The Chase
By Sydney
There is always a chase. When the predator sees the prey, its instinctive drive knows what to do. Just as the predator knows, so does the prey. Every animal has escape plans built in for the sake of self-preservation. Some animals run, some have defense mechanisms, and others have memory as well as the ability to learn from what they remember. So what happens when a predator finds a new prey, an unfamiliar one? What happens when this powerful predator faces prey whose only defense mechanisms are slow running, knowledge, memory, and the ability to learn? Can it go against impossible odds and survive? Will the chase end with victory for predator or survival for prey?
Running. It’s been done since the beginning of legged creatures. They found it useful to arrive at destinations, to hunt, to play games, and for escape. The boy running through the dense forest wasn’t aiming to go to a place nor was he searching for food. He also didn’t think his predicament was a game. He was escaping. Escape and the act of self-preservation was why he was running frantically through the trees and thorned bushes. Clothes ripped, and breathing hard, he ran. With each step, the pounding in his head was overwhelming, like each thump was an implosion of his brain. Tears, sweat, blood, and dirt covered his face like another layer of skin. The rest of his body was in no better shape. Scrapes and cuts crisscrossed over any exposed skin, raising itchy bloody scratches from thorns, and deep painful cuts from rocks and branches. The blood from his damaged legs ran into his socks while he ran. He felt as his socks slide around in his shoes, but was too busy running to pay them much attention. Behind him he heard the thing chasing him as it crashed though the trees and snapped branches. His blood curdled as he heard that roar, an unearthly voice mixing the pierce of a bird of prey and the ferocity of a lion. It followed him and penetrated his mind, never allowing him to think straight.
Each breath was a battle; the breaths were painful and laborious, causing each intake to feel acidic, like small needles prickling his lungs and throat. Everything was on fire. Not seeing a large root sticking out of the path, his foot caught in it and he flew through the air, landing with a thud on his face. His lip split open, causing him to cry out in pain. Sobbing, unable to breathe, with a desperately dry mouth filled with blood and an aching body, he was about ready to give up. And then he thought of his girlfriend’s smell and her warmth and knew that he needed to get up. He tried to raise his shaking arms from out of the dirt to push himself up, but was too weak and fell back down. He strained and stained, trying to move, but couldn’t even raise a hand. Tears running freely and the thing getting closer, he thought about his journey to where he was then.
His name was Isaac. He had lived 17 years in his hometown where everyone knew each other and the crime rate was so low that they had a police force of five. In the spring, flowers bloomed everywhere and it’s sweet fragrance floated through town. His favorite place was a weeping willow tree on the outskirts, which had a tire swing hanging from a branch. He would go there and stare between the branches at the brilliant blue sky, feeling the grass with his toes that was as soft as a kitten’s fur as he sat in the swing and thought about his future. Looking at the sky, he dreamt of leaving the small town and exploring the world. Always was he thinking of the future, vowing never to look in the past. He vowed that nothing could hold him back.
Isaac spat out blood and laughed bitterly, though the laugh sounded closer to a cough than a laugh. His life hadn’t turned out quite as planned. He had always had grand dreams of leaving his peaceful hometown for something better, and would spend hours on that swing imagining himself in different vocations, lawyer, athlete, CEO, explorer, politician, astronaut, and even famous actor. His parents were aware of his ambitions and so for a graduation gift, his girlfriend and he received a trip around the country.
Isaac willed himself with all his might to push his aching body upwards and using all the strength remaining in his deteriorating husk, he managed to stagger to his feet. Off he ran, slowly and with uneven steps, stopping every so often when he ran painfully into a tree. Scanning and straining his eyes, he searched desperately for any sign of people, any relief from the creature. He yearned and prayed for a sign of civilization, but not even an article of trash could be seen. It was getting darker. Isaac wondered to himself if the creature could see in the dark and whether or not it needed to stop and rest. At the thought of resting, Isaac suddenly felt the absolute exhaustion tugging at his bones and he stumbled, managing to catch himself at the last second, but knowing that if he fell he would never get back up and he would never be returning home. He wished he were home. He really was glad for the trip, but regretted joining the hiking trip through the forest with the residential tour group. He had been so excited to see the forest with his girlfriend and had pictured them in explorer’s outfits, hiking around and meeting the animals. They had been enjoying the backpacking trip though it was a bit less exciting than he thought it would be. They were on their second day of the trip and cautiously hiking down a mountain with backpacks when Isaac lost his footing and slipped on some loose rocks lining the steep trail. He stumbled and would have caught his balance had his enormous backpack not been positioned over the precipice. The weight tipped him and though his girlfriend reached for his hand, eyes wide, he tumbled into the forest below, missing her outstretched hand by centimeters. As he fell he looked to their faces, a look of shock and fear on his, a look of horror and surprise on theirs. He fell and must have made a noise though he couldn’t remember hearing any sounds. His group must have made sounds too, but all he could remember was their faces with wide eyes and mouths moving, peering over the edge as he felt the air behind him, his throat raw and chest breathless. Isaac looked to his girlfriend’s sweet face as he got further and further away until they were out of sight and then he felt a force rip through his body, knocking the wind out of him and engulfing him in darkness.
The darkness around Isaac was different than the darkness after the fall. The darkness as he ran was sneakier, closing in on him, obstructing his view and disorienting him. The sun was low in the sky, and though the horizon was filled with a beautiful shade of purple, Isaac couldn’t appreciate it. All he saw was the darkness everywhere. When would he see light again? Was this his last sunset?
The fall had knocked out Isaac. He had felt the air expelled from his body and then there was darkness everywhere like a cold suffocating blanket. The next sensation he felt was pain. Groaning, Isaac had sat up and checked himself over for broken bones or sprains. Thankfully, the only injury he had sustained was a large bruise on his side that still was very painful. Isaac saw that a pile of leaves had broken his fall. Then a thought had struck the unfortunate boy. Why was there a unnaturally large pile of leaves lying in the middle of the forest? Isaac had grabbed the strap from his backpack and carefully climbed off the pile of leaves. It wasn’t much later that he realized that the leaves were a home for a fearsome creature that thought him tasty and the chase had begun, his backpack left far behind.
After the sun had made its descent far below the horizon, the deep darkness made it difficult for Isaac to keep running. He stumbled around fearfully in the darkness, barely able to put one foot in front of the other, adrenaline as the only thing keeping him going. Isaac stumbled yet again and was about ready to give up when he spotted in the dim light the most beautiful sight of his entire life. He saw an empty bag of chips. The bag wasn’t remarkable in any way as far as Isaac could tell in the near pitch-black, but the bag was a sign of civilization. Isaac turned towards the direction of the bag and soon spotted another piece of trash, a crumpled styrofoam cup. With renewed energy, Isaac started running with all of his might, dark trees streaking by him until he burst out, ten minutes of exhausting sprinting later, on a paved road. Isaac almost collapsed from joy right there, but he knew that he had to keep going. Isaac started running down the road, eager to reach whatever lay ahead. Shining brightly, two headlights lit up Isaac’s backside and he spun around, thumb out. His heart beat quickly. He was going to survive. The car slowed down and Isaac jumped in, infinitely grateful to his rescuer. The car started back up and continued down the dark road. Isaac sat there, shaking from exhaustion. He looked to the man next to him weakly to thank him. The driver was an old dirty man with a trucker hat low over his eyes and a toothpick protruding from his crooked grey teeth. Before Isaac could say a word of gratitude, the man spoke in a deep rumbling grating voice like bending metal.
“You look a mess. Why were you running?” he asked, switching the toothpick form one side of his mouth to the other and shifting. Jared lay back and swallowed, closing his eyes, his body throbbing from his injuries. He managed to answer through his bloodied, broken lips.
“The monster… chasing me” he whispered hoarsely, taking a few careful breaths. Isaac heard the man grumble and clack his toothpick against his teeth.
“So you’ve met the creature of Eagleoak woods, have you? You do know the rumors, don’t you?” he asked in the same grating voice, “The stories of the creature.” Isaac shook his head.
“I’m not from around here.” Isaac rasped, his throat desperately dry. The old man shifted again.
“They say he ran away to the woods as a baby from a genetic testing company after slaughtering the entire staff. They say he enjoys toying with his meals, letting them run around for entertainment though he can easily catch them, just like a cat. The stories tell of the horrible mutations, that the genetics company gave him amazing abilities that make him an unbeatable hunter. These abilities mean he can track you like a bloodhound, once he had your blood there is no stopping him. He will hunt you until the end of time. He does have one quite unbelievable power in addition to the others as if that weren’t enough. It is said that he can change shape to toy with the person’s emotions. Was he that rock you almost tripped over? A leaf you brushed with your foot? Was the tree that passed actually the creature? Am I?”
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Stages of Love
The Death of Cedric
By Sydney
Jared placed the phone gently on the receiver and walked calmly over to the kitchen sink across the room. He gripped the edge of the cool stainless steel sink with both of his smooth hands and leaned over, closing his eyes. There was only one word scrolling though his mind continuously. Cedric. Out from his mouth came a bubbling of vomit, which fell with a plop into the sink. Jared squeezed his eyes tightly shut to stop the word from bounding through his head with a painful echo but it wouldn’t leave. Out from his eye came a single drop, which slid halfway down his cheek and fell into the sink with a sorrowful ping. With his head bowed, Jared stood at the sink without movement for another five minutes before taking a deep breath and rinsing out the sink with a retractable hose. Placing the hose back gently, Jared started heading for the door, pausing to collect his keys with the celery stalk keychain and to unhook his coat from the coat rack, which he neglected to put on and instead hung it over his arm. Silently he got opened his front door, locked it, and walked to his green highlander in the driveway. Pulling open the door, he stepped into his car and after situating himself, pulled the door closed with a soft bang. Flipping through the keys, he found the one to start his car and looked at it in the light as if it would hold all of the answers to life. The key stayed lifeless in Jared’s hands and he stayed silent watching it. Blinking, Jared put the key into the ignition and started the car. All at once, Jared was hit with a blast of freezing air and heavy metal music, which he switched off quickly. Neither was appropriate then. It was winter and heavy metal didn’t fit into the somber atmosphere of the car.
