4 – The Park (OLD)

Disclaimer
The likeness of Michael Kramer is used in this project through AI-generated technology. Please note that Michael Kramer did not record any audio for this content, and his voice is not being used for any monetary gain. The rights to Michael Kramer’s voice and likeness do not belong to Redmatter Creations. Furthermore, the voice and likeness of Michael Kramer will not be used in the final product.

If there wasn’t a degree extra of rotation, we could stand in one place for eternity without ever leaving the sun’s warmth

From the Journal of Azura Seren. -Turseno section, 28th rotation

I wake up on the floor of my bedroom. I tried to sleep in my bed last night and spent hours rolling, adjusting, tossing, and turning, trying to get comfortable. I don’t even remember when I decided to just sleep on the ground. After all, that is what I am used to. I feel for my eye mask and notice that I hadn’t put it on. The roof over my head provides enough darkness that I didn’t need it. 

I pick myself up from the floor and exit my room. I begin to head outside to take a leak when the woman rounds the corner of the bathroom. We collide into eachother and we both stumble backwards.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” She says frantically, avoiding my eyes. Her hair is messed up and her clothes are still dischevled. She looks to be in a better shape than yesterday, despite the scar on her neck. “I hope its okay I used your bathroom.”

“Oh—” I stammer, unsure what to say, “No, it’s okay. Do what you need to do.” She stumbles into the bedroom, my parent’s room, and closes the door. I don’t know why she didn’t just go outside like a normal person.

When I am outside, I notice a ton of bodies laying on the ground near the tree. I guess many others shared the same discomfort I had with my bed as they did theirs. It’s going to take a while to become acustomed to our new sleeping options. I veer around my house into the alleyway and relieve myself into some bushes. That was the first time I heard that woman say something. At least she didn’t sneak out the window and run off. 

When I am finished, I notice a bright red valve on the side of my house. Curiously, I twist it and I hear a hiss. The sudden noise startles me and I check my surroundings. I’d be out of luck if I get attacked. I’m completely unarmed. I continue twisting the valve and the hissing subsides. What did that even do?

I decide to leave it and come back later. I have a few things I need to do first. I make my way to one of the wagons, being sure not to wake any one up. Our storage wagon stands out from our residential wagons. You wouldn’t want to interrupt someone sleeping if you just needed a smoker. I move the curtains of the wagon over and climb in. It’s dim inside but the light still diffuses through the cloth. Many of the seamstresses leave extra clothes in here incase they need it.

I pop open the lid of a chest containing clothes for women. It feels wrong and my hand brushes up against some underwear while I dig around. I pull out an article of clothing by the shoulders—a blouse with a floral design. I continue to dig  and find leggings to go with it. Hopefully these are the right size. I’m not a fashion expert, but this will do for now. 

I shut the lid and exit the tented wagon. I reflexively squint from the sun’s light and trek back to my house.

“What’re you doing up this early?” It’s Oberon’s voice. He is sitting on the same curb we sat at the night previous.

“I’m always up this early. I could ask the same thing about you.” I reply, holding the clothes over my arm.

“Couldn’t sleep,” He says, fidgeting with something in his hands. “Playing dress up?” He teases halfheartedly.

Something seems off about him. I don’t know if it is because he is just tired or if something is bothering him. “The woman we found needs some new clothes, so I wanted to bring her some.”

“Thats nice of you.” He says smiling slightly. The thing in his hand is the rock that he found for Brena. He rubs his thumb over the smooth surface. “Many Passings spent sleeping on the ground makes it impossible t’sleep on anything else. Dolora and Brena love the beds though. Dolora says it reminds her of the maternity wagons.”

As men, we would never know what it is like to sleep in the maternity wagons. “I slept on the ground.” I tell him. “I don’t even remember how I got there.” He chuckles at that.

“I’ll probably do some exploring later if you’d like t’come with,” He says. “Gotta stretch my legs a little.”

“Yeah, absolutely. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.” I say before continuing back to my house.

