Tuesday, June 22, 2010 5:30:29 PM
The silence in her head was leaving her numb. Without any life spark, she thanked Will for his hospitality and lunch.
She got up, still not aware of what was going on. Will was watching her speechless, like she was part of his family. His wrinkled blue eyes gave away weird warmth that Brianna haven't noticed at first, and now couldn't get rid off.
„Where are you going?“, Will asked
„I don't know. I have to find my friend and move on.“, ever Brianna didn't believe those words. „A friend“, repeating the word in her head, „A friend, such hard word for someone like Ethaniel. What's Ethaniel to me? Certainly not a friend, not one word was spoken from a friend. An acquaintance? Maybe that's a better word. Yes. That's it.“
„Ethaniel is an acquaintance“, she repeated out loud.
„Ethaniel? That's his name?“
„Yes!“
„Strange name. I knew one Ethaniel once.“, Will's eyes started to go blank, like it was something from his past that was disturbing him. Brianna didn't dare to test her luck, Will wasn't used to have guests. It's almost 2pm, it was time to head the road, but she didn't have enough will to exit through the door and once again face the nothingness that was spreading it's wings around.
The fire in the fireplace was slowly coming to an end, leaving dark shadows on wooden walls Will stood up and again went to his chair by the fireplace to turn up the fire. Brianna was following him and sat on the wooden chair by the window.
The house was abandoned, woman's hand wasn't here for ages. Dust on the old shelf on which were pale pictures of people. In the corner was an old rusted mirror, that probably belonged to Will's wife. In other corner, by the window was a plant, all dried up. Brianna figured out it was Lily once upon the time. Now it was clear Will was living alone, without any touch of civilization. The thought that such persons function alone was leaving Brianna speechless. An old man, who could soon get really sick, without help of another person, and only with his faithful dog, couldn't live much longer.
„Where are you heading?“, Will asked throwing the wood logs into the fireplace.
„San Francisco. I hope I won't travel much longer.“
Will smiled gently. „If you're planning on walking all the way to San Francisco, then you'll be traveling at least for another week or so. Those mountains you can see in the distance, those are the Rocky mountains. After you pass that, there will be at least one more week to walk all the way to the east coast and that is if you don't stop to rest. That's a lot of walk for a girl like you. Why are you going there?“
Brianna hesitated. „I'm visiting few of my friends, but i have no money.“, she did, but all her credit cards were back in New York. She had only 15 dollars and 45 cents. That's barely for a taxi and one breakfast.
„I have an old truck behind the house, i haven't used it for a while now. Maybe there's gas left in the trunk. If you want, i can fix it for you. I don't need it anymore.
„Really?“, Brianna was amazed. „That would be great. Thank you so much!“
Will was still phlegmatic like it wasn't a big problem, but his hands would suggest otherwise.
Sunday, January 17, 2010 6:57:34 PM
Finally, they've reached the house. Will showed Brianna the way to the bathroom and continued with his daily work.
Brianna didn't hesitate, she went to the bathroom where she saw only old rusty bath tub on the left and an old mirror on the right wall. She didn't dare to enjoy the bath, reason was probably because she did not knew the man and his habits. Quickly refreshed, she turned to the mirror.
There was a face she used to know, but now those were just plain features of someone's face. Hollow look was staring at her, lips wanted to say something without creating any sound.
„Who are you?“, she asked herself quietly. There was no answer. The void was leaving deep hollow sound through her brain trying to figure out the answer. Her hand were still and her legs as if they were chopped off. „I have to find him. I have to.“, she was convincing herself trying to move. Finally, the look slipped of the mirror. She came to the door and opened it.
On the way out she saw a little modest kitchen with a wooden table on which were placed two plates. The light was shining through the glass there were placed cups. In the reflection she was the light coming from the right side of the cabin here was sitting Will in his chair, staring at the fireplace filled with warmth, not knowing she was observing. Above the fireplace was a little picture of a woman.
„Will?“
„That's my wife. That was my wife. She's dead now.“
„Oh, I'm sorry.“
„I lost her 24 years ago. Her and my son.“
"Son?“
„Yes. Big fire. We were living in Boston at the time. Life of normal people, I had a job, family, friends. After that, I gave up on everything, and dedicated my life to....“, he stopped.