During the drive, the car was silent with only the sounds of the engine and the road passing the car. But in Jared’s head, it was unbearably loud. Cedric. Cedric his coworker and friend. Cedric the upbeat and funny friend who literally gave a man the shirt off of his back once. The same Cedric he had known for 20 years. That man was in the ICU. Cedric was in the ICU. No matter how many ways Jared looked at it, it didn’t make any sense. Cedric? Cedric was in the ICU? The one person on this earth who deserved it least, was dying? Does this make sense? Silently and stone-faced, Jared continued his drive still puzzling over these words in his head.
When Jared reached the hospital, his head was still cloudy. Nothing made sense. He felt as though he was a visitor in his body and someone else had been driving there for him, but now they had left and he was stuck with the worthless shell. He looked at the keys in the ignition and the handle on the door but couldn’t puzzle out what they were there for. The car sat there humming in the parking space as Jared sat wondering what he should do about the fact that he was now trapped in the car. And then Jared began to laugh. It was a laugh that came from deep in his chest and burst forth from his lips until he was laughing maniacally. Cedric wasn’t dying. How ridiculous he felt for falling for that! He had driven all the way to the hospital while Cedric was probably laughing it up somewhere. Granted, it was a bit meaner than Cedric’s jokes usually were, but to have his wife get into it as well? Genius! He had actually almost believed her performance on the phone! Jared’s laughter got louder and crazier as he thought of Cedric’s joyous face saying ‘I got you!’ as he sipped his customary cup of apple cider.
“I’ll bet that joker got the hospital to go along with it!” Jared said to himself out loud. Whistling, Jared turned off his car and stepped out, taking a breath of the crisp air. Confidently, Jared stepped out of the car and walked straight into the hospital, walking up to the receptionist’s desk. Jared usually hated hospitals, their smell of cleaning supplies and misery, their dismal colors, their noisy hallways. The receptionist wearing the pink cardigan looked up to the grinning Jared and looked back down to her paperwork.
“Maternity ward is on level three.” She told him dismissively. Jared laughed and shook his head.
“That’s not what I’m here for.” He told her. The receptionist looked at him over her styled glasses.
“Psych ward?” She asked rudely. Jared laughed again and shook his head.
“No, no, no. I’m here to see a Mr. Cedric Greene.” He told her. The woman sighed and turned to the computer, making clacking noises with fingers adorned with long red fingernails.
“Are you sure?” She asked him, her eyes piercing him with disgust.
“His wife’s name is Laurie Greene.” the receptionist turned to her computer once again and turned back.
“Why are you smiling? What is wrong with you? I don’t think I should give you his room number if you have that attitude.” Jared shook his head.
“No, you see, I know he’s not really hurt. I’m his best friend! He’s just playing a joke on me. I’d like to go see him if I may.” The woman rolled her eyes.
“You know what, what ever. Dealing with nuts like you ain’t part of my job. His room number is 192B. Have fun with your ‘game’ and try not to upset him.” The receptionist went back to her papers and Jared smiled and winked at her, ignoring the fact that she wasn’t paying a bit of attention to him.
When Jared walked into room 192B, a horrible sight greeted him. Cedric lay in a hospital bed that was a color uglier and blander than the walls. Cedric’s eyes were closed and his face was pale as death. Surrounding Cedric was hospital equipment hooked up to every place possible on his muscular but sick body. Jared thought that he looked much like an injured bird, delicate and unable to spread his wings to fly off and bring joy to the world. Cedric’s wife Laurie sat in the corner in a green pantsuit, a darker green than the walls and hospital bed. She had her head bowed and eyes closed, lips moving as she moved beads of a wooden rosary through her shaky hands, which were whiter than her husband’s face. Jared strode confidently into the room and walked over to the bed, his soft shoes barely making any noise. Cedric lay still, the only sound in the stale hospital air was the beeping of the machines signifying that Cedric was still alive somewhere under all of the machinery.
“Oh. My.” Jared said sarcastically, causing Laurie to jump in surprise at the sudden indication that there was another person in the room. “It appears as though Cedric is dying.” Laurie’s eyes watered and mouth became ajar as she looked at her husband’s best friend in disbelief, wondering about his strange behavior.
“J-Jared?” she whispered. Jared ignored her and leaned on the hospital bed.
“So, Cedric… I guess you wouldn’t feel me… tickle you!” Jared cried out and began to attempt to tickle his sickly friend. Laurie’s eyes went wide and she froze from shock as the apparently crazy Jared all but climbed on top of her husband, digging his fingers into Cedric’s belly. Laurie got a hold of herself and leapt to her feet, running over to Cedric.
“Stop it! Stop it now! What the hell are you doing? You’re going to kill him!” she screamed. Jared stopped tickling the corpse-like body of his friend and laughed again.
“The jig is up. I know he’s okay. Ha ha, very funny. Now let’s go out for some pizza. I’ll buy! You know, you almost had me for a second on the phone. Real convincing, you were.” Jared said, basically foaming at the mouth. Laurie looked him straight in his crazed eyes, and slapped him as hard as she could with her outstretched right hand. Jared stumbled back, almost onto the ground. He gave her a look like an injured puppy dog, the sanity returning to his face. Laurie held her hand, shaking. Large tears developed in the corners of her eyes.
“I understand that you two were close, but you’re acting like a irrational maniac. That isn’t you. You need to pull yourself together. You should be ashamed of your attitude and actions!” Laurie said angrily but at a regular volume. Laurie turned away and faced the wall, unable to bear seeing Jared in such a messed up state. Jared was usually one of the most down-to-earth and logical men. He was a little loud at times but he was always gentle. Once again a hush settled into the stale air so that the only sounds were the machines keeping the beloved Mr. Greene alive.
Jared let out a yell of anger and Laurie jumped. She spun around to see Jared kicking a chair while bellowing a battle cry and muttering intermittent cursing under his breath. Laurie retreated to the corner, regretting calling Jared to the hospital.
“Why did you do this to me, how can you just leave us you BASTARD!” I hate you for this and I spit on your grave you worthless piece of crap. I HATE you. I hope you do die, then I won’t ever have to see your ugly mug again you… you… big ass. Well fuck you. You heard me, FUCK YOU! Goddamn, you weren’t supposed to leave. You broke our agreement. I was going to die first. We DECIDED! Remember when we took those ‘When are you going to die’ quizzes online? I scored lower and you laughed at me you asshole. We picked out a tie for you to wear to my funeral. We never picked ME out a tie. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO WEAR? You are just so selfish. How DARE you! So guess what? Fuck you, Cedric. FUCK YOU!” Jared screamed, his face turning purple. Glaring around the room and breathing heavily, Jared picked up the chair he had been kicking and flung it against the wall. Laurie cried out and ran in the opposite direction. Some nurses had arrived at the door to find out about the commotion, but Jared just angrily pushed past them and headed for the elevators, leaving Laurie in a huddle and sobbing mess on the floor.
Jared paced the parking lot in a huff, still angry from the incident in Cedric’s room. As the minutes went by he became more and more calm and his paces became slower and slower until he was sitting on the curb looking at a leaf and carefully picking it apart, deep in reverie. While he sat there thinking and sitting, he thought about his life and his job. He thought back to the first time he and Cedric had met and how they had become closer than brothers over the years they had known each other. They met each other fresh out of high school, in college, and had become roommates. From that moment on they had done everything together and shared all. They talked about girls and the future and together they would construct elaborate what-if scenarios. Jared laughed to himself and sadly remembered the time when the two of them argued the issue of the better berry, blue or rasp? Cedric hotly argued blue, while Jared argued rasp for obvious reasons. Jared dropped the stem he was holding that had been holding up a leaf only minutes before and shakily got to his feet, looking to the dimming light in the sky. He thought about how he had acted inside the hospital and realized that he had acted irrationally and disrespectfully. He had let his crazy emotions clog his thoughts and actions. Cedric needed him now more than ever before and he had said all of those horrible things to him. He felt ashamed of himself. Jared looked to a passing plane with its lights flashing as it moved through the grey sky and made a vow. If Cedric would live, Jared would be a better friend than anyone had ever been before and, just in case God was listening in, he would be more charitable and become an active member in improving his community. Until Cedric was better, Jared was going to be by his side.
Jared started heading for the hospital but stopped. Would they allow him back into there? He had acted frenziedly before. Jared simply shook his head. It didn’t matter. He had to try. For the second time that day Jared walked into the hospital, but this time his head wasn’t filled with crazed thoughts of conspiracy. Quietly he walked past the unfriendly pink cardigan-wearing receptionist who sat looking at paperwork at her desk. Jared started walking to the elevator, hating the heavy feeling in the hospital air, but resolute. Cedric needed him. Jared reached the elevators and using one finger pushed in the up button. He listened as the elevator worked behind closed doors and smiled sadly to himself, remembering a time when he and Cedric had raced up and down elevators. It had been after they had graduated college and had gotten an apartment together. That wasn’t the only instance when the two of them would do childish things together. Jared felt a tear fall from his left eye as he remembered the many things they would do together. That was why they were as close as they were. They understood how important a smile was, the importance of staying young, and the value of having someone there to completely be yourself with.
The elevator opened its silver doors and Jared stepped onto the green square of linoleum, pressing the button corresponding with the appropriate floor. Jared watched as the doors closed, slowly cutting himself more and more off of the outside world until they made a click to signify that he was completely cut off. Jared felt his stomach drop for a moment as the elevator headed up. He usually used this time to be surrounded by his thoughts, but on that elevator ride he only had one thought on his mind. Cedric loved, no loves elevators. He would say that you step in one place, turn around and step out somewhere new. It was like a magic portal. Cedric used to drag Jared around every once in a while to a new building he had found to take the elevator and explore each floor. Jared laughed. Cedric was a wierd guy. Jared heard the elevator slow down and felt his stomach travel upwards for an instant before settling back into its normal place. The silver doors opened and Jared stepped out. Looking down the hallway in both directions, he headed for Cedric’s room. When he reached the door, Laurie spotted him immediately and her face went hard. She rushed to Cedric’s side, finger on the nurse’s call button.
