The Sadian Chronicles: Book 2: From Mercury To Venus

Unexpected Pleasures: Part 3

"M.J.," Anita said as Marianna walked towards her and her other female campers. They were just finishing collecting all the stray sticks they could carry to use as firewood. "Nice of you to join us after all the work is done."

"Lay off her," Cynthia shouted. To Marianna, she said, "Are you okay?"

"Sure, just some old phobias coming back," she said but Cynthia looked like she didn't understand. It was time to change the subject and not focus on her problems so much. "Shouldn't we get back to camp and get a fire started?"

"That's if the guys didn't get eaten by a bear," Carolyn joked as she Marianna walked along.

"Or a shark," Cynthia added.

"Sharks don't live in ponds," Ferryl said, looking at Cynthia like she was an idiot.

"No," Anita said. "They live in dorms."

The group of young women gave into their hysterics, all except for Marianna. She walked back to camp alone in a way. What bonded these women, and why couldn't Marianna be part of it? She was among the group but separated herself from their trite chatter.

Upon entering the camp, Marianna felt relieved. The demons born of the woods seemed to calm, but she feared what would happen the next time. Then she remembered Carla's advice. Take it one day at a time. She was like a sobering alcoholic. She saw the woods as a test, and this time she passed.

The boys returned in a matter of minutes to join the girls. By this time, Marianna busily worked with the wood sticks to start a fire. Night was on its way, and she wanted to be prepared.

"Don't we have matches?" Ferryl asked.

I thought we were roughing it," Marianna said, trying to light the fire. "That means no shortcuts."

The rest of the group ignored her, until a blazing fire erupted from her pile of sticks. The bright red glow illuminated from the blaze attracting a group of gawkers.

"How did you do that?" Cynthia asked with a look of wonder about her face.

"The same way the Neanderthals did it," Marianna answered the question. "They did it with cunning, ingenuity and knowledge. Us modern types could learn a few things from their primitive ways."

"There she goes with that funny talk again," Anita said rolling her eyes. "Faigon, is it just my own paranoia, or do you just act like you know more than you think you do?"

"We all know more than we think we do," Marianna answered her. It was a truth that no one was willing to admit. "Now, sit back and enjoy the fire." She pointed to the bare spot on the ground next to where Cynthia was sitting.

Since the fire was lit Marianna rose from her seat on the ground and walked away from the group and down a nearby trail. She looked back to see that she was being followed. There came the footsteps of a man equaling her pace.

She turned in wonder. "What do you want?"

"Just to commend you," Marcus said with a smile. "Anita can be a bit of a snob. It's about time someone put her in her place."

She laughed, blushing. "Thank you, I think." She started walking again, but this time a little slower. She didn't have to look back to know that Marcus was following her.

"So, are you going to hide out all weekend?" he asked as he caught up with her.

"No," she said. "I'm going home."

"Why?" He looked disappointed. Marianna abruptly stopped walking watching him stumble to stop. She looked straight into his eyes once he regained his composure.

"Because I don't belong here," she said. It was a truth she could no longer deny, not that she ever really did. "I don't fit in with this group of innocents. They have an optimism I'll never have. They see the world as a beautiful wonderland, but I see it for what it truly is."

"What's that?" He asked, looking intrigued but not scared of what her answer would be.

"A world, in which we are born to die," she said with little emotion.

She took a few steps away when Marcus finally spoke. "Marianna, you're right." She turned startled. "I do agree with you, but only partly."

"Partly?" She looked stunned. "Is that a challenge?"

"I suppose it is," he said as he leaned up against a tree. "You say the world is worthless, and we're all just waiting to die, but what about life?" He picked a leaf off the tree working the stem between his fingers. "Why not enjoy the beautiful things before death devours our flesh? Enjoy the gifts given while we can." He then threw the leaf on the ground.

What gifts would you be referring to?" she asked as she saw the rich green color of the leaf knowing by morning it would be brown and shriveled.

"Like this," he said, taking her in his arms and kissing her. She was surprised by the gesture and back away after a few seconds. "That wasn't so terrible, was it?"

"No," she said, looking to the ground. "To be honest you shouldn't have done it."

"Why?" he asked.

She walked a few steps away from him and then turned back. She saw confusion in his eyes. "You don't know me, Marcus," she said and in truth he didn't. No one did, not even herself. "You're such a sweet soul, and I could really fall for you, but..."

"But what?" he asked and she turned away. "I like you, and I know you like me. What else is there to know?"

"It's not that simple!" she shouted as she turned back towards him.

"Hey!" he shouted back as she tried to run away. He chased after her. "I'm not suggesting we elope tomorrow. I just want to be friends. You need a friend, Marianna. You accuse me of not knowing you, but I do know you. I see how you are around campus. You never look anyone in the eye. It's almost as if you're blind, but that's not true. So what's so bad that you won't let anyone get close to you? Was it a lover?"

"No," she shouted at him defensively. "A lover I could get over. It's my whole damn life, if you haven't noticed. " She turned away from him looking to the trees again, and then looking down at her hands. She could almost see the blood. "I'm not like everyone else," she added, still refusing to look at him.

"That's why I like you," he said in a soft voice but she shook her head as if she didn't believe him.

"It's not like," she said, laughing ironically. She thought a moment before she continued. "It's more fascination." She saw the confused look in his eyes, which made her lash out even more. "So who voted that you would be the one to save my scarred psyche?" He backed up acting like he didn't know what she was talking about. "I don't want to be saved."

'"Who said anything about saving?" he asked shaking his head. "Can't we just be friends?" It was a simple question, but one Marianna couldn't really answer.