Memories (Of Dreams and Demons)

A Bus Shadowed

This is the first rough draft for Chapter 25 - A Bus Shadowed - plot and action outline, needs polish and to paint the background scene.

So as the later afternoon returns to day, the hustle and bustle of daily life springs back up around us. The people of Argyle go about their busy lives, walking around us, not glancing in our direction. Two children sitting out of place in the middle of pandemonium.

The darkness creeps in, but we watch it curiously this time, not quick to flee. It surrounds us, slowly, but a soft light emanating as we hold hands keeps it slightly at bay. No hands or claws reach at us to pulls us apart. Yet with some insight gained towards my power over the black puzzle pieces and day returning, our time with the puzzle has come to an end

She squeezes my hand, "come on, the bus is about to arrive!"

I sit up. So that means we haven't missed the bus this time. Naoko packs the puzzle away, careful not to touch the black piece now securely locked into place.

I turn to watch down the road to my right, under Naoko's firm grip as she turns me away from the train station. She gives me a slight thank-you squeeze and takes a quick skip to stand beside me again. I glance at her, she is all smiles.

She purses her lips ever so slightly, and plays with her pony-tail a moment, before bouncing on her feet a little and pointing down the street. I turn, and the bus pulls up out the front. We haven't missed it!

"The bus is finally here," she waves.

We jump up and run from the train station, waving towards the bus. The bus veers around the corner, little streams of grey following it as it hobbles on wheels towards us. It pulls to a sudden stop, the doors rattling open.

I am here.

I know that voice. It's not the bus! It's that voice. It's him.

Naoko's head snaps up to

Fear fills me, "what are we going to do now?"

"I don't care what he wants," She replies, "we're going on an adventure!"

She jumps on board. I follow her.

"Are you going to get in trouble with your parents?" I ask.

She tilts her head to the side to study me intently, her eyes narrow, then instantly soften.

"No," she smiles, sadly, "I'll be okay."

Big kind busdriver, with a jolly face and always something friendly to say: a warm greeting, a kind word of encouragement, a compliment. Sometimes he'd see the bullies in the mirror causing trouble, he always shouted them down. They'd curse him under their breath, sometimes shouting hollow threats back or spit large globs of goober on the window that he'd always have to clean up later, but they sat down, and they shut up. He is a rare hero on a bus full of animals.

The skies go black about us as the bus screeches off. Behind her, out the window, the recently lit bright sky snaps to pitch black, and colour begins to drain from Argyle.

I look back, one of the rooftops of the train station caves in with a loud crash, shooting rubble and dust into the air. But no one seems to pay it any mind, the children running around and playing and fighting as if it didn't happen. Adults return from work, their solemn faces glaring at concrete, their eyes glued on the ground.

I raise my hand to point at the rooftops, slowly collapsing on themselves, turning dusty and grey, as the blue from the skies around them drains away too. Like some piece of parchment slowly being burnt away by light flame behind it. Naoko places her hand on my arm and lowers it, placing a finger on my lips.