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The Departure
By Arman Akhlaghi
Other Stories:
4 Chapters of Memories of the Seasons Death
The Purple Windows
The Republic Of Brain Correctors The Motherhood land, Matsuri
Chapter 1:
The Things Between
I.I
All he could hear was the sound of rain pouring on window and the tick tock of the clock. As if when it was raining the time was stopped for him. Listening to the constant sound of rain drops made him forget about the past hours he had gone through. It was 7 o’clock. The room was drawn in the darkness. The shimmering lights from the street was coming through the curtain less window. Walls were filled from the old pictures. A wall full of dead memories was upon his gaze. His desk, was filled with books. Mostly his father’s journals and religious books. And A letter. A letter from a lost love.
He could feel the pressure in his body. He was floating in the room. Going around, as if his sprit was separated from his body. Toward the door and in the hallway, he gazed upon the darkness in the corridor. Someone was calling him from the end of the corridor. An unfamiliar voice. Mesmerizing to him with a noisy and scratchy voice. Like a tortured soul. As he float toward the voice so did the pressure higher. Once he had arrived in the middle of corridor he could feel his teeth were crushing. As if his body was being pressed in middle of car wrecking machinery. As he approached more he saw a white hand came out of darkness. A white rotten hand with worms floating out of the nails. He wanted to push himself back, but the force was too aggressive. The voices was becoming more aggressive. Someone was screaming to his head. The pressure was rising. As if he was crossing from a world to another world.
Phone start to ring. It was over. He woke up. No fear was in his face. Started to bite his lips. Stared at the door, expecting someone to open it. But he knew the fear was only in his mind. Did not have any choice, stood up and opened the door. The phone was at the end of corridor. He pressed the light and the hall lite up. Nothing was there to be afraid of. He was confused. Started his steps toward the phone, the more he saw the faster he walk. Picked up the phone.
“Mike, You there? It’s me Alan” Said the voice.
Swallowed his fear. Closely looked around living room. Made sure nothing was around. “I’m here…” Said Mike.
“Is this a good time to talk? There is something in need you to know” said Alan. Mike could hear his was not like he knew it. Something was different.
“Go ahead….”said mike.
“Look, there has been a case that came in a while ago. About a woman, I don’t know what to say, she has done something. Something I can’t really bring up on the phone. Need to talk to you about it. Something is not right about her.” Said Alan
“What could possibly I do to help you? I’m helpless” Said mike.
“No look, this is different, I don’t know … I just think you might be able.” Said alan. “Where are you?” said mike.
“Woodland, need you to come down here….urgent” Said Alan
“I’ll see what I can do, I will call you back in the morning. Take some sleep now” Said Mike. “That’s all ? where is your word” said alan.
“I don’t know mike….goodbye” Said Mike.
He put the phone back. Sat on the red leather chair beside the telephone. Gazed upon his living room. The room was filled with different frames. From old to present. The wall of memories here were not as dead as the room. He felt his room was filled with death. Did not feel going back there. He knew the fear was in his head but somehow he felt something about his dream was real. He looked at his back, the kitchen was in silence. He stood up and went toward the kitchen. Turned on the light and open the fridge to pick a bottle of water. Drank the water calmly and placed it back in the fridge. Returned to his couch. And though of sleeping in here instead of his room.
In front of him was a cross. A cross that gave meaning to his life. A Cross that brought color to his life. A symbol that showed the way to him. A symbol that made him believe he was on the right
track and he had to show the same way to other people. Things were good at church. Hearing about people confessions often made him feel he was in a clear direction in his life. Learnt from them too, but the question was why the world full of sin, has no place for him. Perhaps he forgotten his sins or he did not see. A cross gave many thing to him. But something he did not believe until this very day.
“Son, A life requires a compensation. IT gives and it takes. This is the rule” Mike’s Father had told him.
Perhaps the cross also brought him to a blurry world. To a world in which some people gazed upon him as a source of goodness but perhaps for himself not. A world where once the questions had been answered in the book, now had more un-answered questions. Sometimes he thought this is a trial for him. A test of his faith from the Holy Devine. But some days, especially the rainy days where the world stopped around him, he thought. He thought deeply. What if whatever he believed was a wall of lie. What if whatever he believed was a wall of dead thoughts? A wall like his room’s wall. Full of dead memories. Memories that has no meaning for him. But perhaps the answers were in those memories. The choices he made in the past. Past. As he was thinking through, the room upon him started to fade out in dark. He fall asleep.
I.II
She was sleepy. But she was not able to do so. Is room a safe place ?
Perhaps not for her. She was sitting tight on the chair, pretending reading books. Her mind was occupied by the noises in the house. She had heard it before. But this time everything seemed a bit tenser to her. She remembered arguments her parent had times and times before. All was calming her was that she knew at the end it the voices will fade out. It will be a silence in the house for a while till everything goes back to normal.
The noises was getting more intense. She turned her neck and looked at the door. Her room was a small room. A tiny bed for a girl of her age. Walls filled with tones of drawings she had done for her family. A love of art was always sparking in you. Said her teacher to her always. She had no idea of what the life is, but in her own world she was trying to paint it on the papers to understand it better. Her carpet was a brown picture of an owl. Closets were full of colorful clothes and many dolls of owls was around the room. Even her bed sheet had an owl picture. She tried to distract her mind. Started to think as if she was gazing to eyes of an owl. It seems you can get drawn in him from those looks. It was not helping her. She put her feet on the ground and approached to window of the room which was in front of her bed. A glimpse through the curtains she could not see a thing except the pouring rain. It was 4pm. She climbed up and started to look precisely. In hope of seeing someone for help. She saw a man. Wearing a blue trench coat, other side of the street. He was staring at her house. As if he was drawn by the intense sound from the house.
