Mysterious Old Man

Scarlet went to school as usual, but when she was leaving, she noticed an elderly man was cleaning the leaves near the school. His eyes were closed, and he had a black bushy mustache. His wrinkles reflected all the stories in this life and what he had gone through. He wore a light brown cap and a dark grey jacket. On his feet, he wore sandals. He stood out from the regular townsfolk. She saw him for a split second and then he disappeared.

Scarlet noticed he was at the same spot every day. He was collecting flowers and taking water from the stream near the small park next to the school. Once he's done collecting, he would push his wheelbarrow and vanish into thin air.

The next day after school, she wanted to see if she could catch him. She noticed he was sitting on a wooden bench with a giant flourishing tree in the back. She was hiding behind a bush. She accidentally snapped a twig in half with her shoes.

The old man heard it.

"Who is there?"

Scarlet was trying to stay still behind the bush. She noticed there were thorns all over the vines. She got pricked by one and blood was trickling down on her arms.
She just held her breath.

"I know you're there."

Her heart was pounding rapidly as if it wanted to escape her chest. She moved a little branch of the bush to see him.
He had not left his spot at all.

Maybe he can't see me.

Then he got up from his wooden bench and followed the movement in the bushes. Even though their eyes met, his eyes were pale, and his gaze seemed to drift past her. He did not say anything.

Did he not see me?

She swept her hands from side to side before his eyes, a test to see if he’d follow the motion.

His face became irritated.

"What are you doing now? What do you get from making fun of a blind person?" He asked frustrated.

Scarlet gasped. She did not realize he was blind, but it made sense since he still cannot see her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were blind," she said softly.

He grumbled. "It's alright, I thought you were one of those neighbor boy pranksters. Why were you hiding from me?"

Scarlet was flustered.
"I was curious about you when you vanished into thin air that one day. Also, I was wondering why you were hanging around the school?"

He smiled to himself. "You know, a young girl used to ask me the same question. Her name was Rose."

Rose?! That name again.

Scarlet was lost in thought.
"Do you know what happened to her?"

His face had a sudden change in expression.

"She was a very thoughtful girl. She would help me gather leaves to bring to my garden. She would describe to me how the world looked through her eyes."

He got up and started filling up his wheelbarrow again. He picked up one of the vibrant red leaves.

He started to remember a scene from the past.

"Here take these leaves, they are prettier!" Said Rose insistently.

He chuckled, "You would have to pick them up for me because I wouldn't know."

They both laughed.

All of the sudden, the world was overcome by darkness. Rose was captured by two hooded beings who appeared tall and shrouded in mist.

"Let me go! Help!"

His eyes grew tearily, "Ever since the Cosmocrats took her, I haven't seen her in a very long time. It's been years."

"I see."

I wonder what happened to Rose. Based off her memory book, it seems she was afraid of something here.

"I have lived in isolation for so long. The Cosmocrats don't even bat an eye at me. My magic has grown weak; I am no threat it seems. I have lost many families and friends to them. "

He paused with a painful look in his face.
"They are the law."

"Do you want to see them?"

"See who?"

"My lost friends and family."

Scarlet gulped. 

I'm not sure if I want to visit a cemetery.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to show you any dead bodies.” He rolled his eyes and let out a short sharp scoff, it sounded like a puff of disdain.

Scarlet even though she was uncertain, she decided to go with her gut and follow him.

“Grip tightly on the wheelbarrow handle.” She moved her hand over the handle, and the metal part was cold to touch. “Hang on!”

The old man then moved his feet to a sprinting motion and pushed through the thin air again.

Scarlet closed her eyes.

“We’re here.”

She opened her eyes, and she could see a small hut. The roof was made from coarse stacks of hay; bristles were poking out in many directions. The walls were made of uneven light blue stone blocks cemented together with wet mud. The Old Man’s house was located in the center of the forest. It was quiet with the tree branches swinging in the gentle breeze. Giant and small butterflies were fluttering around the singing purple flowers in his garden. As they sung, their delicate scent of sweet honey fragrances.

He pushed his wheelbarrow and tipped it over to release all of the leaves. They were used as mulch for the flowers in the garden.

“I have lived here for quite some time. I have hidden some markers near the school so I could teleport without having to journey far.”

He then welcomed Scarlet into his home. There was not a door, it was a maroon curtain that she swept above her. As she went in, she could hear many sounds and chattering in the room.

“Finally, you’re back home, what took you so long.” It sounded like a grumpy grown lady’s voice.

“Son, can you screw my head on tight?” Asked, an elderly man.

“What’s for supper? Could you get me a plate?” asked in a cheerful tone.

“How about some beer for old time sake?” asked in a drunken tone.

The old man said, “Everyone, I’d like you to meet someone.” The chattering stopped.

He leaned in and whispered, “What’s your name, hon?” She whispered back, “It’s Scarlet.”

“It’s Scarlet everybody!” There was cheering in the background. Their voices became cheery with excitement.

“Sorry to interrupt, I hear them, but I can’t see them.”

“Ah you’re not looking hard enough.” He pointed to his desk, “there should be a pair of re-appear glasses. I’m blind so I don’t need them, but it was for Rose. She frequented this place.”

The glasses had a gold shiny rim. Scarlet gently picked them up and placed them over her ears. Then, she looked forward.

“Boo!” One of the drunken ghosts was in her face. She fell backwards on the hard floor.

She could see all of the ghosts now better than before.

“Did they die because of the Cosmocrats?”

The room became silent when she asked.

“They don’t want to be reminded of them.” The old man looked sad.

“The Cosmocrats want everyone to be perfect and not having any thoughts of their own. Those who do not conform ceased to exist in this world.”

“And Rose?”

“She was born with curiosity and a strong will. She broke quite a bit of rules. Tough little girl.”

Scarlet’s heart pounded rapidly. She placed her hand over her chest to try to calm herself down.

Let me out, let me out. She heard a girl’s voice.

“Scarlet? Scarlet!”

Her eyes closed and she collapsed.