The Pariah

Chapter 21

Chapter Song: 30 Seconds to Mars - Night of the Hunter

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"Ugh, I can't do it." I sigh. I shake my head at the motionless red ball sitting atop the water, moving along with the waves. This was quite possibly the most boring sport I've ever heard of. I'd rather do chess than this. I look at Hazel, who was right next to me, with a bright smile, and an optimistic glint in her eyes. As usual, she's all happy, even when she's sitting at the end of this dock, with a stupid fishing pole, when nothing is biting. I honestly hate fishing, it's seriously, like, the most pointless thing in the world to me. "Can we go yet?"

She peaks at me through the corner of her eye. She sighs and finally turns to address me for the first time since we came out there. She's been quiet all throughout the ride here and then proceeded to leave me in the dark as she took a seat on the end of the dock and throw a line into the water. We'd been silent this whole time until I spoke. "Do you know why we're out here, Erin?"

I bite onto my lip and look at the pole in my hands. "Well, I'm no expert, but... I think we're fishing."

She points out toward the lake. I follow her finger to the sunset glinting on the lake, sending sparkles of orange light to flash in every direction. I drop my chin in my hand. It was a sight I'd never get tired of seeing. I liked this spot, sure, but I hated fishing. But I didn't even notice the time until she pointed it out to me. I'm a sucker for sunsets.

She smiles when she notices the relaxtion that takes over my face. "Do you remember what you asked me yesterday?"

I thought for a second, swimming into the back of my mind for the memory of yesterday. "Who left the toilet seat up? Seriously, who did? Like, we're both girls..."

She laughs at me and I beam at the sound, it was rare that I could make her laugh. She's a happy person all the time, but as of late, all I've been doing is causing her trouble. "No. You asked me 'Why is the world so cruel?' and I wanted to bring you out here."

"To see a sunset?" I raise my eyebrow.

She moves closer to me and swings her arm around my waist and lays her other hand on the hand pressed into my thigh. "Look at that sight, Erin." We both stare at the last bits of sunlight pouring through the cracks in the trees. Across the water. I looked down into the water and saw the fish swimming peacefully back and forth, without a care toward the traps we'd laid on the surface. I felt a swish go through my hair when the wind blows. I move my head to the side to look at Hazel. Her chin raised to capture the feel of the wind on her face. A peaceful, restful look coming across her entire face.

The memory of her face shifted like that was always in my mind after she died. It was like my mind was trying to remember the look on her face when she was at peace. It was a short moment in time, and yet... I can't forget the look.

"Erin," Hazel opens her eyes to look at me. She's smiling ever so slightly. I have her hand in mine by now, squeezing it lightly. "Tell me... how can a world that looks like this be so cruel?" She was right. But not for the reasons she thought. It wasn't the glitter of the water or the way that the trees actually sung with the wind. The calm atmosphere was beautiful, no doubt, but I was looking at Hazel. Her glowing features, the light smile, as if she were speaking to an unseen entity. Hazel was beautiful because she knew things I didn't, she understood the things I never could. I envied Hazel. Her wisdom, though her age was still considered young, went for miles. "Tell me how, Erin."

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The Guild was quiet all around, not a soul in sight. I think even Cohart was off to bed at this time. I slip into the dead of night, taking with me only the clothes on my back and my backpack with the book I'd received from Cohart, that was from Hazel and the book from Cohart's office. I had questions about them both. I pulled my hood over my head and stood on the edge of the street. I looked back once more at the large black and white building with the colorless banners and flags on the place. I shoved my hands in my pockets and headed across the street, easily avoiding the traffic, since the city seemed pretty calm in the nighttime, it wouldn't surprise me if everyone was asleep at this time.