She notices her mother is screaming more than usual. She was hearing un-familiar words. Unfamilar noises. She returned to her bad. Picked up her owl. She calls her favorite owl Aldor. He as her hero. Someone who kept her safe from everything. The owl had blue eyes, white body with Red scars. As if something was glowing out of the owl for her. While holding the own on her hug she approached the door of her room. Opened it slowly. Took a peak in the corridor. She was
hearing her parents fighting. Even louder than before. Started to crawl toward the stairs leading to living room down starts to find out what is going on. Once she arrived at stairs, she hold the fences with her tiny hands and took a look at down stairs. She could not see anything, she could just hear. She felt this is not her house. She felt she was somewhere else.
She saw her mother got pushed and dropped on the ground in front of the stairs from the kitchen. “Cathy…” Said her mother.
She looked terrified. Scared. Catherine Father came along. His hands were pinched. She realized her mother could have beaten by his dead.
“Catherin, get back to your room now” Said her dad.
She did not know what to respond. She was shocked looking at her mom. She noticed the tears. This was something she had never seen before.
“Mom…what….” Said Catherine with her shaky voice.
Once her mom wanted to speak, her dad pointed her fingers as her and then looked toward Catherine.
“Catherine, Honey, I told you. Get back to your room. We will be fine” Said her dad calmly. As if nothing was wrong.
Catherin was confused, Questions started coming to her. But she was tongue tied. She was able to speak anymore. As if a demon was holding her throat. She felt heavy to breath.
“Catherine, get back to your room” Shouted her father.
Catherine was shocked. Dropped her owl from the fences down stairs. That was only thing she was feeling safe about. For a moment she felt everything was taken from her. She wanted to take it. Started to walk toward the stairs. Her father face got filled with anger. He walked up the stairs with pressing his tooth to each other. Breathing heavily. Her father caught her hand once she wanted to run, lifted her up and started to walk toward her room. All she saw was the light disappearing infront of her. The light of being safe.
“I want Aldor back …. Mommy” Said Catherine.
“I don’t have time now, Shut up Catherine, stay in your room and don’t come out til I say so” said her dad.
He opened Catherin’s Door room and put her on bed. And hold her arms.
“I’ll get your damn owl back to you, but I want you to stay here, understand?” Said his father.
She could feel pain in her arms. He was pressing her around her arm. She looked into his eyes. It was full of anger.
“you are hurting me….”Said Catherine.
Her father took of his hands. Looked at her. Went of the door and shut it strongly. Catherine was terrified. She wanted her owl back. She was scared. Just when she stood up on her bed to look outside of the window she started to hear her mother screaming. She looked outside of window. The man in the blue raincoat was still there. Like a statue. She was not able to see him clearly. She tried to open her window. It did not budge. It was broken from before as she remembered. She started to heat the window. The rain was too intense. The thunders were loud. She did not see any respond from the man in the blue rain coat.
It was hopeless. Tears started to fall from her eyes. She did not what will happen. She walked through the door again. Closely opened it. Once she opened it she could hear the voice more. She was not able to pay attention to what is happening. All she was hear Was loud noises in her brain. She was sick of her. Tried to keep her tears started to crawl toward the stairs. In hope of finding Aldor. Aldor was always quiet. She loved him.
Once she arrived near the stairs she her mother was lay back against the door. She was looking at her father. They did not notice her.
“Fuck you Martin, Stop it for god sake…Stop it” Screamed her Mother.
Martin, Catherin’s Father walked toward her mother, he bent down and caught her neck, started to bang her head against the door slowly.
“Its all you father, You useless piece of shit, all your fault” He said it with his shaky hands. He got closer to her ear and whispered on the them.
Catherine could see her mother was freeze for a second. She was crying. She took his hands off from her neck and started to cough. She laid her head against the door again.
“I will tell Them….” She said. A mysterious smile appeared on her lips. A sinister smile.
Catherine father started to beat her mother furiously. Catherine was shocked. She was looking, helpless she just stared. Her father started to punch Catherine’s Mother. Every second in Catherin’s eye were hours for her. She did not know what to do. Helplessly she started to scream. Her father did not seem noticing her. Catherine started to notice his hands were bloody and her mother’s screaming voice stopped. All Catherine could see was the blood on his father’s had. He stood up and turned back. Catherine could not saw her mother’s face. It was smashed and bounded in blood. She started to scream. Her father ran toward her and grabbed Catherine’s long blonde hair. Carried her on cried. She could feel the pain in her but the scream was so loud in her throat that she was ignoring the pain. Her father throw her back in the room and shut the door. She was dropped on her carpet. She looked at the color eyes of the owl on the carpet. She could feel pain in her body. Stood up, went on her bed and started to look through the window to street. The main in the blue raincoat was not there.
She heard a loud noise down the house. Another voice. A familiar voice she thought she had heard before. The voice was loud but it was clear. She could hear someone was shouting “stay back”. Catharine walked toward her door. Slowly opened the door. But this time she did not dare to step in the corridor.
“Ms. Mell….Ms. Mell…” Said the familiar voice.
She did not know how long was passed. She saw a glimpse of blue and red lights glowing in her room. A siren. She heard. She walked through the window again and looked outside. There were two police cars infront of the house. The door opened up.
The man in blue raincoat was there. He was looking terrified. His hands were shaking. “Are you ok ? Come here…im here to help you” Said the voice.
She knew she saw the man somewhere before, but her mind was blurry that much that she was not able to remember how did the past hours went along even. A police arrived at the doorway. Approached her.
“Are you hurt? Are you ok? Can you tell me that” said the police.
Catherine was in shock. All she could see in front of herself was a face full of blood.
“Shake your head for me…are you ok? Are you hurt?” said the police. Police approached and hold her closer.
