Hell Notes
The Lady: Morning After4/9/2019 We are still alive. Can't believe it my self. I don't have enough fingers on my beaten limbs to count how many I was sure we are done for. Morning sun peaking through countless holes in our walls. Some of those large enough for stray dogs to squeeze through. All seem quiet enough for me to go out and at least get a glance at what state we are really in. It's bad, real bad. A fine battle it was, the whole house bears scars of it. Our makeshift fort looks like it was hit by some massive earthquake, or tsunami, or both. But the kid is OK, terrified but OK. And I'm still standing.
I have no idea what happened. How did everything turned on it's head overnight, and why I happened to stand in the wrong place and time to play hero no one asked for, in a war I have no chance of winning? Why do I protect this nobody's child, and from what? "Good morning!" Voice of the beast broke the silence, "Rough neighbourhood?" He was standing by the gates, all by him self. Mockingly smiling. So full of him self. Didn't even bother to bring any of his goons, so sure was this deceiver of his newly found power and authority, and of his impeding victory. "I see you shed your fur for a fancy new suit." "Why of course. I believe, a man of my status, should project appropriate image around him self, don't you agree?" "Your status?" "As you may have heard, I now run the whole town." "Almost." "Just a matter of time. Haven't you noticed, the town loves me. I am the wind of change they were craving for, the guiding light they were praying for. I'm in their hearts, minds, and even their dreams now. And they worship me, in many different names. Every single person but one.. I guess there is always that one stubborn goat, that just have go against the winds to his own peril." "Oh, you're such a sweet talker." "How's your sister feeling, hope all the changes around didn't cause too much distress for young lady?" "My sister?" "I was thinking the other day. How to define this relationship of yours, this connection. On the face of it, there is nothing really that should connect you two. No one in the whole world cares about her, hardly anyone even knows she exist. Every single soul around wouldn't even blink about any of this, everyone but you. An you just met her barely few days ago. And you. You have nothing to gain, nothing at all, and so much to lose. And yet.. Here you are. All alone. Discarded by all, but her. This strange bond between you two, there is no reasoning with it, is there? It's like family bond. Nothing else comes close. And so I settled on "sister", see?" "Why can't you just leave the kid alone, you already have the rest? She's just a child." "Child? I guess it's a matter of perspective. Where you see child, I see a fine young lady. And I believe you misread my intentions. Perhaps my initial approach didn't help on that regard either. But I assure you, I would treat her like princess, like a queen. And she will be one, a rightful Queen of this town. She is soul of this place. And what are we without a soul? Dead men walking, stuck in between, never able to find peace." "Oh, you mean without her, by your side, or locked in some basement more precisely, your kingship is only half-baked and your sleep is shallow?.." "I know you see monster in me, but I am very reasonable man. My offer is the best and, perhaps, the only way to end this misunderstanding with the least harm to everybody caught in this. I promise, no harm will ever come to her." "It's very reasonable offer. Makes perfect sense. And I can't find any good excuse to reject it.." "I'm glad we managed to reach some understanding." "But.. A fortune cookie told me this morning I should not make any important decisions today, and I'm terribly superstitious. Do you think, we could, possibly go over this deal some other day? Tomorrow? Oh, wait I have some other matters to attend tomorrow. But next week my schedule is mostly free, lets grab some beer and go over it again first thing Monday morning, how's that sound? "You know, I like you. It's truly shame we had to start on the wrong foot. If things were different, who knows, we might have ended up on the same, solid ground sharing beer and old stories. Oh, that reminds me. Don't you have a family of your own out there? It would be shame if something to happen to your own child, while you are here protecting child of no man. Don't get mixed up in your priorities, my friend." "Very solid advice. You should write a book." "I'll see you around." He walked away whistling, like a man who had all the time in the world. Shame I couldn't say the same about my self. We're out of time and out of options. The girl was sleeping on the floor in the corner of the last room with all four walls still standing. I guess that's it, we are all that's left. No way to win this, nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. Or is there?.. No, she is far too young to cross that bridge. It might damage her, or worse.. Maybe I'm over thinking it. Extreme circumstance demands extreme measures. "Hey kid, we are not doing very well here. And these walls are all on their last legs, can't shelter us here much longer. Help is not coming. We are all that's left. You get to choose, staying here and embracing the changes, maybe you won't be happy, but most likely alive. Or coming with me through the rift, chances of getting through alive and in one piece, about fifty fifty, optimistically, but if we are lucky, there is a happy place waiting for us. Which is it?" "With you!" "I'm not sure you really understand the risks, but be it as you wish."
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