Dark Alley

Chapter 11

     After breakfast, Calvin told me he has to rush for his work.

     I thought I'm his work.

     Now I'm left in this wide cabin with Maricriss somewhere, but I stayed in my room like what Calvin asked me to do.

     I pushed my eyes close, my hands rests in the air. I just realized - I'm like a bird that once lived in a rusty cage until it was transferred in a fancier cage. Rusty or fancy it's still a cage. Now I know who's behind all this - Calvin is in control of me.

     My head is five feet away from the ceiling, my feet stands on soft, wide foam layered with white sheets - I never felt so tall standing in my bed. I tried hopping up and down, letting gravity catch me as I hear the bed screaks and makes noises. I closed my eyes and hopped. I never felt entertained. It's like I could always fly.

     I opened my eyes as soon as I heard the door open - I see Maricriss and I stopped hopping. I can see her clearly from standing on the bed. I studied her features, her hair seemed to turn light grey, such wrinkles in her face and she gained weight.

     "Hi," I said. I killed myself inside, there's a lit of things I need to say.

     "Hi," she says back. "I thought something was wrong here well I heard squeaking and noises."

     "No nothing was wrong," I shook my head. "Did I bother you?"

     "No," She said. "I just really like starring your face." Maricriss looked at me from head to toe. She likes to see me? "That's all I think I should go." Maricriss turned back from me, reaching the door knob.

     "Maricriss," I called her name, before she could leave. She looks at me, waiting for my next word. I raised my hand to her. "Hop with me - its fun."

     Maricriss laughed as she shakes her head. My face frowned. "I can't."

     "Why not?"

     "I already have arthritis. My bones numb and you don't like it when it happens," she says. She laughs again. "This scenery is very familiar."

     "Huh?"

     "It's like it happened already - it was like that day when you asked me to bath with you," she says. "When you said it'd be fun."

     "Oh yeah," I nodded. "You also refused that time."

     "It was my job to refuse."

     "I know, all of you treated me like I'm invisible."

     Maricriss lowered her head, facing the floor then shakes her head. "You haven't really grown up," she says. "You seem so childish - you never changed."

     "What do you mean?" I asked as my eye brows meet. "I'm not Maricriss, I was never taught to be childish."

     "You know when you were there I pity you all the time. I pity you because you have no childhood," I hear her say. That word childhood, I never knew what it meant. "I've always wanted to help you that but I understand Calvin's condition; on how he spent his whole life for this experiment. That's why on that day I slipped at telling you the date I screamed, I screamed because I thought you'd figure it out. I almost lost my job." A pause. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

     Why is she saying sorry?

     I sat on the bed and gave her space as she sits next to me. Seeing her closely gives me certain conclusions - She's so old, she moves slowly to ease her aches. I supported her back as she sits then she breathes hard.

     "I was twenty at that time," she says. "I was always there for Calvin even if he's ten years older than I am - you know, the typical saying age doesn't matter.”

     “I always supported him in everything cause he is such a darn hard working guy. Nobody, even his parents understands his hardships." She  pauses. "You, you were his father's experiment until he passed away and handed Calvin his responsibility. Calvin never wanted to take your childhood as much as I don't but it was the only way to make his dead father proud. Calvin was never free in his life - well he became happy when he met me," she says chuckling. "But that wasn't enough, he feels like if he stops what his father has begun it would give him karma."

     Those words hit me in my chest. I knew there was hidden on Calvin's eyes, his smiles.

     "So what does Calvin and his father want from me?" I asked, straight to the point.

     Maricriss blinked - raising his arms, his palm presses my cheek. "They want you to live the life you missed. It's a part of their experiment."

     "What are you trying to tell me?"

     "It's better if you ask Calvin about it, I am afraid we have both different perspectives," she says. "I should go now, if ever you need me find me at the kitchen I'll be making lunch." Maricriss turns away and this time I did not stop her from going out. I slammed my body on the bed as I sync in everything she told me.