Catherine shacked her head down. Police man hugged her and started walking out of her room. He kept her head in toward his arms. Was forcing her not too look up. She could feel she was being walked outside of the house. In a second she could fill the rain drops on her body. Policeman handed her to a lady, who put in car.
“I want you to stay put ok? We are driving you to a safe place? Allright?” said the lady.
Her tears were not stopping. She whispered “Where is my mommy?”
“Will get her back to you as soon as possible sweaty. All right? We gonna drive both you outside of here” said the lady. She closed the door of car and then she sit in the driver’s seat. She turned on the car and they started going. As they were turning to the street She saw and ambulance driving pass by. She did not know what will happen to her. Exhausted. All she saw was the world fades out in front of her eyes. She fall asleep.
I.III
The darkness was covering the land. Like a never ending blanket, the clouds were covering the sky. Most of the lights in this very deserted highway were off. Some were on, shimmering in distance, created a fantasy looking landscape. As if angels were moving toward highway. A diner was in nearby. It was glowing within this heart of darkness.
A light lit up in the distance. For a very short second. Then it started to glow slowly. It seemed someone was holding it and was getting closer. It was rare to see someone walking within this highway in the night. Most of the passengers were on the cars, the nearest local town was still 60kms away. So it was odd to see someone walking within this long road.
A man holding the light arrived. It was two cigars. Burning in his hands. It was odd because it seemed he did not smoke any of his cigars. He was just holding them all the way. He was wearing a long black coat covering from his shoulders all the way down the just above his old looking shoes. An old Mexican hat, colored in back and fully leather. He was wearing black gloves. Long smooth hair all the way up his shoulders. He did not have a look a normal man. A glimpse through his eyes you know you do not want to come across him. He came closer. His face was clear nearby the dinner light. His face was very normal. A mid 30s man. Wearing glass. He did not seem he belong to around here. As if he was traveler from a faraway land. A land perhaps no one ever traveled. In his other hand he was holding a very odd looking bag.
He stood in front of the dinner. Stared at the name of dinner. It was called “Sminrolf’s Dinner”. It seemed empty, but most of the curtains were twisted. The diner was looking pretty old. The title was glowing in red but the lights were not stable. The door was covered in dirt and the walls did not seem clean either. Door opened up and a man with hats came out. A sound of music could be heard from inside of the Diner. The man was looking very old. He did not notice the strange traveler. It seemed he was walking clumsy. Coughed a bit but finally got to his rusty old rocking truck. Jumped in and it seemed he passed out inside. Stranger looked a while. As if he was waiting
for him to leave. But that did not happen. He stood there for a while, without moving an inch. Dropped one of his cigars but he did not step on it. He passed from it and walked toward the door of dinner. Once he opened the door he could hear the sound of music and radio together. Radio was reading a book. A famous book called The Forgotten Stories of The Night. Forgotten Stories of the night was a book in which gained a lot of popularity in pas few month due to the fact that it was based on real life events a man faced during his long time in sanitarium for a few years. Book was questioning of the method works for goodness of society or not. Lots of topics and articles could be seen in news about it.
Nevertheless, he stepped in the dinner. It was not crowded and it was not odd not be in 11:30pm. Dinner looked old and rusty. Walls were filled with different types of clocks. Distinctive designs, as if each were brought from a different dinner. What was odd about the Clocks was that all of them were on 7:45pm. None of the clocks were functioning. Ceiling and floor were made of words. There were couple of tables around the rectangle space of the dinner. A seat by the left side of window was taken by a young couple. They looked local. A seat on the right had stills bottles and glasses on it and a man was sitting on the bar. There was an old lady and young man behind the bar. They couple of alcohols there, a coffee machine and bunch of stacked glasses on the right side of it.
Stranger walked calmly toward the left table by the window and sat there. He realized everyone was looking at him. Probably it seemed for a costumer at this very time. For a moment only music and radio could be heard till the old lady came to him.
“We aint get much costumers at this time, hope u not looking for trouble…”Said the old lady.
The stranger was looking at his hands. He moved his head up and took a look at the old lady. A strange smile appeared on his lips.
“I do not. I am passing by, toward the town, car broke down, had to go on foot. I am very sure you understand that” Said the stranger.
“Heard stories like that, many of them” Said the old lady.
“No wonder, They why the call me the writer” Said the stranger. “A writer? Pretty cliché, sounds to me” Said the old lady.
“Yes as a matter of fact, but it holds secrets as well, like every other cliché” Said the Writier.
“I’m not interesting in spoiler content, keep it to yourself, town is 60kms ahead, in morning you can fine a mechanic. Welcome to stay, but you stay put and we are good” Said the old lady.
“Do not worry, will not spoil anything” His smile got tenser, Then he continued “I shall leave as soon as I have some food, I assure you”.
Old lady cleaned his ear with her hands and took out a note out of his pocket. “Allright, What would you like? Menu is beside you in case you did not notice it” Said the old lady.
The writer looked toward his left and saw a piece of oily paper facing upside down. He took of his gloves picked the paper and started to look at it. The old lady said “I thought writers were interested in reading”. Another strange smile appeared on lips of the writer. He took out a red glass out of his pockets and put in it, then he said “I thought dinners should be clean”. Old lady seemed annoyed “aint a place for fancy people with leather material”. She leaned her hands on the table. Stranger smiled faded away. “I thought we promised each other not to spoil?”
Old lady smiled and moved her head “damn right, but that was your promise…. So?”
Stranger placed back the menu on its original place. Took a napkin out of his right pocket and cleaned the table, then He wore his gloves again and looked at the lady with another strange smile. “I’ll have your steak, as rare as you can go. A coffee if you please, I need to walk more”
Old lady wrote that on her notes and went away. The writer realized people in dinner were gazing at them for the whole time. Another smile appeared on his face, then he opened his bag and took out of book with a black leather cover. Afterwards he took out a pen. The pen was odd looking. It seemed it was covered with golden colors and but it had a little skull on its top side. The writer started to write.
