History in the Making - Part 32

Post date: May 18, 2016 10:48:09 AM

This looks like the place that he so fondly described as the "warden's resting place". Apartment 1F of the second building down the street if I'm not mistaken...

I left Felicia outside standing guard but not directly in the entrance. I don't wanna be that obvious nor do I want to expose her to unnecessary possible risk!...

I embrace the idea that the building could collapse at any given time without warning or time to react and decided to go up to the first floor. But before I could get there, I had to deal with a mildly strong earth quake while still in the stairs.

The first thing that occurs to me is that a new wave of meteors is arriving and striking the earth just like before, but as I, somehow, got to the first floor stairs' window, I clearly understood that it was just an earthquake... Just... Still scared the crap out of me!

I put myself together as I turned to the corridor of doors analysing each and every single one of them. The last door was without identification but the mark of the metal card is still visible and perceptible as it leaves like a stamp of an 'F'. There was no visible sign of presence just small footsteps was audible and closing in until the door lock completely broke the silence and opened. There, we stood still for a couple of long seconds before the silence was broken...

- Hi! - And the silence was back again, but this time I was being analysed somehow albeit that didn't stopped me from continuing. - I'm glad I'm at the right place and more fortunate so to have found you still here...

After a bit longer, she gesture me to enter pointing initially to a nearby chair but then, to a closed room near the entrance door. It was the living room. All things considered, it's pretty ok. We both sit in different couches at different ends of the room and she started.

- I believe I know why you're here but I need to you to tell me anyways. So... go ahead!

Her eyes were already ready to overflow but I had a duty and a promise to keep. I picked up my jacket and took out the old man's photo. Looked at it, and gently put it in a cracked little table in from of her. Immediately recognizing it, she shut her eyes and a big tear dropped into her lap...

I looked around trying not to tear myself apart and to gain strength to what I'm about to tell...

The room is mostly standing but it has some deep holes in the outer wall and floor. What looks like the remains of a big table are way back against the furthest wall. The rest remains with only cracks and holes but a lot of broken glass dust lingers all over the floor.

I got up and started to walk towards the near window...

- Stop! - She ordered. - That area is very unsafe. Below is completely obliterated! - A pause was made... - Sit! Just tell me!

As instructed, I went back to my previous spot and started slowly...

- Like you've already guessed... He is no longer amongst us... He... He died while resting so I don't think he suffered much. - I stopped for a moment to contain myself... - After all this... 'destruction' started, I've found him just outside, still near our workplace, passed out cold. I've woke him up and we helped each other get into the nearest and closest place we could find and think of. Once in there, we've found some people and one of them had medical skills. He had been knocked out by something so we asked for help but it seamed like his lung were also affected somehow, and we couldn't get him into a hospital... Eventually he was able to fell asleep but never woke up... I'm... so Sorry!

A big tear fall on my lap from each of my eyes and I rushed to immediately stop the flow... She, while very observant, already knew what to expect earlier, as soon as she had gazed upon me without him. My guess would be that she's here only because of the possibility of him returning here like a rendez-vous place of sorts. Now, it was clear that maybe it was a waste of time... While still hiding her face, she broke the little silence that since came between us...

- Thanks for being thorough! I must admit that it surprises me that you came all the way here for giving me this picture and telling me about his last adventure. I've always looked badly to people of the likes of yourself... Young... Impulsive... Controlling... I always feared that it would rub off on my dad and it would get him into trouble or worst...

- I'm sorry to disappoint right of the bat without even really knowing me, but we were always actually more like healthy listeners to each other, much like those shrinks you find around every corner minus the expensive hourly pay. - Paused for a moment... - Let me be clear that we were in no way, drinking buddies! We listened to each other, commented, advised, laughed... I suppose one can even say we were friends without even realizing it! Let's leave it at that!

Looking at my straight face, she eventually started laughing out loud with no sings of stopping... I find that a tad ridiculous but didn't say a word. In fact, almost didn't even moved a muscle. Every person has their own way of coping with pain, and that could be hers. After a little while she started to stop...

- Ok... Look... I meant no disrespect. I'm just a straight shooter with a big mouth, a noisy way of being and a tendency to be picky. Pay no heed to all of it. - Safekeeping the photo... - What are your plans now?

- Excuse me? - As I asked myself why would she want to know.

