Noah was angry. No, angry was an understatement. He was absolutely furious. Wait, no, furious couldn't capture his emotions well enough either. He was at his breaking point, and the next sorry person who dared cross his path would undoubtedly die. Well, that explained most of his feelings.
He stormed down the sidewalk, uncaringly bumping to the elderly and those wheeling goods to be sold. He even knocked into a merchant table, scattering their earnings into the road where the dwellers scrambled to pick up at least a coin. Too busy plotting how to murder, he didn't realize how unlike him this was. Even in a foul mood, Noah would've helped them pick up their hard earned money. He would even give up some of his own to pay back for it. His anger blindsighted him in more than just his vision. His morales were in the backseat now, and only raw, unfiltered, dangerous emotions took the wheel of each thought and action. He was half way there now. He underestimated how large the village was, and realized during a brief period of clarity that he couldn't speed walk the entire way there. If he did, he would look more flustered in sweat than in terrifying anger. Surprisingly, he slowed down to a normal pace. His anger was recharging for when he did get to the poor fellow who had a death wish. He looked to his left to see a pub across the cart pathway. 'Numbing the senses is a good idea...' He thought, chuckling quietly as he thought of the many days that flew by him because of this mentality. Only Noah couldn't tell if he wanted to numb himself, or if he just needed a drink.
Crossing the cows and carts, he made his way into the pub. The smell of bread and happiness plagued his nostrils as he looked around. Laughter was all he heard and smiles lit up the room more than the natural sunlight which seemed to be setting. He tried not to bump into too many drunk patrons as he made his way to the bar. Sitting down, he called the bartender over, trying to look as closed and disinterested as he could. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally open up and have his soul die for the hundredth time. The bartender was an attractive, young man whose eyes still held their youthful spark. He grabbed a beer from beneath the counter and slid it over to Noah. He opened it, drinking without looking up. Until the bartender opened his mouth did Noah even dare to glance upwards.
"Holy mother of shit, Noey?!" The man spoke, flabbergasted as if he saw a dead man walking, which wasn't so far from the truth.
Noah's head bolted upright at the sound of that nickname. The only people who knew how much that nickname bugged him was his beloved, and his annoyingly funny best friend. His best friend died.
"Allister? Is that you?" He pointed the beer bottle at him, eyebrows touching in confusion. "I swear you died when..."
"When I got into that fight with the wendigo? Yeah, me too, but he only took my leg. I crawled out of the cave half dead, but then a fae revealed herself to me and stopped the bleeding! Can you believe that?" He hobbled out from behind the bar, pulling up his pant leg to reveal a bit of a wooden prosthetic. They both burst out laughing, attracting the attention of other patrons.
"Oh my god, I cannot believe this, any of this. You're alive and Valerie still runs the shop and everyone seems so...normal." He took another drag of his beer, glancing to his left. Everyone was staring at him like he had raised the dead and was using it to dominate the world. Their laughter slowly morphed to whispers and the lively attitude was dimming. He shrugged, turning his attention back to his only friend.
"Well, you haven't been here in forever. Things change y'know." He poured two glasses of vodka and mixed berry juice, handing one to Noah. "C'mon, just like old times, remember when we snuck into the back of the bar and drank an entire bottle of wine? We were only sixteen. I threw up for a week after that." They both laughed as they took the shot. He poured him another, then another as they reminisced on memories which seemed so long ago. The other patrons went almost silent on Noah's fifth shot. Allister took no notice of it, though. It was if they were in their own little world.
"Allister, Allister, you forget why I left. I was going to the academy! I had finally got accepted, and it was when you suffered the accident." Noah spoke with ease now, either because he was drunk, or because he actually felt comfortable with somebody.
"Oh, right, to get a libral arts degree and move back to the village? Psh-shaw. You should've come adventuring with me!" Allister poured another drink for Noah, none for himself, but Noah was too invested in Allister to care. He waved off the next drink, remembering why he came into town in the first place.
"Look where that adventure got you now." He looked out the window, the sunlight slowing falling behind the numerous stories and homes. "What time is it? I've been here far too long." Noah got up, but Allister gripped his arm before he could escape. His upbeat, loud demeanor quickly morphed into a cold, dead expression. His skin looked as if it was embalmed. His eyes were dead. Grip cold. His once warm smile looked forced.
"C'mon, Noey, not even gonna say goodbye? You didn't last time. It's been eating away at you, hasn't it? All those days wasted trying to go back. All those vials consumed." His smile widened as Noah's expression faltered. "At least say goodbye."
Noah was so confused, and slightly fearful for what his once close friend has become. "Allister, please, this isn't goodbye. I'll visit more. I'm sorry for not speaking to you, but there's just some things I can't explain right now." He rested his own hand on his cold grip, slightly pushing it off. The grip only tightened. "Please let go." His voice was fake stern.
"Say goodbye, old friend. Say goodbye. Say goodbye. Say goodbye." Allister dryly laughed, amused at his friend's expressions. "C'mon, what are you a chicken? Say goodbye!"
Noah shoved Allister's hand off him, stumbling out of his stool. The other bar patrons looked just as scared as he was. One old woman left her seat, speaking gently to him.
"Honey, are you alright?" She kept her distance, as if she would catch something.
"No!" He practically yelled. "My old friend is absolutely mad!"
The women smiled, getting a little closer. "Sweetie, there's no one there."
"What?"
The women continued, her friends getting up as well. "You've been speaking to nobody ever since you got here. How much have you had to drink? Do you need the doctor? You were very invested in that...conversation." She held a hand out to him, with a condescending smile. "C'mon, I'll take you to Dr. Cortez."
Noah's world has fully collapsed on him. The pillars that supported him were falling apart, the foundation crumbling. His perfect mastery of expression was chipping, raw emotions took over. He smacked the woman's hand away, looking back to where his friend was. He was still there, smiling, enjoying the show. He pointed to him desperately.
"No, no, no, no. He's right there! Allister, vouch for me! You're here! You're real! You're real." He choked the last part, ready to either fight or cry. Allister spoke, but only Noah heard.
"If you only said goodbye, tsk tsk. You were always so stubborn." He manically laughed, shaking his head. "Now everyone knows you're mad. Absolutely. Mad. Have fun in the asylum, old friend."
The woman took a step back, her husband standing. The patrons had gone completely silent, fearful of the madman making up friends. Noah lost it.
"I'm not insane! Please, he's there! He's there!" Some of the men had arisen from their seats with pitiful expression. They were bigger than him, ready to apprehend the madman out of good intentions. He sprinted out from the pub, the men on his tail. He led them deeper into the nighttime crowd, weaving and turning. Ducking into a nearby open door, the men sprinted past him, yelling. He waited a moment before standing up, checking his surroundings. The room he was in looked homey. Warm. His spirits lifted as he walked out of the room and checked the sign that hung over the majority of the building. He broke out laughing as he read the sign over and over again in his head.
Moonglow Inn.
YOU ARE READING
All I Have Are the Stars
Fantasy"'I tell the stars about you' Ashlynn broke the silence after they had both been staring at the sky for an ungodly amount of time." Nothing has ever gone right for Noah, it never has. The only time he's had hope was when Ashlynn, his beloved, was st...
