/Elyon
...Running through the city, not looking back, frightened.
There is something unknown chasing you.
You run into a small alleyway behind the nearest building.
Everything your eyes look upon – broken, devastated. War recently finished, leaving a ruined town.
I'm left with a beast that is chasing me, with an urge to kill.
This endless feeling of fear. Kind of fear that is gripping your throat, making you unable to scream for help, unable to let out a word, your body shaking, your mind constantly paranoid.
Right then - someone, another one of my kind, takes my hand and pulls me away. To the inside of the building, closing doors behind. Carefully. Silently. This someone keeps pulling me further along, holding my hand. Up the stairs, hall, another flight of stairs, hallway and stairs again. Though I'm pulled by this stranger, I can't make out how this person looks. He or she? But this person is just soundlessly floating through the halls.
We reach the top floor, open the old wooden door and step into the hallway.
Inside there's curtains barely hanging, ripped from wind and blasts of devastation that went on. Floor covered in shattered glass, broken metal, pieces of fallen-in wall.
This person lets go of my hand. Going further into the hallway, still so soundlessly. I stood there - watching that person go. All the noise that was filling my head up until now - became silenced. I froze.
I finally heard the sound of wind blowing softly, rain patter, the sizzle of ember. Then I make out that music is playing down this hall. I stared at the person who was more than ten steps away, further along the hallway. I finally could recognize features.
She opened the doors and walked in. The piano music was louder. Not sure, what should I do? Once more I looked outside the window.
Windows were shattered and broken, mainly concrete outlines of what they once were. Just outside - I could clearly see the dark raindrops. Slowly falling down on a ruined and burned out city. The streets were covered in black ash, after all the violent fires that happened.
The glimpse of a rose garden that hid aside, with blackened vines, with rusted paths, with bloodied leaves and walls. Small fountain in the middle - not working, but the rust of blood and ash were in it. It felt like the memory of something precious. Once.
I glanced over the houses on the other side - streets that are littered with what's left after destruction. Yet there was something that made it worse.
Dark shadows of unknown monsters lurking on streets - giving the horrible chills down the spine. For I knew somehow - they were the worst death scenario for anyone who'd encountered them.
Finally getting a grip - I walked towards the doors. Ready to see what's inside. My heartbeat loudly pondered in my ears, along with the melodic piano tune.
Inside I saw five figures in a massive ballroom. All were in their different corners across the vast space. One was playing the old piano. A girl, in long fluffy chiffon dress, red hair, slim figure, gesturing for me to come in.
And I really wish to step into the room, but something is holding me. Own body not willing to listen. I can feel that they can help me understand something, but my body is heavy, unresponsive to my commands. Thunder rattles - shaking fiercely the air. Lightning strikes – all vanishes and I fall...
Waking up in the morning in cold sweat, feeling tense and uneasy. Birds chirping outside, sun shining through curtains. I'm in bed, wrapped in my blanket, yet shaking. Still feeling that thunder. My heart is still in fear - skipping a beat.
Deeply breathing in, breathing out. That was just a dream. Just a dream. Pulling myself together and in my thin nightie, that sticks to my body, walking downstairs to the kitchen.
Smell of freshly made coffee pulls me back to reality.
What a strange dream.
I found a note left by Erick on the table in the conservatory: "Take care of the house. Don't make a mess. Give food to Fatso."
My brows furrowed.
Erick sure as hell is thinking that I'm incapable of doing any chores. Telling me off like a kid, with these note-reminders. Eh, he'd be the annoying type of a parent.
I made coffee, crawled up on the chair in the conservatory. Holding a huge cup in my hands, looking outside at a sunlit porch - my heart begins to calm down.
As worry comes to ease and head is clearing up - I notice the neighbour's cat stretching on a porch.
"Enjoying sunshine are you?" – I said out loud, so that the fur ball would hear me.
Cat outside ignored me, as he made a stretch. Then laid down for a nap. Enjoying the warmth from sunshine. That cat sure is a chubby thing. Is that why Erick calls you Fatso?
"Am I in need to disturb your nap to feed you, or should I let you be?" - I stared at the fur ball.
Deciding in favour of finishing the task - I went into the kitchen to grab the plate Erick left for him.
As I took it, I walked back to Fatso, putting the plate next to him on the porch.
He did not even move. Just opened his eye to check who came, then turned his face away from me.
"Even this cat has an attitude." - I exhale in slight frustration, yet decide to sit next to him.
Sun feels nice. Warm breeze is calming. I closed my eyes, drank more coffee, breathed in. Such a relaxing situation. I laid back, enjoying the warm breeze. Feels blissful.
Not even realising it - I dozed off.
