The Runner

1.

The air is foggy with red smoke in the air like it has been every morning I rememer. From the window I can see the buildings in the distance, which seems to be almost dissappeared in reddish the smog.
The cold air is breezing at my face and I can feel the smell of the rain from last night. I can hardly see the sun shining up in the sky, because of the steams.

We live in the clouds, so the high steams are always blurring the sun, protecting our eyes from the rays. Me and my family used to live in the big town down the valey, but it became too crowded and they say that they have always prefer to live on the outdoors.
Now we are living in the forest of sky trees with leaves made of steaming green fog. From the window I usually can see the flashing lights of the city, five miles away, at night and if the day is dark - the huge lantern which make the city invisible for the flying metal machines that nobody knows where are comming from.
I climb the stairs to get to the biggestbedroom. My mother is looking at me and she tries to sit.
''No, '' I stop her. She can't move her legs properly since the accident that has happened to her two yeats ago. She had a panic atack and stumbled on the stairs. That time mom was pregnant... I think she got over the fall, but I have seldom seen them smiling after that. She guilts herself for the temptation. ''Don't move,'' I continue.
I get closer to her bed, her eyes on me, staring as if I am the worse thing that has haplened to her.I know she is hurt after the accident. I know I have to be brave and patient. I really do.
''What are we doing today,'' I ask and smile.
''We?,'' she repeats.''I... I will take a rest.'' I look at her, half-staring. Her eyes are moving from one object to another, avoiding my eyes. I understand she probably hates me, just because I was the one who she had always said I take after my father. My dad left us after mom had lost the baby. She is still hurt about that , I thinnk, and she is angry with me, because I unconsciously remember her for him.
I haven't detested someone so
strongly in my life.
Our cottage is near the sky beach, or The Hole, as everyone calls it. From there, the hard sky ground, made of thousand litres frozen steams, which are still held up in the air, is so rare that it is easy to see through it. This is the place that I love most. I have seen some strange things from there - flying machines, made of something dark blue, black and so on colours I hardly ever can be seen in our flora.
I don't know where they are comming from, but I certainly have some ideas... but it isn't allowed the women to hang with no work. I have rarely seen a woman or a girl who don't have strong, tough hands, as a result of the hard work they are doing.
My mom notices that I'm gazing on the wall, moving slowlier than I usually do and narrows her eyes. ''I don't like that,'' she says.''Sorry?,'' I repeat. ''You're not with me. There's something on your mind. I don't like that. You have to be focused on what are you doing...'' ''And what I am doing, mom?,'' I interrupt her.
''Learning. Clean the mirror.'' ''And what is the purpose of this? What am I learning? Why are you not letting me go near the Hole.''
I can see her hands shaking, but her look is hard. Although she can't hit me, her sight is hurting me more than she probably think it does. I can't change my weekness. I'm not strong enough to get over the things tells me everyday.
She sits on her bed and moans.
''Leave.Now. Go to you precious Hole, if you intend to.''I walk to the door and look back to her. ''I'm not your prisoner,'' I say.''Neither I have to listen to your rudeness, nor I will do it long.''
I leave the room and don't look behind. She has such moments that I can't handle. Not for so much time. Maybe something is wrong with me and I have to feel more patience or even love and tolerate her attitude. But I'm sick of it. Every single day she is  rude with me and I know why she is suffering but how big my fault can be when I was born and raised in a family in which he was member. This is the main relation between us. Does she think that I am considering to leave her alone? What a monster would do that!?
I get sad every time I think about him. And so angry that I can't even imagine to betay her. I don't even know who he is... and to be honest, I don't think I will ever want to do it. When I remember the dark shadow in her eyes after he left which is still appearing at moments, my hands shake and tears shine on my chick
Inch by inch I get to the Hole and sit on the floor. The rare air is like a magical mirror which shows me a different world.
I stare at it. It'so beautiful with its bright light colours that change every few seconds. Red, pink, orange,yellow, green, blue, purple and again and again. I feel thrilled and calm when I watch how they switch and smile a little.
I've always thought the view here is amazing, although most people are scared of it. There is a huge risk of falling, because the Hole is always growing and making the ice thiner.
Maybe she was rude because of the Hole... Is she worried about me?
A noise from the forest makes me open my eyes. I look back and narrow my eyes.
Some quiet steps are comming closer and for a second I feel scared. Then I can see the shadow and sigh with relief. A very known for me figure  steps forward and Levy waves with his hand.
''I knew you will be here,'' he says.'' You're kinda addicted to this place.'' I lift my shoulders. ''Am I? And aren't you?'' He nods and some of his curls fall on his forehead. Levy looks nervous like something big is on his mind. I don't ask, just smile at him. ''A... er... ah... I...Chelsea?,'' he starts and I laugh. My friend is so insecure sometimes that is hard for him to talk. Now he's avoiding my eyes and look down to his feet. I feel the need to help him with whatever he wants to say, but I have no idea.
''Chelsea, I...,'' he stops and i smile. ''Oh, is it so bad that I think it is?'' Levy look at me for first time today and a pain of guilt hit my breasts. He is stressed, afraid and I feel worried about him more than I want him to know.
Another noise comes from the forest and he shuts up. A short guy, dressed like the modern person in the world, whistles to us and screams as loud as he can:''Levy! Where are you, my son?'', ''Oh, not this again,'' the boy mumbles. ''Lev?,'' I say quietly.''Maybe some other time...''
I open my mouth to say something, but the man comes from the steamy bushes, trips and falls hard on the ground. I don't know what to think about him, I am a bit angry about the interuption.
''Lev, we have to go!'' The man stares at me suspiciously as if I can make something dangerous. Lev seems angrier than me, and I'm innerly surprised of his reaction, because he is so rarely upset that I can hardly remember when was the last time he did it and what had happened after that.''But...I've just come!'', he opposites.''Lev, don't make me scream in front...'', ''Chelsea,''I say.I don't think she want to know and I doubt that he will remember it. However, I don't care.
Levy sighs and waves for goodbye.
I stand still - my friend, my only friend, can't even tell me what he want to. What person am I if noone can't relax in my company? I sigh. There's something I am missing. And I am going to find out.