The Baneflower

Chapter 19

Morley
It was always cold out there, the higher parts of the city. I came here when I felt anger rushing through me. Or sometimes when I felt helpless and hopeless at the same time.
On my way there, it was hauntingly silent. I used to hate the silence. Riley hates being quiet. Apparently to her, it was quite aggravating. I don't really understand her at all.

I remember when I was very little, my sister Sasha would always bring me here. She said this was her safe place. the place where nothing mattered anymore. She said I was the only one to ever go with her. Looking down at the homes and everything else made her calm down every once in a while.
The mist lingered softly around the ground. The bench was old and rusty, and the place felt abandoned, just like her. It had this lonely feel to it. I remember asking her all the time,
"How long do we have to stay here? I'm tired. I want to go home. This place scares me."
"Sometimes you just have to forget about yesterday, last week, last year, and beyond that." She always mumbled to herself, as if she was reassuring herself. My sister brought me here.
Now I come alone. I thought about bringing Riley here but for some reason I held myself back. She wouldn't like it. Or at least I thought.
For some odd reason, today, I felt relieved.
I don't know how that could be.
I saw Riley's look of horror as I left the small party. I thought she called my name. I don't know. The world was shaking and everything was once again a lie.
Toby
I forgot about him. For a very long time. His sister and my brother were dating back then. But Kody made some mistakes, and so did she.
People are so weird.

Riley
I couldn't believe what I was doing right now. I subconsciously followed him. Was I worried about Morley? It was emberassing to admit.
I told them I had to go. I told them that my parents said to leave early.
I walked the same way as he did. I stopped when he took a left turn. He went up to the higher hills, and disappeared into the forest. I looked up and I saw him again, this time on the old tourists place far up.
Why was he there?
I walk faster, hoping he won't notice me. But I think he did.
He looked down.
I was going to go up there and talk to him. But I was hesitant. This was because.. Well.
I don't usually chase after people. They usually need to cool down before they can actually act like a normal human being. Often, I wonder about conflicts and grudges. Some people hate for their whole lives. Others pretend it's fine, like as if nothing happened but they are still clearly bothered by it. For some people, it's actually fine. It's not affecting them anymore. Nonetheless, no matter how you try to describe people, it just gets even more confusing. People are strange, so his he, so are they, so am I.
Why?
I look up again.
"Too much whisky. Luckily you aren't baked like a cake." I say, and he looks at me, confused and wary. I thought he was going to snap at me. I already started walking away.
"Um. Riley? Wanna come up here? and uh, nevermind. I'm just bored. Please?" Morley's voice was raspy and tired. I started laughing.
He said please!!!
"Since when did you say please? I have to go now. I'm serious." I muttered, quite amused. He smirked, looking up at the cloudy dark sky.
"Come on, just for five minutes."
I rolled my eyes, trying not to point out that talking to him would be like talking to the grey walls near his home. I want to wait until he's sober.
I walked up, almost slipping in the process.
"Looks like someone's drunk with me." Morley's words slurred.
"No, in fact, I'm not like you. Booze hungry. All the time."
Just five minutes.
But for Morley, five minutes equaled twenty minutes. It never ended for him. He had no limits, whatsoever.