Evening turned out beautiful. Sunset lighting up the sky in orange and red tones. No clouds. Warm breeze and chirping of birds. Definitely like a scene from a romantic movie. Fatso passed by, I said "Hi", he went on ignoring me, just jolted his tail in frustration.
"You remind me of Erick." - I let out.
Joyful scent of evening. A kind of aroma that has this little chill of the river in it, scent of forest with green warm grass. I took a deep breath, as I came to appreciate some peace and nature.
"Nice evening indeed." - A familiar voice with a tinge of sarcasm sounded from behind me. I swiftly turned around in surprise - there stood Niko.
"You do have that ghostly feel about you." – I said, as I was calming down my heart from skipping a beat for a moment there.
"Surprise with a pleasant chill down the spine or the chilly fright one?" - Her sarcasm does seem to remind of Erick. And that cat with an attitude.
"It's the mixed feelings one." - I let out.
I took a better look at her - right now what strikes me most is the fact that she was no ghost. She definitely was flesh and bones. As real and living as I was.
Wearing short shorts, top, black long cardigan, barefoot, her red and black hair down, as she's looking at me.
"Oh, don't worry," - She smirks, - "I'll help myself to a cup of coffee. Care to join in for once?"
She blurred out as she went to get that coffee sorted.
"Sure, thanks." – I muster.
Watching her making coffee got me goosebumps.
Every move, every detail made with precision, gently. Polished skill set of tender coffee making. I never saw someone make coffee to the extent of getting pleasurable goose bumps. Through all this work she looked charming. Feminine way of look, the feeling you get for some women, when you appreciate them, as you feel their charisma.
"If you keep on staring like that, you'll burn a hole in my back." – Niko turned around handing me a cup of coffee. - "Please, enjoy."
Warm as the morning sunshine – her smile. I took the cup, then followed her to the chairs in the conservatory. We sat down, looking at each other. Enjoying coffee - slowly.
"You know you can ask me questions, Elyon. If you want the answers - you must ask questions. But some questions require no answers, or it is better not to know answers to them. I hope we'll get along." - She calmly stated.
She seemed ready. In anticipation of me asking things.
Therefore I have to select where I should start. What I'd like to know foremost? Connection? Relations? How does it work?
"You and Erick. What is your relationship with him? How did you get to know each other?" – I felt like these could be a good conversation starter.
Niko looked around, her gaze stopping on the vase with orchids.
"At some point in young age I figured out that I can hear someone else in my head. And once I spoke to it - voice replied back. Male voice. It spoke about interesting things. So different from what I know. That intrigued me. Eventually my driven self managed to transfer to him. First as a ghost of a sort, then like this." - She tapped her foot on the floor. - "That is when we touched. Even slept whilst holding onto one another. We became an inspiration for each other."
Such an obscure piece of a story. I see how they reflect on each other - both are goddamn riddles. Guess one of them things they have in common, besides sarcasm. Care to know what else these obscure persons have in common.
"So you know everything about Erick?" - I went on.
"Guess so. Except his thoughts at times. I merely learned how his logic and decisions work. The rest is up to him." - She replied as a matter of factly, yet in a relaxed tone.
"And what are you?" - Seemed like the right time for this one.
"Me? Human. Just one more sack of meat and bones. With some logical processes going on." - She shrugged.
"Can you tell me more about yourself?" – I can feel that I wish to know more.
"Show me yours, I'll show you mine". - She looked at me, smiling. Her smile was comforting, yet mysterious. She finished her coffee and got up.
"Another cup-a-coffee?" – She said, as she turned to face me.
I took a look at my cup - just now noticing that my cup was empty. I managed to drink all of it within this short time. That was the first time for me to finish drink so fast. I held out a cup for Niko to take. Then followed her. She walked into the kitchen, put the kettle on.
"You're so stiff." – Niko gave me a glance, then turned to take a few steps towards me.
I stood in the middle of the kitchen. I looked at her - she smiled at me. Somehow I felt every inch of my body tightened. I was like a string. There was this odd pressure that I felt.
"Elyon, close your eyes." – Softly spoke Niko, making her way towards me.
I closed my eyes, as I hear her getting closer to me. Then I got this intimidating feeling. My body wouldn't budge an inch.
Strange fear. Like a cornered animal, shaken to the core by the watchful predator.
"Please honey, don't be afraid," - Niko was close. Next I feel her close to my ear, - "I don't bite, unless you say you want me to." - I felt her breath on my skin, as she spoke!
That was a sensual whisper right there! I couldn't stop myself from blushing. I didn't have anyone who would whisper in my ear so sensually! Harassment!
My body felt hot, but the embarrassment from this situation! And I still could not move! Body wouldn't listen! Then it hit me, like a sudden thud - I was filled with anticipation.
Her fingers, soft and firm, touched my face, as she gave me a soft butterfly kiss on my lips.
Ah… Such a gentle kiss.