When I arrive, the woman’s door is still closed. I don’t want to barge in, in case she is undressed. “Hey, I have some clothes for you if you wanted something else to wear,” I say into the closed door. I wait for a moment. Is she even in there? I almost set the clothes in front of the door before it clicks open.

Her pained eyes connect with mine and I pass the clothes over to her. She accepts the clothes and holds them tight, still keeping eye contact. I have to look down at her since she is considerably shorter than me.

“Thank you,” She mutters. Her other hand begins to close the door.

“Wait,” I interject. “I never got your name.”

There’s another awkward delay before she speaks,  “Lyria.” and closes the door.

***

Oberon sits in the same place I left him, still fidgeting with his rock. He stands up when he notices me approach. “You ready?” he asks. We  had the same idea since we were both carrying our crossbows. I don’t think we are going run into anything threatening, but we both tended to err on the side of safety.

If we leave, The Brightest would have two fewer defenders if a raider group attacks. Although, raiders don’t tend to travel this far ahead. Oberon and I know how to use a crossbow efficiently, but neither has ever killed anyone. I hope we can keep it that way.

“Sneaking off together again without telling your wife, Obe?” A snotty voice says from behind. Mattias. 

Oberon closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He is about to say something but I speak up first. “It really isn’t your business. We are just scouting the area. That’s all.”

Mattias scoffs. “Right. You think people haven’t noticed you two sneaking off? People are starting to get suspicious of you two. Some think you are being unfaithful to your poor wife.” He crosses his arms smugly and thers a hint of a grin on his face.

Oberon fumes. He speaks before I can stop him, “You better choose your next words very carefully.” He squeezes his fists hard.

“Or what? Do you not want people to think you two are lovers?”

“I don’t want people to think I’m cheating on my wife. The smartest thing you can do is shut your mouth and leave.” Oberon threatens. He is probably twice Mattias’ weight and can be very intimidating. Mattias is unphased.

“Well maybe stop cheating on your wife.” Mattias gives a slight smirk, as if gloating that ‘he won’ this fight. He spins on his heel and struts back toward the wagons.

Oberon remains silent. He brings his hands up and his palms are bloody. His fingernails had punctured his palms.

“Come on, Obe. Let’s go” I press.

“I want t’ruin his life.” Oberon murmurs. “I want him t’be demoted from his position as the butcher. I want t’destroy any chance he gets with a woman. I want him t’lose any meaning or purpose in life, ‘til he is a sad, and empty shell of a person.”

I choose a direction and start walking. He continues to complain about Mattias and I let him rant. He just needs to get it out. I just wish he could keep his mouth shut. Both of them.

The trees in the little town bloom as the air starts to get warmer. Its a miracle that they can survive the harsh nineteen-passing long winter. Many of the trees stand infront of decaying homes. They are tall, but none compare to the central willow tree.

Something about the willow seems ominous, compared to the other trees. Being underneath its drooping leaves feels warm and welcoming, a type that you feel deep inside your core.

Our shoes tap lightly on the concrete as we explore Hollyard. We pass a park with an open field stretching hundreds of feet across. Its deteriorated playground seems more dangerous than fun.

Oberon seems in a slightly better mood when he says, “Brena would like this.”

“I don’t think you should let her on the playground though,” I say cautiously. My footsteps crunch on the woodchips as I approach one of the slides. I put a small amount of weight on it with my hand and the slide splits in half, crashing to the ground.

Oberon’s eyes showed defeat. “I dunno what his deal is.” It takes me a moment to realize he is talking about Mattias. “Why is he so bent on being such a jerk?” I stay silent and let him vent again. “He only picks on us. I don’t see him picking on anyone else in the group.”

He puts his palms against his eyes. I know him well enough to know he isn’t crying. Unexpectedly, Oberon yells as loud as he can. We are far enough away from the camp that they couldn’t hear him. He just needs to get it out.

When he is done yelling, he looks up at me. His face is red from his palms.

“Better?” I ask.

He nods his head—before an arrow impales him in the back.