Metamorphosis

Chapter 6: Shot through the heart

All I could do was stare at the point of an arrow sticking out of Annie's chest.

"Dove?! What's wrong? Why did you scream like that?" Annie's Doe-like eyes widened as she came to my side.

"Y-you have an arrow in your chest," I stuttered as she looked down at her chest to confirm what I said, but she looked up at me as if she saw nothing.

"Dove, I don't have an arrow in my chest. Are you on something?"

'I hope to god I am,' I thought to myself because I felt entirely out of sync with myself. Like someone had nudged a bolt loose. "No, sorry, I'm fine. I just-I swear I saw an arrow in your chest..."

Annie giggled, " Oh boy, I think you need to get out and meet some people; you've been couped up in your house long enough."

I nodded, glancing at the arrow that still stuck out of her chest; part of me wanted to touch it to make sure I wasn't crazy.

"Alright, try these on," Annie says as she hands me her clothes.

I try and bring myself back to reality and change into the clothes. I catch Annie staring at me; we've changed in front of each other, so it wasn't anything new, but it was the way she was staring at me...like she was admiring me.

I quickly pulled the halter top over my head and finished the look, "Well? What do you think?" I asked. Annie's eyes dilated, and her cheeks flushed.

"Y-you look beautiful," she said softly. I smiled; she was always so generous with complaints, but she wasn't afraid to tell me if she didn't like my outfits. My closest mainly consisted of leggings, black tops, and hoodies that looked like dresses on me. I preferred the comfy look over the stylish look. I turned to glance into her vanity mirror; I liked the way my skin color popped with the blue. I pulled my hair out of my tight puffball; my hair flared out; it reminded me of cotton candy sometimes because it was so fluffy.

"Dove?"

"Hm?" I said as I rang my finger through my hair for tangles.

"I-I have to tell you something, and please don't hate me..."

My brows furrowed as I turned around; Annie was acting weird, her cheeks were flushed, and she was twiddling her fingers, "Why would I ever hate you, Annie?"

"Well, remember way back when we would pretend we were a couple at clubs and stuff so men wouldn't bother us?" she said sheepishly. I tilted my head, still confused at what she was trying to say.

"Yes, why?"

"Well-" Annie stepped closer to me, her eyes glazed over, "it wasn't pretending to me..."

A light switch went off in my head as I looked at Annie, "O-Oh..."

Annie blushed harder, realizing I had understood what she was trying to say, "I hope you are not mad..."

"Mad? Annie, I could never be mad at you. But, of course, I don't expect you to hide your feelings."

Annie's eyes brightened up; she hugged me tightly, " I just didn't want you to run away from me because of my feelings..."

I felt foolish; I should have seen this a long time ago. "Did you tell your parents?"

"No, and I don't want to tell them. Your the only person that knows."

My heartfelt warmth knowing Annie trusted me with such a personal secret. Then a sharp, searing pain sliced through my chest that took my breath away. My vision became blurry, and when it sharpened again, I saw Annie in a whole new light...

She was gleaming and beautiful; I gently caressed her cheek. 'What in the world am I doing' I asked myself because I wouldn't normally do this. As I leaned into her, I started to panic, but it was like I was under a spell. I could not control my own body. I glanced at my chest, and there it was, another golden arrow pointed out of my chest.

It was like I was looking out of a window; Annie parted her lips as she leaned in to meet mine.

"Oh no..." I said to myself. "Stop! Annie no! It's the arrow! Pull it out!" I screamed internally.

If I let myself kiss her, it might change how we see each other forever...

I summoned all of my focus, hoping I could pull myself out of the trance. I could faintly feel my hand; I grasped the head of the arrow; it burned my hand, but I kept my grip on it and, with all my willpower and pulled it from my chest.

I gasped as if I had been underwater; I quickly pulled back from Annie, who still had her eyes closed, anticipating a kiss. But, instead, I ripped the arrow from her chest, she gasped, tripping over her feet.

"Annie! I'm so sorry-" I began to say as she turned on her back and started laughing. I stared at her, confused.

"Ha! me and my clumsy self!" she shouted out; I gave her my hand to help her up. "Oh! Look at you! You look cute!" she exclaimed as she jumped up and down.

I smiled, but I was dumbfounded. What in the world just happened? One moment I was screaming because I saw an arrow in Annie's heart and the next I was about to kiss my best friend?!

"Come on, let's go join everyone!" Annie said as she hurried downstairs.

When I saw that she was gone, I ran to her vanity mirror and checked my chest, no puncture wound, no scar. It was like I was never struck through the heart...

"But...I saw it," I said to myself.

"Of course you did; my question is, how are you able to pull out my arrows, little lady," I turned on my heels once I heard his voice, a pink flash darted past me, and the door slammed shut. I gasped and ran to the door, trying to yank it open.

I remembered that voice; I put my back towards the door, trying to zero in on him. Once the pink flash settled, I saw him sitting on Annie's neatly made bed.

His brow was raised as if he were questioning me—a quiver of golden arrows laid across his back, a majestic Obsidian bow with elegant golden designs was in his hand. I leered at him.

"Do you always appear where you not wanted?" I asked as I crossed my arms on my chest. I swear this man was looking for trouble.

"I come where I am needed love, now-" he starts to say as he strides over to me; he lifts my chin with the nock of his bow, "no one can pull out my arrows but me, so how did you do that?"

I slapped his bow away from my face, "What the hell do you want from me?! Why do you keep following-" I started to say before Eros placed his hand over my mouth and pushed me against the wall before the door flung open.

"Brad, what the hell?!" I heard Annie say as they both barged into the room.

"Shut up, Annie, where is she? She never told me she was going to a damn party. Who is she with?! I swear I'll kill him!"

I gulped at Brad's voice; Eros pressed a finger to his lips. I felt myself shaking against his warm hand. A glint of gold caught my attention as it swung back a forth on Eros's neck; it seemed to give off a certain aura as if it was...alive?

"Brad? You think she's cheating on you!?" I heard Annie shout. Brag let out a frustrated grunt. "Get over yourself, Brad. Honestly, I'll be so happy when she leaves your ass!" I heard Annie scream at Brad.

The door slammed shut, leaving only Annie in the room, her little chest pumped up and down like a mouse. Her cheeks were beaming red; she stomped her foot and left the room.

Eros let go of me, "H-How did they not see us?" I asked because once that door shut, we were exposed.

"They only see what I want them to. I wanted your friends to see nothing."

I turned to Eros; there was no doubt about it. This guy was the real deal, but there was no way he would disappear on me this time without answering my questions.

"Listen, you've stalked me, shot me in the heart with an arrow, and I almost kissed my best friend. So your ass better sit the f**k down and explain some s**t," I pushed him backward onto Annie's bed; his smile was sickenly sweet.

"Well...when you put it that way, I guess I owe an explanation."

Finally, I thought as I rolled my eyes.

"Sit?" He said as he patted the bed beside him.

I raised a brow to him, "I'd rather stand; you might stab me again," I sassed back.

Eros placed a hand to his heart as if he was hurt, "Ouch, don't trust me?"

"I don't trust the embodiment of love; you seem to f**k people over."

Eros laughed out loud, "True, I like your spirit, though. Fine, where shall I start? Ah, that note you have in your pocket," he gestured.

I double blinked, "H-How did you-" I started to say as I took it out of my pocket.

"I know that note is from your mother, I may not know her, but I do know who your father is," Eros said as he smiled.

My heart faltered," My father?"