Souls by the wayside

Chapter 7 (Follow the rules 💙

I walked downstairs and literally every one was having a mental breakdown. It was like  walking into a psych ward with a group of suicidal teens. Between people talking over each other, The doc overthinking, and vex being depressed it was really really confusing . I sit on the couch amidst the chaos. Trying to pitch in work wherever I can.

"We have to make some new ground rules." Perceval says. "From here on out going outside to explore is a two man exhibition. As well going down the mountain without proper help is unacceptable. This means you Belle" Perceval is a bit of stoic type. She holds herself to higher standard and I don't think that's fair. She seemingly stands out the most when compared to us. She has a Curly Afro that almost covers half her face and the only reason it doesn't completely cover face is because of her glasses.That day I decided that I would pick one person to go on a walk with consistently because it helps me keep them and myself out of trouble and danger. I decide that me and Vex have never been formally met so it is now my goal to get to know Vex on a far deeper level.

I walk to their room and give 3 firm knocks and Vex opens the door with bags under the eyes like sunken pirate ships. Even their posture is slouched over like they are hurting or have a tummy ache. Every aspect about them simply screamed painful. "Hi Vex I just wanted to know if you could go on a walk with me I'm afraid to go alone" "oh.why me? Wouldn't you prefer to go with someone who can actually do something to help?" "Well everyone else is doing other things and I would like to get to know you better." I say moving my hands inside my pockets and vex looks like they are trying to think of an excuse not to come. They take a long sigh "can I bring my violin?" "Uh sure-" right as I speak the door slams in my face and Vex remerges from their room. They are wearing a black and red Sweater vest and Black long vintage sleeve blouse underneath a long with a pair of black pants. They carried a large violin case which hung from their back by a single strap. "Ok I'm ready to go." "Okay?" I say and lead them out.

As we walk out conversations stop and all eyes are staring at Vex. The way their eyes seared into us like we were committing a crime. G looked like he wanted to speak but didn't get the chance to as the door slowly closed behind us. It seemed like G's words would hold nothing I've talked to him before but I can't deny that his words seemingly mean nothing in the grand scheme of everything. I follow what he tells me because he's older than me but I can't say that in a different situation I would actually listen to him. I walk through the grass and feel the crunch of a leaf beneath my heel. I look back and notice a orange leaf and Vex turns back around to look at what I'm looking at " A Orange leaf? What's so special about that?" They say but I can tell they don't understand my confusion. "Nothing don't worry about it. It's probably just a coincidence" I reassure them and we continue walking. We make it to a clearing With grass and weeds sprinkled afar and wide. I sit down and stare into the sky enjoying the sun hitting my face.

I'm startled when I hear the sound of the violin playing. I look back and the violin stops Vex's face lights up in a flutter. "I um. Get a bit nervous when people stare" "oop sorry" I turn back around and close my eyes and just bathe in the smell of the outdoors. As my mind goes blank from staring through my eyelids for so long the Violin slowly continues it's loving melody the sound of the music carrying my mind to what felt like a higher plane of existence. The sound of the violin painted a clearly picture for me. I was on the stage performing while hundreds of people kept their eyes on me and each move was careful analyzed and picked apart.

I counted each move; a twist,a turn, pirouettes, all of it. Each move conveying each new note and I feel the movements. It's almost as though I'm there and dancing. When I hear the violin abruptly and sharply stop I realize I'm standing up. I'm not on the ground in fact I'm faced towards the lowering sunset and when I look to the sky I see stars "You started dancing." Vex said "why'd you stop?" "Because it's almost dark. I'd like to be in before one of those things you guys were talking about manages to find us. We'd be walking targets especially with me playing music" Vex says packing everything up gently.

Vex picks up there stuff and leads us back towards the house while the sun finally rested down and the moon showed its full beauty peaking over the distance ,but then they  abruptly stops and forces us to both abruptly duck down. They put fingers over their mouth and mouth the words 'Be quiet' and point at the house. At first my blurry tired eyes could barely tell where even the house was but then I saw it. A tall lanky looking thing with multiple eyes and legs crawled around and around the house like a spider in search for a meal. It moved in a circle but as well moved like it was having a hard time what move it should make until it careful made a decision to just do what it was doing before.

"Did you bring your phone thingy?" "yeah I don't leave without it" I say pulling out a really beaten up iPhone and taking a couple of pictures and videos. "Good now I need a rock" I look around and find a semi round rock and hand it to vex. The careful observe the rock and observe the weight "What are you doing" "I'm just trying to find a good point to throw it I don't wanna fuck this up" Vex says and then slow the rise up and throw the rock as far as they can and duck back down into the bushes. The thing let's out a growl and slowly drags its body away from the scene. Vex grabs my arm and rushes me inside the house while turning around and closing the door. There was a loud Thump against the back of the house as though the thing realized what happened.

Vex was slightly out of breath and their messy hair was seamlessly all of the place.Their head is completely tilted down and after a while they take a long sigh and look up "I hope you had fun" " oh um yeah. You are really good at playing violin!you should do it more often" I said to them and they just looked at me and then walked away.