“We’ve had enough of you today. Please just go. You’re only hurting him. I’ll press this button if you get any closer and they’ll come and escort you out. I’ll have you arrested, I will. So… so…” Laurie broke down into tears and took her hand away from the button. “How could you say those things?” she blubbered, “H-how? You two are so close, I swear you were like Siamese twins. If I can keep it together, so can you. So can YOU dammit.” Jared crossed the room quickly and tightly wrapped Laurie in his arms.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered to her, “I’m so sorry. I was inconsiderate and I know I should have acted like a mature adult. I just… I didn’t want to believe that Cedric could… could be…” Jared swallowed back tears that were stinging his eyes and took a breath, “Injured that badly.” Laurie sobbed and Jared stood there holding her, trying with all his might to hold back the tears that were building up in his head like an overflowing dam. So close to them lay Cedric who was only close in body. His mind was a million miles away, unable to know or comprehend the two individuals who stood so near to him, completely torn apart.
There was a knock at the door, causing Laurie and Jared to look up bleary eyed in the direction of the noise. A group of assorted medical staff was entering the room carrying a new bed and assorted medical equipment. They approached the comatose man and began working quickly unhooking machines. A nurse looked walked over to the distraught pair clinging to each other in support.
“We’re taking him to surgery now,” she explained, a look of empathy and kindness in her eyes, “Wait here and we’ll send someone out periodically with updates. Don’t worry about him; we’ll take very good care of him. Doctor Latorre is a very skilled surgeon, one of the best in the state.” The duo watched as all but one or two machines were unhooked. They began moving Cedric to a new bed. Never had Jared seen his best friend look so helpless. Jared let go of Laurie and went over to a space between two busy doctors. Reaching down, Jared patted Cedric’s hand awkwardly and whispered, “When you get better, I promise I’ll sit through an entire marathon of those Japanese monster movies you love so much but I hate and I’ll even let you win an argument once.” Cedric lay there as the doctors continued to talk in medical terms and Jared looked at his fallen friend’s face. Cedric’s hair was messy so Jared pushed it back.
“You always had terrible bed-head,” he told his friend, his tears finally breaking through the dam as he laughed, remembering the mornings when Cedric would stumble half asleep into breakfast with the most atrocious hair anyone had ever seen. Jared searched Cedric’s corpselike face for a response or any emotion but there was none. His face was cold, unfeeling, so unlike the usually upbeat and jovial Cedric. His normally shining hazel eyes were hidden away behind dull lids. A doctor gently touched him on the back and Jared nodded, backing away. Jared looked to Laurie who was opposite him, eyes connecting. Laurie looked straight into his eyes; her own eyes red, puffy, and tortured. Silently she understood and slowly released her grip from Cedric’s limp hand, backing up. Together they watched as the medical staff escorted Cedric on his new bed out of the room. Laurie walked up and stood next to Jared, gripping his arm tightly and together they watched the man who meant so much to them exiting the room until the last nurse had turned the corner.
“Hello, My name is Cedric. I guess I’m your roommate.”
“Hey, I’m Jared. If you don’t mind, I’m taking the bottom bunk.”
“I love the top bunk.”
“Good because I wasn’t serious about you having a choice.”
“I was planning on fighting you for the top bunk.”
“Sounds like we were well matched.”
“It does indeed. Are you setting up video games before your stuff is unpacked?”
“Yep.”
“Dude, those were my plans!”
“I’m pretty sure we were meant to be roommates.”
“Hey, I smuggled in beer. Do you want some?”
“Uh- do level three mages have the ability to use the stunning spell?”
“A beer it is then.”
“A toast to the totally awesome days of video games and drunkenness.”
“May they never end.”
Jared awoke with a snort. Laurie lay sleeping with her head on his lap, making soft snoring sounds. Jared looked to the clock. He had been sleeping for two hours. It was now completely dark outside. Jared looked around the room. No one else was in there except Laurie and him. Spotting the empty bed and medical equipment, the pale and sickly face of Cedric came rushing back to him. Jared felt dizziness envelope him and he was suddenly glad he was sitting. He had never expected to see Cedric like that; he looked so helpless, so vulnerable. One thing Jared liked about Cedric was his strength of mind and character, Cedric had always had a sharp wit and would never back down, never show his weakness. It was like the body that had been on the bed, though it looked like Cedric’s body right down to the scar on his hand from a battle with a door, was someone else’s body. That someone else the body belonged to wasn’t like Cedric at all. What made Cedric his best friend was missing from the body that had been in the bed. It was void of joy and strength, playfulness and humanity. It was like being friends with a store mannequin. A mannequin is pale, well built, unmoving, and has less personality than a stick of butter. But deep down, Jared knew that the body that had been lying there before did belong to Cedric, and that Cedric was in there somewhere.
A nurse entered the quiet room, her shoes clicking on the floor. Jared gently shook Laurie and she sat up, rubbing her eyes.
“The surgery is going well. We are about a third of the way through the procedure and I’ll make sure to keep you updated. All of Mr. Greene’s vitals are stable, and there have been no complications. Mr. Greene has been a wonderful patient.” The nurse told the sleepy but eager pair soothingly. Laurie looked at the nurse, her eyes sad and pleading.
“Thank you for the update. Please do everything you can for him. We’re his only family and he’s our only family. Without him… I just don’t know.” Laurie told her softly. The nurse nodded her head.
“I’ll make sure we do everything possible. Until then, all you can do is stay here for moral support and send out your good energy. Just let us do our job and Mr. Greene will be fixed up in no time.” The nurse told her reassuringly. The nurse smiled empathetically and left the room leaving Laurie and Jared alone again. Silence once again filled the room. Laurie and Jared sat there uncomfortably. The only thing they really had in common was their relationship with Cedric. Without him it was awkward. They had always been polite and had a certain fondness for each other, but while they respected and loved each other because they had become like family, they were never close enough to establish more of a relationship. Jared settled back into his uncomfortable grey chair and closed his eyes. He felt Laurie next to him as she laid her head on his lap and he drifted off into his dreams once again.
“I met a girl today, Jared.”
“You meet a girl everyday, Cedric”
“But this girl is different, she’s the one I’m going to marry.”
“You are a hopeless romantic, Cedric. You say that all the time.
“But I mean it this time.”
“Okay, fine. Tell me about your fiancé.”
“She’s got the most deep light blue eyes a girl has ever had and her hair is the color of the purest caramel.”
“Now I’m hungry.”
“Shut up, I’m talking about the love of my life.”
“Fine, go on. She has caramel hair, does she?"
“Yes. And her ears are perfectly shaped.”
“Creepy! You’re actually describing her ears?”
“Shut up! They’re perfect. Everything about her is perfect.”
“Fine, fine. My lips are sealed. Look, I’m even tossing away the key.”
“I’m going to marry her, Jared. I’m going to make her my bride.”
“Cedric, you’ve said that so many times. You haven’t even told me her name. Do you know her name?”
“It’s Laurie. Her name is Laurie. One day she will be Laurie Greene and we’ll live together in a beautiful home.”
“Fine. Here’s to Laurie, your bride-to-be!”
“To Laurie.”
Jared awoke and looked to the clock. His mind wasn’t awake yet so when he stared at the clock hands it was difficult to read it. After taking a breathe and recollecting himself, he finally counted out that a half hour had gone by. He could see that it was going to be a long time waiting if he kept waking up. Jared suddenly remembered his dream of the first time Cedric had mentioned Laurie and looked down to the woman Cedric had so loved. Now that he really looked, her hair color did look somewhat like caramel. Jared gently brushed back Laurie’s hair to inspect her ears. There was nothing remarkably unique about them. He shook his head. He would never understand hat Cedric liked so much about them, but Cedric was an odd guy and a romantically minded individual. Jared settled back down into his chair and closed his eyes, once again taking refuge in his memories and dreams.
“Let’s go sledding, Jared.”
“What? I haven’t done that since I was a little kid!”
“So? Didn’t we make a vow to live life to the fullest and never get old?”
“Yeah, but we never said that we didn’t have to mature.”
“You know why you’re going to die first, Jared?”
“Because of my eating and exercising habits?”
“No, that’s why you’re going to be a fat old man.”
“Because the tests online said I was going to die first?”
“No, it’s because you’ve given up on being a kid.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s my eating and sleeping all day that will kill me.”
“Stop talking and let’s go buy sleds.”
“Winner of the sled race buys beer!”
“See? We can be kids and do mature things.”
“Sledding and beer, a hallmark of childhood since the dawn of time.”
Laurie shifted in Jared’s lap, waking the sleeping Jared up. Jared looked down at her with sleepy eyes. She was deeply asleep but her eyes were red, puffy, and wet. Jared looked up to the clock but couldn’t focus and didn’t have the energy to try so he gave up trying to read it. Shifting his bottom, he quickly fell back asleep.
“Hey Jared, you know what?”
“What?”
“I’m really glad I have you as a friend.”
“Cedric, nothing makes me happier than hearing you say that. I’m glad you are my friend too.”
“I love you Jared.”
“Um… having a steady girlfriend has turned you into a sissy.”
“I’m serious. You’ve been there for me, man.”
“Fine… promise you won’t ever tell anyone I said this to you?”
“You know me, I won’t say anything to anyone you don’t want me to.”
“Well then I want you to know that… I love you too.”
Jared was shaking. Why was he shaking? He opened his eyes to see Laurie shaking him, concern in her eyes. Jared yawned and wiped the drool from his chin, shrugging Laurie off.
“Jared? The surgeon is here to talk to us.” Laurie told him, clutching his arm. Jared turned to see a surgeon in scrubs standing in front of them. Jared snapped to attention.
“Yes? What is it? How is he?” Jared asked, praying with all his heart that Cedric was okay.
