The small town of Southampton was shining under the bright autumn sun. Silence towered over everything, nothing was able to break it, not the constant to and fro of the people, each hurring to their destination, not the splashes of the waves breaking against the stones of the port, not even the noisy gulls were able to fight the unnatural silence.
“Hey, Sarah wait…”
“Come on guys, professor Smith will kill us if we’re late for Math…”
“English next. Come on.” It was Laura speaking, the sweet girl with sparkling green eyes who got noticed the moment she appeared.
“Have you finished your essay about the colonial empire?” asked Cristina, her best friend.
They began to walk toward classroom number 8.
“Not just yet, but I’m almost done.”
“I haven’t done even half of it. So much to read!” complained Cristina.
Passing the threshold into the room they were supposed to be already in, they were instantly greeted by Brian, Laura’s boyfriend.
The tall, somewhat handsome guy, with smart looking eyes and the beginning of a beard was generally agreed by his classmates, his features being shadowed to some degree by a slightly arrogant smile and behaviour.
Laura sat as usually in the front row in front of Cristina. She wasn’t admired just for her beauty but also for her cunning mind and her determination to always become better and better in everything.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, professor Charles.”
The hour passed with the same slowliness a class half asleep has to submit to. Nothing out of ordinary routine. As usual the only person paying attention was Keer. He was standing just like Laura in the front row to her right. He usually didn’t speak too much, prefering his own space, and he was usually avoided by other students. He was pretty intelligent and thus envied by others.
After the bell rang, Laura went to the cantine to meet Daniel, her brother. The tall well buit with brown hair and inquiring eyes who looked dangerous from distance but was in reality a kind, soft-hearted person. His appearance was just a mask he was forced to wear in order to protect his sister, something he felt like his duty since that fatal day that sent their mother into a coma and their father deep in grave.
On the way home they always talked about everything, memories, gifts they got on birthdays, happy times, long lost and so brutally teared from the present. Sometimes sadness covered their faces but Daniel could not afford to show weakness.
“Finally home!”
“Go and refresh youself Laura. I’m going to make us something to eat.”
“Ok.”
While Laura went to her room, Daniel went to the kitchen and once there he opened the refrigerator’s door. Eggs, milk, some meat, some carrots (Laura was addicted to them) and a few pieces of pizza left from yesterday. There was also a box of cereals half full on the table next to the refrigerator.
Daniel wasn’t the best cook to have walked the Earth, but both he and his sister got used to it. Mother used to cook them every day a healty meal, eggs with fried steak and vegetables. Nothing extraordinary but they meant so much now.
Laura lived in her little world, surrounded by friends and believing that their mother will one day open her eyes and talk to them again. She was happy that way and Daniel wanted just that. But he knew, he had talked to the doctor and knew that things might never be the same again.
In the evening a car horn rang in front of their house and Daniel knew who came.
“Laura, Brian’s here!”
“I’m coming.”
Laura went down, two stairs at a time. She was dressed in a bright golden dress that went so good with her curly brown hair. The skirt wasn’t long enough to make her look like a granny neither too short to make her look slutty. Just simple and elegant. It used to belong to their mother but Laura knew that she would have been so proud if she could only see her.
“I’m out to the disco Dan. Take care of youself.”
“Don’t you worry about me and better remember not to come back too late.”
The car doors shut, the engine started with a roar and they were off.
The disco wasn’t really far from her house and Laura liked to go there almost every Friday evening with Brian and Cristina. She was never afraid to let them alone because she knew how much Brian loved her. Plus Cristina was a great dancer and she loved it so she never stayed in one place for more than five minute.
After a few very vibrant songs came the one both of them loved so much, the one they heard when they first met. It was a natural thing to declare it “their” song. They danced, they laught, they enjoyed every single moment.
It was moments like these that Laura treasured more than anything, excepting those with her brother, because only now could she totally tear from the problems of everyday life and from the tears that always found a way to her cheecks everytime she saw her mother. They always forgot to leave.
Half an hour later, the three of them were laying on sofas enjoyng their drinks. Brian got a bit too much drinking and although he was pretty aware of himself both Cristina and Laura doubted that he was in a shape to drive them home.
“What’s that guy’s problem?” asked Brian with an annoyed grunt, more to himself than anybody else.
“Whom are you talking about, baby?”
“That guy, in leather jacket. He’s been watching you since we came.”
