Arnold's Adventure: A Life On Earth

Chapter 11: Swept Away

Four weeks had passed since the funeral and Arnold had slowly been recovering from his father's death. He now no longer sat down remembering that is father was gone, but rather that his father lived a beautiful life. Grief was beginning to lift from his shoulders.

Adrian had told Arnold that he is working on a song in the studio he thought was going to be a hit and so he had to come home late for a few weeks.

Arnold sat on the sofa quietly while reading an old book on how the ancient civilizations lived.
Apparently civilization then had tall buildings and something about a global warmth.
Arnold wasn't really following along to the book as his mind kept drifting off to swirling patterns for designs.

Adrian shook Arnold awake.
Arnold noticed that he was laying on the couch. He must've drifted to sleep.
Adrian saw the tired look in Arnold's eyes and lifted Arnold over to his bed and set him down before coming into the bed himself.
Arnold felt the warmth of Adrian's body around him. Slowly Arnold drifted back to sleep.

"you need to stop waiting up for me." Adrian said to Arnold with a stern look.
"you're beginning to lose sleep by doing so."
"i'm fine." Arnold replied hastily.
Arnold knew he was anything but. While Adrian was at work he had nothing to do especially since he only needed to work once a week now.
He had no one to keep him company anymore.
Adrian sat beside Arnold, his hand wrapped around Arnold's back.
"We both know that's not true" Adrian replied.
"without anything to do or anyone to talk to, it gets lonely in here" Arnold confessed.
Adrian looked down at Arnold realising that his lover was still going through pain.
"don't worry, I've only got two more days of overtime." he reassured.
Arnold nodded silently and hugged Adrian.
Arnold knew that he only had to wait two more days. But two days now seemed like a lifetime.

Adrian was at work again and Arnold was sat reading his book again.
Arnold had learned a lot about humans and how they lived a thousand years ago.
They lived in "modern houses" however the variety and design ranged from different countries.
They were actually trying to stop pollution and global warming. Something Arnold did not know. He had always thought that humanity has no care for global warming so long ago but it turns out they had.

Adrian walked in through the door wearing the new white wooly scarf Arnold had made for him.
He sat himself down beside Arnold and smiled gently.
"I just finished my song"
He said softly
Arnold looked up at Adrian happily
"So you'll be home earlier now?"
He asked eagerly
Adrian nodded and smiled gently at Arnold.
He then stood up and proceeded to turn the music cube on before selecting the song called we'll meet again, which was the song that played on Arnold and Adrian's first date.
Adrian then proceed to walk up to Arnold and held out his hand.
Arnold looked up and felt joy sweep over him as he grasped Adrian's hand and the began slowly dancing around the room. Their steps perfectly in synch with each other. Arnold looked up into Adrian's eyes as they danced and Arnold's swarming thoughts faded away as a warm reassuring feeling swept over him. "I love you so much" Arnold said softly
"And I love and adore you so much" Adrian replied.

Arnold woke up expecting to be alone in bed with Adrian at work, however he found himself being hugged from behind by Adrian. Arnold smiled and thought to himself "What did I do to deserve you".
Arnold relaxed and enjoyed the moment in bed with Adrian for the first time in weeks.
About thirty minutes had past before Adrian started to wake.
Adrian suddenly tapped Arnold's shoulder before saying "wake up beautiful".
Arnold turned around and kissed Adrian passionately.
Adrian smiled softly back at Arnold while blushing intensely.
It seemed that Adrian soon got himself together because he got out of bed and began to make them both breakfast.
While they were eating breakfast
"Arnold, I'm going to head over to the music department to get something after breakfast. Wanna come with me?"
Arnold agreed to go with Adrian.
It'd been a while since Arnold had left his home after all.

After they finished their food they opened the door to see clear skies and sun shining down on the earth around them. No fog in sight.
Everyone was stood along the streets just gazing up at the clear skies.
"wow" exclaimed Adrian. "I don't think I've ever seen a day on earth where the weather was this good and the skies so clear."
Arnold was staring at the sky in amazement. The nice perfect heat shone down on them.
Arnold looked to his right, where Adrian was standing, only to see Adrian smiling lovingly at him.
Arnold gently smiled back and blushed slightly.
Adrian took Arnold's hand and guided him to the music base.
Birds flew overhead. The first time Arnold had seen birds on earth.
They chirped peacefully and filled the sky with happiness.

Arnold followed Adrian into the music department. They were both smiling happily.
The walls were looked all cushion like. And the roof had neon lights in a star shaped Patten.
Adrian told Arnold to wait here while he went to fetch something.
Arnold noticed quiet music playing in the background. The current tune playing had a soft of synth and modern romance vibe.
Arnold sat down on the nearby sofa.
It was decently comfortable. Ever so slightly bumpy but still decent.
Adrian came back a few minutes later with a smile on his face.
He was wearing a large black backpack now.
"come on let's go" he said cheerfully as he outstretched his hand to Arnold.
Arnold took Adrian's hand into his own and felt a warm fuzzy feeling wash over him.
Adrian guided Arnold back outside when Arnold remembered something he was working on in the fashion department.
“Hey Adrian, I'm just going to get something from the fashion department”
“Ok, I'll wait here” Adrian replied gently.
Arnold ran into the fashion base and began to head to his work station where he noticed his big long rainbow scarf he was working on.
He pulled the scarf off its stand and began to run back towards the exit of the base when the door locked automatically.
Suddenly alarms blared and a warning issued through the speakers
“Dust storm incoming. Level threat is deadly”
Arnold suddenly began to feel nauseous. Adrian was still out there. A thick metal door separating him from saving his boyfriend.
Arnold banged frustratedly on the door knowing that it wouldn't do anything but couldn't help but try.
The lights began to flicker.
And a slight rumbling began in the floor.
Arnold banged harder and harder on the door, not wanting to lose another.
He screamed at the top of his lungs “HELP ME!”
No one responded.
Everyone would be at home waiting the storm to stop.
A sudden roar began to fill the air as the dust storm raged towards them.
Arnold heard a sharp scream. It was Adrian's.
Thudding began on the wall as the dust storm began to throw scrap and metal.
the storm lasted only about a minute before the speaker rang again and announced
“The storm has passed. Gaseous fog still remains so please wear your masks”
The door clicked.
Arnold stood there, tears streaming down his eyes.
Arnold grabbed a spare mask from beside the hat stand.
He opened the door.
The fog swarmed inside as Arnold began to step outside.
He could barely see through the fog.
He began reaching his arms out.
“Adrian are you there”
He tried to feel around to find Adrian.
Nothing.
Arnold got down on his knees and began feeling around until he felt something.
Something fabric like and slightly rough.
Adrian's backpack.
The fog began to lift. Adrian was nowhere to be seen.
He was gone.
Gone with the storm.