The Apple In The Sand Box

He stared at her, watching from across the room. She danced alone in the dark, like she always did on days such as these. Outside the dirty window dark clouds swam slowly to the right. Gray light filtered in between the cracks making everything seem grainy.

She raised her right hand in the air as if she had caught something floating. Her left hand flowing gracefully to her side. She spun in circles, doing pirouettes around the room slow then fast and faster. Then she stopped abruptly in front of him, a smile on her face. Her chest rose and fell, catching her breath.

She reached out her hand and he took it.

"We have to go now," he hated saying those words to her.

Her gaze fell and her handgrip loosened in his, it happened every time.

Carefully he opened the old metal door and peeked around the corridor. Slowly he took her down the dirty hallway quickly passing shut doors. If you paid close enough attention you could hear people whisper.

Outside there was a tangle of people. The sky a massive cloud of gray and purple. The streets were crowded everyone in a hurry to find shelter of some sort. Quickly they made their way under white wood stairs. People started to thin out and once it was clear enough they crossed the square to a two-story house.

The door swung open quickly letting them in. They hurried and locked all the doors and shut all the windows. Meanwhile outside a large wagon rode into the center of the square. Thunder boomed and lighting struck a flash of purple covering them all.

The door at the back of the wagon swung open and creatures dressed much like people emerged. They danced around the square and fire seemed to rise around them. Everything seemed devoid of sound yet they continued on.

Inside people watched in fascination and in fear, but not her. Her hands were pressed against the slowly fogging glass, just watching.

"Dante make her stop."

"She'll lead them right to us."

Dante moved closer to his sister and placed his hand over hers. Her icy cold fingers never left the window as she turned to stare blankly at her brother.

He was never quite sure what to do. He knew that eventually it was going to happen they'd find her, or worse yet, she'd find them. Then he'd never see her again. At least not as she use to be.

"Merina, it's time to sleep."

She turned to face her brother, but her gaze drifted to the window, "They'll be gone by morning."

"Yes."

She sighed and reluctantly followed her brother.

Sleep never came easy, his sister was always restless. Sometimes she woke up screaming, other times she'd come running to the door, practically swinging it off it's hinges.

It was already three a.m. and he had heard no sound from behind the door. Heard no sound from that door.

Her eyes opened and came to the realization that she was running. The sky was an odd sea green and fog covered her bare feet. There was however a light in the distance. She knew that wherever that light was, was where she needed to be. So she continued running.

It seemed the closer she got to the light, the smaller it became. Once she reached it the light was still brightly burning, but only the size of a speck of dust. She carefully picked it up and it rolled into her right palm then became brighter and sank into her skin.

She remembered that feeling, warm and comforting and hard to pull yourself away from. It was love a love like only those who were like her could understand. She reached for it constantly, but her brother was always unknowingly holding it just out of her grasp.

Around her an orange hue began to flow and her surrounding became lit, it was them…

She smiled.

Dante opened his eyes, he hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep. He yawned and stretched out. His eyes widened. Usually everyone would be outside once day broke, but for some reason they all stood in front of the window down the hall. Just staring into the square.

One of the older women turned to him, "Dante, I'm so sorry."

"It was bound to happen," said the younger man by her side.

"Oh, Dante. It's for the best, you just, have to let it go."

His eyes widened and he ran over to the window, "Oh God."

He bolted from the window, practically falling down the stairs in a rush to get outside. To her. Nothing else would matter after today. Not the people he spoke to, the one he use to protect, all for her sake…..

He flung the front door open and ran across the square to her.

There she lay, not a scratch on her pale yet somehow strangled looking body. He knew that there would always be on intermittent reminder of his failure as both a brother and a friend. But at least now she'd get to dance wherever she wanted.

God how he hated The Parade.