“Brian is jealous!” interfered Cristina with a smile on her face. She has been drinking as well and her eyes sometimes failed to stay fixed.
“I’m going to see what’s his problem.”
“Brian wait, don’t go around causing trouble!” Laura was getting nervous. She knew how temperamental Brian could be sometimes and trouble was the last thing she wanted after such a beautiful night.
But he wasn’t listening, he already got up and headed for him. Laura could not follow but she feared the worst. And of course the worst happened. She could not hear what they talked but at some point they started pushing each other. What followed is easy to imagine. Laura tried to interfere and separate them but both Brian and the other man were beyond themselves with anger. In the heat of the fight someone pushed her so hard that she was knocked down to the ground. It was that moment when she felt like something brake inside her, just like the day of the accident.
The feeling was overwhelming. She couldn’t see anything around her, she just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She blindfully looked for the exit door for some time and when she finally found it she runned outside crying her eyes out.
The streets were empty and silent. Nothing but for the her running high-heeled shoes’s constant cling sound and a sob from time to time sending waves through the cold air could be heard. Passing street by street she soon lost the notion of time and place. She couldn’t understand where she was nor what was she doing and through her fuzzy thoughts only one succeded in coming forward like an obsession, RUN!
It happened fast, too fast for her to realise. The cold hand covered her mouth while dragging her into a side alley, making her heart to run like a wounded prey with hounds on her trail.
“Such a pretty face like you should run by herself in the deep of the night. There are bad people out here, aren’t they Mike?”
“Sure thing bro.” said the smelly, mean looking thug, who’s face betrayed nothing good, to his fellow. “Now what should we do to this little birdy?”
Laura couldn’t move, couldn’t think properly, couldn’t even understand what was going on. Only the natural sense of fear helped her understand that she was in a dire situation. Even so she had no way to fight. She was totally at their mercy and that was not good at all.
Suddenly the left hand of the one called Mike got lower and began to cares her breasts while the other one was drawing closer and closer. She tried to fight back but the brutte force holding her still was simply too great. She was screaming in her head, screaming for Daniel, for Brian, for anybody. But no use in doing that. Nobody could have heard her.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, my friends.”
Suddenly, the touching stopped. All of them look in the direction from where the voice came but Laura couldn’t clearly see who the owner of the voice was. Her sight was blured more from the shock than anything else and all she could see was a tall, dark shape.
“And who the hell are you suppose to be? Get the ******** out of here a*****e!”
“Come on Mike, don’t you understand? We got a little hero here!”
“Let her go and you shall leave this place unharmed.”
“Hear that, Mikey? The little hero threathens us. I think it’s time to teach him where his place is.”
Mike didn’t wait for a second invitation. In seconds Laura found herself thrown to the ground, cold, alone and paralised with fear.
“I warned you, but you never listen, do you? Now both of you shall pay.”
The shape stepped out of shadow. Though human in form his eyes shined with blood red light such as none had ever witness before. Devil. That’s who he was, there was no other explanation, none of which anybody could think of at least.
Facing the ground Laura could not see or hear anything. Since the hand dropped her she began to regain some sense and she had expected to hear some fighting noises. How ironic, she thought. Two fights in the same night and she got hurt in both of them. But there was no noise, none whatsoever. Turning to face the sky lighted by the most beautiful full moon she had seen in a while she realised that the punks were gone. She didn’t hear when they runned, if they runned. Then she realise she wasn’t alone. Her misterious shape was still there and approaching her.
“Stay away from me!” she screamed while using her hands to protect her face as best as she could.
“Calm down Laura, you’re ok now.”
How did he know her name? Who was this man? Dropping her hands she allowed herself to take a better look and what she saw left her speechless. His face was pretty close now so she could see his dark blue eyes. Keer, a familiar face, someone she saw every day but whom she never gave too much thought to. He was her savior or so she hoped.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just passing by, to your luck aparently. Those disgusting punks almost got the best of you. It looks like someone up there loves you. But they were right, you shouldn’t run like that in the middle of the night, all by youself.”
“Doesn’t really matter.”
“You shouldn’t talk like that. Something really bad could have happened to you. And then all those who love you would have suffered.”
“I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t talk like that. It’s just that everything went all wrong and…”
“Things go wrong from time to time. That is not reason to give up. Life is the only thing we get for free. Come now, give me your hand and I will walk you home.”
