Tale Zero: Screaming Scorpion (4)

My nap ended up not lasting for too long.

When I woke up, I looked at my clock – six thirty in the afternoon.

Since it was almost summer, the days were long, and there was still plenty of time until the sun would set.

There was nobody else on that park.

…

My phone had no unread messages either, which meant Oliver wasn’t coming anytime soon.

Even after my nap, though, I had no wish to go back home. I would still keep my promise to both my friends.

And just as I though that-

It seemed I wouldn’t have to wait too long.

I looked up and saw a familiar female figure coming towards me, gently smiling.

“Hello again, James. Thank you for waiting. I’m back.”

“How did it go? Is your grandmother all right?”

“Yes, she’s perfectly fine. They said she was just tired and needed rest, but was in good health otherwise. It was just the scare.”

I felt the tension and weight suddenly evaporate from my shoulders. Everything was fine. Nobody would die.

“That’s a relief…”

“Yes, it is, it really is…”

And then I remembered. I should probably tell her about what happened after she left...

“Hey, Claudia.”

“Yes?”

“I saw Oliver a bit after you left. He said he saw you… running home.”

I decided to omit the rest.

I felt like she didn’t want me to know she was crying. I would respect those feelings; I understood them well.

“Oh, I see… So he’s already back.”

“…”

She made no further comments.

But I didn’t really need any. Just seeing her face cloud was enough to tell me what I needed to know.

“Hey, so, Claudia.”

“Hm?”

“What was it that you wanted to tell me before?”

“Oh… Yeah, that. Hm. Mind if I tell you in another place?”

“Uh, yeah, sure. No problem for me.”

And so I got up and left the park, following Claudia.

Once more, we walked, talking about pointless topics together, reminiscing about old memories or commenting recent events.

It was a repeat of the previous scene – or maybe, a second act.

And once again, just like that time, I didn’t want it to end.

“Hey, Claudia, I just finished a book while I waited for you.”

“Oh? I thought you took a long, refreshing nap at a cool 30 Celsius outside of direct sunlight?”

“Well I did that too, I’m sleep deprived, what can I do about it.”

“True… Guess you have to take any chance you get. So anyway. What is it about that book?”

“It was amazing. I wholeheartedly recommend it. But there was this one thing about them that doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Oh? What is it? … If you can tell without spoiling the whole thing, mind you.”

“Yeah, it’s just a nitpick… The book revolves around supernatural beings and how they’re embodiments of the characters’ trauma. But the existence of those impossible creatures and events is never denied outright. And for a book that’s supposedly about proving how all of these events are not actually supernatural in nature, that seems… off?”

“Hm, I see. Well, I haven’t read that book but, from what you’re saying, maybe you’re understanding it wrong?”

“Huh? As in?”

“I don’t know, James, I feel like there must be a reason for the author to give that contradicting message. An explanation. If there isn’t, you can’t really call the book a good book, can you?”

… She had a point.

I didn’t argue back, I had nothing.

Though I would surely have to reread the book again, paying more attention.

…

I took some time to appreciate the scenery we walked through.

The town was almost empty at this hour, with only the rare pedestrian walking by and a few cars intermittently interrupting the silence.

But even so, it didn’t feel empty. It didn’t feel dead. It felt… peaceful.

As if nothing could disturb these people going about their daily lives.

We walked along those streets, forming part of that wonderful atmosphere. At times we happily chatted, and at others, we stopped to admire the silence as we moved towards our destination.

Claudia had decided where it was that she wanted to talk to me, it seemed.

She kept leading the way, never doubting for an instant – and after a while, I was pretty confident that I knew where she was taking me.

Where the town ended and the view became one of nature, roads and factories-

There was this one place.

A place with a lot of memories shared between us two, and us alone.

An abandoned warehouse, left to rot by its owner - but also the perfect place for some alone time. We had come here countless times for that ever since we discovered it.

But when I saw it...

My heart sank, if even for an instant.

It seemed it was being demolished at last. Pieces of debris were scattered across the floor, and a few yellow signs marked the potential danger inside that place. If one wasn't careful enough... A massive rock could fall in your head.

But even so, we entered.

"I wanted to come and tell you here. It might be the last time we're able to come, after all..."

I understood, and agreed to her request.

But now I couldn't help but be on edge for whatever she wanted to tell me. She'd been dragging it out for far too long at this point.

And the building being in the state it was, we couldn't afford to stay there any longer than absolutely necessary.

Claudia led me inside, sat in the usual spot, and waited until I was in mine.

She still looked reluctant to speak.

Her eyes evaded mine.

I couldn't take it anymore, this was getting insane.

Her face was red.

I could sense her trembling.

And then, from what felt like out of nowhere-

She finally spoke.

"James... I love you."

...

What?!

I felt my face burn and my heart beat with massive strength.

Suddenly, I didn't want to even look in Claudia's direction. Or rather, I physically couldn't.

I couldn't focus on anything, my mind was a complete mess. I wasn't even aware of my surroundings anymore.

I... I...

But I had to reply.

I had to do it now.

...

"I... I do too."

And then nobody spoke.

I couldn't do it; I was too embarrassed.

I'm sure she was the same.

...

The time passed, in complete silence.

But eventually, the embarrassment wore off.

After all, if any of us said they didn't know of the other's feelings at all - it would certainly be a lie.

We've been together for years, as it happens.

We knew each other better than we knew anyone else in the world.

While before our eyes had evaded the other's, now they were drawn together as if by magnetic force.

We were alone. Nobody could see us.

No matter what we did, only the two of us would know.

...

Shortly after, we had become one.

Suddenly, all the feelings we'd harbored for years came to take control of our minds and bodies.

Our whole word was reduced to each other.

Nothing existed outside that could come between us two.

I didn't notice...

I didn't see...

And I made Claudia trip.

I made her trip, and she fell backwards.

I made her trip, and in the floor was a rock.

A piece of debris that had once been part of the wall-

It hit her head with a sharp edge, and she screamed in pain.

I fell and landed on my knees, my brain no longer registering what my senses told me was the truth.

What... had I done?!