For time being dinner returned to its normal atmosphere. After nearly twenty minutes the young man behind bar brought the writer’s steak and coffee. The coffee looked poorly made. Steak seemed it was a bit over cooked that he wanted. A few French fries and a cup of salad were placed in the plate. Steak was noticeably thin. Stranger looked at the young man
“are you working here?” said the stranger. Young man looked confused, he looked at the old lady behind the bar who was pouring drink for the main on the bar. Then he looked the stranger again.
“Yes, im his son, my name is Tate…” said Tate. Before he continue what he wanted to say writer said “Thanks for the food, do you happen to have any bottle for sale? Wine perhaps “. Tate seemed still confused “yeah we have, It comes from our town, it’s called the Ragging Bell, and its 35 dollars per bottle and …. “. Writer cut through his words “bring me one please, I need it for later” Young man stepped back and went toward the bar, he took a bottle and came back to the table and placed it on the table “Ta..da!” he said.
Writer took a wallet out of his pocket. The wallet was made out of plastic but it had many pictures on it, mostly known celebrities of 50-60s. He took out a 100 dollar and gave it to Tate. “Please keep the change, and don’t spoil this to her till I leave” Said the writer. Tate took the note and placed it in his pockets. “look I heard your car is broke down, I can give a life to the town and you can see the mechanic if you want”. The Writer tasted the coffee and then looked at Tate “I’ll be fine”. Tate was confused, he returned back to behind the bar. It seemed Tate and his mother were whispering.
Took a while till the Writer finish his steak. Once he finished up, he stood up. Took the bottle of wine and approached to the table were the couple were sitting. He placed the bottle on their table. Another weird smile appeared on his face. “Enjoy and joyful life, its on me” said the writer. Girl looked at the bottle and the took a look at the writer’s face “thanks, but u didn’t need to do such a thing, seems you are in trouble yourself already, this might help you?” Stranger smiled, closed his eyes for a while and the opened it again “I think you too will be in more trouble. This can help you more”. The girl and her boyfriend face looked awkward. Boy took the bottle and placed down beside his chair “allright, ummm thanks then, if you mind we….” Stranger turned his back on the slowly and went toward his table. Picked up his book and pen and placed them back in the bag. Picked his bag and walked toward the door and exited. Outside was too dark, it seemed was disappeared in the darkness.
Tate looked at his mother “put the gun down, he was just passing through, will you relax”. The man behind the bar drank his glass and looked at the old lady “Yeah Jane, Calm down, you went ahead and opened up that weird conversation to him, he seemed quiet” Jane took a look at man behind the bar, she placed back her handgun below the bar and said “Shut up, who wears a cloth like that and walk in this road in this night? And also gifts a bottle of wine?”
“look we can give it back to you if you….” Said the boy with his girlfriend.
“Its yours already!” Said Jane.
“allrigh calm down, drink something, here” Said Tate while pouring water of a bottle beside the coffee machine. Jane took the glass and drank it up “I swear, something was not right with that guy. Like anyone gives a fuck bout what I say in this town” She seemed angry. Tate light up a cigar and looked and Jane “look, dad was an accident, its not gonna happen again, we are safe”. Jane went to the writer’s table and took the plate and the coffee glass. “Everybody thinks the same way in this town, you people are foolish” said Jane. She brought the cup to the washing area behind the bar and she was about to wash them, But she seemed sad and stressed. The man behind the bar stood up “look, everything is fine now, whatever it was it has passed. Im gonna head my place, have much to do, put it in my account, I’ll come back tomorrow night, get some rest, close faster tonight will ya ?” said the man.
Jane seemed positive about that idea, she looked at Tate “don’t stand and look at me, go clean the tables, so we can get the hell out of here a bit faster than usual”
The man went out of dinner and Tate went to clean the tables. “we will close soon yea” said Jane to the couple by the window.
The couple had their plates finished. The boy took look at the bottle of wine, he placed on his girlfriend bag, once they were about the stand up a breaking sound of glass hit through their ear. The girl looked the window beside the door of the diner, it was cracked through. A look at the left and all she saw was that Jane was shot in her head. The girl started to scream. Boy was shocked. Tate looked through the window “Mom…” he shouted, he ran toward the bar. Another sound of breaking thorough glass hit the ears of the couple. Tate dropped on ground, another shot was fired. The bullet went through his throat, he dropped in flowing pool of blood out of his throat on ground. The couple started to run toward the door. They opened door and without any hesitations started to run toward they car. The girl on the way dropped down, as if her foot hit something on the way. It was the dead body of the man who was in bar. She stood up screaming and ran toward the car following his boyfriend.
A light lit up in the distance. For a very short second. Then it started to glow slowly. It seemed someone was holding it and was getting closer. It was the writer. He approached in the dinner. It seemed the couple had forgotten their bag. He went toward the back, took out the bottle of wine
and placed it on the table. Opened it up, Poured a bit of it on the table. He started drinking it nonstop till it was almost finished. Breathe deeply. Placed back the bottle on the table. Walked toward the Tate. It seemed Tate was still chocking. “Cliché…is it?” said the writer. He took out the 100 dollar bill out his pocket and placed it on ground beside him. He pressed Tate chest so hard, the breathing become impossible for him. It did not take long till he was dead. The writer was smiling calmly. He stood up and went behind the bar. Looked at the dead body of the Jane. He took a look the power box beside the door of the kitchen. Opened it and turned off all the light. “Good night” Said the writer. Approached toward the exit and disappeared in the darkness.
