Alex read the newspaper today. Well, she read the obituaries. The librarian died. No. The librarian was killed. Set to flames in her own library. Alex didn't really know her, but she drank a cup of tea in her memory. The obituary said Edith E. Evans loved tea. So Alex had a cup of Earl Grey as Sam slept soundly on her couch.
Eventually he woke up and she showed him the paper. He was silent, but soon decided to walk down to the library. Alex joined him. They walked in silence through the streets that were so chaotic just the day before. The air smelt like burnt paper and Alex suddenly craved the smell of the ocean again. They arrived at the library.
There was a large crowd of people surrounding the pile of burnt knowledge. Every inhabitant of this demented town watched as the body of Edith E. Evans was pulled out of the rubble and put into the back of an ambulance. Sam didn't want Alex to watch. He didn't want to himself. The sight, however, was impossible to look away from.
Alex looked at Sam's saddened face and then at the crowd and what was left from the library. And then she made her decision. She would go back to her past life. She would tell Sam tomorrow and he could join her if he desired. But she had to go back. She had to be back on the sea. She had to go home.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
There can be only one Captain to a ship.
She was reading that book when she started hearing things. That damned book that she would rather burn than read, but was so bored she had no choice in the matter. It was either read Titanic or go crazy.
But now it seems that she'd gone crazy anyways. Because she could definitely hear people screaming. Alex threw her book across the room and watched it hit the wall and fall to the ground, a few pages falling out.
She stomped over to the window and yanked on the blinds, pulling them completely off the window. There were people running in the same direction. A LOT of people.
"What the hell?" Alex opened the window and yelled out to someone on the street, "whats going on?"
A guy yelled up to her, "someone's burning books by the library!" Alex was pretty sure his name was John Doestein...and she was pretty sure he was crazy, but she wanted to go check it out anyways.
The streets were chaotic. The entire neighborhood must have been walking towards the library. Alex pushed her way along the street and eventually saw the flames. A pile of books were on fire and there were people dancing around and drinking.
"I always knew everyone in this town was crazy" Alex muttered to herself and turned around to head back to her apartment. She was halfway there when she was pushed to the ground, but not before she saw him. Sam was on the ground just ahead of her, bleeding. Alex got up and quickly ran over and pushed people away from him. He was barely conscious.
"Sam! Sam! Are you okay??" Alex pulled him to his feet. "Come on, we have to get off the streets!"
She carried him all the way to her apartment. When they got there, she laid him on her couch and brought towels over to clean him up. He kept muttering to himself, but never seemed completely aware of what was happening. Sam eventually drifted off to sleep, but Alex never left his side. Even when the screaming died down outside and she started drifting off to sleep. She stayed on the floor beside the couch,kissed Sam on the cheek and fell asleep.
But now it seems that she'd gone crazy anyways. Because she could definitely hear people screaming. Alex threw her book across the room and watched it hit the wall and fall to the ground, a few pages falling out.
She stomped over to the window and yanked on the blinds, pulling them completely off the window. There were people running in the same direction. A LOT of people.
"What the hell?" Alex opened the window and yelled out to someone on the street, "whats going on?"
A guy yelled up to her, "someone's burning books by the library!" Alex was pretty sure his name was John Doestein...and she was pretty sure he was crazy, but she wanted to go check it out anyways.
The streets were chaotic. The entire neighborhood must have been walking towards the library. Alex pushed her way along the street and eventually saw the flames. A pile of books were on fire and there were people dancing around and drinking.
"I always knew everyone in this town was crazy" Alex muttered to herself and turned around to head back to her apartment. She was halfway there when she was pushed to the ground, but not before she saw him. Sam was on the ground just ahead of her, bleeding. Alex got up and quickly ran over and pushed people away from him. He was barely conscious.
"Sam! Sam! Are you okay??" Alex pulled him to his feet. "Come on, we have to get off the streets!"
She carried him all the way to her apartment. When they got there, she laid him on her couch and brought towels over to clean him up. He kept muttering to himself, but never seemed completely aware of what was happening. Sam eventually drifted off to sleep, but Alex never left his side. Even when the screaming died down outside and she started drifting off to sleep. She stayed on the floor beside the couch,kissed Sam on the cheek and fell asleep.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
"What is a ship but a prison?"