“Mrs. Greene, Mr. Robertson, I’m sorry. We did everything we could. He was on the table and we were ready to sew him up when he went into cardiac arrest. Despite our efforts to resuscitate him, there was nothing we could do.” The surgeon told them, empathy all over his face. Laurie screamed and started bawling.
“No!” she screamed, completely hysterical, “No, no, no, no, no. It’s impossible. Go back and save him! It’s not too late! Cedric is a fighter a FIGHTER! He can’t die. Save him! Go back and do your goddamn job!” Laurie turned to Jared’s arm and started sobbing, but Jared just sat there, completely stiff. He searched the surgeon’s face, not believing his ears. Was this a joke? There was no way. He understood that Cedric was sick, but dead? No. Nuh uh. His head hurt. Everything was dizzy. All he could think about was Cedric’s face and his mannerisms. He had lost someone he could never replace. He had lost his true friend. Cedric hooked up to the machines, his face bloodless and sickly, this was the image that hit Jared and replaced the one of Cedric in life. Seeing the face of the dying Cedric, knowing that he, Jared, the unhealthy one, had outlived his health conscious best friend, it haunted Jared. The image of near death Cedric stuck in his mind. Jared looked to Laurie sobbing on his arm and then to the doctor standing there. None of them could understand. The only one who had ever really understood him was gone. Laurie had loved Cedric, but Jared had known him longer and on a different level. The doctor had only operated on him. He had only seen the sickness. He couldn’t possibly feel the Jared was feeling. He was alone. He was completely alone.
“I’m going.” He said bitterly, angrily, “I have to go.” He shook his arm free and left the broken Laurie collapsed on the uncomfortable grey chairs. Jared stood up and faced the doctor. “Don’t pretend you’re sorry.” He told the unfortunate surgeon, “Don’t even pretend. If you had known him you would be truly sorry. That sick body you operated on was on was only the vessel Cedric lived in. It wasn’t Cedric. You’re not sorry Cedric is dead, you’re sorry a patient you never met is dead. Well Cedric was never meant to be a patient. Cedric deserves better. Maybe by turning patients into objects is how you can stand to cut them open, by never meeting them you can desensitize their death. Well that’s fine, however you can make it through the day cutting people up, but I don’t want sympathy from someone who doesn’t know what sorry is.” Jared stared the shocked surgeon in his eyes and then turned and left before the surgeon could utter a response. Jared took the elevator down to the ground floor and headed outside. As soon as the doors opened, Jared stepped out into the darkness and stood there. Looking into the slate black night, he saw another plane’s lights dance among the few stars in the sky. It was very cold outside and Jared felt the coldness creep into his bones. He wondered to himself if it was as cold as he felt inside without Cedric. Jared walked over to his car and got in, switching the power on. The time was late. All the bars he would be comfortable going to were closed by this hour. It was okay though; he remembered that he had beer at home. Jared turned the key one more time and the car came to life, humming in the cold night air. Jared backed out of the parking space and started for home, the image of Cedric on his deathbed haunting him as he drove.
By Sydney
Jared placed the phone gently on the receiver and walked calmly over to the kitchen sink across the room. He gripped the edge of the cool stainless steel sink with both of his smooth hands and leaned over, closing his eyes. There was only one word scrolling though his mind continuously. Cedric. Out from his mouth came a bubbling of vomit, which fell with a plop into the sink. Jared squeezed his eyes tightly shut to stop the word from bounding through his head with a painful echo but it wouldn’t leave. Out from his eye came a single drop, which slid halfway down his cheek and fell into the sink with a sorrowful ping. With his head bowed, Jared stood at the sink without movement for another five minutes before taking a deep breath and rinsing out the sink with a retractable hose. Placing the hose back gently, Jared started heading for the door, pausing to collect his keys with the celery stalk keychain and to unhook his coat from the coat rack, which he neglected to put on and instead hung it over his arm. Silently he got opened his front door, locked it, and walked to his green highlander in the driveway. Pulling open the door, he stepped into his car and after situating himself, pulled the door closed with a soft bang. Flipping through the keys, he found the one to start his car and looked at it in the light as if it would hold all of the answers to life. The key stayed lifeless in Jared’s hands and he stayed silent watching it. Blinking, Jared put the key into the ignition and started the car. All at once, Jared was hit with a blast of freezing air and heavy metal music, which he switched off quickly. Neither was appropriate then. It was winter and heavy metal didn’t fit into the somber atmosphere of the car.
During the drive, the car was silent with only the sounds of the engine and the road passing the car. But in Jared’s head, it was unbearably loud. Cedric. Cedric his coworker and friend. Cedric the upbeat and funny friend who literally gave a man the shirt off of his back once. The same Cedric he had known for 20 years. That man was in the ICU. Cedric was in the ICU. No matter how many ways Jared looked at it, it didn’t make any sense. Cedric? Cedric was in the ICU? The one person on this earth who deserved it least, was dying? Does this make sense? Silently and stone-faced, Jared continued his drive still puzzling over these words in his head.
When Jared reached the hospital, his head was still cloudy. Nothing made sense. He felt as though he was a visitor in his body and someone else had been driving there for him, but now they had left and he was stuck with the worthless shell. He looked at the keys in the ignition and the handle on the door but couldn’t puzzle out what they were there for. The car sat there humming in the parking space as Jared sat wondering what he should do about the fact that he was now trapped in the car. And then Jared began to laugh. It was a laugh that came from deep in his chest and burst forth from his lips until he was laughing maniacally. Cedric wasn’t dying. How ridiculous he felt for falling for that! He had driven all the way to the hospital while Cedric was probably laughing it up somewhere. Granted, it was a bit meaner than Cedric’s jokes usually were, but to have his wife get into it as well? Genius! He had actually almost believed her performance on the phone! Jared’s laughter got louder and crazier as he thought of Cedric’s joyous face saying ‘I got you!’ as he sipped his customary cup of apple cider.
“I’ll bet that joker got the hospital to go along with it!” Jared said to himself out loud. Whistling, Jared turned off his car and stepped out, taking a breath of the crisp air. Confidently, Jared stepped out of the car and walked straight into the hospital, walking up to the receptionist’s desk. Jared usually hated hospitals, their smell of cleaning supplies and misery, their dismal colors, their noisy hallways. The receptionist wearing the pink cardigan looked up to the grinning Jared and looked back down to her paperwork.
“Maternity ward is on level three.” She told him dismissively. Jared laughed and shook his head.
“That’s not what I’m here for.” He told her. The receptionist looked at him over her styled glasses.
“Psych ward?” She asked rudely. Jared laughed again and shook his head.
“No, no, no. I’m here to see a Mr. Cedric Greene.” He told her. The woman sighed and turned to the computer, making clacking noises with fingers adorned with long red fingernails.
“Are you sure?” She asked him, her eyes piercing him with disgust.
“His wife’s name is Laurie Greene.” the receptionist turned to her computer once again and turned back.
“Why are you smiling? What is wrong with you? I don’t think I should give you his room number if you have that attitude.” Jared shook his head.
“No, you see, I know he’s not really hurt. I’m his best friend! He’s just playing a joke on me. I’d like to go see him if I may.” The woman rolled her eyes.
“You know what, what ever. Dealing with nuts like you ain’t part of my job. His room number is 192B. Have fun with your ‘game’ and try not to upset him.” The receptionist went back to her papers and Jared smiled and winked at her, ignoring the fact that she wasn’t paying a bit of attention to him.
When Jared walked into room 192B, a horrible sight greeted him. Cedric lay in a hospital bed that was a color uglier and blander than the walls. Cedric’s eyes were closed and his face was pale as death. Surrounding Cedric was hospital equipment hooked up to every place possible on his muscular but sick body. Jared thought that he looked much like an injured bird, delicate and unable to spread his wings to fly off and bring joy to the world. Cedric’s wife Laurie sat in the corner in a green pantsuit, a darker green than the walls and hospital bed. She had her head bowed and eyes closed, lips moving as she moved beads of a wooden rosary through her shaky hands, which were whiter than her husband’s face. Jared strode confidently into the room and walked over to the bed, his soft shoes barely making any noise. Cedric lay still, the only sound in the stale hospital air was the beeping of the machines signifying that Cedric was still alive somewhere under all of the machinery.
“Oh. My.” Jared said sarcastically, causing Laurie to jump in surprise at the sudden indication that there was another person in the room. “It appears as though Cedric is dying.” Laurie’s eyes watered and mouth became ajar as she looked at her husband’s best friend in disbelief, wondering about his strange behavior.
“J-Jared?” she whispered. Jared ignored her and leaned on the hospital bed.
“So, Cedric… I guess you wouldn’t feel me… tickle you!” Jared cried out and began to attempt to tickle his sickly friend. Laurie’s eyes went wide and she froze from shock as the apparently crazy Jared all but climbed on top of her husband, digging his fingers into Cedric’s belly. Laurie got a hold of herself and leapt to her feet, running over to Cedric.
“Stop it! Stop it now! What the hell are you doing? You’re going to kill him!” she screamed. Jared stopped tickling the corpse-like body of his friend and laughed again.
“The jig is up. I know he’s okay. Ha ha, very funny. Now let’s go out for some pizza. I’ll buy! You know, you almost had me for a second on the phone. Real convincing, you were.” Jared said, basically foaming at the mouth. Laurie looked him straight in his crazed eyes, and slapped him as hard as she could with her outstretched right hand. Jared stumbled back, almost onto the ground. He gave her a look like an injured puppy dog, the sanity returning to his face. Laurie held her hand, shaking. Large tears developed in the corners of her eyes.
“I understand that you two were close, but you’re acting like a irrational maniac. That isn’t you. You need to pull yourself together. You should be ashamed of your attitude and actions!” Laurie said angrily but at a regular volume. Laurie turned away and faced the wall, unable to bear seeing Jared in such a messed up state. Jared was usually one of the most down-to-earth and logical men. He was a little loud at times but he was always gentle. Once again a hush settled into the stale air so that the only sounds were the machines keeping the beloved Mr. Greene alive.
