Day 0 part 2

Five more minutes of walking and here we are. Home sweet home.. I say as I let out a sigh long in the making while I stare at my small, but undeniably cozy house. The door creaks open, and I’m immediately wrapped in the warmth of the indoors and the homely smell of my Grandad’s cooking. I kick off my shoes and head straight to the living room.

“Sir!” I salute.

“Soldier?!” I catch him by surprise. “ At ease!”

“Yes sir!” My hand slams against the side of my thigh.

“Where have you been? I was starting to get a little worried..” He gestures for me to sit down at the table in the middle of the room. Him and his candles.. He loves candles.. Candles everywhere.. They’ve honestly started growing on me too…

“You could have just called me, you know..” I raise an eyebrow as a smirk carves its way on my face. I know he’s terrible with technology and I find that rather endearing but calling?.. He definitely knew how to do that…

“Ah well I thought that maybe you were with a girl. A pretty classmate or something..” He looks at me with a slight smirk. “Have you ever considered marrying into money?” He finishes as he pours soup into two of our old wooden bowls.

“You thought.. I was having sex?” My eyebrow rises by itself.

“Pretty much…”

“How is that the first thought that comes to your head when I’m late…” My eyes squint as I try to figure out how that's a reasonable conclusion.

“It’s normal.”

“Gramps.. I’m sixteen..”

“I got your grandma pregnant at sixteen.” He says as he breaks some bread into the soup.. Chicken soup by the smell of it. Not important right now, though. The old man is about to bombard me with traumatizing stories about his sex life.

“It was a lot of fun but-”

“Okay, okay… I got it.. No more details.. “ I wave my hand, trying to fight off the horrible imagery.

His sudden laughter fills up the room. “Ahhh…” He wipes a small tear that formed with his finger. “Good times..”

“Yeah.. I’ll let you reminisce about the.. Good times.. I’m tired. Gonna go to sleep.” I say as I turn to leave.

“She was beautiful…” He continues, lost in memories. “Your grandma..” He nods looking at me. “I mean you’ve seen pictures but..” He points at an old photo, pinned beside a candle on the old wooden dining table. “They don’t do her justice.” His voice softens as he shakes his head. He wears this warm smile on his face but behind it hide tears. I know. All too well, I know.

“Your mom.. She was really just like her.” He turns to me and smiles warmly. “ A beautiful human. Both inside and out…”

“Yeah…” I look down. I feel heavy.

“You know…” He pauses. The pauses helped. Neither of us liked crying. “Even though I miss your grandma’s laughter more than anything…Her beautiful face… “ He gulps and looks down at his soup. ”Even though I miss your mother’s heart-melting smile… Your dad’s… ridiculous sense of humour..” He chuckles. We both chuckle. “Even though I’d do anything…” his eyes narrow and brows furrow to fight off the tears. “To have them back… I know. You and I, soldier..” He looks at me while slowly nodding with this… Sad smile on his face. “ You and I are two lucky bastards.” He glances at the photo of him and Grandma and his smile grows wider as his eyes shut closed for a second. “ We got to live life beside the best people this world has to offer. Not many can say that now can they?”

“Yes sir.. Not many can… “ The silence feels heavy.

“Well…” He clasps his hands. “You want some soup or not?”

“Sorry.. Too tired… Gonna head to bed.” I turn.

“Well-” I hear the screech of the chair against the floor, followed by his approaching footsteps. “Good night, little soldier.” He wraps his arms so gently around me, kisses the back of my head, and then pats me on the shoulder before returning to the table.

“Yeah.. Goodnight, Sir…” A tear escapes the clutches of my eyelids. Damn this old man.

I break free of this miserable spell and plant my feet on the staircase leading up to my room. As I open the door, I’m greeted by the moonlight, painting shapes across my room, and a fresh breeze that gently caresses my skin. I forgot the window open. Pleasant surprise.