The Departure
By Arman Akhlaghi
Other Stories:
4 Chapters of Memories of the Seasons Death
The Purple Windows
The Republic Of Brain Correctors The Motherhood land, Matsuri
Chapter 1:
The Things Between
I.I
All he could hear was the sound of rain pouring on window and the tick tock of the clock. As if when it was raining the time was stopped for him. Listening to the constant sound of rain drops made him forget about the past hours he had gone through. It was 7 o’clock. The room was drawn in the darkness. The shimmering lights from the street was coming through the curtain less window. Walls were filled from the old pictures. A wall full of dead memories was upon his gaze. His desk, was filled with books. Mostly his father’s journals and religious books. And A letter. A letter from a lost love.
He could feel the pressure in his body. He was floating in the room. Going around, as if his sprit was separated from his body. Toward the door and in the hallway, he gazed upon the darkness in the corridor. Someone was calling him from the end of the corridor. An unfamiliar voice. Mesmerizing to him with a noisy and scratchy voice. Like a tortured soul. As he float toward the voice so did the pressure higher. Once he had arrived in the middle of corridor he could feel his teeth were crushing. As if his body was being pressed in middle of car wrecking machinery. As he approached more he saw a white hand came out of darkness. A white rotten hand with worms floating out of the nails. He wanted to push himself back, but the force was too aggressive. The voices was becoming more aggressive. Someone was screaming to his head. The pressure was rising. As if he was crossing from a world to another world.
Phone start to ring. It was over. He woke up. No fear was in his face. Started to bite his lips. Stared at the door, expecting someone to open it. But he knew the fear was only in his mind. Did not have any choice, stood up and opened the door. The phone was at the end of corridor. He pressed the light and the hall lite up. Nothing was there to be afraid of. He was confused. Started his steps toward the phone, the more he saw the faster he walk. Picked up the phone.
“Mike, You there? It’s me Alan” Said the voice.
Swallowed his fear. Closely looked around living room. Made sure nothing was around. “I’m here…” Said Mike.
“Is this a good time to talk? There is something in need you to know” said Alan. Mike could hear his was not like he knew it. Something was different.
“Go ahead….”said mike.
“Look, there has been a case that came in a while ago. About a woman, I don’t know what to say, she has done something. Something I can’t really bring up on the phone. Need to talk to you about it. Something is not right about her.” Said Alan
“What could possibly I do to help you? I’m helpless” Said mike.
“No look, this is different, I don’t know … I just think you might be able.” Said alan. “Where are you?” said mike.
“Woodland, need you to come down here….urgent” Said Alan
“I’ll see what I can do, I will call you back in the morning. Take some sleep now” Said Mike. “That’s all ? where is your word” said alan.
“I don’t know mike….goodbye” Said Mike.
He put the phone back. Sat on the red leather chair beside the telephone. Gazed upon his living room. The room was filled with different frames. From old to present. The wall of memories here were not as dead as the room. He felt his room was filled with death. Did not feel going back there. He knew the fear was in his head but somehow he felt something about his dream was real. He looked at his back, the kitchen was in silence. He stood up and went toward the kitchen. Turned on the light and open the fridge to pick a bottle of water. Drank the water calmly and placed it back in the fridge. Returned to his couch. And though of sleeping in here instead of his room.
In front of him was a cross. A cross that gave meaning to his life. A Cross that brought color to his life. A symbol that showed the way to him. A symbol that made him believe he was on the right
track and he had to show the same way to other people. Things were good at church. Hearing about people confessions often made him feel he was in a clear direction in his life. Learnt from them too, but the question was why the world full of sin, has no place for him. Perhaps he forgotten his sins or he did not see. A cross gave many thing to him. But something he did not believe until this very day.
“Son, A life requires a compensation. IT gives and it takes. This is the rule” Mike’s Father had told him.
Perhaps the cross also brought him to a blurry world. To a world in which some people gazed upon him as a source of goodness but perhaps for himself not. A world where once the questions had been answered in the book, now had more un-answered questions. Sometimes he thought this is a trial for him. A test of his faith from the Holy Devine. But some days, especially the rainy days where the world stopped around him, he thought. He thought deeply. What if whatever he believed was a wall of lie. What if whatever he believed was a wall of dead thoughts? A wall like his room’s wall. Full of dead memories. Memories that has no meaning for him. But perhaps the answers were in those memories. The choices he made in the past. Past. As he was thinking through, the room upon him started to fade out in dark. He fall asleep.
I.II
She was sleepy. But she was not able to do so. Is room a safe place ?
Perhaps not for her. She was sitting tight on the chair, pretending reading books. Her mind was occupied by the noises in the house. She had heard it before. But this time everything seemed a bit tenser to her. She remembered arguments her parent had times and times before. All was calming her was that she knew at the end it the voices will fade out. It will be a silence in the house for a while till everything goes back to normal.
The noises was getting more intense. She turned her neck and looked at the door. Her room was a small room. A tiny bed for a girl of her age. Walls filled with tones of drawings she had done for her family. A love of art was always sparking in you. Said her teacher to her always. She had no idea of what the life is, but in her own world she was trying to paint it on the papers to understand it better. Her carpet was a brown picture of an owl. Closets were full of colorful clothes and many dolls of owls was around the room. Even her bed sheet had an owl picture. She tried to distract her mind. Started to think as if she was gazing to eyes of an owl. It seems you can get drawn in him from those looks. It was not helping her. She put her feet on the ground and approached to window of the room which was in front of her bed. A glimpse through the curtains she could not see a thing except the pouring rain. It was 4pm. She climbed up and started to look precisely. In hope of seeing someone for help. She saw a man. Wearing a blue trench coat, other side of the street. He was staring at her house. As if he was drawn by the intense sound from the house.
