The broken gear

The Hatch

Andrew Wilson's first attempt at photography. Second hatch in the woods he's seen. Altenia Woods. Transylvania, Romania. c. 2001

When Thomas woke up he looked to his desk. He saw that the dagger was still there. He was almost startled when he saw the blade. He decided to hide it in his desk's drawer. He proceeded to change his clothes when he later heard knocking at his door.

"Coming!" he said as he finished changing.

He opened the door to see Valeria waiting for him.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Are you ok? Last night I heard noises coming from your room," she responded.

"I see," he said as his heartbeat slightly increased. "I was just walking around."

"Why?"

"Well, I was just wondering what I was going to do later in life."

"What have you decided on?"

"I couldn't decide on anything."

"Well then, I just wanted to know about the noises. Sorry to bother you."

"It's alright, I have to go do something if you don't mind."

"Right," she said as he closed the door.

Thomas looked at the drawer with the dagger. He slowly walked towards it. He thought about opening it but decided against it. After all, why would he need it right now? As he was about to open the door, he could hear Valeria and Nelle talking. He couldn't make out what they were saying. When he opened the door he saw that Nelle's door was closed and Valeria was walking down the stairs. He decided to finish his morning routine before going downstairs.

Thomas saw Nelle in the kitchen eating a piece of toast with butter. He then walked up to her.

"Hey, where's Valeria?" He asked.

"I'm not sure, why?"

"Just curious," he said as he got a muffin.

Thomas then walked over towards the library. He had a muffin in a napkin. When he finally arrived he was met by Valeria silently reading a novel from one of the many fiction sections scattered throughout the room.

"Hey," said Thomas as he sat down in front of her, "What are you reading?"

Valeria looked up from her novel for a split moment, "Dracula, I find your kind's imagination to be interesting."

"I see," he said, "I brought you a muffin."

"Thanks," she said as she took it from his hand.

"Are you enrolled in any schools?" she asked.

"No, my parents hire tutors, what about you?"

"It's sort of a mixture."

"What school did you go to?"

"The Institute of Higher Education in Iași, at least I'll go there soon."

"Dr. Sihnerr taught there a few times didn't he?"

"You've heard about him as well?"

"Yeah, I mean, he was incredible. He invented a language dedicated to alchemy, he travelled around the world for his research, and won 2 Nobel prizes for physiology or medicine, as well as one for chemistry. The only person to have ever won more than 2!"

"You sound like my sister."

"Does Valerie look up to him as well?"

"No, Mary."