Fragments of a Past

Chapter six

Paint and glue, all in one mess.
That's what a small kids desk looked like.
Pieces of paper laying across the floor, some sticky from glue.
Paintbrushes dirty from not being washed properly.
There's a knock at the door.
- Thomas? A voice behind the door called out.
The door burst open.
- Thomas! The woman yelled.
- Yes mom?
- What did you do this time? She asked him, already knowing what he did.
- What? He asked her.
- I heard that you scared Ivory again with one of those masks of yours!
- B-but it's fun! He responded.
- I don't care if it's fun! She said. Things like that shouldn't be done!
She looked down at the mask he was holding.
- Go throw that thing away or I'll take away your supplies!
She turned around to go out the door but stopped.
- And do it now!! She yelled at him before she slammed the door behind her.
He was left standing there. Alone.
He heard her say something as she walked away.
- Useless waste of space.

Thud.
The sound echoed through the lagoon when Mr. Lordi landed onto the ground. He grunts and stands up and flaps his wings to try and fly off again. He gets around two meters off the ground until his wings give up and he falls again. He gets up again and continues to try. Desperate to feel his wings carry him trough the air.
Hella, Mana, Kone and Hiisi are observing him, their faces mixed with annoyance and concern.
- Just stop already! Mana says, you've been doing this for half an hour!
Mr. Lordi doesn't listen to him and continues to try.
- This isn't good for you! One of your wounds haven't fully healed yet! Hiisi tells him.
Mr. Lordi ignores his plea and continues trying.
One of the only things he had kept from his past life was taken away from him because of his stupidity.
It hurt. It hurt him. It hurt him deeply.

He tries a few more times until he collapses onto the ground, breathing heavily.
Hella walks up to him and sits down in front of him, laying a soothing hand on his shoulder.
- I know it's hard, she says. But we're here for you.
The rest of them look at each other, giving glances of agreement. They all stood up and walked towards the other two, sitting down beside them.
Mr. Lordi's mind was clouded, all of his mind was stuck in a never ending loop of anxiety and fear. But Hella's words had cleared some of the fog.
His chest started to hurt, his eyes were getting wet and his shoulders were shaking.
No. He couldn't be crying. He can't cry in front of the others, not at least because of his wings.
But he couldn't stop it.
Mr. Lordi lowers his head and tears slowly well down his cheeks.
Hella takes action and embraces him in a soft but comforting hug. This was all too much for him.
Mr. Lordi hugs her tightly and lets his tears flow freely, letting all of his bottled up emotions go.
The rest of them join in a sweet group hug, trying to comfort their friend.
- I-I'm sorry... Mr. Lordi mumbles trough sobs.
- It's ok, Kone tells him. We're all here for you.
They all stay in the hug for a while, taking in the intimate moment. Even if they've known each other for many years they've never had an emotional hug.
It felt good.
Eventually they break the hug to give Mr. Lordi a little space who was wiping away his tears with the back of his hand.
- Thanks... he quietly says.
- Hey it's totally fine, Hiisi tells him.
- We are a team after all, Mana chimes in.
- Heh, I guess we are, Mr. Lordi responds.
- That was cheesy as fuck, Hella says.
They all laugh. Bringing a little bit of positivity into their situation.

The sun was starting to set, Hella being the last one to stay at the lagoon with Hiisi.
Her worry about Mr. Lordi wouldn't go away. She turns to Hiisi who was laying in his hammock.
- Do you think he will be alright? She asks.
Hiisi looks down at her.
- I don't know... he says. I've seen him sad before but this felt more... personal... to him I mean.
- Yeah... she responds.
- Do you think that there's something more to all of this? She continues.
Hiisi takes a moment to answer, thinking a bit.
- Maybe, there might be some things he's hiding from us.
They both share a moment of silence before Hiisi speaks.
- It could be something about why his symbol was found at those burned ruins.
They both have a realization. This must go deeper than what they expected. Mana already had a suspicion but the rest of them had brushed it off, maybe Mana was right after all.
- You could be right, Hella responds.

She stands up from the ground and dusts off a little grass.
- Alright it's getting late, I better get going.
- Okay, stay safe alright, Hiisi tells her.
- I won't promise anything! She laughs as she starts to walk away to the bushes.
Hiisi laughs and Hella vanishes into the bushes.
Hiisi looks up at the sky, already seeing a few stars appearing.
- What are you hiding man? He asks, his question getting no answer.
The soothing sounds of water splashing as fish play in the evening sun echo in the dim lagoon.
A lonely place, but filled with just enough life.

The door slams open as Mr. Lordi walks into his apartment. Completely out of it.
- Fucking hell... he mutters as he flops onto his bed.
His apartment was in shambles, newspapers and articles everywhere. They took up basically every surface area they could. They spread themselves around the apartment like a parasite. Empty Pepsi bottles laid everywhere and a half full coffee cup still sat on his desk, but he couldn't care less.
The last few days had been hell on earth.
First he finally find one of the cult's meeting spots but gets shot in the process. And because of that he lost his ability to fly, the only thing he still had from his past life. The past life he still wanted.
- Why am I so fucking stupid!! He yells in frustration, covering his face with his hands.
He looks up at the ceiling, his eyelids unnaturally heavy. He closes his eyes and drifts off into sleep.

- Hey! Wake up already!
Mr. Lordi gets a pillow thrown right at his face, waking him up.
He groans and peeks up from the pillow.
A sweet but bright smile meets his gaze.
- 5 more minutes... he says teasing them.
- Nono you get up immediately mister! They say and jump onto the bed.
They crawl onto him and lay their head down on his bare chest.
- You! Need to go take a shower!
- Excuse me! I don't smell that bad! He responds, giving into their game.
- Well after last night you definitely do! They say and boop his nose.
- Alright fine, Mr. Lordi says and gets up from bed.
He takes a moment to stretch before turning around.
- Well, whilst I'm in the shower, could you at least make some coffee?
- Hmmm... no! They tease, rolling around in the bed. That will be your problem!
They both laugh, the morning sun warming them from the window. A moment to last forever.

Mr. Lordi opens his eyes, still laying in the same bed. He looks to his left, the bed was completely empty except for him. Realizing it was all a dream weighed him down even more. He looks up at the ceiling again, taking a deep breath as he does so.
The things he would do to go back. Back to those times. Back to when they were two.