She hesitated but in the end she didn’t have much choice. She didn’t know where she was or what time it was. She also left her bag at the club in her rush so she couldn’t call Daniel to come and look for her. They walked for what seemed like and eternity without saying a word. From time to time she would take a glimpse at her companion with the corner of her eye but she could see nothing. His face was plain showing absolutely no emotion.
They finally reached her house and stopped. Daniel’s car was nowhere to be seen. Most probably he learned what happened at the club from Cristina and when to search for her.
“It’s time we part. Take care of youself Laura, there’s no reason for you not to do so.”
“Sure I will, good night.”
“Good night.”
She watched him moving forward until the darkness swallowed him. Heading for the entrance door she remember that she also lost her key. The door was locked, as she though would be. Lucky enough, Daniel always kept another key hiden in one of the small flowed pots laying in front of the house. First thing to do after she managed to get in was to pick up the phone and call her brother. He was looking for her.
“Laura where in the name of all that it good on Earth are you?”
“I’m home Dany, don’t need to worry for me, I’m perfectly fine.”
“Thanks God. First time I heard about what happened at the club I almost had a heart attack. Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I’m fine Dany, come back home.”
“I’m on my way.”
Strange enough the next thing she did was to go to the kitchen and eat. She remembered what Keer told her. To take care of herself. She never listend to what strangers told her to do but this time something was different. Something in his eyes made her obey.
When Daniel came home, he couldn’t see Laura anywhere. He went in the living room but she wasn’t there. He went to the kitchen. There were used dishes meaning that she was in the house. He went to her bedroom. There she was, laying deep asleep in her dress. She looked exhausted and her messed make up made him ask himself if she really was ok. But for now she needed to rest more than anything in the world.
Sunday came and as a sacred ritual she went to the church to listen the sermon and drop some tears at her parents graves. She felt that if she didn’t do that she would go mad. She tried to convince Daniel into coming with her but he was like a mountain, refusing to move no matter what. Laura couldn’t understand why her brother didn’t want to visit their parents, she simply couldn’t understand. But she finally gave up trying.
Every time she was facing the grave stone she lost herself and everything lost it’s meaning she couldn’t really accept that her parents where no more, she felt out of reality. So deep was this feeling even today. So deep that she didn’t feel when someone placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Hello there, lost in thought again as I can see.”
Her heart skipped a beat and she turned her head so fast that was almost unnatural. But seeing his face calmed her down and somehow, deep inside she felt warm and secure. She thought a lot about him in the last two days and she realised just how little she knew about him.
“I never thought I will find you here. Do you also lost people you loved?”
“No.”
“Then, why are you here?”
“I like the cemetery, it’s quite and peaceful. People usually think that places like this one are dark and evil. But people are wrong. There is nothing evil in dieing and there is nothing evil in Death itself. It’s the natural way, we are born to die and die to be reborn.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You cry for your parents, while you should celebrate for them.”
“How could anybody celebrate the death of a loved one? How could anybody celebrate knowing that he will never see the dead one again? We build our deams and hopes around these people and then Death simply snaches them away from us, tell me now is that fair?”
Without realising her face turned all read and filled with tears. Her sobs were choking her and she found it hard to breath.
“You are blaming Death for something nobody but God can decide. Nobody decides when or where to be born and nobody decides when to die. When your time comes there’s nothing you or anybody can do. Your parents succeded in their job here. They gave birth to two beautiful kids and raised them to the point where they could take care of themselves alone. Instead of tormenting youself with thoughts like this you should celebrate because they are now watching you from a better place, far from this mean and cruel world we live in.”
“What do you know? I guess you never lost anybody.”
“That is corect to some degree. But do you really believe your parents would be happy to see you in such a state? You’ve tried to hide your pain, but you can’t it hide from me. I’ve been watching you ever since I saw you. But what you are doing is really dangerous. Don’t gather too much pain or you won’t be able to coupe up with it.”
Warm, his every word felt warm and without realising she wanted him to talk more.
“You know Keer, I’m really dumb sometimes. You saved me that night and I didn’t even say thanks.”
“You were disturbed and tired, it is understadable.”
“Most of the kids at school think you are some kind of lunatic and to be honest I did too. But you gave us reasons.”
