Prisoners of the Sun

The Night We Met.

Parachutes by Coldplay

Prologue

Marie enjoyed sunsets better than sunrises because in her mind they were accomplishments towards survival. Sunsets not only expressed more depth of colour, but it also introduced the sky to the illuminating stars. Beyond the sky and solar system was a whole new world that hers could not define even if the Hubble satellite showed them aspects of it. Marie liked sunsets better than sunrises because she enjoyed the quietness.

She looked up from time to time to see the descending sun turn the sky into different shades of colours. With each passing second, the sky became darker with more prominent colours of red, pink, purple, and orange.

Scribble noises against textured paper were the only sounds, besides the crashing waves, that distracted her from her own thoughts; which kept her awake most nights.

Drawing was a form of getaway that calmed her down whenever reality became too difficult to bare. The way her mind focused on an idea or image instead of the problems she faced relaxed her. Many could not comprehend how drawing distracted her from life when her mother passed, her dog ran away, or her father deciding to reappear back into her life for the sake of needing "help". Drawing may have saved her life in more ways than anyone could ever imagine. Being able to form herself in her own perfect world made her feel whole and fulfilled.

Her hands seemed to bleed with the mixed colours representing the darkening sky. The feel of the smooth pastel chalk contrasted well with her calloused hands. The unusual sweet scent of the chalk rubbing against the paper filled her nostrils. She was in every way a masterpiece.

Wind blew her long, dark brown hair into her face and she pushed them back behind her ears, causing the pastels to smear against her rosy cheeks. Marie had been fixated on her sunset so much that if her mind were to depict the muffled grunts behind her, she might have saved herself time from another engagement.

The man relished the last drop of his drink from a crumpled paper bag before chucking it at a wooden pillar that held up the pier. A loud clang was barely audible against the waves as he watched the bag expose tiny hazardous pieces gushing out into the air.

He looked around and saw several wooden pillars surrounding him, which caused him to feel suddenly frightened. He was afraid because they seemed to move and he imagined one would come crashing down; crushing his skeletal body and smearing his guts all over the sandy floor.

At least, that's what he believed.

Vomit escaped his lips at the sudden thought of death and he bent over as the liquor he had just consumed came pouring out. The smell was vile and he could taste the acid burning his mouth and throat. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before allowing his wobbly legs to carry him towards the vigorous waves.

As he walked, he noticed a small figure sitting with their back against the very wooden pillars he feared of. He tried shouting something about how it was going to kill them, but his mouth was unable to form actual words.

He tried again, but with the same outcome as before, words were not spoken from his lips, but out of theirs when he came tumbling down; taking whatever it was in their hands to wrinkle and tear.

Marie gasped and felt her heart bang itself against her chest as a half-naked man crashed into her while the sound of her textured paper ripped from his fall. Panic replaced shock as she tried to move the sweaty body away from her drawing. Grunts were exchanged and the moment the unknown man rolled over, the image of her sunset drawing was all she could think about.