She notices her mother is screaming more than usual. She was hearing un-familiar words. Unfamilar noises. She returned to her bad. Picked up her owl. She calls her favorite owl Aldor. He as her hero. Someone who kept her safe from everything. The owl had blue eyes, white body with Red scars. As if something was glowing out of the owl for her. While holding the own on her hug she approached the door of her room. Opened it slowly. Took a peak in the corridor. She was
hearing her parents fighting. Even louder than before. Started to crawl toward the stairs leading to living room down starts to find out what is going on. Once she arrived at stairs, she hold the fences with her tiny hands and took a look at down stairs. She could not see anything, she could just hear. She felt this is not her house. She felt she was somewhere else.
She saw her mother got pushed and dropped on the ground in front of the stairs from the kitchen. “Cathy…” Said her mother.
She looked terrified. Scared. Catherine Father came along. His hands were pinched. She realized her mother could have beaten by his dead.
“Catherin, get back to your room now” Said her dad.
She did not know what to respond. She was shocked looking at her mom. She noticed the tears. This was something she had never seen before.
“Mom…what….” Said Catherine with her shaky voice.
Once her mom wanted to speak, her dad pointed her fingers as her and then looked toward Catherine.
“Catherine, Honey, I told you. Get back to your room. We will be fine” Said her dad calmly. As if nothing was wrong.
Catherin was confused, Questions started coming to her. But she was tongue tied. She was able to speak anymore. As if a demon was holding her throat. She felt heavy to breath.
“Catherine, get back to your room” Shouted her father.
Catherine was shocked. Dropped her owl from the fences down stairs. That was only thing she was feeling safe about. For a moment she felt everything was taken from her. She wanted to take it. Started to walk toward the stairs. Her father face got filled with anger. He walked up the stairs with pressing his tooth to each other. Breathing heavily. Her father caught her hand once she wanted to run, lifted her up and started to walk toward her room. All she saw was the light disappearing infront of her. The light of being safe.
“I want Aldor back …. Mommy” Said Catherine.
“I don’t have time now, Shut up Catherine, stay in your room and don’t come out til I say so” said her dad.
He opened Catherin’s Door room and put her on bed. And hold her arms.
“I’ll get your damn owl back to you, but I want you to stay here, understand?” Said his father.
She could feel pain in her arms. He was pressing her around her arm. She looked into his eyes. It was full of anger.
“you are hurting me….”Said Catherine.
Her father took of his hands. Looked at her. Went of the door and shut it strongly. Catherine was terrified. She wanted her owl back. She was scared. Just when she stood up on her bed to look outside of the window she started to hear her mother screaming. She looked outside of window. The man in the blue raincoat was still there. Like a statue. She was not able to see him clearly. She tried to open her window. It did not budge. It was broken from before as she remembered. She started to heat the window. The rain was too intense. The thunders were loud. She did not see any respond from the man in the blue rain coat.
It was hopeless. Tears started to fall from her eyes. She did not what will happen. She walked through the door again. Closely opened it. Once she opened it she could hear the voice more. She was not able to pay attention to what is happening. All she was hear Was loud noises in her brain. She was sick of her. Tried to keep her tears started to crawl toward the stairs. In hope of finding Aldor. Aldor was always quiet. She loved him.
Once she arrived near the stairs she her mother was lay back against the door. She was looking at her father. They did not notice her.
“Fuck you Martin, Stop it for god sake…Stop it” Screamed her Mother.
Martin, Catherin’s Father walked toward her mother, he bent down and caught her neck, started to bang her head against the door slowly.
“Its all you father, You useless piece of shit, all your fault” He said it with his shaky hands. He got closer to her ear and whispered on the them.
Catherine could see her mother was freeze for a second. She was crying. She took his hands off from her neck and started to cough. She laid her head against the door again.
“I will tell Them….” She said. A mysterious smile appeared on her lips. A sinister smile.
Catherine father started to beat her mother furiously. Catherine was shocked. She was looking, helpless she just stared. Her father started to punch Catherine’s Mother. Every second in Catherin’s eye were hours for her. She did not know what to do. Helplessly she started to scream. Her father did not seem noticing her. Catherine started to notice his hands were bloody and her mother’s screaming voice stopped. All Catherine could see was the blood on his father’s had. He stood up and turned back. Catherine could not saw her mother’s face. It was smashed and bounded in blood. She started to scream. Her father ran toward her and grabbed Catherine’s long blonde hair. Carried her on cried. She could feel the pain in her but the scream was so loud in her throat that she was ignoring the pain. Her father throw her back in the room and shut the door. She was dropped on her carpet. She looked at the color eyes of the owl on the carpet. She could feel pain in her body. Stood up, went on her bed and started to look through the window to street. The main in the blue raincoat was not there.
She heard a loud noise down the house. Another voice. A familiar voice she thought she had heard before. The voice was loud but it was clear. She could hear someone was shouting “stay back”. Catharine walked toward her door. Slowly opened the door. But this time she did not dare to step in the corridor.
“Ms. Mell….Ms. Mell…” Said the familiar voice.
She did not know how long was passed. She saw a glimpse of blue and red lights glowing in her room. A siren. She heard. She walked through the window again and looked outside. There were two police cars infront of the house. The door opened up.
The man in blue raincoat was there. He was looking terrified. His hands were shaking. “Are you ok ? Come here…im here to help you” Said the voice.
She knew she saw the man somewhere before, but her mind was blurry that much that she was not able to remember how did the past hours went along even. A police arrived at the doorway. Approached her.
“Are you hurt? Are you ok? Can you tell me that” said the police.
Catherine was in shock. All she could see in front of herself was a face full of blood.
“Shake your head for me…are you ok? Are you hurt?” said the police. Police approached and hold her closer.