Jared let out a yell of anger and Laurie jumped. She spun around to see Jared kicking a chair while bellowing a battle cry and muttering intermittent cursing under his breath. Laurie retreated to the corner, regretting calling Jared to the hospital.
“Why did you do this to me, how can you just leave us you BASTARD!” I hate you for this and I spit on your grave you worthless piece of crap. I HATE you. I hope you do die, then I won’t ever have to see your ugly mug again you… you… big ass. Well fuck you. You heard me, FUCK YOU! Goddamn, you weren’t supposed to leave. You broke our agreement. I was going to die first. We DECIDED! Remember when we took those ‘When are you going to die’ quizzes online? I scored lower and you laughed at me you asshole. We picked out a tie for you to wear to my funeral. We never picked ME out a tie. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO WEAR? You are just so selfish. How DARE you! So guess what? Fuck you, Cedric. FUCK YOU!” Jared screamed, his face turning purple. Glaring around the room and breathing heavily, Jared picked up the chair he had been kicking and flung it against the wall. Laurie cried out and ran in the opposite direction. Some nurses had arrived at the door to find out about the commotion, but Jared just angrily pushed past them and headed for the elevators, leaving Laurie in a huddle and sobbing mess on the floor.
Jared paced the parking lot in a huff, still angry from the incident in Cedric’s room. As the minutes went by he became more and more calm and his paces became slower and slower until he was sitting on the curb looking at a leaf and carefully picking it apart, deep in reverie. While he sat there thinking and sitting, he thought about his life and his job. He thought back to the first time he and Cedric had met and how they had become closer than brothers over the years they had known each other. They met each other fresh out of high school, in college, and had become roommates. From that moment on they had done everything together and shared all. They talked about girls and the future and together they would construct elaborate what-if scenarios. Jared laughed to himself and sadly remembered the time when the two of them argued the issue of the better berry, blue or rasp? Cedric hotly argued blue, while Jared argued rasp for obvious reasons. Jared dropped the stem he was holding that had been holding up a leaf only minutes before and shakily got to his feet, looking to the dimming light in the sky. He thought about how he had acted inside the hospital and realized that he had acted irrationally and disrespectfully. He had let his crazy emotions clog his thoughts and actions. Cedric needed him now more than ever before and he had said all of those horrible things to him. He felt ashamed of himself. Jared looked to a passing plane with its lights flashing as it moved through the grey sky and made a vow. If Cedric would live, Jared would be a better friend than anyone had ever been before and, just in case God was listening in, he would be more charitable and become an active member in improving his community. Until Cedric was better, Jared was going to be by his side.
Jared started heading for the hospital but stopped. Would they allow him back into there? He had acted frenziedly before. Jared simply shook his head. It didn’t matter. He had to try. For the second time that day Jared walked into the hospital, but this time his head wasn’t filled with crazed thoughts of conspiracy. Quietly he walked past the unfriendly pink cardigan-wearing receptionist who sat looking at paperwork at her desk. Jared started walking to the elevator, hating the heavy feeling in the hospital air, but resolute. Cedric needed him. Jared reached the elevators and using one finger pushed in the up button. He listened as the elevator worked behind closed doors and smiled sadly to himself, remembering a time when he and Cedric had raced up and down elevators. It had been after they had graduated college and had gotten an apartment together. That wasn’t the only instance when the two of them would do childish things together. Jared felt a tear fall from his left eye as he remembered the many things they would do together. That was why they were as close as they were. They understood how important a smile was, the importance of staying young, and the value of having someone there to completely be yourself with.
The elevator opened its silver doors and Jared stepped onto the green square of linoleum, pressing the button corresponding with the appropriate floor. Jared watched as the doors closed, slowly cutting himself more and more off of the outside world until they made a click to signify that he was completely cut off. Jared felt his stomach drop for a moment as the elevator headed up. He usually used this time to be surrounded by his thoughts, but on that elevator ride he only had one thought on his mind. Cedric loved, no loves elevators. He would say that you step in one place, turn around and step out somewhere new. It was like a magic portal. Cedric used to drag Jared around every once in a while to a new building he had found to take the elevator and explore each floor. Jared laughed. Cedric was a wierd guy. Jared heard the elevator slow down and felt his stomach travel upwards for an instant before settling back into its normal place. The silver doors opened and Jared stepped out. Looking down the hallway in both directions, he headed for Cedric’s room. When he reached the door, Laurie spotted him immediately and her face went hard. She rushed to Cedric’s side, finger on the nurse’s call button.
“We’ve had enough of you today. Please just go. You’re only hurting him. I’ll press this button if you get any closer and they’ll come and escort you out. I’ll have you arrested, I will. So… so…” Laurie broke down into tears and took her hand away from the button. “How could you say those things?” she blubbered, “H-how? You two are so close, I swear you were like Siamese twins. If I can keep it together, so can you. So can YOU dammit.” Jared crossed the room quickly and tightly wrapped Laurie in his arms.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered to her, “I’m so sorry. I was inconsiderate and I know I should have acted like a mature adult. I just… I didn’t want to believe that Cedric could… could be…” Jared swallowed back tears that were stinging his eyes and took a breath, “Injured that badly.” Laurie sobbed and Jared stood there holding her, trying with all his might to hold back the tears that were building up in his head like an overflowing dam. So close to them lay Cedric who was only close in body. His mind was a million miles away, unable to know or comprehend the two individuals who stood so near to him, completely torn apart.
There was a knock at the door, causing Laurie and Jared to look up bleary eyed in the direction of the noise. A group of assorted medical staff was entering the room carrying a new bed and assorted medical equipment. They approached the comatose man and began working quickly unhooking machines. A nurse looked walked over to the distraught pair clinging to each other in support.
“We’re taking him to surgery now,” she explained, a look of empathy and kindness in her eyes, “Wait here and we’ll send someone out periodically with updates. Don’t worry about him; we’ll take very good care of him. Doctor Latorre is a very skilled surgeon, one of the best in the state.” The duo watched as all but one or two machines were unhooked. They began moving Cedric to a new bed. Never had Jared seen his best friend look so helpless. Jared let go of Laurie and went over to a space between two busy doctors. Reaching down, Jared patted Cedric’s hand awkwardly and whispered, “When you get better, I promise I’ll sit through an entire marathon of those Japanese monster movies you love so much but I hate and I’ll even let you win an argument once.” Cedric lay there as the doctors continued to talk in medical terms and Jared looked at his fallen friend’s face. Cedric’s hair was messy so Jared pushed it back.
“You always had terrible bed-head,” he told his friend, his tears finally breaking through the dam as he laughed, remembering the mornings when Cedric would stumble half asleep into breakfast with the most atrocious hair anyone had ever seen. Jared searched Cedric’s corpselike face for a response or any emotion but there was none. His face was cold, unfeeling, so unlike the usually upbeat and jovial Cedric. His normally shining hazel eyes were hidden away behind dull lids. A doctor gently touched him on the back and Jared nodded, backing away. Jared looked to Laurie who was opposite him, eyes connecting. Laurie looked straight into his eyes; her own eyes red, puffy, and tortured. Silently she understood and slowly released her grip from Cedric’s limp hand, backing up. Together they watched as the medical staff escorted Cedric on his new bed out of the room. Laurie walked up and stood next to Jared, gripping his arm tightly and together they watched the man who meant so much to them exiting the room until the last nurse had turned the corner.
“Hello, My name is Cedric. I guess I’m your roommate.”
“Hey, I’m Jared. If you don’t mind, I’m taking the bottom bunk.”
“I love the top bunk.”
“Good because I wasn’t serious about you having a choice.”
“I was planning on fighting you for the top bunk.”
“Sounds like we were well matched.”
“It does indeed. Are you setting up video games before your stuff is unpacked?”
“Yep.”
“Dude, those were my plans!”
“I’m pretty sure we were meant to be roommates.”
“Hey, I smuggled in beer. Do you want some?”
“Uh- do level three mages have the ability to use the stunning spell?”
“A beer it is then.”
“A toast to the totally awesome days of video games and drunkenness.”
“May they never end.”
Jared awoke with a snort. Laurie lay sleeping with her head on his lap, making soft snoring sounds. Jared looked to the clock. He had been sleeping for two hours. It was now completely dark outside. Jared looked around the room. No one else was in there except Laurie and him. Spotting the empty bed and medical equipment, the pale and sickly face of Cedric came rushing back to him. Jared felt dizziness envelope him and he was suddenly glad he was sitting. He had never expected to see Cedric like that; he looked so helpless, so vulnerable. One thing Jared liked about Cedric was his strength of mind and character, Cedric had always had a sharp wit and would never back down, never show his weakness. It was like the body that had been on the bed, though it looked like Cedric’s body right down to the scar on his hand from a battle with a door, was someone else’s body. That someone else the body belonged to wasn’t like Cedric at all. What made Cedric his best friend was missing from the body that had been in the bed. It was void of joy and strength, playfulness and humanity. It was like being friends with a store mannequin. A mannequin is pale, well built, unmoving, and has less personality than a stick of butter. But deep down, Jared knew that the body that had been lying there before did belong to Cedric, and that Cedric was in there somewhere.
A nurse entered the quiet room, her shoes clicking on the floor. Jared gently shook Laurie and she sat up, rubbing her eyes.
“The surgery is going well. We are about a third of the way through the procedure and I’ll make sure to keep you updated. All of Mr. Greene’s vitals are stable, and there have been no complications. Mr. Greene has been a wonderful patient.” The nurse told the sleepy but eager pair soothingly. Laurie looked at the nurse, her eyes sad and pleading.
“Thank you for the update. Please do everything you can for him. We’re his only family and he’s our only family. Without him… I just don’t know.” Laurie told her softly. The nurse nodded her head.
