Between sun and storm

chapter 13

Lila looked like a fairy, a beauty beyond words. Every word used to describe her fell short. For a second, Dante couldn’t register what was happening. Is this the same person? he thought, stunned. He couldn’t describe her transformation "she was a completely different person"

Lila looked at Dante, but she couldn’t see his facial expressions because his eyes were hidden beneath the hood of his cap. She called out, "Charlie... hey!" while waving her hand in front of him after taking two steps toward him.

Dante didn’t realize when Lila had come so close, but when she tapped him on the shoulder, he cleared his throat. "Ahem... are you ready to go?"

She glanced up from adjusting her hairclip. "Yes, just let me check the windows and stove to be on the safe side." She went away to check everything and then returned to Dante, holding her house and car keys. "Let’s go. Take a last look at the house if you want to, because you're not coming back again," she said in a low voice.

"It’s fine, let’s just leave," he replied in the same tone.

Little did they know that once they stepped out of the house, neither of them would return.

They both walked toward the car, a small blue one. Dante examined it and asked, "Do you think we’re safe in this thing? Will it take us where we need to go?"

Lila was offended and looked at him, while Clip, her dog, was already sitting in the back seat. "Yes, I’m a hundred percent sure it’s safe. Stop being a baby and get in," she said, moving toward the driver’s seat.

They both headed toward their fate, which was intertwined. "First, we’ll go to the amusement park, then we’ll have lunch, and after that, I’ll drop you wherever you want," she said, excitement filling her voice. The plan was perfect, but the circumstances would not be in future to fullfil it.

Dante smiled under his mask, but Lila didn’t notice. "Just drop me near the main city, and I’ll find my way from there," he said, though he kept some words in his heart "And then, we’ll never meet again."

Lila drove smoothly, though the car made some funny noises. They both chose to ignore it. As the park came into view, Clip started barking and wagging his tail. Dante glanced at him and grumbled, while Clip growled back. Lila noticed and started laughing. "You two don’t like each other. I don’t get it, why?"

Dante just looked away, choosing not to answer, while Clip barked happily at Lila.

She parked the car in the lot, and they both got out. Lila walked to the back seat to let Clip out. They headed toward the entrance, passing through the checkpoint where Dante had to remove his mask for facial identification.

Inside the park, they wandered toward the rides, but Dante decided against trying any ride that rotated. After just one, he would feel dizzy, while Lila enjoyed herself. Clip stayed with the ride operator.

Lila pointed at a large, spider-shaped ride. "Come on, you’re no fun!" she exclaimed, trying to coax Dante. "Pretty please, Charlie! Come on, it’s my birthday."

Dante looked seriously at the ride. "No way in hell I’m going on that. That damn spider rotates, the cups you sit in rotate in the opposite direction, and the seats rotate too. Who the hell designs this crap?" He was frustrated and started moving away, but Lila tried to grab his bicep to stop him.

He stopped and turned toward her as she held his arm. He gently took her hand and started pulling her away from the ride, ignoring her protests.

Later, they decided to take pictures in a photo booth. Lila inserted a coin, and they walked inside. "Come on, strike a pose, you grumpy octopus! Look at your name, 'Charlie,' and then look at your face!" She lifted the corners of his lips with her index and middle finger. "Smile, please."

Dante gave her a look and raised an eyebrow. "My name’s not Charlie, for your information."

Lila tried to tease him. "Oh yeah, Charlie? Then what is it?"

The photo booth kept snapping pictures from different angles. Lila knew he couldn’t give a good pose if he knew the camera was clicking.

"Such a pretty face to waste", she thought to herself.

Frustrated with the nickname "Charlie," Dante finally gave in and broke another rule. "It’s Dante, okay? Just don’t call me that again."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized what he had done. If his people found out, a storm would be unleashed—one that not even he could stop.