I take a few steps after shutting the door, and my eyes lock on a family photo. I stop. I stare. I feel heavy again. It’s a photo of me on my dad’s shoulders. My mom.. Holding my little hand…

My chest tightens. Unpleasant.. I’ve felt like this for far too long… No more…

I take a deep breath, drop my backpack to the floor. Down go my pants. Shirt lands on the worn-down chair and I crash into the creaking softness and comfort of my bed.

What am I doing.. My grades are in the gutter.. All that I worked for with my parents… Well.. What does it matter anyway? They aren’t here. So.. What matters? I have my Gramps.. I love him.. But… This school.. What am I still doing there.. It’s not my place.. Where is my place?.. What do I do?.. Ah… I wish my dad was here. He’d crack a stupid joke that would somehow end up being the answer to my problems.. Or maybe a nice walk with my mom.. A hug or two.. Maybe that’s all I need.. I don’t know.. I don’t know who I am anymore… I’ve grown resentful. I can see that. I’m getting more and more bitter by the day. Fuck… Fuck Macena… Stupid bastard. Fuck Rena and fuck Lenn. Entitled pricks… Why should I bother with them… Shit… There I go again… Resentful… Was Lenn.. Actually trying to help? No.. But still.. I feel bad. I am an idiot… Did I deserve that slap… Rena.. Stupid.. Stupid.. Crying over fucking detention. A fucking point. Poor miss perfect, now tied for first place. Destroyed just because she might not win the prize money. Fucking ridiculous. What’s she gonna do with that anyway? Buy a few more overpriced bags that daddy doesn’t wanna help with? A car maybe? Fucking rich kids… The prize money.. I was aiming for that in the beginning of the year.. I was gonna buy me a nice computer, my dad – a bike and my mom a bunch of plants… The rest I was gonna save or invest or something… Yeah.. That was a fucking joke wasn’t it… Fuck…

…

Everything is dark. Quiet. Until. I hear the gentle whisper of the ocean. The soft, rhythmic sound of waves brushing against shore. I open my eyes, but the harsh sunlight forces me into a squint. My vision is slightly blurry, my head feels heavy as I take in the endless blue of the ocean.

A cold wetness jolts my body awake from beneath. I look down. My feet are buried in ocean sand. What the hell.. My heart starts to race. My lungs fill with fresh air and I think for a few seconds. Last I remember, I was asleep in my room. And we definitely don’t have the money to be on vacation anywhere near this pretty – or at this time of year..

It hits me. A tsunami of excitement.

“I’M LUCID DREAMING!” I punch the air, cackling as I splash around like a kid in the shallow waters.

“HELL YEAHHHHHH!!!” I empty my lungs into this victorious scream.

“No…” I hear a familiar voice and I slowly turn.

“NOT YOU!!!” It’s Rena - yelling at me. Again.

“OH MY GOD..!” I throw my hands up as I turn away from her in disappointment. “Now you’re haunting my dreams too?!”

“THIS. IS. MY. DREAM. YOU ASSHOLE!” She kicks sand at me.

“NO, IT IS NOT!” I kick sand back at her.

“YES IT IS!!” More sand hits my face, burning my eyelids and filling up my mouth with grit.

“You!.. BITCH!” I spit out the sand, my finger quivering as I point at her. “I’m done! You’re gone! I’ll erase you!” I yell.

“Oh my god!” Hands fly to her forehead as she spins away from me only to turn back and-

“Try it! Try it! Erase me! How are you gonna erase me huh?!” She advances, her eyes wide like she’s fucking crazy.

“No need to tell me twice! Crazy bitch!” I force my eyes shut and imagine a world.. A peaceful.. Quiet world. Without her..

I keep my eyes closed for a second as I feel optimism bubbling up.

“Still here, dumbass!”

“What..!? I don’t get it.. Isn’t this how it’s supposed to work!?”

“Well guess what moron – you’re in my dream!” She shoves me in the chest, sending me stumbling back into the cold water.

“Oh yeah? Let’s see you try then!”

“I will!”

“Well go on then!

“SHUT UP! I’M CONCENTRATING!”

“OKAY!”

She closes her eyes. Takes a deep breath.