Catherine shacked her head down. Police man hugged her and started walking out of her room. He kept her head in toward his arms. Was forcing her not too look up. She could feel she was being walked outside of the house. In a second she could fill the rain drops on her body. Policeman handed her to a lady, who put in car.
“I want you to stay put ok? We are driving you to a safe place? Allright?” said the lady.
Her tears were not stopping. She whispered “Where is my mommy?”
“Will get her back to you as soon as possible sweaty. All right? We gonna drive both you outside of here” said the lady. She closed the door of car and then she sit in the driver’s seat. She turned on the car and they started going. As they were turning to the street She saw and ambulance driving pass by. She did not know what will happen to her. Exhausted. All she saw was the world fades out in front of her eyes. She fall asleep.
I.III
The darkness was covering the land. Like a never ending blanket, the clouds were covering the sky. Most of the lights in this very deserted highway were off. Some were on, shimmering in distance, created a fantasy looking landscape. As if angels were moving toward highway. A diner was in nearby. It was glowing within this heart of darkness.
A light lit up in the distance. For a very short second. Then it started to glow slowly. It seemed someone was holding it and was getting closer. It was rare to see someone walking within this highway in the night. Most of the passengers were on the cars, the nearest local town was still 60kms away. So it was odd to see someone walking within this long road.
A man holding the light arrived. It was two cigars. Burning in his hands. It was odd because it seemed he did not smoke any of his cigars. He was just holding them all the way. He was wearing a long black coat covering from his shoulders all the way down the just above his old looking shoes. An old Mexican hat, colored in back and fully leather. He was wearing black gloves. Long smooth hair all the way up his shoulders. He did not have a look a normal man. A glimpse through his eyes you know you do not want to come across him. He came closer. His face was clear nearby the dinner light. His face was very normal. A mid 30s man. Wearing glass. He did not seem he belong to around here. As if he was traveler from a faraway land. A land perhaps no one ever traveled. In his other hand he was holding a very odd looking bag.
He stood in front of the dinner. Stared at the name of dinner. It was called “Sminrolf’s Dinner”. It seemed empty, but most of the curtains were twisted. The diner was looking pretty old. The title was glowing in red but the lights were not stable. The door was covered in dirt and the walls did not seem clean either. Door opened up and a man with hats came out. A sound of music could be heard from inside of the Diner. The man was looking very old. He did not notice the strange traveler. It seemed he was walking clumsy. Coughed a bit but finally got to his rusty old rocking truck. Jumped in and it seemed he passed out inside. Stranger looked a while. As if he was waiting
for him to leave. But that did not happen. He stood there for a while, without moving an inch. Dropped one of his cigars but he did not step on it. He passed from it and walked toward the door of dinner. Once he opened the door he could hear the sound of music and radio together. Radio was reading a book. A famous book called The Forgotten Stories of The Night. Forgotten Stories of the night was a book in which gained a lot of popularity in pas few month due to the fact that it was based on real life events a man faced during his long time in sanitarium for a few years. Book was questioning of the method works for goodness of society or not. Lots of topics and articles could be seen in news about it.
Nevertheless, he stepped in the dinner. It was not crowded and it was not odd not be in 11:30pm. Dinner looked old and rusty. Walls were filled with different types of clocks. Distinctive designs, as if each were brought from a different dinner. What was odd about the Clocks was that all of them were on 7:45pm. None of the clocks were functioning. Ceiling and floor were made of words. There were couple of tables around the rectangle space of the dinner. A seat by the left side of window was taken by a young couple. They looked local. A seat on the right had stills bottles and glasses on it and a man was sitting on the bar. There was an old lady and young man behind the bar. They couple of alcohols there, a coffee machine and bunch of stacked glasses on the right side of it.
Stranger walked calmly toward the left table by the window and sat there. He realized everyone was looking at him. Probably it seemed for a costumer at this very time. For a moment only music and radio could be heard till the old lady came to him.
“We aint get much costumers at this time, hope u not looking for trouble…”Said the old lady.
The stranger was looking at his hands. He moved his head up and took a look at the old lady. A strange smile appeared on his lips.
“I do not. I am passing by, toward the town, car broke down, had to go on foot. I am very sure you understand that” Said the stranger.
“Heard stories like that, many of them” Said the old lady.
“No wonder, They why the call me the writer” Said the stranger. “A writer? Pretty cliché, sounds to me” Said the old lady.
“Yes as a matter of fact, but it holds secrets as well, like every other cliché” Said the Writier.
“I’m not interesting in spoiler content, keep it to yourself, town is 60kms ahead, in morning you can fine a mechanic. Welcome to stay, but you stay put and we are good” Said the old lady.
“Do not worry, will not spoil anything” His smile got tenser, Then he continued “I shall leave as soon as I have some food, I assure you”.
Old lady cleaned his ear with her hands and took out a note out of his pocket. “Allright, What would you like? Menu is beside you in case you did not notice it” Said the old lady.
The writer looked toward his left and saw a piece of oily paper facing upside down. He took of his gloves picked the paper and started to look at it. The old lady said “I thought writers were interested in reading”. Another strange smile appeared on lips of the writer. He took out a red glass out of his pockets and put in it, then he said “I thought dinners should be clean”. Old lady seemed annoyed “aint a place for fancy people with leather material”. She leaned her hands on the table. Stranger smiled faded away. “I thought we promised each other not to spoil?”
Old lady smiled and moved her head “damn right, but that was your promise…. So?”
Stranger placed back the menu on its original place. Took a napkin out of his right pocket and cleaned the table, then He wore his gloves again and looked at the lady with another strange smile. “I’ll have your steak, as rare as you can go. A coffee if you please, I need to walk more”
Old lady wrote that on her notes and went away. The writer realized people in dinner were gazing at them for the whole time. Another smile appeared on his face, then he opened his bag and took out of book with a black leather cover. Afterwards he took out a pen. The pen was odd looking. It seemed it was covered with golden colors and but it had a little skull on its top side. The writer started to write.
