Westering: Part Two [PlEaSe ReAd AlL]

by Claudia in for it

“Get the hell out!” he yelled. “We don’t want you in our town!” He cocked the gun along with the two other men. Skye took off down the street, Leif following close behind. They turned off instinctively at a playground and park, slipping down the back fence. Leif glanced back at the sun.

“We’re ahead, it’s okay.” Skye held her head in her hands.

“They’ve never…. Been like that…”

“I know,” Leif said. They unconsciously shifted away from the street, so all that was visible was their brown curls. Leif picked his bare feet off the ground and curled in a ball, his legs to his chest. It was a defensive stance, and he cupped his head between his knees, hiding his face. So no one could see that he was crying. Skye rubbed her eyes ferociously, looking up at the sky to blink back her tears.

“It’s okay, Leif,” she said in a strangled voice. “We’ll just keep following the sun, right? Nothing can stop us.”

~~~

When Leif woke up the next morning, the world was black. Next to him, Skye was folding her blanket, telling Leif to get up. He rubbed his eyes and tried to open them again. Nothing. A bad feeling was creeping over him, as once again he rubbed his eyes, and…. Opening them. Leif knew they were open, he could touch the milky-white of his eye.

“Skye…. Where are you?” Leif felt her immediately at his side.

“What? We have to get going, we won’t see the sun rise-“

“I… I can’t see the sun.”

“Of course you can’t, it isn’t up yet!”

“No…” He felt tears prick his non-eyes.

“Leif-“ He could here the panic etched into her face. “Leif, can you see me?”

He held his head down.

“No…” His voice cracked. Leif blinked and felt Skye move toward him.

“But….” Skye started. “Your eyes are open! You have to see, you have to…”

Leif could feel the cold, hard wood of the bench. He focused and the wood became softer to his touch. “Everything still works…” The rest of the sentence was unfinished: …but my eyes. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon, and the pair raised their heads to meet the warmth. They immediately grew quiet, creatures of habit.

Suddenly, yells came from across the park. Skye’s whole body went slack. She hastened a glance toward the yells. At this, Leif could feel her body tighten again.

“Look who it is.” A man’s call rang across the park. Leif went stick-straight. It was the men.

“It’s the little kids. Aren’t they cute.” The malice in his voice was unmistakable. “We’ve heard so much about you.” They were growing closer, that small group of four or five roughly sewn men. Skye grabbed Leif’s hand, ready to run. But they were faster than Skye or Leif expected, and soon had crossed the twenty-sum feet between them with large strides. Leif felt a finger graze his cheek, and he flinched and tried to hit it away- and missed. The man laughed a laugh that would make Spartans shiver.

“Having a bit of trouble?” Leif didn’t answer. Skye tightened her fists and looked determinedly at the sky. The man laughed again.

“Don’t expect any help.”