“I’ll make sure we do everything possible. Until then, all you can do is stay here for moral support and send out your good energy. Just let us do our job and Mr. Greene will be fixed up in no time.” The nurse told her reassuringly. The nurse smiled empathetically and left the room leaving Laurie and Jared alone again. Silence once again filled the room. Laurie and Jared sat there uncomfortably. The only thing they really had in common was their relationship with Cedric. Without him it was awkward. They had always been polite and had a certain fondness for each other, but while they respected and loved each other because they had become like family, they were never close enough to establish more of a relationship. Jared settled back into his uncomfortable grey chair and closed his eyes. He felt Laurie next to him as she laid her head on his lap and he drifted off into his dreams once again.
“I met a girl today, Jared.”
“You meet a girl everyday, Cedric”
“But this girl is different, she’s the one I’m going to marry.”
“You are a hopeless romantic, Cedric. You say that all the time.
“But I mean it this time.”
“Okay, fine. Tell me about your fiancé.”
“She’s got the most deep light blue eyes a girl has ever had and her hair is the color of the purest caramel.”
“Now I’m hungry.”
“Shut up, I’m talking about the love of my life.”
“Fine, go on. She has caramel hair, does she?"
“Yes. And her ears are perfectly shaped.”
“Creepy! You’re actually describing her ears?”
“Shut up! They’re perfect. Everything about her is perfect.”
“Fine, fine. My lips are sealed. Look, I’m even tossing away the key.”
“I’m going to marry her, Jared. I’m going to make her my bride.”
“Cedric, you’ve said that so many times. You haven’t even told me her name. Do you know her name?”
“It’s Laurie. Her name is Laurie. One day she will be Laurie Greene and we’ll live together in a beautiful home.”
“Fine. Here’s to Laurie, your bride-to-be!”
“To Laurie.”
Jared awoke and looked to the clock. His mind wasn’t awake yet so when he stared at the clock hands it was difficult to read it. After taking a breathe and recollecting himself, he finally counted out that a half hour had gone by. He could see that it was going to be a long time waiting if he kept waking up. Jared suddenly remembered his dream of the first time Cedric had mentioned Laurie and looked down to the woman Cedric had so loved. Now that he really looked, her hair color did look somewhat like caramel. Jared gently brushed back Laurie’s hair to inspect her ears. There was nothing remarkably unique about them. He shook his head. He would never understand hat Cedric liked so much about them, but Cedric was an odd guy and a romantically minded individual. Jared settled back down into his chair and closed his eyes, once again taking refuge in his memories and dreams.
“Let’s go sledding, Jared.”
“What? I haven’t done that since I was a little kid!”
“So? Didn’t we make a vow to live life to the fullest and never get old?”
“Yeah, but we never said that we didn’t have to mature.”
“You know why you’re going to die first, Jared?”
“Because of my eating and exercising habits?”
“No, that’s why you’re going to be a fat old man.”
“Because the tests online said I was going to die first?”
“No, it’s because you’ve given up on being a kid.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s my eating and sleeping all day that will kill me.”
“Stop talking and let’s go buy sleds.”
“Winner of the sled race buys beer!”
“See? We can be kids and do mature things.”
“Sledding and beer, a hallmark of childhood since the dawn of time.”
Laurie shifted in Jared’s lap, waking the sleeping Jared up. Jared looked down at her with sleepy eyes. She was deeply asleep but her eyes were red, puffy, and wet. Jared looked up to the clock but couldn’t focus and didn’t have the energy to try so he gave up trying to read it. Shifting his bottom, he quickly fell back asleep.
“Hey Jared, you know what?”
“What?”
“I’m really glad I have you as a friend.”
“Cedric, nothing makes me happier than hearing you say that. I’m glad you are my friend too.”
“I love you Jared.”
“Um… having a steady girlfriend has turned you into a sissy.”
“I’m serious. You’ve been there for me, man.”
“Fine… promise you won’t ever tell anyone I said this to you?”
“You know me, I won’t say anything to anyone you don’t want me to.”
“Well then I want you to know that… I love you too.”
Jared was shaking. Why was he shaking? He opened his eyes to see Laurie shaking him, concern in her eyes. Jared yawned and wiped the drool from his chin, shrugging Laurie off.
“Jared? The surgeon is here to talk to us.” Laurie told him, clutching his arm. Jared turned to see a surgeon in scrubs standing in front of them. Jared snapped to attention.
“Yes? What is it? How is he?” Jared asked, praying with all his heart that Cedric was okay.
“Mrs. Greene, Mr. Robertson, I’m sorry. We did everything we could. He was on the table and we were ready to sew him up when he went into cardiac arrest. Despite our efforts to resuscitate him, there was nothing we could do.” The surgeon told them, empathy all over his face. Laurie screamed and started bawling.
“No!” she screamed, completely hysterical, “No, no, no, no, no. It’s impossible. Go back and save him! It’s not too late! Cedric is a fighter a FIGHTER! He can’t die. Save him! Go back and do your goddamn job!” Laurie turned to Jared’s arm and started sobbing, but Jared just sat there, completely stiff. He searched the surgeon’s face, not believing his ears. Was this a joke? There was no way. He understood that Cedric was sick, but dead? No. Nuh uh. His head hurt. Everything was dizzy. All he could think about was Cedric’s face and his mannerisms. He had lost someone he could never replace. He had lost his true friend. Cedric hooked up to the machines, his face bloodless and sickly, this was the image that hit Jared and replaced the one of Cedric in life. Seeing the face of the dying Cedric, knowing that he, Jared, the unhealthy one, had outlived his health conscious best friend, it haunted Jared. The image of near death Cedric stuck in his mind. Jared looked to Laurie sobbing on his arm and then to the doctor standing there. None of them could understand. The only one who had ever really understood him was gone. Laurie had loved Cedric, but Jared had known him longer and on a different level. The doctor had only operated on him. He had only seen the sickness. He couldn’t possibly feel the Jared was feeling. He was alone. He was completely alone.
“I’m going.” He said bitterly, angrily, “I have to go.” He shook his arm free and left the broken Laurie collapsed on the uncomfortable grey chairs. Jared stood up and faced the doctor. “Don’t pretend you’re sorry.” He told the unfortunate surgeon, “Don’t even pretend. If you had known him you would be truly sorry. That sick body you operated on was on was only the vessel Cedric lived in. It wasn’t Cedric. You’re not sorry Cedric is dead, you’re sorry a patient you never met is dead. Well Cedric was never meant to be a patient. Cedric deserves better. Maybe by turning patients into objects is how you can stand to cut them open, by never meeting them you can desensitize their death. Well that’s fine, however you can make it through the day cutting people up, but I don’t want sympathy from someone who doesn’t know what sorry is.” Jared stared the shocked surgeon in his eyes and then turned and left before the surgeon could utter a response. Jared took the elevator down to the ground floor and headed outside. As soon as the doors opened, Jared stepped out into the darkness and stood there. Looking into the slate black night, he saw another plane’s lights dance among the few stars in the sky. It was very cold outside and Jared felt the coldness creep into his bones. He wondered to himself if it was as cold as he felt inside without Cedric. Jared walked over to his car and got in, switching the power on. The time was late. All the bars he would be comfortable going to were closed by this hour. It was okay though; he remembered that he had beer at home. Jared turned the key one more time and the car came to life, humming in the cold night air. Jared backed out of the parking space and started for home, the image of Cedric on his deathbed haunting him as he drove.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The Spark of Revolution
The Spark of Revolution
By Sydney
Never had there been a time of such tension, a time when a revolutionary action was as imminent, like the first steps of a child. The people waited for the first tendrils of dim light and the streaks of red coloring to arrive over the horizon at the advent of the day. Not a soul was at rest and the feeling in the air was such that the animals were even uneasy and restless. Families sat together by the glowing embers of fires that had all but been extinguished, still fighting to stay lit but fading fast. The dogs of the families lay faithfully by the feet of their master, not sure whether to comfort them or leave the distraught human to their thoughts. Around the town, children were up as well and in front of the dying fires, dully and sleepily playing with brightly colored toys. Unable to know what was to come or even comprehend. They knew that their parents were upset, but why? Outside, the first whisper of morning appeared, a glow that danced and outlined along the distant line between earth and heaven. A rose color radiated from the glow, but was it representing freedom or blood?
On the previous day, the big black old bell that lived in the middle of the city cried out to the residents of the city in the middle of the work day, signaling a city-wide meeting of every man, woman, and young adult. It had been 127 years since the bell was rung last, but every person in the city knew that sound that rang out with a strong and definite ‘drung’ and was so loud it shook out the core of every living thing within miles. Seven times the sound called out and as it sang to them of the meeting, people dropped their tools and papers and whatever they were holding, as if magically drawn to the park, leaving what they were holding to where they fell. They gathered together, so tightly pressed that they became one body. The elected leader of the town stood stiffly and with a white face on the raised wooden platform in the center. As people looked at him they quieted from their questions of ‘What’s going on?’ and ‘Why are we here?’ Soon the only sound was the rustling of dry leaves in the trees and the breaths of an anxious town. The elected official took in air and looked at the people before him, a thousand pairs of eyes from young to old, open, wondering, and trusting. The man to whom they looked to and trusted cleared his throat and straightened his back. He then spoke and the words he said were his own for once in his life, not constrained or censured by politics or image. He put away what had been written for him and spoke the truth, the honest, horrible truth that he knew in his heart must be told.
“Tomorrow will be a day for our history books. Our enemy and oppressor will forge a war out of our dead souls to frighten and discourage the radicals in Capital City. There will be an attack on our sleepy but loving city. I just received reports that roadblocks have been set up to prevent escape. The thing we can do is hold on to our pride and sense of community. Tomorrow, when the sun has freshly awoken from its well-deserved slumber, grab arms and face the advancing attack head on. Protect your families and friends, jobs and homes. There is no other way except a quiet surrender and sure death. The choice is up to you. I will not force any person to leave their family during this time, however I cannot express the importance of the decisions you all will make when that sun finishes its rise into the sky. Thank you all and please take the rest of the day to be with your families.”
