The Tale of Zaharos

Chapter 10: A dying light

When the sun rose, there was nothing light, hopeful or warm about its shine. For the first time that autumn, the chill of the approaching winter could be felt in the cold morning air.

Friday, the most beautiful day of the week after Saturday. (Well spotted dear readers, I've just skipped another day. Hope you didn't mind, because there is no going back now. Why is that sentence always so ominous?)

Two girls were walking down the road in complete silence, following the river.

"Do you think Mrs Calliope finished correcting the math test?" asked Sidonia, in order to break the uncomfortable silence.

She felt like the silence was accusing her of something. Or that might have been the feeling she had from Wednesday's argument with Mariana. It wasn't something important, just unusual. The two of them never argued about anything.
Mariana had asked her when Eliana gave her the bracelet and she had answered 'Why do you care?' She couldn't understand why she had been rude to Mariana, but at that moment she had felt like her friend was accusing Eliana again and she kind of got in a defensive mode automatically. Mariana had said 'Take it off' and she hadn't liked the order. Why would Mariana tell her to remove Eliana's gift? She vaguely remembered storming out of the treehouse and going to the river. She had wanted to feel fresh water on her feet once more. It seemed like ages since the last time she had been in the sea. There by the river, she had felt like someone was spying on her but there was no one else other than the birds and a little ladybug.

"I hope she did," answered Mariana, "I've been kind of worried about some of the exercises."

As they walked in front of Erika's house, they could hear the siblings arguing about something.

"Just a little bit louder and you'll wake up the whole neighbourhood!" Dean was saying.

Both of their parents had left home early so the twins were left quarrelling without adult supervision. (This could turn quite nasty, as those with siblings can tell you. Fun fact: It did! Fun fact 2: You can't see my grin so I thought of enlightening you; I love sibling-fights!)

Erika said something to Dean. Dean pulled Erika's hair out. Erika shrieked. She hit Dean in the sensitive parts. He produced a high-pitched scream. She poked his eyes.

"Unfair!" cried Dean, and attempted to pinch Erika's arm.

Erika ignored him. She dragged him towards the front door.

"You weigh more than an adult pig, Dean!" she complained.

The truth: the pulling, hitting and poking eyes part, was what Mariana deduced from the screaming. To my sincere and great disappointment, none of it really happened.

Reader: Can you stop doing that?

What?

Reader: Telling us a whole story about things that never happened!

I fear that I am incapable of such change.

Reader: Oh prefect...

But you can always think of them as really happening, if it makes you feel any better.

"Good morning, Erika!" said Sidonia.

"'Morning," said Dean, hoping that the newcomers will save him.

"If you're late one more day..." Erika hissed, just to make it clear that she wasn't done with him yet. Dean shivered but his smile returned almost at once.

"How are we doing, ladies?" he asked. "Any news? Family? Friends?"

"Everything's fine," lied Mariana.