“You ain’t gonna start your morning yoga session right?” I mock.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Her eyes snap wide open as her foot digs deeper into the sand.

“YOU SHUT THE-” I stop. Why am I so angry.. Why am I yelling at her. She isn’t even real.. As I’m thinking I notice she wastes no time and her eyes are back to being shut. She extends her palm as if she’s gonna exorcise me. And then.

“HOW ARE YOU STILL HERE!” She cries.

“...CAN YOU STOP FUCKING YELLING!?”

“YOU ARE THE ONE THAT’S YELLING!!”

“FUCK YOU!..”

“FUCK YOU!..” She turns away from me, takes a few steps into the sand and then drops to her knees - posture like she’s totally given up.

“... Why are you in your underwear, weirdo..” I raise an eyebrow.

“Why are you naked?” She forces me to look down. “Hah..” She chuckles. My underwear’s still there. This girl is crazy...

Okay I won’t lie. My eyes can’t help but trace her curves – it doesn’t help that her underwear doesn’t cover much.. She is indeed attractive.

“What are you staring at creep! Not only are you dumb as hell but you’re a creep now too, huh?!” Her tongue is sharp and her words get under my skin like crazy.

“I’m not staring..” I face away from her.

“Nice ass..” She mocks.

“Don’t look at my ass.” I cover my butt with my hands, still facing away.

“Read this.” She says having written something in the sand.

“Seriously..”

“Dead serious.”

“Very funny..”

“What does it say??”

“It says.. Idiot..” My face contorts with confusion.

“Fuck..”

“What? It’s not funny if that’s what you were hoping for..”

“You can’t read in dreams.. And both you and I can read this..”

“Oh.. I see.. You still didn’t need to write ‘idiot’ though..”

“It’s what came naturally.”

“Right…”

“So..” Her voice calms.. “Where are we then? What is this..”

“You’re not.. Freaking out?”

“I’m too tired.. At this point dying doesn’t even sound that bad. At least all my problems will disappear.”

“Oh yeah.. Must suck to be tied for the prize money. That you so desperately need. Sounds like the end of the world” I say sarcastically.

“Yeah, yeahh… What would you know about problems..”

I stand still, staring at her. She stares back until it hits her.

“Sorry.. “ She actually apologized? Wow..

“It’s alright..” I let out a sigh as I drop down to the sand not too far away from her – both of us facing the endless blue of this mysterious ocean.

“Just.. I don’t get it.” I paused and the burbling of the waves fills the brief silence. “You got both your parents.. You’re rich.. You’re the most popular, desired girl in the whole academy..” I turn to her, facing her calmly for the first time.. Ever.. “ What problems could you possibly have..? “

“Doesn’t matter..”

“Dude..” I scoff. “Your shoes cost more than everything in my room..”

“They’re fake.”

“What?”

“They are fake..” She curls up, pressing half her face into her arms and knees. Her eyes.. Look.. Lifeless..

“So daddy cut your allowance short, huh?”

“Ew man, Don’t use that word…”

“What? Daddy?”

“Gross.. Stop saying it..”

“Alright.. So..?”

“Whatever..” Her long black hair flows gently in the fresh ocean breeze. “ It’s gonna rain.”

“Maybe..”

“You’re not freaking out either..” She says - her voice remaining monotone.

“Yeah..”

The sound of the waves. The slow hypnotizing movement of the dark rain clouds slowly covering the sunlight. It's a pretty view.

I’m tired…

“I’m tired…” She mumbles. My heart skips a beat.. Did she just.. Read my mind?

“Yeah.. Hey.. I’m..”

“I’m sorry dude..” She finishes before me. “ I shouldn’t have slapped you.. That was wrong..”

“No, no - we can’t have that..”

“What?”

“A princess can’t go around apologizing to a humble peasant.”

“Oh, shut up...” She lets out a soft chuckle. I’ve never looked at her eyes before but.. They were beautiful – a gentle, calming blue. You’d think they’d be red from how much she yelled at me.

“So what now?” I ask.

“I don’t know.. We die..”

“You’re the last person I see? No way in hell..” I say, stretching out the last sentence, each word dragging slightly.