“I got used to it. I never quite fitted in any classroom I ever had and trust me I had many. But what can you do, you rarely have the oportunity to meet such a charming and clever boy like me. Not to mention modest.”
“Ha ha ha, you got that right, you certainly did. Tell me something... your name is pretty unusual, where do you come from?”
“Now that’s a long and boring story. Let’s just say that I come from a land not so far from UK. Tell me better what happened to you when your parents died?”
“Why are you asking?”
“The night I saved you, I saw something in your eyes, something beyond simple fear, something that changed your very soul.”
She wasn’t sure what to do. Why should she tell him anything? And why was she talking to him anyway, she barely knew anything about him so why should she trust him? And yet she couldn’t help it. She had to talk, she was drawn to him like hypnotized and she like it, it felt good. Was she in love? Maybe.
“It happened three year ago. Mother and I had a really bad fight. I can’t even remember what was the reason. I think it was a tattoo I wanted and wasn’t allowed to have. I was such a fool at the time. Both of us said really hard words but it was me the one who gave the death blow. I said that she could have died and I wouldn’t give a damn. So little meaning words at the time, so painfully real today. My parents went to work as usual and that was it. A moment of distraction from my father, excesive speed from a truck driver and a phone call from the hospital. Both of them died the same day.”
“You took the guilt on you.”
“Yes, I did. When I heard what happened something broke inside me. I was so shocked my brother feared I will die too so he called the ambulance and sent me to the hospital. But there was nothing wrong with my body, at least the doctors couldn’t find anything. That night in the middle of the fight someone pushed me and for some reason I felt exactly the same way.”
“It’s strange. I don’t understand.”
“Yeah, neither do I or anybody else. I don’t even know why I said such a personal thing to you. Don’t understand me wrong but everybody avoids you like the devil and even I know so little about you. By the way, what happened to the punks who attacked me?”
“They couldn’t stand my power and they fled in the night like the cowards there were. You should protect youself, you know? Next time you go out take some spray with you or a penknife or something. This city is quite dangerous.”
“Yeah, that might be a good ideea, with Brian so impulsive you never know the situations you will find youself into. He came to visit me yesterday, after the police released him, to apologize. It seems that his adversary was tought for he got a good beating.”
“Tell your boyfriend to control his emotions because you never know who will you pump into and he can get himself and others in really nasty situations.”
“I’m not sure I want to be with him anymore, this isn’t the first time he gets me in dangerous situations. I warned him that if he doesn’t behave good I will leave him, but he doesn’t seem to care much. Plus I get the impression that you also like me. Am I right?”
“You can bet on that. Of course I like you, I always did, but not in the way you are thinking. I like you because you are clever and you are among the few ones with whom you can have a decent discussion.”
“Do you have any plans for today?”
“If you want to spend the day with me then I must say that I don’t usually go out much. But I will do an exeption for you.”
That day was one of the happiest in Laura’s life, with no “friends” to please and no sad memories to hide. Keer was different, he was silent and showed no emotion but by doing that he was warm and welcoming in a strange way. He was the one to listen to what she had to say and his answers were totally different from the ones her friends gave her, weird and sometimes sadistic but showed real caring not like the ones given to her by her friends which were protocolar and showed no real compassion at all.
At the end of the day, Laura belived with every cell in her body that she loved him. It was already dark out side when he left her in front of her house. She wanted to kiss him so bad and yet could not dare to do such a thing. It was a matter of seconds. Keer turned to leave and she was heading for the door when she felt her right hand being grabed and her body being turned in the opposite direction. She closed her eyes tight expecting some blow to come but instead to her greatest shock she felt her lips tenderly touched by his. Her heart runned like a beast and it seem to last for ages. She wanted the moment she though would never come, last forever.
When they broke apart her whole body was burning and she wanted to watch him in the eyes but couldn’t raise hers.
“Take care of youself little girl.”
Then he left, leaving her stunned and for the first time since the accident, really happy.
“Brian, turn on the radio, it’s news time.”
“Since when are you interested in the news.”
“I’ve always been interested in news.”
“Ok.”
Brian was driving toward Laura’s place to pick her up and drive her to school. He always drove Laura and Cristina to school but this time he wasn’t sure that Laura would forgive him. Not after what he had done at the club. She had warned him not to do such a thing ever again but he just couldn’t help it.