Alex jerked awake, pouring sweat, her heart pounding. Brief but vivid images ran through her head: an old ship, rain pounding on the deck, lightning striking, wood splitting, a male voice screaming, and then silence except for the thunder.
She couldn't go back to sleep; she didn't even consider trying. She rolled out of bed and looked out the window. It was still dark, 1:00 a.m. according to the clock on her dresser. She racked her brain for something to do, something that would be open at this time. She settled on the bar down the street and pulled on some clothes, grateful that the smell of ocean was finally fading off them. She locked her door behind her and set off down the hall, carefully avoiding all other tenants.
"What the hell?" Alex eyed the chicken on the sidewalk in front of her; it stared back.
Just when she thought this town couldn't get any stranger, a chicken shows up. A chicken that was staring. Its little, beady eyes seemed to be mocking her. The more she stared back, the more the chicken seemed to make fun of her. It joked about her appearance, her fears, her past, her loneliness. Her whole life was being made fun of by a chicken.
"FUCK OFF!" Alex yelled and stomped her feet, forcing the tears away.
The chicken backed up a little, but kept staring. Another chicken showed up and stared at Alex too. Now it was her turn to back up. She had to be crazy; thinking a chicken was mocking her. She had to be going insane. She blamed the town. This strange town was forcing her into insanity.
She walked around the chickens, far around, and heading into the bar. She sat by herself and ordered a rum and coke. And then, once she had finished her first one, she ordered another. And by the time the guy down the bar asked to buy her a drink, she was too tipsy to say no. She wouldn't remember this night: the dream, the chickens, or the nice guy at the bar. That was the point, really. She didn't want to remember anything. And by the time she stumbled back into her apartment early that morning, she had already forgotten.
She couldn't go back to sleep; she didn't even consider trying. She rolled out of bed and looked out the window. It was still dark, 1:00 a.m. according to the clock on her dresser. She racked her brain for something to do, something that would be open at this time. She settled on the bar down the street and pulled on some clothes, grateful that the smell of ocean was finally fading off them. She locked her door behind her and set off down the hall, carefully avoiding all other tenants.
"What the hell?" Alex eyed the chicken on the sidewalk in front of her; it stared back.
Just when she thought this town couldn't get any stranger, a chicken shows up. A chicken that was staring. Its little, beady eyes seemed to be mocking her. The more she stared back, the more the chicken seemed to make fun of her. It joked about her appearance, her fears, her past, her loneliness. Her whole life was being made fun of by a chicken.
"FUCK OFF!" Alex yelled and stomped her feet, forcing the tears away.
The chicken backed up a little, but kept staring. Another chicken showed up and stared at Alex too. Now it was her turn to back up. She had to be crazy; thinking a chicken was mocking her. She had to be going insane. She blamed the town. This strange town was forcing her into insanity.
She walked around the chickens, far around, and heading into the bar. She sat by herself and ordered a rum and coke. And then, once she had finished her first one, she ordered another. And by the time the guy down the bar asked to buy her a drink, she was too tipsy to say no. She wouldn't remember this night: the dream, the chickens, or the nice guy at the bar. That was the point, really. She didn't want to remember anything. And by the time she stumbled back into her apartment early that morning, she had already forgotten.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
"She walks the waters like a thing of life, And seems to dare the elements to strife"
She didn't run.
She did, however, walk really really fast. Her long legs never seemed to touch the ground as she made her way away from the carnival, away from the dreaded booths, and away from Sam.
Alex almost stopped and went back. She almost decided to walk up to Sam and hug him and laugh and say she was just kidding. She almost forgot everything. And she did stop. But she never turned around, never went back to Sam, and certainly never hugged him. But she did stop. She did consider.
She shook those strange thoughts from her head and tried to concentrate on walking back to Wilshire Tower, but her body froze soon after she started her journey. The weather had been dreary all day, which naturally made her nervous. Fortunately, however, it had not rained a drop while with Sam at the carnival. Alex knew she could never be so lucky. Thunder could be heard in the distance, and she knew rain would not be far off.
Alex saw the town's cop, Rocco Statone, drive by her looking bored, yet busy at the same time. She seriously considered asking for a ride back to the apartments, anything to stay dry. She probably would have, if he'd stopped. But he didn't. So she kept walking. And when the rain started coming down, and she starting wishing she had stayed home all day instead of going out with Sam, she ran.