She scoffs. And I lay down on the sand.

“You sure it’s not a dream?” I ask.

“Yyyep.”

“Someone trying to get their hands on your folks’ hard cold cash?”

“No..”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Okay.. Say they were. Why drop us off at some random island.. In our underwear? Also why you too? “

“Maybe they saw us yelling at each other on the streets? What were you doing there anyway?”

“Okay? What about the - dropping us off at a beach in our underwear part. Doesn’t really add up, does it.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“You ask too many questions.”

“I asked two.”

“That’s one too many.”

“Seriously.. Why were you there?”

“Why do you care?”

“A queen walking peasant streets strikes the curiosity of a man.”

“You’re a man now, huh?”

“Do I look like a girl to you?”

“A boy.” She glances at me. “You’re a boy.”

“Right.. We’re gonna die.” I sit up and scoot closer across the sand that is starting to slowly cool off. “So...”

“So?”

“Confide in me your deepest darkest secrets.”

“You the devil or something?”

“I’ve sure seen hell.”

“Yeah..”

“So? Why were you there? Peasant land?” I tilt my head, awaiting an answer.

She lets out a long sigh. A slow blink. Her eyes lock on mine. “I live there.”

“Ahah.” A chuckle escapes me. “ You live there..” My eyebrow raises itself. I ain’t trying to mock.

“Yep.”

“You. Live there..”

“Yep.”

“Is there like a.. Mansion I’m not aware of in the area?”

“Nope.”

“So.. What kind of queen wears fake shoes and lives in the suburbs?”

“A broke one.”

“No way..”

“Aaha..” She slowly nods.

“Does.. Anyone-”

“Nope.. They don’t.. I won’t ever let them know. Well, it doesn’t matter anymore but.. That was the plan..”

“W-why??” I feel goosebumps looking at her right now. I misjudged.. Everything..

“Because..” She lets out a heavy sigh – her expression is blank. “I wanted to fool them. Fit in, befriend them. Earn their favour and loyalty. Use them…”

“What.. But why..” What the hell am I hearing right now.. She’s some kind of crazy mastermind or what??

“My dad..” She looks into my eyes until her gaze slowly gets pulled back to the waves and the approaching storm. “Is dying..”

“...” Shit. What should I say? It still makes no sense but I feel like I have to console her. “I-”

“It’s okay.. I’m sorry for what you went through.. With your parents..” She glances at me for a second as if to offer her condolences. “But I don’t want the same to happen to me with mine.”

“What’s with your dad?”

“I need money. A comical amount. We sold everything.. Still nothing compared to what we need. So..”

“The prize money..” My chest tightens. I feel like I wanna puke. I was making fun of her.. Because of me, she..

“Yeah.. half a million isn’t a bad start.”

“You.. need more?”

“Way more..”

“Is that why you defended this Lenn girl?”

“Yeah well.. She was my first target.. One of the richest and all.. But I grew to like her. She’s a good person. I consider her my only friend.

“Woah.. Sorry just..” I try to explain but the words escape me.

“Not what you expected huh?”

“No..”

She chuckles softly.

“I’m sorry..”

“It’s okay. It’s o-..” Her voice cracks. My eyes meet hers for a split second and.. She’s crying. Shit. How do I help her? I want to help her? I hated her like a minute ago.

Before I can react - she regains control and the tears stop.

“Lame..” she snivels.

“It’s not lame to cry. I cried for months.. Take it from the least lame person.. Ever.”

“Yeah..” she scoffs” Would you look at that.. We are more alike than we thought..”

“I guess so..”

We lock eyes. This time for longer. She looks tired. I bet I do too. She’s beautiful. A damn witch. Casting her spell on me. I can feel it. Maybe I’d like her to.. Maybe we could help each other.. Maybe-

BOOM

A noise so loud it rattles my bones – something bursts out of the sand behind us, spraying it in every direction. A heavy thud follows, as if a massive rock just struck the ground. I grab her arm instinctively and drag her up. And behind us.

What the fuck is that.