“Good morning and wellcome to the news program. We regret to announce that a great tragedy had struck our city today. The body of a teenager girl who was identified as Laura Mayflower had been found in New Forest. The first investigations revealed wounds that could have been provoked by a car accident…”
“Hey, Sarah wait…”
“Come on guys, professor Smith will kill us if we’re late for Math…”
“English next. Come on.” It was Laura speaking, the sweet girl with sparkling green eyes who got noticed the moment she appeared.
“Have you finished your essay about the colonial empire?” asked Cristina, her best friend.
They began to walk toward classroom number 8.
“Not just yet, but I’m almost done.”
“I haven’t done even half of it. So much to read!” complained Cristina.
Passing the threshold into the room they were supposed to be already in, they were instantly greeted by Brian, Laura’s boyfriend.
The tall, somewhat handsome guy, with smart looking eyes and the beginning of a beard was generally agreed by his classmates, his features being shadowed to some degree by a slightly arrogant smile and behaviour.
Laura sat as usually in the front row in front of Cristina. She wasn’t admired just for her beauty but also for her cunning mind and her determination to always become better and better in everything.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, professor Charles.”
The hour passed with the same slowliness a class half asleep has to submit to. Nothing out of ordinary routine. As usual the only person paying attention was Keer. He was standing just like Laura in the front row to her right. He usually didn’t speak too much, prefering his own space, and he was usually avoided by other students. He was pretty intelligent and thus envied by others.
After the bell rang, Laura went to the cantine to meet Daniel, her brother. The tall well buit with brown hair and inquiring eyes who looked dangerous from distance but was in reality a kind, soft-hearted person. His appearance was just a mask he was forced to wear in order to protect his sister, something he felt like his duty since that fatal day that sent their mother into a coma and their father deep in grave.
On the way home they always talked about everything, memories, gifts they got on birthdays, happy times, long lost and so brutally teared from the present. Sometimes sadness covered their faces but Daniel could not afford to show weakness.
“Finally home!”
“Go and refresh youself Laura. I’m going to make us something to eat.”
“Ok.”
While Laura went to her room, Daniel went to the kitchen and once there he opened the refrigerator’s door. Eggs, milk, some meat, some carrots (Laura was addicted to them) and a few pieces of pizza left from yesterday. There was also a box of cereals half full on the table next to the refrigerator.
Daniel wasn’t the best cook to have walked the Earth, but both he and his sister got used to it. Mother used to cook them every day a healty meal, eggs with fried steak and vegetables. Nothing extraordinary but they meant so much now.
Laura lived in her little world, surrounded by friends and believing that their mother will one day open her eyes and talk to them again. She was happy that way and Daniel wanted just that. But he knew, he had talked to the doctor and knew that things might never be the same again.
In the evening a car horn rang in front of their house and Daniel knew who came.
“Laura, Brian’s here!”
“I’m coming.”
Laura went down, two stairs at a time. She was dressed in a bright golden dress that went so good with her curly brown hair. The skirt wasn’t long enough to make her look like a granny neither too short to make her look slutty. Just simple and elegant. It used to belong to their mother but Laura knew that she would have been so proud if she could only see her.
“I’m out to the disco Dan. Take care of youself.”
“Don’t you worry about me and better remember not to come back too late.”
The car doors shut, the engine started with a roar and they were off.
The disco wasn’t really far from her house and Laura liked to go there almost every Friday evening with Brian and Cristina. She was never afraid to let them alone because she knew how much Brian loved her. Plus Cristina was a great dancer and she loved it so she never stayed in one place for more than five minute.
After a few very vibrant songs came the one both of them loved so much, the one they heard when they first met. It was a natural thing to declare it “their” song. They danced, they laught, they enjoyed every single moment.
It was moments like these that Laura treasured more than anything, excepting those with her brother, because only now could she totally tear from the problems of everyday life and from the tears that always found a way to her cheecks everytime she saw her mother. They always forgot to leave.
Half an hour later, the three of them were laying on sofas enjoyng their drinks. Brian got a bit too much drinking and although he was pretty aware of himself both Cristina and Laura doubted that he was in a shape to drive them home.
“What’s that guy’s problem?” asked Brian with an annoyed grunt, more to himself than anybody else.
“Whom are you talking about, baby?”
“That guy, in leather jacket. He’s been watching you since we came.”
“Brian is jealous!” interfered Cristina with a smile on her face. She has been drinking as well and her eyes sometimes failed to stay fixed.
