Windows, Souls, Identity

1: Two Lost Souls

Claire

Wisps of pearly steam spiralled upwards, their path eagerly followed by a pair of honeyed eyes. Unlike Jesse, Claire never had the time to appreciate the little things in life, and she was not sure if that made her "no fun", as he often said, elbowing her in the ribs.

Jesse and Claire had next to nothing in common - he was an artist, a dreamer, ruggedly handsome with an irresistible charisma that only Claire could resist. And her? Piercing emerald eyes that seemed to penetrate through every thought in the mind of the recipient of her merciless gaze, Claire was nothing like Jesse; skeptical, motivated purely by science, she was often known as the college's Ice Queen. But she was lovely, with her alabaster skin and auburn curls, she was often the subject of the jocks' fantasies.

"I don't understand, Jesse, you're acting like the steam is some kind of masterpiece when it's nothing more than water vapour." Claire rolled her eyes at her dreamy-eyed best friend.

They were seated at their usual table in the ever bustling cafe not too far from Claire's apartment. She'd been exiled to live on her own by her family when she decided to pursue science. Science isn't for girls like you, why won't you just find a nice husband and settle down? Her mother's voice rang in her head. Coming from a respectable line of aristocrats had its disadvantages too, she'd found out. At least she still had excess to her father's bank account.

"God, Claire, it's not just water vapour, it's art! Look at the way it curls, such beauty..." Her best friend exclaimed, doodling on his ever-present sketchbook, not even glancing up to watch her give him her signature exasperated glower.

They'd met as freshmen in college, two awkward loners with polar opposite personalities. He'd tried to flirt his way into her bed, but soon learnt his lesson never to mess with the Ice Queen. Neither of them could stand each other or be in the same room for five minutes without bantering, so naturally, their friendship had been unexpected and just plain weird. They infuriated each other, but one couldn't survive without the other. Claire was the rational, grounded one, but without Jesse, she'd never know how to have fun.

Gabriel

It was his fourth party this week, and Gabriel was numb. A bag of white powder was passed his way and he took it gladly, ignoring the twinge of his conscience. The distraction was welcome from the constant heartache and emptiness that haunted him incessantly.

The smoke and noise engulfed him, cocooning him in the false rhapsody that had become his only respite from the constant hollowness that rested heavily in his chest, a dead weight. The stale air hung heavy, the stench of alcohol and other unpleasant substances pungent in the atmosphere. He devoured the drug, letting it work it's magic on his empty vessel of a body. Soon enough, it was in his system, buzzing in his veins, a newfound ecstasy, muffling his inexplicable agony. He grinned giddily at a random girl, pulling her into an empty room with him. Gabriel never had any problems getting the girls, with his velvety lips and verdigris eyes as angelic as his namesake's. Here, among the wasted, carefree youths, he could belong. No one called him a waste of oxygen or money, his past didn't concern them - he was just the one with the cheekbones and dazzling smile; nameless but desired. That alone was more than he'd ever had in his life.

He awoke with a start, drinking in the memories of last night as he surveyed his surroundings. Half the party was passed out on the couches, but mostly on the floor. Dead drunk, or wasted; it didn't matter to Gabriel. He dressed quickly - he still had business to attend to tomorrow, and he wasn't about to miss it. Shrugging on his coat, he stepped over the unconscious bodies strewn across the lawn.

With the drug long gone from his system, he was forced to face the ache in his chest. Trudging along the cobbled footpath, he steeled himself to face the nightmare that lay in wait for him behind his own front door.