clear.

“I-If yo-you are s-so worried th-then why do-don’t you c-come a-and do ev-everything on yo-your o-own. Yo-your L-lord, th-that dumb-dumbass was th-the one----….” The boy stuttered his way to draw a line but he was cut off by another loud yell.

“don’t talk about my Lord that way boy!!!..... I am warning you” the man threatened as he breathed harshly. DJ cowered back behind the phone and then there began a long pause between the heated moment of two people struggling with their own problems.

A loud sigh, containing frustration, disappointment and a little bit of regret, reached DJ’s ears before the man began.

“let’s get this clear DJ……..you and Yael both have to leave Malia as soon as you can. There is an unimaginable danger that is after you both…..a killer on the loose for each of you” the caller started while Jerry listened attentively. His own heart raced at several thoughts of being on someone’s hit list but there was nothing he could do more than obey.

“…… The plan for east is ruined but there is still a way to work this out.” The man paused and DJ heard a series of different voices merging together behind the caller.

He must be on a busy way.

“w-what wa-way?” the boy asked.

“Now listen to me carefully boy……..” the man started again, explaining the next plan of action for both Yael and the detective. DJ was miserable by the time the man stopped his rambling, the boy only wished to get away from all that mess without losing his life but that wish seemed a little useless considering the hard-headed man he was with.

Lord Yael, without knowing him even slightly, was a pain in the ass.

………..

After a long discussion with the unknown well-wisher, and secretly pouting for the longest time, the detective was ready to find the missing Lord once again. Glugging down half a gallon of water to quench his thirst and resting his racing thoughts for a minute, DJ gathered his stuff to start his quest. He pulled the smaller bag over his shoulders and dragged the heavy one carefully as he slowly reached for the entrance of the surreal place he was in.

Peeking out, the detective detected for any sort of inconveniences that might jump scare him all of a sudden but fortunately, he found none. Scrambling out, the young boy instantly felt the temperature difference inside the cave compared to the outside. The weather was warm, scorching sunlight burned his skin producing instant beads of sweat on his body making the boy grimace internally, his heavy attire only adding to the problem.

But that can be dealt with some other time, the only purpose at hand was Yael and his missing stubborn self.

DJ paced ahead in the forest while softly calling for the lord, the burning sun had brightened everything around and the deep dark forest finally sparkled with the light of the day, showcasing the natural beauty it possessed.       

He called and called as he moved, the young detective didn’t know how much time had passed and how far he had come to find Yael, but the man was nowhere to be seen. The situation made him think about the worst possible scenarios and that did nothing but add to his anxiety.

Was he abandoned by the lord and left stranded alone after his miserable self was exposed?

He can’t do that now can he? Even after he had risked his life for him?

That doesn’t seem fair.

Emerged in his self-degrading thoughts, DJ stopped in his tracks suddenly only to listen to what felt like a splashing sound of water. He ducked behind a tree for cautious observation, then after a while of providing himself with the courage to move forward and look for the lord near the possible waterfall, Jerry stepped out and tip-toed towards the refreshing loud sound of water.

Right to his estimate, at some distance was situated a moderate-sized waterfall, which immediately turned Jerry’s sore mood upside down.

Discovering the source of the calming sound, DJ looked up at the rocking structure from where the gentle stream started, flowing down on the bands of smaller rocks and finally merging with the channel right in front of his eyes.

A happy feeling bloomed in his chest, wiping the negativity in his brain in a snap, making the boy breathe in the quality air and close his eyes for a moment. The ruling difficulties and unwanted problems seemed less energy-consuming as a large burden shifted from DJ’s mind when a blow of fresh wind tousled his hair and touched his heated skin.

The boy paced closer to the stream and stepped inside the water not caring about anything, small pebbles under his boots made him imbalance but he managed to stand straight and bask in the clean air.

Oh how he would love to live his life like that.

The thoughts were beautiful, appealing even but still there were matters at hand that needed to be addressed. Yael was not present at the amazing view as well and that begin another war of worries in Jerry’s mind.

“L-Lord!....Lo-Lord” he called out again, looking around as he cupped his mouth to make his voice echo, only to no use. The boy was hot, thirsty and hungry, all he wanted was a big juicy meal, a cold icy shower and a bed to rest for the rest of his life.

But luck was not on his side like always.

Deciding to continue his search further into the forest, since the lord wasn’t present there, and leave the precious scenery behind, DJ turned around cursing his luck…..

But wait…..

All of a sudden, the boy flinched when he heard the water splashing behind his back, a rustling sound and then a few drops of water landed on his nape. Jerry turned around quickly, spinning on his heels, as he staggered back scared of what was to come his way.

But his eyes went wide like a saucer and his breath hitched painfully in his chest when he caught the sight of the man, he was looking everywhere for the past half an hour, emerging from the water stream. The man was so daunting and intimidating that he vanished every thought from the detective’s mind for a hot minute.

Damn!

The golden upper half of that huge man, dripping wet and glistening under the sun, was revealed to the eye while the lower half was hidden underneath the flowing water. Taut muscles, from his shoulders to his ripped torso, flexed with each movement showcasing the strength of the lord, chiselled jaw behind beard and long wet hair cascading down his head to below his shoulders while his large, dark eyes stared back at the detective.

In all his glory was Lord Yael, with his piercing gaze, looking no less than a demon.

A handsome demon.

…….

Toodles~~~~