She did, however, walk really really fast. Her long legs never seemed to touch the ground as she made her way away from the carnival, away from the dreaded booths, and away from Sam.
Alex almost stopped and went back. She almost decided to walk up to Sam and hug him and laugh and say she was just kidding. She almost forgot everything. And she did stop. But she never turned around, never went back to Sam, and certainly never hugged him. But she did stop. She did consider.
She shook those strange thoughts from her head and tried to concentrate on walking back to Wilshire Tower, but her body froze soon after she started her journey. The weather had been dreary all day, which naturally made her nervous. Fortunately, however, it had not rained a drop while with Sam at the carnival. Alex knew she could never be so lucky. Thunder could be heard in the distance, and she knew rain would not be far off.
Alex saw the town's cop, Rocco Statone, drive by her looking bored, yet busy at the same time. She seriously considered asking for a ride back to the apartments, anything to stay dry. She probably would have, if he'd stopped. But he didn't. So she kept walking. And when the rain started coming down, and she starting wishing she had stayed home all day instead of going out with Sam, she ran.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
"A Small Leak Can Sink A Great Ship"
Alex awoke to the sound of rain hitting her bedroom window and instantly became uneasy. She pulled her pillow around her ears and attempted to block out the desolate noise and fall back asleep. Although the rain now sounded miles away, it was still audible.
"Dammit!" She growled as she threw her blanket off and jumped out of bed.
While carefully avoiding looking out the window, she stomped off into the bathroom and splashed her face with ice cold water. The bathroom mirror was cracked in the upper left-hand corner, but her face was completely visible. Her dark brown hair hung limp around her broad shoulders. It was longer than it had ever been, reaching way past her shoulders. Her angular face was tan, but unhappy; her mouth seemed to be in a permanent frown and her would-be pretty green eyes looked too experienced, too lonely for her young age. At 28, she was anything but carefree and happy. Alex was a very edgy girl. Some people would even call her obsessive.
She shook thoughts of those people out of her head before she quickly pulled a brush through her long locks and brushed her teeth. Now with that out of the way, she went out into her small living room/kitchen area and stood, with her hands on her hips, looking around.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing to do in this place..." Alex frowned even more deeply and walked over to the table next to her couch. She yanked open its draw and found a tattered book inside.
Titanic. "You have got to be kidding me." Alex tossed the book back into the draw and slammed it shut.
She walked over to the small refrigerator and glanced inside, then opened the rest of the cabinets, closing each one after she looked in it.
"Nothing. At all. Fantastic." Alex sat heavily on the sofa and pretended not to hear the rain pounding on the sidewalk outside. Eventually, her growling stomach drowned out the rain and she was forced to go hunt for food.
She pulled on her dark green raincoat and stepped out into the hallway, slamming her door behind her. The "23" on her door swayed from side to side, but remained attached. She glanced in both directions before walking towards the main entrance of Wilshire Towers.
Before she made it out the door, however, she noticed a young boy wearing a rather large businessman's suit intently writing. She planned on sneaking past him, but he looked up from his clipboard as she eased open the front door.
"Can I help you Ms...?"
Her voice cracked as she spoke, "Alex....but everyone calls me Captain."
She inwardly scolded herself for letting that one slip. She was supposed to be starting a new life here, not trying to relive her old one.
"Alright, Captain." He smiled exposing a missing tooth. "Where are you going?"
"...I was going to get something to eat."
"You should go to Jorri Rae's. Just go left until you reach the end of the street, then take another left and it's on your right. They have really good waffles." He smiled again then went back to scribbling on his clipboard.
Alex slipped out of Wilshire Towers into the rain. Once again she took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to forget everything. Soon enough she found herself at Jorri Rae's ordering a waffle and forgetting about the rain.
"Dammit!" She growled as she threw her blanket off and jumped out of bed.
While carefully avoiding looking out the window, she stomped off into the bathroom and splashed her face with ice cold water. The bathroom mirror was cracked in the upper left-hand corner, but her face was completely visible. Her dark brown hair hung limp around her broad shoulders. It was longer than it had ever been, reaching way past her shoulders. Her angular face was tan, but unhappy; her mouth seemed to be in a permanent frown and her would-be pretty green eyes looked too experienced, too lonely for her young age. At 28, she was anything but carefree and happy. Alex was a very edgy girl. Some people would even call her obsessive.