The speech was over. The elected official was stepping down from his platform and the people still stood staring at the space where he had previously occupied, too shocked by this news that they were like the trees, rooted to the spot and silent. Every person wished too that they were trees and so they stood, unbelieving of what they had just been told. It was as if someone moved, the horrific story that their leader had told would be affirmed and they would know that this fate was not a dream. Their hysterical heads filled with cotton, filtering and blocking all cohesive thoughts. Slowly the city residents came to their sense. They shouldn’t waste what may be their last day staring blankly at an empty platform which could supply them with no more information.
And so they departed to their individual abodes. In every mind, work was forgotten. Everything seemed trivial. Though the city was in a state of confusion, the people did not riot or commit crimes as many places do when they are faced with a thing of such magnitude. From person to person, the handling of the situation differed. Some busied themselves with menial tasks; others just sat with their families and told stories. People paid taxes that would never be collected and made lists of groceries that would never be purchased. People who worked hard to look thin and fit finally ate some sugar and carbs, knowing that they would never have to see their carefully constructed image shattered by the fat they were pouring into their bodies. Though everyone took their last day differently, no one spoke of what would become of them the next day. To speak of it became an unspoken taboo. Everyone spoke as though that day was what mattered and there was no tomorrow, and as if by speaking of tomorrows, they would make the events happen even faster or simply lose their minds. Everyone’s mind had a growing disbelief chewing and digging in his or her minds like a tiny prairie dog. And then it was morning.
Looking out the windows and huddled together for support, the families of the city, together, with tears in their eyes looked to the sun that was now fully shining immediately above the horizon.
The sun looked down upon the city with its sleepy eyes. It was a perfect morning, the air was warm, sunlight glistened on the dew in the grass, and the air smelled fresh. Truly if there was a day to be alive it would have been that day. The citizens of the city knew this. They saw the wonderful new day with a renewed outlook on life. They saw the delicate puffy clouds and sunlight shining on everything in a soft and gentle light. They looked at the color in the leaves of the trees and their own children, most of whom were asleep with the new day’s golden rays shining upon their cherubic little faces. The people looked at their little children and the love and attachment they felt for these sweet angels made their hearts ache and eyes flow freely with hot tears. Every person knew what they must do for their town, their children, but many were so struck and heartsick that they couldn’t bear to tear themselves away from their families. Many stayed home to gaze through cloudy eyes at their sleeping gifts from heaven.
In the cobblestone square where the city had arisen over a hundred years before stood the city’s very own makeshift militia. These were brave men and women who decided not to stay in their homes, but face what was coming towards them with what ever they could muster. Above them towered the big black old bell’s home and the big black old bell. The militia was comprised of inexperienced and terrified men and women of all ages and walks of life. They stood together, resolute and holding their weapons; rifles, handguns, and clubs made of boards, crowbars, and branches. The militia wasn’t an army fighting for glory and riches; these were merchants and doctors, journalists, blue-collar workers, bankers, and even criminals. Standing together, although most had never met, they were transformed into a one family set out to protect their own families, everyone else’s families, their homes, and their businesses.
The morning was beautiful and still with a slight breeze that made everyone feel an uneasy calm. No one saw anyone wrong, but they still felt a tension. Then someone noticed something odd. The man who noticed the new addition to the peaceful scene was named Walter. Walter was a poor shop owner. He spent most of his time in his shop that sold yarn. The shop was his pride and joy and he spent many hours sorting, restocking, and fingering the rough or smooth or fuzzy texture of the different bundles. He made just enough to support his growing family and he had turned 24 two months ago. Walter certainly wasn’t what many people refer to when they speak of a smart man, but he was genuinely nice and would do anything for his young wife and new baby whom he loved more than anything on the earth. This is why he was on the square. No one was going to harm his family or his yarn. To the battle, Walter had brought with him a shiny pistol he had bought when the shop was robbed the year before and a pair of his favorite scissors with red handles tucked in his belt that he would cut yarn with for his customers. He figured would come in handy if the fighting came to ‘that’. Walter was a pacifist and hated fighting, but the thought of someone harming his family or yarn made his finger tighten on the trigger.
The moment when Walter noticed that all was not as peaceful as it seemed was when he was admiring the bell that had called them together the previous day. He wondered if when they won the battle if they would finally name the bell. This inevitably led to the thought that perhaps, if he were especially valiant during the battle, they would name the bell Walter Bell. This excited him and his chest swelled with pride, forgetting that he would actually have to fight in order to have it named after him in his premature glee. He then spotted far above in the sky, a tiny black dot like a bird bee-lining towards the earth. Walter licked a bead of sweat off of lip in concentration and shaded his eyes to gain a better look. No one else seemed to notice the fact that within seconds it had gotten larger and larger. Walter slowly realized that a bird might not be up that high and moving that fast and so he decided to tell the others.
“Look up! Is that a bird?” And every head turned up squinting. A shocked hush fell over the crowd. It was a hush of horror; it lasted only a second but seemed to stretch on forever like a horrible dream. They knew what that dot was instantly and that their weapons were useless against it. Once again shocked by news, the crowd stood in place, paralyzed. Then there was a shot. It rang through the silence and broke the crowd’s shocked spell. No one would ever know who fired the shot and whether it was accidental or purposeful, but it didn’t matter to Walter as he cried out when it hit his heart. He fell to the ground, shirt stained red, as the first casualty of the battle and eventual war. Blood pooled around his corpse and into the cobblestones. The people closest to him looked in horror at the dead body bleeding on the ground and started screaming, doing anything possible to get out of the way and into shelter. This included using their weapons to carve out a path in the crowd. The square filled with sounds of fighting, screams and pounding footsteps as people forced their way out of the square. As the once familial people slaughtered their neighbors, the uncaring and unfeeling mass hurtled ever faster towards the town, the dark messenger of bad news and death. The riot was soon over in the square, but left one third of the now irrelevant militia dead. Those not butchered by the brief slaughter were too busy running for shelter and too pumped full of adrenaline and survival instinct to feel guilt over what they had done to survive. In seconds, the dead and dying people were the only ones still on the square. The people hiding in shelters watched with tears and wide, frightened eyes as the force that they could not stop from destroying their town got bigger and bigger and then they saw it reach the bell. This would be their last sight of their lives, for the next second, the impact of the bomb would turn walls to dust and instantly kill all those anywhere in the proximity of the impact location.
When the bomb exploded, it made a noise so loud that if anyone had been alive to hear it, it would have deafened them. Shards of the bell that the bomb hit flew off and hit far away roofs and walls that would be destroyed by the blast anyway. Everywhere there was death and destruction. People were killed by the impact, the walls collapsing or objects flung into them. Within two minutes, almost every living thing in the town had been wiped out. The city looked as though it was an ancient ruin except for stray limbs peeking out of the rubble in different places.
Far from the town center in the outskirts of the city laid a tiny boy of two years trapped under the corpse of his mother. Her body had taken most of the force and the boy had only sustained a broken leg and some minor cuts. He had no idea what was going on or where he was. He also had no way of knowing that no one was coming to save him or that everyone he had ever known and had loved him was dead, taken by a single horrible action. And so he lay under his mother’s body, trapped, crying and bloody. No one would even find out about the massacre for three weeks when a farmer would smell a horrible odor and cloud of dust coming from the direction of the city. For each of the days, before the tragedy had been discovered at that point and when it no longer remained a hidden disaster, the sun still rose in it’s shining happy glory, unknowing of its role in the chaos below. Merrily, it gave its sunlight to crops that were covered with rubble and debris, and the dead grass and weed breaking through the fresh cracks in the pavement. It could not shine upon the ground, however, for there was a cloud low to the earth of black filthy dust. The cloud covered the city like death and got thicker and heavier the closer to the spot where there remained a few broken cobblestones and a single shard of thick black metal. The sun wasn’t the only thing watching from above though.
High above the clouds immediately after the explosion flew a sleek black airplane. One person was aboard. Looking down at the huge cloud of smoke, the pilot pressed a blue button on his large control panel in front of him.
“Raven calling Nest, come in Nest, over.”
“Nest answering call, what is the report, Raven? Over.”
“Operation S.O.R. has been enacted, no problems and fair weather. Operation S.O.R. is a success. Over.”
Sitting back in his comfortable chair, the leader of the radicals in Capital City allowed a huge grin to cover his face.
“Good work Raven” he said, attempting to contain his glee, “We will be waiting here for your return and a full report. Over.”
“See you soon. Over.”
Chuckling to himself, the radical leader knew that the people of Capital City and the entire country would soon learn of this ‘terrible government atrocity.’ There was no way that they would just ignore such a loss of innocent life. He scratched his head thoughtfully and marveled at his own cleverness. Sure, he reasoned, innocent families died, but it was worth it if it would rally the people behind the rebellion and be the long awaited spark of revolution.
By Sydney
Never had there been a time of such tension, a time when a revolutionary action was as imminent, like the first steps of a child. The people waited for the first tendrils of dim light and the streaks of red coloring to arrive over the horizon at the advent of the day. Not a soul was at rest and the feeling in the air was such that the animals were even uneasy and restless. Families sat together by the glowing embers of fires that had all but been extinguished, still fighting to stay lit but fading fast. The dogs of the families lay faithfully by the feet of their master, not sure whether to comfort them or leave the distraught human to their thoughts. Around the town, children were up as well and in front of the dying fires, dully and sleepily playing with brightly colored toys. Unable to know what was to come or even comprehend. They knew that their parents were upset, but why? Outside, the first whisper of morning appeared, a glow that danced and outlined along the distant line between earth and heaven. A rose color radiated from the glow, but was it representing freedom or blood?
On the previous day, the big black old bell that lived in the middle of the city cried out to the residents of the city in the middle of the work day, signaling a city-wide meeting of every man, woman, and young adult. It had been 127 years since the bell was rung last, but every person in the city knew that sound that rang out with a strong and definite ‘drung’ and was so loud it shook out the core of every living thing within miles. Seven times the sound called out and as it sang to them of the meeting, people dropped their tools and papers and whatever they were holding, as if magically drawn to the park, leaving what they were holding to where they fell. They gathered together, so tightly pressed that they became one body. The elected leader of the town stood stiffly and with a white face on the raised wooden platform in the center. As people looked at him they quieted from their questions of ‘What’s going on?’ and ‘Why are we here?’ Soon the only sound was the rustling of dry leaves in the trees and the breaths of an anxious town. The elected official took in air and looked at the people before him, a thousand pairs of eyes from young to old, open, wondering, and trusting. The man to whom they looked to and trusted cleared his throat and straightened his back. He then spoke and the words he said were his own for once in his life, not constrained or censured by politics or image. He put away what had been written for him and spoke the truth, the honest, horrible truth that he knew in his heart must be told.