“I’m going to see what’s his problem.”
“Brian wait, don’t go around causing trouble!” Laura was getting nervous. She knew how temperamental Brian could be sometimes and trouble was the last thing she wanted after such a beautiful night.
But he wasn’t listening, he already got up and headed for him. Laura could not follow but she feared the worst. And of course the worst happened. She could not hear what they talked but at some point they started pushing each other. What followed is easy to imagine. Laura tried to interfere and separate them but both Brian and the other man were beyond themselves with anger. In the heat of the fight someone pushed her so hard that she was knocked down to the ground. It was that moment when she felt like something brake inside her, just like the day of the accident.
The feeling was overwhelming. She couldn’t see anything around her, she just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. She blindfully looked for the exit door for some time and when she finally found it she runned outside crying her eyes out.
The streets were empty and silent. Nothing but for the her running high-heeled shoes’s constant cling sound and a sob from time to time sending waves through the cold air could be heard. Passing street by street she soon lost the notion of time and place. She couldn’t understand where she was nor what was she doing and through her fuzzy thoughts only one succeded in coming forward like an obsession, RUN!
It happened fast, too fast for her to realise. The cold hand covered her mouth while dragging her into a side alley, making her heart to run like a wounded prey with hounds on her trail.
“Such a pretty face like you should run by herself in the deep of the night. There are bad people out here, aren’t they Mike?”
“Sure thing bro.” said the smelly, mean looking thug, who’s face betrayed nothing good, to his fellow. “Now what should we do to this little birdy?”
Laura couldn’t move, couldn’t think properly, couldn’t even understand what was going on. Only the natural sense of fear helped her understand that she was in a dire situation. Even so she had no way to fight. She was totally at their mercy and that was not good at all.
Suddenly the left hand of the one called Mike got lower and began to cares her breasts while the other one was drawing closer and closer. She tried to fight back but the brutte force holding her still was simply too great. She was screaming in her head, screaming for Daniel, for Brian, for anybody. But no use in doing that. Nobody could have heard her.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, my friends.”
Suddenly, the touching stopped. All of them look in the direction from where the voice came but Laura couldn’t clearly see who the owner of the voice was. Her sight was blured more from the shock than anything else and all she could see was a tall, dark shape.
“And who the hell are you suppose to be? Get the ******** out of here a*****e!”
“Come on Mike, don’t you understand? We got a little hero here!”
“Let her go and you shall leave this place unharmed.”
“Hear that, Mikey? The little hero threathens us. I think it’s time to teach him where his place is.”
Mike didn’t wait for a second invitation. In seconds Laura found herself thrown to the ground, cold, alone and paralised with fear.
“I warned you, but you never listen, do you? Now both of you shall pay.”
The shape stepped out of shadow. Though human in form his eyes shined with blood red light such as none had ever witness before. Devil. That’s who he was, there was no other explanation, none of which anybody could think of at least.
Facing the ground Laura could not see or hear anything. Since the hand dropped her she began to regain some sense and she had expected to hear some fighting noises. How ironic, she thought. Two fights in the same night and she got hurt in both of them. But there was no noise, none whatsoever. Turning to face the sky lighted by the most beautiful full moon she had seen in a while she realised that the punks were gone. She didn’t hear when they runned, if they runned. Then she realise she wasn’t alone. Her misterious shape was still there and approaching her.
“Stay away from me!” she screamed while using her hands to protect her face as best as she could.
“Calm down Laura, you’re ok now.”
How did he know her name? Who was this man? Dropping her hands she allowed herself to take a better look and what she saw left her speechless. His face was pretty close now so she could see his dark blue eyes. Keer, a familiar face, someone she saw every day but whom she never gave too much thought to. He was her savior or so she hoped.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just passing by, to your luck aparently. Those disgusting punks almost got the best of you. It looks like someone up there loves you. But they were right, you shouldn’t run like that in the middle of the night, all by youself.”
“Doesn’t really matter.”
“You shouldn’t talk like that. Something really bad could have happened to you. And then all those who love you would have suffered.”
“I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t talk like that. It’s just that everything went all wrong and…”
“Things go wrong from time to time. That is not reason to give up. Life is the only thing we get for free. Come now, give me your hand and I will walk you home.”
