The Next World Crisis

Chapter 3

I heard it before I saw it. The trickling sound filling the humid buzzing in my ears. I ran as fast as I could muster, minding the rough ground. I whipped past the branches and ducked at either too late or too early moments. But I didn't have time to care. I followed my ears, listening as I followed the sound. I was so close...but so far. I needed only to go either north or south to get there, but which way was which? I looked at the closest tree. It blooming rich coloured flowers and was full with leaves. Yes. I had finally reached it. I ran a few more steps and to my surprise heard the trickling water getting louder. Just a bit further and the burning will disappear I muttered. Pushing the nearest branch out of my way, I turned. It was there. In my vision a fresh blue stream had made its way to me. Not a mirage or a dream. It was there; the cool water splashing on my skin before I could say...well nothing frankly. The water came gushing down my throat and for that temporary period I felt the happiest I'd felt in a long time...I felt hope. Without a second thought I jumped in, overwhelmed.

'Mum, what are you drinking?' I asked at the breakfast table. We rarely ever ate as a family nowadays. Either mum was fucking another guy behind my dad's back or she was round the pub...usually followed by the same process. But when she did eventually smell bacon and have enough energy to get off her large bottom to come and eat breakfast with us... Dad was away at some conference, leaving Phoebe to look after me.
'Beatrice, since when did I say you could talk? You may only speak if you've been asked a question, otherwise you keep your mouth shut. Do you understand me? Beatrice I am talking to you!' My eyes searched the table for anything but her gaze but they wouldn't obey me. Her eyes looked tired, bags and wrinkles had formed. No makeup could cover up that much of a hangover.
'George what manners have you been teaching her?' She turned to glare at my dad. He was hidden behind the daily newspaper as always. I think sometimes even he's afraid of mum. I mean, who isn't?
I held my head in shame as I brought a peice of toast to my mouth but I no longer held an appetite.
'Hmm? What was that Isabelle?' He looked at the watch. 'Oh is that the time? I must be off now darlings. Goodbye' We all knew perfectly well that he had nowhere to be. But there was no arguing. I barely remember the times when he used to kiss my forehead as he headed out. Those were the times when he wasn't rich and hadn't married mum yet. The times...

I was floating mindlessly in the river. My thoughts elsewhere when I felt a nudge at my shoulder. Only then did I realise the rapid change in scenery. I'd been transported by the river, and was now surrounded in the murky water and dirty mud. I tried to stand up but failed endlessly as I only came to acknowledge the deepness. My clothes were dripping in infected water and my belongings were further upstream. I swam up to the bank and pulled myself out. I was considerably cleaner but giving a glance around, I don't think that it would last. I tried to see which way I came from but couldn't tell. All I knew was that I was in a deep pile of shit...literally.

I started plodding parallel to the river. Come to think of it, these days the landscapes changed so often that when you were suddenly in a forest, the next moment you'd be back to the muddy fields and run down villages. I missed the woods, those lush green leaves and the crunching sound as you stepped on twigs and broken branches. I missed the times when me and Phoebe would escape with a handmade picnic and blanket. We'd stop on the border of the trees and say our prayers then chase in and out of the maze...hoping...just hoping to run far enough from reality so that we'd never have to see it again. I guess my prayers came true.
I looked ahead, I could just make out the greenery. I sighed. How many times would it take until I gave up? How many times until I finally felt as if I could no longer go on searching? How long until all the bones in my body broke? Because right now I felt as fragile as a string...and life held the scissors. It just had to figure out how far to move it's hand.