“Tomorrow will be a day for our history books. Our enemy and oppressor will forge a war out of our dead souls to frighten and discourage the radicals in Capital City. There will be an attack on our sleepy but loving city. I just received reports that roadblocks have been set up to prevent escape. The thing we can do is hold on to our pride and sense of community. Tomorrow, when the sun has freshly awoken from its well-deserved slumber, grab arms and face the advancing attack head on. Protect your families and friends, jobs and homes. There is no other way except a quiet surrender and sure death. The choice is up to you. I will not force any person to leave their family during this time, however I cannot express the importance of the decisions you all will make when that sun finishes its rise into the sky. Thank you all and please take the rest of the day to be with your families.”
The speech was over. The elected official was stepping down from his platform and the people still stood staring at the space where he had previously occupied, too shocked by this news that they were like the trees, rooted to the spot and silent. Every person wished too that they were trees and so they stood, unbelieving of what they had just been told. It was as if someone moved, the horrific story that their leader had told would be affirmed and they would know that this fate was not a dream. Their hysterical heads filled with cotton, filtering and blocking all cohesive thoughts. Slowly the city residents came to their sense. They shouldn’t waste what may be their last day staring blankly at an empty platform which could supply them with no more information.
And so they departed to their individual abodes. In every mind, work was forgotten. Everything seemed trivial. Though the city was in a state of confusion, the people did not riot or commit crimes as many places do when they are faced with a thing of such magnitude. From person to person, the handling of the situation differed. Some busied themselves with menial tasks; others just sat with their families and told stories. People paid taxes that would never be collected and made lists of groceries that would never be purchased. People who worked hard to look thin and fit finally ate some sugar and carbs, knowing that they would never have to see their carefully constructed image shattered by the fat they were pouring into their bodies. Though everyone took their last day differently, no one spoke of what would become of them the next day. To speak of it became an unspoken taboo. Everyone spoke as though that day was what mattered and there was no tomorrow, and as if by speaking of tomorrows, they would make the events happen even faster or simply lose their minds. Everyone’s mind had a growing disbelief chewing and digging in his or her minds like a tiny prairie dog. And then it was morning.
Looking out the windows and huddled together for support, the families of the city, together, with tears in their eyes looked to the sun that was now fully shining immediately above the horizon.
The sun looked down upon the city with its sleepy eyes. It was a perfect morning, the air was warm, sunlight glistened on the dew in the grass, and the air smelled fresh. Truly if there was a day to be alive it would have been that day. The citizens of the city knew this. They saw the wonderful new day with a renewed outlook on life. They saw the delicate puffy clouds and sunlight shining on everything in a soft and gentle light. They looked at the color in the leaves of the trees and their own children, most of whom were asleep with the new day’s golden rays shining upon their cherubic little faces. The people looked at their little children and the love and attachment they felt for these sweet angels made their hearts ache and eyes flow freely with hot tears. Every person knew what they must do for their town, their children, but many were so struck and heartsick that they couldn’t bear to tear themselves away from their families. Many stayed home to gaze through cloudy eyes at their sleeping gifts from heaven.
In the cobblestone square where the city had arisen over a hundred years before stood the city’s very own makeshift militia. These were brave men and women who decided not to stay in their homes, but face what was coming towards them with what ever they could muster. Above them towered the big black old bell’s home and the big black old bell. The militia was comprised of inexperienced and terrified men and women of all ages and walks of life. They stood together, resolute and holding their weapons; rifles, handguns, and clubs made of boards, crowbars, and branches. The militia wasn’t an army fighting for glory and riches; these were merchants and doctors, journalists, blue-collar workers, bankers, and even criminals. Standing together, although most had never met, they were transformed into a one family set out to protect their own families, everyone else’s families, their homes, and their businesses.
The morning was beautiful and still with a slight breeze that made everyone feel an uneasy calm. No one saw anyone wrong, but they still felt a tension. Then someone noticed something odd. The man who noticed the new addition to the peaceful scene was named Walter. Walter was a poor shop owner. He spent most of his time in his shop that sold yarn. The shop was his pride and joy and he spent many hours sorting, restocking, and fingering the rough or smooth or fuzzy texture of the different bundles. He made just enough to support his growing family and he had turned 24 two months ago. Walter certainly wasn’t what many people refer to when they speak of a smart man, but he was genuinely nice and would do anything for his young wife and new baby whom he loved more than anything on the earth. This is why he was on the square. No one was going to harm his family or his yarn. To the battle, Walter had brought with him a shiny pistol he had bought when the shop was robbed the year before and a pair of his favorite scissors with red handles tucked in his belt that he would cut yarn with for his customers. He figured would come in handy if the fighting came to ‘that’. Walter was a pacifist and hated fighting, but the thought of someone harming his family or yarn made his finger tighten on the trigger.
The moment when Walter noticed that all was not as peaceful as it seemed was when he was admiring the bell that had called them together the previous day. He wondered if when they won the battle if they would finally name the bell. This inevitably led to the thought that perhaps, if he were especially valiant during the battle, they would name the bell Walter Bell. This excited him and his chest swelled with pride, forgetting that he would actually have to fight in order to have it named after him in his premature glee. He then spotted far above in the sky, a tiny black dot like a bird bee-lining towards the earth. Walter licked a bead of sweat off of lip in concentration and shaded his eyes to gain a better look. No one else seemed to notice the fact that within seconds it had gotten larger and larger. Walter slowly realized that a bird might not be up that high and moving that fast and so he decided to tell the others.
“Look up! Is that a bird?” And every head turned up squinting. A shocked hush fell over the crowd. It was a hush of horror; it lasted only a second but seemed to stretch on forever like a horrible dream. They knew what that dot was instantly and that their weapons were useless against it. Once again shocked by news, the crowd stood in place, paralyzed. Then there was a shot. It rang through the silence and broke the crowd’s shocked spell. No one would ever know who fired the shot and whether it was accidental or purposeful, but it didn’t matter to Walter as he cried out when it hit his heart. He fell to the ground, shirt stained red, as the first casualty of the battle and eventual war. Blood pooled around his corpse and into the cobblestones. The people closest to him looked in horror at the dead body bleeding on the ground and started screaming, doing anything possible to get out of the way and into shelter. This included using their weapons to carve out a path in the crowd. The square filled with sounds of fighting, screams and pounding footsteps as people forced their way out of the square. As the once familial people slaughtered their neighbors, the uncaring and unfeeling mass hurtled ever faster towards the town, the dark messenger of bad news and death. The riot was soon over in the square, but left one third of the now irrelevant militia dead. Those not butchered by the brief slaughter were too busy running for shelter and too pumped full of adrenaline and survival instinct to feel guilt over what they had done to survive. In seconds, the dead and dying people were the only ones still on the square. The people hiding in shelters watched with tears and wide, frightened eyes as the force that they could not stop from destroying their town got bigger and bigger and then they saw it reach the bell. This would be their last sight of their lives, for the next second, the impact of the bomb would turn walls to dust and instantly kill all those anywhere in the proximity of the impact location.
When the bomb exploded, it made a noise so loud that if anyone had been alive to hear it, it would have deafened them. Shards of the bell that the bomb hit flew off and hit far away roofs and walls that would be destroyed by the blast anyway. Everywhere there was death and destruction. People were killed by the impact, the walls collapsing or objects flung into them. Within two minutes, almost every living thing in the town had been wiped out. The city looked as though it was an ancient ruin except for stray limbs peeking out of the rubble in different places.
Far from the town center in the outskirts of the city laid a tiny boy of two years trapped under the corpse of his mother. Her body had taken most of the force and the boy had only sustained a broken leg and some minor cuts. He had no idea what was going on or where he was. He also had no way of knowing that no one was coming to save him or that everyone he had ever known and had loved him was dead, taken by a single horrible action. And so he lay under his mother’s body, trapped, crying and bloody. No one would even find out about the massacre for three weeks when a farmer would smell a horrible odor and cloud of dust coming from the direction of the city. For each of the days, before the tragedy had been discovered at that point and when it no longer remained a hidden disaster, the sun still rose in it’s shining happy glory, unknowing of its role in the chaos below. Merrily, it gave its sunlight to crops that were covered with rubble and debris, and the dead grass and weed breaking through the fresh cracks in the pavement. It could not shine upon the ground, however, for there was a cloud low to the earth of black filthy dust. The cloud covered the city like death and got thicker and heavier the closer to the spot where there remained a few broken cobblestones and a single shard of thick black metal. The sun wasn’t the only thing watching from above though.
High above the clouds immediately after the explosion flew a sleek black airplane. One person was aboard. Looking down at the huge cloud of smoke, the pilot pressed a blue button on his large control panel in front of him.
“Raven calling Nest, come in Nest, over.”
“Nest answering call, what is the report, Raven? Over.”
“Operation S.O.R. has been enacted, no problems and fair weather. Operation S.O.R. is a success. Over.”
Sitting back in his comfortable chair, the leader of the radicals in Capital City allowed a huge grin to cover his face.
“Good work Raven” he said, attempting to contain his glee, “We will be waiting here for your return and a full report. Over.”
“See you soon. Over.”
Chuckling to himself, the radical leader knew that the people of Capital City and the entire country would soon learn of this ‘terrible government atrocity.’ There was no way that they would just ignore such a loss of innocent life. He scratched his head thoughtfully and marveled at his own cleverness. Sure, he reasoned, innocent families died, but it was worth it if it would rally the people behind the rebellion and be the long awaited spark of revolution.
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