She hesitated but in the end she didn’t have much choice. She didn’t know where she was or what time it was. She also left her bag at the club in her rush so she couldn’t call Daniel to come and look for her. They walked for what seemed like and eternity without saying a word. From time to time she would take a glimpse at her companion with the corner of her eye but she could see nothing. His face was plain showing absolutely no emotion.
They finally reached her house and stopped. Daniel’s car was nowhere to be seen. Most probably he learned what happened at the club from Cristina and when to search for her.
“It’s time we part. Take care of youself Laura, there’s no reason for you not to do so.”
“Sure I will, good night.”
“Good night.”
She watched him moving forward until the darkness swallowed him. Heading for the entrance door she remember that she also lost her key. The door was locked, as she though would be. Lucky enough, Daniel always kept another key hiden in one of the small flowed pots laying in front of the house. First thing to do after she managed to get in was to pick up the phone and call her brother. He was looking for her.
“Laura where in the name of all that it good on Earth are you?”
“I’m home Dany, don’t need to worry for me, I’m perfectly fine.”
“Thanks God. First time I heard about what happened at the club I almost had a heart attack. Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I’m fine Dany, come back home.”
“I’m on my way.”
Strange enough the next thing she did was to go to the kitchen and eat. She remembered what Keer told her. To take care of herself. She never listend to what strangers told her to do but this time something was different. Something in his eyes made her obey.
When Daniel came home, he couldn’t see Laura anywhere. He went in the living room but she wasn’t there. He went to the kitchen. There were used dishes meaning that she was in the house. He went to her bedroom. There she was, laying deep asleep in her dress. She looked exhausted and her messed make up made him ask himself if she really was ok. But for now she needed to rest more than anything in the world.
Sunday came and as a sacred ritual she went to the church to listen the sermon and drop some tears at her parents graves. She felt that if she didn’t do that she would go mad. She tried to convince Daniel into coming with her but he was like a mountain, refusing to move no matter what. Laura couldn’t understand why her brother didn’t want to visit their parents, she simply couldn’t understand. But she finally gave up trying.
Every time she was facing the grave stone she lost herself and everything lost it’s meaning she couldn’t really accept that her parents where no more, she felt out of reality. So deep was this feeling even today. So deep that she didn’t feel when someone placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Hello there, lost in thought again as I can see.”
Her heart skipped a beat and she turned her head so fast that was almost unnatural. But seeing his face calmed her down and somehow, deep inside she felt warm and secure. She thought a lot about him in the last two days and she realised just how little she knew about him.
“I never thought I will find you here. Do you also lost people you loved?”
“No.”
“Then, why are you here?”
“I like the cemetery, it’s quite and peaceful. People usually think that places like this one are dark and evil. But people are wrong. There is nothing evil in dieing and there is nothing evil in Death itself. It’s the natural way, we are born to die and die to be reborn.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You cry for your parents, while you should celebrate for them.”
“How could anybody celebrate the death of a loved one? How could anybody celebrate knowing that he will never see the dead one again? We build our deams and hopes around these people and then Death simply snaches them away from us, tell me now is that fair?”
Without realising her face turned all read and filled with tears. Her sobs were choking her and she found it hard to breath.
“You are blaming Death for something nobody but God can decide. Nobody decides when or where to be born and nobody decides when to die. When your time comes there’s nothing you or anybody can do. Your parents succeded in their job here. They gave birth to two beautiful kids and raised them to the point where they could take care of themselves alone. Instead of tormenting youself with thoughts like this you should celebrate because they are now watching you from a better place, far from this mean and cruel world we live in.”
“What do you know? I guess you never lost anybody.”
“That is corect to some degree. But do you really believe your parents would be happy to see you in such a state? You’ve tried to hide your pain, but you can’t it hide from me. I’ve been watching you ever since I saw you. But what you are doing is really dangerous. Don’t gather too much pain or you won’t be able to coupe up with it.”
Warm, his every word felt warm and without realising she wanted him to talk more.
“You know Keer, I’m really dumb sometimes. You saved me that night and I didn’t even say thanks.”
“You were disturbed and tired, it is understadable.”
“Most of the kids at school think you are some kind of lunatic and to be honest I did too. But you gave us reasons.”
“I got used to it. I never quite fitted in any classroom I ever had and trust me I had many. But what can you do, you rarely have the oportunity to meet such a charming and clever boy like me. Not to mention modest.”
