Black Snow - Extract

1

I breathed in. Sharp pain flashed through my whole body. My body... What happened? I couldn't see anything. I felt pain, which later grew into numbness. I couldn't hear anyone. I felt everything, yet I felt nothing at all. Was I blind? Was I deaf? All I noticed was a slight movement. Was I carried?

I felt how that small movement stopped all of a sudden. Then I felt someone taking my hand and a sharp pain went through my hand, pain that could've been a sting of a needle. Distant voices, I heard them. Where was I? Who were those people? What was their intention? Then it suddenly got bright. "Hng..." I slightly opened my eyes and tried to lift my hand. Then I saw that I was on a hospital bed, some liquid was infused into my hand and many people were staring at me silently. As they realised that I was awake, they started cheering. So loud! I let my head and my hand sink back into the cushions.

Everything went blank again.

Later some doctor explained me what happened: "You had a terrible accident and almost died. But our head surgeon Miss Frey was terrific once again, and took the risk you could bleed to death, and removed the shard of metal that was in between your ribs and almost cut into your heart. It all went perfectly fine. So then tell me, Kay, what is the last thing you remember before waking up here?" "I was... sitting in my car, I guess..." I answered, thinking around this blank in my mind. I had a mental blackout, maybe amnesia? "I can't remember why I was driving. I don't even recall what I as doing all my life. All there is is this blank space in my mind. Suddenly there was blood, lots of blood..." I explained. The doctor just nodded and took notes. "Amnesia, Kay. Amnesia." He then said. "By the way, Kay, this is Cael. He's been in deep coma for six months now. I don't think he will wake up, but since there aren't any adults that took care of him and who could've decided if we should pull the plug, we can't end his misery. Do you want to know why he's in coma?" The doc then asked, whilst pointing to a bed with a guy with long white hair in it.

"I guess I'd do." I answered, scrutinizing the boy.

"A elderly woman found him lying in the snow, covered in blood. She told us that he was beaten and then run over by a car. His state is still instable; it's his decision if he wants to leave this hell of a town. People say that it was a hate crime of the church here. He's different. They don't accept that. It was always this way. I know that, I went through the same thing..." He related. "But let's get you back up now." He said and put the lights out, so I could rest.

The next day, I found myself scrutinizing Cael again. His hair was as white as the purest snow; his skin was pretty pale but plastered with bruises and cuts. It must have been a really hard fight he got in. I wondered how it was to be all alone. How it was to be strong for yourself. I felt sorry for him, but I was really impressed by his strength.

As the doc paid his daily visit I asked him if I could talk to Cael. "Yeah, sure, but I don't know if it will help. If he should wake up, press the big blue button over there, a nurse will come over instantly." He explained and helped me up to sit beside Cael. Then he left. "Call for me if you want me to put you back into your bed." He said, and then left.

I looked at Cael closely. His wounds seemed to be blades' cuts, I even saw some burn scars. There I felt something inside, like an urge that told me to touch his skin. His skin seemed to be porcelain; it seemed unreal. I wondered what his voice may sound like, what his eye colour might have been. But all I heard was the sound of the machine that signalized me his heart was still beating. It seemed strange that he was practically dead, but yet alive.

I caught myself touching his hair. It felt like silk, really soft and thin. It was really long and reflected all kinds of colours. I touched his hand, his skin was smooth, I was afraid I could break it. There I recognized some thin, white tattoos that were wrapped around his arm, all of them were symbols I didn't know nor understood. I saw them on the other arm as well as on his neck. They weren't recognizable from afar. Whoever has made these was a pure genius. He looked like a sleeping porcelain doll that was supposed to look bruised. He looked fragile.

I thought of something to talk about.

"Ah, sorry that I touched you without asking. I'm really sorry. I'm Kay. That's basically all I can remember." I said and felt myself blushing. What am I even doing? I thought. I mean I talked to a coma patient and I wouldn't get any answers from him. But I somehow felt like I had to talk to him. Not only because I was mesmerized by his looks and his story, I just felt that I should talk to him. His heartbeat didn't increase but I felt like I was helping him to wake up.

I opened my mouth again.

"So I... I heard what happened to you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for this inhumanity. I'm so sorry. I... I don't want anyone to be treated like this. I'm so sorry. I... I think being different isn't a bad thing. It's great.

And I... I think you're strong – stronger than anyone of these people that did this to you will ever be. And I'd understand it if you wanted to leave this place. If I knew you from the start, I guess, this wouldn't have happened. I don't want you to take any more burdens of this life. You know, I'd really understand it if it was too much for you, because, for me, it would be. I wish I could've helped you. The least thing I can do is hoping you'll choose the less painful way for yourself and talking to you. If... if that's what you want?" The words just stumbled out my mouth. Well, I could talk to him, but about what? I couldn't remember anything about my life. So how should I tell him something I couldn't recall?

My thoughts blurred my mind, so did my worries. I sat at his bed for another fifteen minutes, and then I called the doc to help me back into my bed. I suddenly felt really tired, so I asked the doc to let me sleep for an hour or two.

I instantly fell asleep – and started dreaming.

I was crossing the road, walking straight to a dull, greyish building. My school. But then I heard screams from the other side. I turned around and saw a boy being run over by a car. I rush over to the boy. As I'm hovering over him I see white hair. He spits blood, and then reaches his hand out to me. "Hold Me." He says. I hold his hand and look into his eyes that slowly closed. "You... did all you could... thank you... Kay... I..." his voice grows quieter and quieter. Then eyes close and his body goes limp in my arms. I just stare at him. As I realize what had happened, I scream. Everything goes black; the last thing I hear is a whisper "I can hear you, Kay."

I woke up, shocked by the sight. I was soaked. I looked over to Cael. He still had lain there. I now knew the sound of his voice, husky and low, nothing you'd expect from a guy that looked this fragile. Yet, the colour of his eyes was still a secret. But could he really hear me?

Apparently I must've screamed pretty damn loud, because some nurses came dashing in. "Is everything alright?" One of them asked, seemingly worried. "Yeah... I guess... Just had a nightmare... I should be okay now though..." I answered while trying to catch my breath. I let myself fall into the cushions again, staring at the ceiling. The nurses left as fast as they arrived. What was that?

I now was afraid to fall asleep, but I was totally exhausted, so I shut my eyes for a little too long and then fell back asleep. And, everything else than surprising, I dreamt again.

This time I was at the same place where I was last crossing the road. But this time I heard the school's thugs laugh and cheer whilst I heard some other person begging for mercy. I ran over as fast as I could. These thugs were beating a boy, skinny and frail looking, and were really amused by his begging. "Hey!" I hear myself shouting, even though I wasn't intending to lead their aggression to me. "Stop that shit. What did he do to deserve this?" I ask them. "He's a demon. His very existence is the problem!" One of them answered in laughter. "Stop it right there or I'll get your Asses." I threatened. Where did this strength suddenly come from? "Oh right, whadaya gonna do, punk?" another shouted. I kicked him right into the stomach. "Outta way, fucker." I said. The others looked at me in terror, then finally dashed off.

I help the boy to get up. And to my surprise it was Cael. I finally saw the colour of his eyes. Silvery grey with light and black sparks. The black ones looked like black snow...