Crimson Pack

Chapter 34

Aria~

When we reach the city I notice everything around me. It's a maze of narrow winding streets, as complex as the heart. Every building is different, borrowing this and that from another era. They are an amazing jumble of different styles: rickety wooden shops, marble and brick houses, huge stone churches. The streets look like an unfinished painting. So much of the canvas is still perfectly white as if waiting for the artist's hand to return. They are empty though. There are no cars and no people.

"How do you like it?" Xavier asks me.

"It could be better " I laugh

"What don't you like?" He asks me

"You need to plant some trees here and there. It's too grey" I tell him

"Let's go this side," he says and leads the way.

We walk down the same road and then we reach a path. The small path widens into a multicoloured beach with every size of rock - from boulders big enough to sit on, to grains that got stuck between your toes. Beyond was a flat lake, the shore a thin line in the distance growing into a sheer cliff face. As we approach the waterline, I bend down and skim a rock - the splash loud in the otherwise silent afternoon and the ripples fading slowly from the poorly thrown pebble.

"Our lake is better than yours, " he tells me

"I am not going to lie. It is better than yours but that's all that I am going to say " I admit

"Thank you " he laughs

"Why is it so quiet? " I ask him

"Nobody comes outside in the afternoon," he says

"Another stupid rule ?" I ask him and he rolls his eyes.

"My rules are not stupid, " he says

"Yes, they are. Everyone is free to go outside anytime. You can't stop them " I tell him

"Aria there is a story behind this," he says

"What is it ?" I ask him as I sit down.

"It's not the right time. I'll tell you when I get a chance " he says and I roll my eyes.

"You and your secrets " I shake my head.

"Do you think that they're going to notice us ?" I ask him

"I don't know. And if they do it's none of their business " he says.

"You are a rule breaker " I laugh

"I learnt from the best " he winks and sits down next to me.

"So when are they free to come outside? " I ask him

"After 4 pm, " he tells me

"You are too strict Xavier. Looks like they're all puppets on your strings " I tell him.

"I did that for their safety. I know you don't get this now, but one day you will " he says

"I just don't get it and don't think that I will ever understand you and your rules, " I say

"You don't have to " he shrugs

" But I live here now," I say

"Aria we both know that you will never follow any rules. Just stop thinking about it " he says

"Fine "

"Can I confess something? " I ask him

"Sure " he turns to look at me

"I am starving " I giggle and he laughs

"You didn't eat today morning so I bet you are, " he says.