Beyond The Night - Bronze

VI. Caira

   Killing time for two days in Riwelter made Caira's nerves tenser. He could feel the restless energy inside him spreading through his whole body in waves, looking for a chance to get out. He wasn't used to sitting idle. He had to find something to busy his mind -and body- and he had to find it fast.
   He got on the train with sure steps, unaware that he'll find what he's looking for in Sphellend.
   He could endure Alvis's voice for only twenty minutes after the train starts moving. This time the scenery outside wasn't holding Alvis's attention. Caira was holding out hope for vengeful monsters attacking the train but he knew that kind of chance came by only once.
   At the twenty first minute he got up from his seat. His friends watched him in confusion as he left the cabin without saying a word. He pulled the door leading to the next car and threw himself outside. The cold wind slapping his face woke up his numb body. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Leaning his hands on the cold metal, he turned his face towards the sky. The rhythmic sounds the wheels made against the rails, eased some of his nerves and the strong wind hitting his face, howling in his ears pushed down the noise inside his head.
   He stood there and watched the passing clouds for long minutes. When he blinked with the rain drops hitting his face, he realised he wasn't alone.
   "Are you alright, sir?"
   Caira droppee his head and smiled. When he let go of the metal bar he's leaning on and turns around, Liz was standing in the car door with a smile on her face.
   "Headache?"
   "My headache has a name, and it's Alvis," he said. Despite his weary tone, he had a smile on his face.
   "Come on. They're not that bad," said Liz but she looked unsure.
   "You can't be serious. They did not shut up for one second since we got on the train. I was so close to jumping out."
   Liz shook her head from left to right as if she didn't approve. She stood next to Caira and looked up to the sky overhead.
   "You know it's not like this all the time."
   Caira's sigh was heavy. "I know. That's why I can't take it."
   Liz put her hand on Caira's shoulder and looked straight into his eyes.
   Caira put his hand right on top of hers and winked at her.
   Liz's laugh echoed in the wind. She moved towards the door. "Come on," she said. "Let's get inside. You smell like a wet dog."
   "I'll come if you let me muzzle Alvis."
   "I have some vegetables in my bag." Liz waited in the doorway for Caira to join her.
   "It'll take Alvis approximately two minutes to eat them all."
   "We bought a deck of cards and some pieces of wood yesterday with Griff after getting the train tickets. We'll find something to keep them busy."
   Caira dropped his shoulders in defeat before following Liz into the cabin.
   "But I swear to god, if they talk about isopods one more time, I'm going to throw him out the window," Caira bargained.
   Liz answered his childish behavior with a genuine smile.
   When they got back to the cabin, Liz gave Alvis a few leeks and some patience dock leaves to eat. Griff took out some salted meat wrapped in brown paper from his bag and shared it with Liz and Caira.
   After Alvis got through the vegetables, they found a spider in a web at the corner of the window and spent the rest of the journey bothering the poor creature. Taking advantage of the silence in the cabin, Caira put his feet in Griff's lap across from him and slept till they got to Sphellend.
   Griff woke Caira up by patting on his boots a few times. "We're here."
   Caira dropped his feet down from Griff's lap and straightened in his seat.
   Liz stood up to put her coat on. "Come on, Alvis. We need to get off," she said looking at Alvis.
   Caira turned to his right. Alvis wasn't looking at Liz. He had all their attention on the windowsill, trying to get a hold of the spider running away from them.
   Caira got up on a sigh.
   "Alvis?" Liz tried again. She waited for Alvis to respond with her head cocked to one side.
   Caira passed between Liz and Alvis and reached toward the window. He grabbed the spider, that was escaping from Alvis's long fingers, and trapped it in his hand in one swift motion. Alvis's eyes followed Caira's closed fist.
   "Alvis."
   Alvis nodded without looking away from Caira's hand.
"We're leaving."
   Alvis got up and followed Caira - and the spider he was holding - out of the cabin. After exiting the train station, Caira hurled the spider in his hand to the nearest tree using all of his strength and started making his way toward the town without looking back. He stopped in the townhall as he wiped his hand on his coat. Liz and Griff stop on either side of him as he looked around.
   "I thought you didn't like spiders," Griff spoke while grinning.
   "Shut up."
   "Leave him alone, Griff," ordered Liz, but the smile on her face must have given Griff more courage because he didn't shut up.
   "The next time I see a spider in the house, instead of throwing it outside, I'll bring it to you. Since they don't bother you anymore."
   "Alvis bothers me more than any spider does," states Caira, then he resumes looking around.
   "He wasn't that bad today," offers Griff.
   "Everybody's saying the same shit today." Caira's eye settles on the restaurant across the street and he starts making his way toward it. Griff and Liz follow him without question.
   After having three portions of stew with cornbread, they head out to find a seamstress in town. After placing an order for four masks they start looking for a place to stay.
   The ball was two days away. Caira could see the main tower of the Brimtzen castle. Right then Liz slips out of the building he's standing in front of and motions for him to get inside.
   After Caira puts his bag on his bed, he starts staring at the off-white wall, like he was going to do for two whole days. He is about to lose it. But he is saved from the thoughts spiraling inside his head by the knock on his door.