„To what?“, anxiously asked Brianna
„Doesn't matter.“, he looked at ther, „I made us dinner. I hope you like venison. „
„Yes, sure.“
They sat down. Brianna was carefully observing the old man while praying before dinner. He was probably religeous man, even dough he wasn't showing it. At the first sight, he appeared as cold, maybe even vicious man, who was out of civilized world for too long. Without waiting and no special manners, he poared Briannas plate with stew, and then his. The meal was spent in quiet.
Brianna enjoyed the stew even dough it wasn't cooked long enough. It was the first real meal after a week. After all those fried snakes, lizzards, rats and what not, this was the first time she felt full. Her contentment was short term. First thought at Ethaniel brought her anxiety that she hasn't felt before. Whe was alone again.
As a child, she never met her parents, growing up in orphanages. Changing fosters and guardians, one after another, she never knew what family is. Jenny was the only constant in her life. Jenny was a pearson like her, without parents, but with eternal optimism. She used to say: „Don't worry, we'll fint a way out of this chaos and live the life se always wanted. In great house, with lost of servants, and a husbant that will give us all the love and money we need.“ Brianna wasn't into the same things as Jenny was, but she always gave all the support she needed no matter how her dreams my get childish. Brianna was only hoping to find her own peace that will insure her survival. She was left all alone, with no parents, no Jenny, and now no Ethaniel.
Monday, December 7, 2009 5:54:35 PM
The morning was unusually quiet. Brianna woke up in sweat. She went though the same agony she felt when she looked at Ethaniel's eyes. A death she wished for no one...
Again, she watched Ethaniel's lips turning blood red, fighting for another breath. She turned his head in hope she'd forget about it. She didn't have will to enjoy all by herself, now she was worried for Ethaniel.
It wasn't usual for him to be this late. Before the first ray of sunlight he was holding her hand tight, but now he wasn't there. The sun was on the horizon, but no Ethaniel. Brianna was getting worried by the passing seconds. „What if he was telling the truth? What if he can't stand the sunlight? Where is he?“
She turned around. Nothing. „Where did he disappear?“
Bark.
Brianna turned, in the distance was a dog chasing sheeps toward the house far on the horizon. There was standing a black shadow. „Maybe he can help me.“
It passed almost half an hour before reaching her goal, but she was too tired from the past few days to run. She was almost limping though the field. Finally, the shadow saw her and started to walk toward her. As she was approaching she noticed an old man, wrinkled face, gray hear, with gray hat. He had a pipe in one hand and a shepards pole in the other. „'Day, ma'am. What brings you here?“
„I'm just passing through. You live in that house?“, she pointed at the cabin.
„Yes.“
„Did you happen to see a man anywhere? He's dressed in black, around 5.2 ft, black hair?“, she asked cautiously. „No. Barney started to bark last night at around 3 a.m.. I got up to see if there was anyone around, but the dark was surrounding the house.“, he answered.
„Damn dog. I should strangle him with my bare hands when he wakes me up that late.“, he continued.
„Is there any chance to use your toalet? I haven't took a shower in a couple of days.“
„Usually I don't let strangers into my house, but I think I can make an exeption.“
„I'm Brianna, by the way.“
„Will.“, he muttered.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 3:46:42 PM
„Anth, calm down. You said that for a reason. You had to say it!“, Ethaniel was repeating in his mind. He felt remorse, guilt for lying to her, but now it was too late to correct anything. Brianna went for a walk, time for some studying.
He pulled out his black book out and continued with studying. „Everybody who have tainted blood, and are not worthy to enter the upper world, shall not enter untill they are ready to claim their misdeeds in front of all three worlds.“
Ethaniel raised his head, thinking what he just read. „Shall not enter...“, he repeated. Studying continued deep into the night. He was in deep state of outter mind when Brianna returned. She layed by the log again and fell asleep.
Ethaniel waited patiently almost all night for her to come back. Now he could go hunting. The time came for him to have a meal. He put away his book, and stood up. He came close to Brianna to make sure she was sleeping. He reached his hand toward her face to move the lock of her hair away. He stopped.
„What is happening to me?“, Ethaniel said quietly, not understanding his situation. For the first time after many years, something inside of him began to wake up. He felt something. Even dough he didn't know what that feeling was, he senced it is not welcome. „Now is not the time for emotions!“, he mumbled. Ethaniel snapped out of it and stood up.