For time being dinner returned to its normal atmosphere. After nearly twenty minutes the young man behind bar brought the writer’s steak and coffee. The coffee looked poorly made. Steak seemed it was a bit over cooked that he wanted. A few French fries and a cup of salad were placed in the plate. Steak was noticeably thin. Stranger looked at the young man
“are you working here?” said the stranger. Young man looked confused, he looked at the old lady behind the bar who was pouring drink for the main on the bar. Then he looked the stranger again.
“Yes, im his son, my name is Tate…” said Tate. Before he continue what he wanted to say writer said “Thanks for the food, do you happen to have any bottle for sale? Wine perhaps “. Tate seemed still confused “yeah we have, It comes from our town, it’s called the Ragging Bell, and its 35 dollars per bottle and …. “. Writer cut through his words “bring me one please, I need it for later” Young man stepped back and went toward the bar, he took a bottle and came back to the table and placed it on the table “Ta..da!” he said.
Writer took a wallet out of his pocket. The wallet was made out of plastic but it had many pictures on it, mostly known celebrities of 50-60s. He took out a 100 dollar and gave it to Tate. “Please keep the change, and don’t spoil this to her till I leave” Said the writer. Tate took the note and placed it in his pockets. “look I heard your car is broke down, I can give a life to the town and you can see the mechanic if you want”. The Writer tasted the coffee and then looked at Tate “I’ll be fine”. Tate was confused, he returned back to behind the bar. It seemed Tate and his mother were whispering.
Took a while till the Writer finish his steak. Once he finished up, he stood up. Took the bottle of wine and approached to the table were the couple were sitting. He placed the bottle on their table. Another weird smile appeared on his face. “Enjoy and joyful life, its on me” said the writer. Girl looked at the bottle and the took a look at the writer’s face “thanks, but u didn’t need to do such a thing, seems you are in trouble yourself already, this might help you?” Stranger smiled, closed his eyes for a while and the opened it again “I think you too will be in more trouble. This can help you more”. The girl and her boyfriend face looked awkward. Boy took the bottle and placed down beside his chair “allright, ummm thanks then, if you mind we….” Stranger turned his back on the slowly and went toward his table. Picked up his book and pen and placed them back in the bag. Picked his bag and walked toward the door and exited. Outside was too dark, it seemed was disappeared in the darkness.
Tate looked at his mother “put the gun down, he was just passing through, will you relax”. The man behind the bar drank his glass and looked at the old lady “Yeah Jane, Calm down, you went ahead and opened up that weird conversation to him, he seemed quiet” Jane took a look at man behind the bar, she placed back her handgun below the bar and said “Shut up, who wears a cloth like that and walk in this road in this night? And also gifts a bottle of wine?”
“look we can give it back to you if you….” Said the boy with his girlfriend.
“Its yours already!” Said Jane.
“allrigh calm down, drink something, here” Said Tate while pouring water of a bottle beside the coffee machine. Jane took the glass and drank it up “I swear, something was not right with that guy. Like anyone gives a fuck bout what I say in this town” She seemed angry. Tate light up a cigar and looked and Jane “look, dad was an accident, its not gonna happen again, we are safe”. Jane went to the writer’s table and took the plate and the coffee glass. “Everybody thinks the same way in this town, you people are foolish” said Jane. She brought the cup to the washing area behind the bar and she was about to wash them, But she seemed sad and stressed. The man behind the bar stood up “look, everything is fine now, whatever it was it has passed. Im gonna head my place, have much to do, put it in my account, I’ll come back tomorrow night, get some rest, close faster tonight will ya ?” said the man.
Jane seemed positive about that idea, she looked at Tate “don’t stand and look at me, go clean the tables, so we can get the hell out of here a bit faster than usual”
The man went out of dinner and Tate went to clean the tables. “we will close soon yea” said Jane to the couple by the window.
The couple had their plates finished. The boy took look at the bottle of wine, he placed on his girlfriend bag, once they were about the stand up a breaking sound of glass hit through their ear. The girl looked the window beside the door of the diner, it was cracked through. A look at the left and all she saw was that Jane was shot in her head. The girl started to scream. Boy was shocked. Tate looked through the window “Mom…” he shouted, he ran toward the bar. Another sound of breaking thorough glass hit the ears of the couple. Tate dropped on ground, another shot was fired. The bullet went through his throat, he dropped in flowing pool of blood out of his throat on ground. The couple started to run toward the door. They opened door and without any hesitations started to run toward they car. The girl on the way dropped down, as if her foot hit something on the way. It was the dead body of the man who was in bar. She stood up screaming and ran toward the car following his boyfriend.
A light lit up in the distance. For a very short second. Then it started to glow slowly. It seemed someone was holding it and was getting closer. It was the writer. He approached in the dinner. It seemed the couple had forgotten their bag. He went toward the back, took out the bottle of wine
and placed it on the table. Opened it up, Poured a bit of it on the table. He started drinking it nonstop till it was almost finished. Breathe deeply. Placed back the bottle on the table. Walked toward the Tate. It seemed Tate was still chocking. “Cliché…is it?” said the writer. He took out the 100 dollar bill out his pocket and placed it on ground beside him. He pressed Tate chest so hard, the breathing become impossible for him. It did not take long till he was dead. The writer was smiling calmly. He stood up and went behind the bar. Looked at the dead body of the Jane. He took a look the power box beside the door of the kitchen. Opened it and turned off all the light. “Good night” Said the writer. Approached toward the exit and disappeared in the darkness.
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