“Ha ha ha, you got that right, you certainly did. Tell me something... your name is pretty unusual, where do you come from?”
“Now that’s a long and boring story. Let’s just say that I come from a land not so far from UK. Tell me better what happened to you when your parents died?”
“Why are you asking?”
“The night I saved you, I saw something in your eyes, something beyond simple fear, something that changed your very soul.”
She wasn’t sure what to do. Why should she tell him anything? And why was she talking to him anyway, she barely knew anything about him so why should she trust him? And yet she couldn’t help it. She had to talk, she was drawn to him like hypnotized and she like it, it felt good. Was she in love? Maybe.
“It happened three year ago. Mother and I had a really bad fight. I can’t even remember what was the reason. I think it was a tattoo I wanted and wasn’t allowed to have. I was such a fool at the time. Both of us said really hard words but it was me the one who gave the death blow. I said that she could have died and I wouldn’t give a damn. So little meaning words at the time, so painfully real today. My parents went to work as usual and that was it. A moment of distraction from my father, excesive speed from a truck driver and a phone call from the hospital. Both of them died the same day.”
“You took the guilt on you.”
“Yes, I did. When I heard what happened something broke inside me. I was so shocked my brother feared I will die too so he called the ambulance and sent me to the hospital. But there was nothing wrong with my body, at least the doctors couldn’t find anything. That night in the middle of the fight someone pushed me and for some reason I felt exactly the same way.”
“It’s strange. I don’t understand.”
“Yeah, neither do I or anybody else. I don’t even know why I said such a personal thing to you. Don’t understand me wrong but everybody avoids you like the devil and even I know so little about you. By the way, what happened to the punks who attacked me?”
“They couldn’t stand my power and they fled in the night like the cowards there were. You should protect youself, you know? Next time you go out take some spray with you or a penknife or something. This city is quite dangerous.”
“Yeah, that might be a good ideea, with Brian so impulsive you never know the situations you will find youself into. He came to visit me yesterday, after the police released him, to apologize. It seems that his adversary was tought for he got a good beating.”
“Tell your boyfriend to control his emotions because you never know who will you pump into and he can get himself and others in really nasty situations.”
“I’m not sure I want to be with him anymore, this isn’t the first time he gets me in dangerous situations. I warned him that if he doesn’t behave good I will leave him, but he doesn’t seem to care much. Plus I get the impression that you also like me. Am I right?”
“You can bet on that. Of course I like you, I always did, but not in the way you are thinking. I like you because you are clever and you are among the few ones with whom you can have a decent discussion.”
“Do you have any plans for today?”
“If you want to spend the day with me then I must say that I don’t usually go out much. But I will do an exeption for you.”
That day was one of the happiest in Laura’s life, with no “friends” to please and no sad memories to hide. Keer was different, he was silent and showed no emotion but by doing that he was warm and welcoming in a strange way. He was the one to listen to what she had to say and his answers were totally different from the ones her friends gave her, weird and sometimes sadistic but showed real caring not like the ones given to her by her friends which were protocolar and showed no real compassion at all.
At the end of the day, Laura belived with every cell in her body that she loved him. It was already dark out side when he left her in front of her house. She wanted to kiss him so bad and yet could not dare to do such a thing. It was a matter of seconds. Keer turned to leave and she was heading for the door when she felt her right hand being grabed and her body being turned in the opposite direction. She closed her eyes tight expecting some blow to come but instead to her greatest shock she felt her lips tenderly touched by his. Her heart runned like a beast and it seem to last for ages. She wanted the moment she though would never come, last forever.
When they broke apart her whole body was burning and she wanted to watch him in the eyes but couldn’t raise hers.
“Take care of youself little girl.”
Then he left, leaving her stunned and for the first time since the accident, really happy.
“Brian, turn on the radio, it’s news time.”
“Since when are you interested in the news.”
“I’ve always been interested in news.”
“Ok.”
Brian was driving toward Laura’s place to pick her up and drive her to school. He always drove Laura and Cristina to school but this time he wasn’t sure that Laura would forgive him. Not after what he had done at the club. She had warned him not to do such a thing ever again but he just couldn’t help it.
“Good morning and wellcome to the news program. We regret to announce that a great tragedy had struck our city today. The body of a teenager girl who was identified as Laura Mayflower had been found in New Forest. The first investigations revealed wounds that could have been provoked by a car accident…”