Time for dinner. He walked away slowly, in case Brianna wasn't sound asleep, and came out under the tree. Evening was pleasant. Not one cloud to hide one star. Ethaniel recognized few star constalations with almost no thinking. On the west was the great Orion, and on the east was standing Kasiopea humbly.
„North. Hm, maybe it will bring me some good catch.“ He turned around, to make sure one more time that Brianna was sleeping and disappeared into the night.
Thursday, September 10, 2009 5:29:27 PM
By the time Brianna woke up, it was already night. The fire was burning at the same place where was her breakfast baking this morning.
First sight was upon the place where she had placed Ethaniel. All she saw was old sheet and a log. There was no sight of Ethaniel.
„Oh, dear God, where is he?“, she jumped to her feet. „Ethaniel!!“, she shouted, hopping for him to be near by.
„What are you screaming about? I'm here!“, the voice was coming from behind her. She turned around and saw Ethaniel carrying logs for fire. His face was fully recovered, like nothing ever happened.
„What..? Where were you? What's with your face?“, she said in shock, covering her mouth with her hand. She came closer to the fire to see him better. „What? How did this happen?“
„Calm down.“, Ethaniel said with small smile. „What's with you?“
„Ah, no, no, no. You owe me an explanation! This morning your face was completely burned and now you look like nothing ever happened. Not one scar. Talk!“, Brianna was stunned.
„Calm down.“, Ethaniel repeated. „I'm fine. See?“, he pointed his face. „Nothing.“
„I need an explanaton. Start talking!“, Brianna was anxious to hear an answer. Her sanity was hanging by a thread.
Ethaniel kept quiet. He didn't want to answer her question but he realized he had no choice.
She shaked his shoulders „SPEAK!“. Ethaniel removed her hands with caution: „Okay. I'll tell you. Calm down!“
„Sit down.“, he pointed to the log. „Please, sit down.“
Brianna slowly sat, and leaned foward to hear better. Ethaniel sat on the ground and crossed his legs.
„Okay. This morning happened something that hasn't happened for a quite some time.“, Ethaniel started slowly. „I told you, I have been in the dark for most of my life. That is because I have zero tolerance toward the sun. I am completely nonresistable to sunlight.
„But how did you survive for so long? I mean, we've been walking in the sun for four days. How? Why now?“, Brianna was in even bigger shock.
„That's why I was holding your hand. My organism is unique in this world. All doctors what have mastered those type of things, didn't have an answer for my state. At the end, when I almost gave up on every hope to find out the answer, I realized how I can survive. Because of it, I was holding your hand. Because you were a sort of catalyst. I was absorbing the sunlight through you without consequence.“
„What?!“, Brianna shouted. „I'm a catalyst. That's absolutely inconcievable!“
„Trust me, I'm telling you the truth. Now you know!“
„You were my catalyst...“, he continued, „.... through which I was absorbing the sunlight. I held your hand only because of that. That moment when I lost it and let go of you, „my catalyst was disabled and I started to burn.“
„When..? My hand?, Brianna was still in a state of shock. „But if you knew all of this, then why did you let me go?“, she barely spoke.
„Because I knew that that moment would come sooner or later, and that I will have to let you go. I'm only sorry that moment wasn't at night.“
„Wait a minute!“, Brianna stood up. „Okay. Let's say I believe you... How did your face heal so fast? It's scientificly impossible!“
„And how do you know that? Are you some kind of scientist?“, Ethaniel asked with smile upon his face.
„No, I'm just being realistic! And there is no explanation for fast healing!“
„Have you ever seen a lizard?“, Ethaniel asked, even dough he knew the answer. „Off course I have.“
„Then you know that lizards have the ability to regenerate. I'm like a lizard.“ „You crawl?“, Brianna was trying to be funny.
„No. I don't crawl. Like lizard, I too have the ability to regenerate, but slightly faster. My regeneration lasts for only a couple of hours.“
Brianna let go. „So, you are inresistable to the sunlight, and you have ability to regenerate?“, she asked in disbelief.
„Yes.“, Ethaniel answered with amazing calmness. „I don't believe you!“, she shuck her head.
„I't your decision. I told you the truth, you do with it what you please. I have no need to talk about that subject any more.“, he stood up and walked to the other end of the tree.
Brianna sat down and for a while thought about everything she heard today. „This is too much for me.“, she said to herself and went for a walk.
1 2 3 4 5 ... 10 Next »
My Opera
