Fallax

I could see it. The lake was not far from where I was. With every ounce of strength I ran until my body felt as though it were floating. The flash of light caught my peripheral, dogs yelled in the distance. Shouts and screams came behind them but I continued. I reached the lake, for a moment just for moment I looked behind and I could see it. I jumped into the lake swimming as fast as I could. The water tasted so bitter, my arms burned with exhaustion. That song. How I wished I could hear it. In this moment I wanted nothing more than to sink. To sink and to be forgotten. I emerged on the other side withered and broken. I again looked back to see it. I paused for a moment. Joy or was it fear? I would like to think it was calm that I felt for that brief moment. The lights, the shouts were fast approaching. I stole my resolve and continued into the forest.

I ran, I ran, I ran and I ran until the shouts became whispers and then I ran again. I ran until I saw a light. This time it was warm it glowed as though it were calling me. As if it wished to sing to me. As I came closer it embraced me. Smiled at me and said "you are home." My body became heavy, my vison blurred but the light held me in it's arms. I closed my eyes and felt absolute bliss.

I awoken moments later in a bedroom. The walls were wooden and brown. The sheets were made of cotton or wool but it felt like silk. My wounds were bandaged and cared for. The door opened and revealed pure beauty. Time became but a concept. God held his breath at what I witnessed. A woman, her skin golden brown, her lips supple and wet. Her breasts were firm and her eyes. They were innocent. She was holding a plate of food while she entered. Our eyes met and she became startled. She stepped back in surprise. She then regained her composure and with elegance she said.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"No, I, I was already awake." I replied.

"Good, you were covered in cuts and bruises. You need your rest if you are going to get better. My father, lord help him, said he would get some supplies from the store for you. Mostly antibiotic's but umm" She smiled and continued "I'm talking too much. but we never get any company way out here. So, here's some food if you get hungry. I will be right in the other room if you need me."

She placed the food on a nearby nightstand. She turned to leave the room but I called to her.

"Ma'am!"

She turned and our eyes met again.

"Thank you."

She smiled and closed the door behind her. As I laid there the room became filled with the smell of salts and spices. I could taste the food in the air. I gather my strength and ate every bite of the meal as tears strolled down my face. This truly was Elysium. After the feast I leaned back and began to rest again. In my ease my eyes toured the room. There was a window just next to my bed. The light from the moon warmed my cheeks. It must not have been too long. I looked into the forest and I could see it...and it could see me.

I once again gathered my strength and left the room. I walked through the hallway and into the Livingroom. There she was with a child in her arms. Rocking back and forth not even noticing I was there. She looked so beautiful. In that moment I wished I could hear that song. The front door opened and an old man stepped through it. He looked at me smiled and said

"Good you're awake. Thought we have to call the ambulance you slept any longer."

The woman raised her head and looked at me. Her brow wrinkled with frustration.

"Sir, you need to rest. You're hurt." She said.

"I know I just, I just needed to stretch my legs. Is that your son?" I replied

"Yes. We lost his father a few years back. He's eleven now but he still acts like a three year old."

I thought to myself "how trapped she must feel."

"He was a good man. You don't see too many like him anymore." Said the father .

"He's in a better place now" I replied.

Though they smiled and nodded I could their despair gripping their hearts. It moved me.

"Well, since you're up you can help me with the supplies I brought." Said the father

"Sure, I would love to. It would at least give me something to do." I replied.

I could hear it the home. The whispers. The sadness. It ached in the walls. It cried in the floors. This was not heaven but purgatory. We walked outside in front of the cabin. As I took my first steps out into the world I could see it. His truck was parked adjacent to the home. We walked over as he made small talk. I wish I could remember but it is lost to me. All I could remember was the hush of the forest. How I wish it sang to me. We unloaded the truck and brought back bags of supplies, food, medicine and the like. We finished rather quickly as I found my strength returning.

As I entered the home the boy awoke. Laughing and smiling with his mother. How precious, how true. He stopped for moment as our eyes locked. I smiled but he did not. He just looked at me. How strange that was. His mother noticed and with her blessed heart she said.

"Aden, don't be rude. Say hi."

"Hi." Aden said nervously.

"Hi Aden, it is nice to meet you."

He turned and jumped back into his mothers arms. Truly a remarkable boy. I went back into my room to rest before my journey continues. As quickly as I entered the father followed quickly behind.

"I wanted to talk to you about a few things. If you don't mind." He said.

"I don't mind" I replied

That was lie.

"How did you come by our cabin?"

I smiled for a moment. He believes he is a gradian and a protector. This frail old man. I obliged.

"I was hiking in the woods and got lost. I'm a little new to the area."

"I understand. Happens to the best of us. What happened to your gear?" He asked

"I lost that in the woods too. It was silly of me to hike alone."

"We're only human. It happens. Good thing is we found you before the coyotes got ya. " He laughed.

"Good thing indeed." I smiled.

"Well, of course your more than welcome to spend the night. First thing tomorrow I'll drive you into town and get you some help. The Sheriff is my brother so he owes me a thing or two. You get some sleep now."

"Thank you sir. For all your help." I replied.

He left the room and I thought "How awful." I left the room and found the home to silent. Everyone went to bed it seems. it was late. They were tired and needed peace. I decided then I would give it to them it's the least I could do. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. I walked into the father's room. He was just getting into bed. How sad. He turned to me and said.

"Can I help you?"

In that moment with all of my might I lunged at him with the knife. He raised his arms to defend himself but it was no use. I aimed for the stomach. He bled, cried and SCREAMED. The mother ran into the room and saw me. She was so beautiful I had to have her. She turned to run to Aden's room. I was not far behind. She grabbed the door handle and I stabbed her in the back. She fell to the floor and with it the door came open. Aden and my eyes once again fell upon each other. I again smiled and said.

"Hi Aden."

"Aden RUN!!!" She screamed.

I began to touch her, and kissing her. Oh how she sung to me and he sung to me as he witnessed me love her. Every inch of her I felt. Aden the smart boy ran out of the room. I let him go. I just wanted her. She tried to crawl away so I stabbed her again. She begged me to stop BUT I COULDN'T. I NEEDED TO HEAR HER SING!!!! A loud noise came from behind me. Blood fell from my head. My vison blurred. I could not hold my body. I fell next to her and looked back. Aden was holding a gun. That boy. That was a special boy. I wish I could have taught him like the others. I looked out a nearby window as the light began to fade and I could see it. That Owl. It's always there ready to take me. Ready to witness my atonement. It was my time I suppose. I could hear it. The walls, the forest. They all finally sung.

END