She shook thoughts of those people out of her head before she quickly pulled a brush through her long locks and brushed her teeth. Now with that out of the way, she went out into her small living room/kitchen area and stood, with her hands on her hips, looking around.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing to do in this place..." Alex frowned even more deeply and walked over to the table next to her couch. She yanked open its draw and found a tattered book inside.
Titanic. "You have got to be kidding me." Alex tossed the book back into the draw and slammed it shut.
She walked over to the small refrigerator and glanced inside, then opened the rest of the cabinets, closing each one after she looked in it.
"Nothing. At all. Fantastic." Alex sat heavily on the sofa and pretended not to hear the rain pounding on the sidewalk outside. Eventually, her growling stomach drowned out the rain and she was forced to go hunt for food.
She pulled on her dark green raincoat and stepped out into the hallway, slamming her door behind her. The "23" on her door swayed from side to side, but remained attached. She glanced in both directions before walking towards the main entrance of Wilshire Towers.
Before she made it out the door, however, she noticed a young boy wearing a rather large businessman's suit intently writing. She planned on sneaking past him, but he looked up from his clipboard as she eased open the front door.
"Can I help you Ms...?"
Her voice cracked as she spoke, "Alex....but everyone calls me Captain."
She inwardly scolded herself for letting that one slip. She was supposed to be starting a new life here, not trying to relive her old one.
"Alright, Captain." He smiled exposing a missing tooth. "Where are you going?"
"...I was going to get something to eat."
"You should go to Jorri Rae's. Just go left until you reach the end of the street, then take another left and it's on your right. They have really good waffles." He smiled again then went back to scribbling on his clipboard.
Alex slipped out of Wilshire Towers into the rain. Once again she took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to forget everything. Soon enough she found herself at Jorri Rae's ordering a waffle and forgetting about the rain.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Walking the Plank
Alex slowly opened the door in front of her, holding her breath as she surveyed her new living quarters. After a rather long minute she deemed the small room acceptable, picked up her suitcase and stepped inside, closing the door firmly behind her and locking it.
There was a simple red couch, a wooden end table with a tall lamp on it, a worn out, dark blue rug, and a table opposite the couch where a tv set would supposedly go. She didn't sit on the couch to see if it was comfortable, or check the lamp to see if it actually worked, or even open the small draw on the end table to see what was in it; she simply dropped her suitcase and kneeled next to the dark blue rug.
Alex shook her head and muttered to herself while she swiftly rolled up the unwanted item and stowed it in a nearby closet, which was empty aside from a broom and dustpan.
"That's much better."
The way her voice broke through the silence in the room made her jump. She hadn't been expecting to be that loud, or to say anything at all. She was much more at ease in the silence nowadays.
"Speaking of silence, what is that damn noise?" she spoke in hushed tones this time.
Her eyes scanned the area the sound was coming from and landed on a dripping kitchen sink faucet. Her body noticeably tensed before she stomped over and halted the annoying noise.
She squeezed her eyes shut for a couple seconds before procuring her suitcase and, finally, going to unpack the few possessions she had left.
There was a simple red couch, a wooden end table with a tall lamp on it, a worn out, dark blue rug, and a table opposite the couch where a tv set would supposedly go. She didn't sit on the couch to see if it was comfortable, or check the lamp to see if it actually worked, or even open the small draw on the end table to see what was in it; she simply dropped her suitcase and kneeled next to the dark blue rug.
Alex shook her head and muttered to herself while she swiftly rolled up the unwanted item and stowed it in a nearby closet, which was empty aside from a broom and dustpan.
"That's much better."
The way her voice broke through the silence in the room made her jump. She hadn't been expecting to be that loud, or to say anything at all. She was much more at ease in the silence nowadays.
"Speaking of silence, what is that damn noise?" she spoke in hushed tones this time.
Her eyes scanned the area the sound was coming from and landed on a dripping kitchen sink faucet. Her body noticeably tensed before she stomped over and halted the annoying noise.
She squeezed her eyes shut for a couple seconds before procuring her suitcase and, finally, going to unpack the few possessions she had left.
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