- Obviously, you're a planner! A person that tends to make plans for each step they take even if they are mostly abstract. Am I wrong? Besides, as crazy as my father always was with his romantic vision on life, he was usually right about somebody... And he, more than once, told me about you and that you're trustworthy. Also, he mentioned that if I ever needed help, most likely, you could and would help.

Saying that, she left the room... From were she'd went, the sound of a lot of drawers opening and closing repeatedly was being made. She's either looking for something or something of the sorts...

I was left standing there with her words echoing, and I realise that maybe people look at me, simply, like a helping hand and nothing else. Maybe a discardable one... I may be wrong about this but it makes sense...Some of that people that gets near me, do so by wanting something from me, that it's not me or my company, and then just steps away once they've obtained it. Yeah... that looks like a description that fits most of my life!... Not that I haven't noticed before... It's just that... Well...

- You're thinking about what I said, aren't ya? Daddy warned me about that... - I looked at her peaking from the entrance, but remained in silence. She, then, stand in front of the door sorting through some papers, and then, with the lack of my reaction she twisted her mouth and went away... - You look like you have a purpose, but... Why don't you stay for the night?

- ...I left... a friend downstairs. I... We should get going. You can come with us if you want. You've learned about the gathering announced over the radio? We're heading there now... - I finallld...

A long moment of silence was made followed by the same secondary noises previously being made.

- You sound... Busy! Can I help you with anything? - I tried to lighten the air but no reply was heard. - Do you wanna come with us?

- Can you come here, please? - I stepped away from the living room, crossed the hall and entered the room from where the voice was coming. - I need help carrying this... And... If you trust your friend, then I'll go with you! Just... tomorrow!

I instinctively smiled slightly as I heard that at the same time I've entered the room from where all the previous commotion was... Actually, there was only less than half of it left. Most of it is completely destroyed and quite literally open to the outside. The previously small marks of destruction found here and there, were all but invisible in that room. It was almost like I was near some collapsed building that I previously pass through. On the only remaining wall, a giant closet of drawers and the entrance... No door though. The floor was cracked and scary everywhere you look but she moved over it swiftly and with confidence.

- From the outside and given the circumstances, I'd say that this place was spared from devastation but I see that it is a fool's idea. - I confess.

- Yeah, you could say that! And I'm right in the frontier! What better view could I ever ask for? Right? - She said sarcastically but continued... - I'm hoping to make a great sale! Know anybody interested?

That caught my by surprise but not as much as the floor cracked suddenly and severely under her forcing me to grab and pull her inwards.

- Maybe you should do some repairs first! You know... Just the essentials... Floors... Walls.... Ceilings... What do you say?

Somehow she got intrigued by my response and I started to feel awkward. Nonetheless...

- Sure. I'm ready to go! But I still think we should go tomorrow and rest for the day. - She insisted while analysing me.

- Look, my friend is a dog. I don't know if it's a good idea to bring her here even if for the night...

She laughed hard again...

- What?! She's probably gonna poop all over the recked apartment? Oh big woop! ... I'm never gonna get those stains off! What will I do? - She continued her sarcastic remarks.

I couldn't help but wonder... "I'm an idiot!"

- Okay... I'm gonna get her. Be right back! - I said as I turned around to leave. At the entrance, I stopped and without turning around while looking down... - Thank you!

I left the building with no rush and started to call for Felicia. By the second call with getting a reaction from nowhere I started to worry... As I turned, there she was like a good girl right behind me. I sigh in releaf and exasperated all the sudden worries. I never had children of my own or even a dog as a pet, but somehow I feel very protective.

- Come on. We're gonna sleep indoors today and with a nice person nonethes!

She sprang up and instantly got ready...

- Be nice! - I quip.

As we got inside the apartment she petrified for a moment.. I'm fact, both of them did as they gazed upon each other. That lasted long as they ended up embraced between themselves.

- Traitor! - I said while smiling at the situation. - Her name is Felicia. - I promptly informed.

- Felicia... - She digested the name. - Yes! I liked that. - She declared. - I'm Donna! Nice to meet you! - Then, turning to me... - You sleep where we talked earlier and Felicia sleeps with me... If you don't mind that!

- No, it's fine!

It was starting to get really dark and it's best if we use the night to rest so I got myself as comfortable as I could get and just lied there.

'What's going on with the world?', 'Why isn't any help coming?', 'What is the right thing to do now?'... All these questions haunted me until I fell asleep.