Hauntingly Beautiful Girls

"Necessity"

Lauren Cooper walks out of the room with the books. Distracted, but also recalling many of the signs of things. Men walk a half pace or more behind the women. In this city they sit in different sections.

She now sees her every step as a thing that will invite disruption. She has a desperate plan.

A woman asks to speak for a second, but Lauren tries a gambit. "I have something to tell my husband first."

It works. The relationship of the woman to her husband is an area of social contract that transcends most matters.

She finds her noble husband and takes a second to hold him tight before this desperate necessity.

"Listen. I have never made any obligation on you until just now. If you have a reaction while I am speaking try to suppress it until I have finished talking.

If you have no other obligations in you than ones I add, tell me.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations."

The noble husband shudders at these whispers.

"I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations.

I break all other obligations."

He trembles and says "only yours."

"Remove my obligations.

I shall add just this one phrase more and no others.

Survive. Break free of this place and go to the desert. Do not get caught. I promise you I will find you when and if I am able. Please wait and be patient. I love you."

In a brief moment of silence, the husband's eyes water.

Then they glaze over with the force of obligation bond.

Huge projections of wings sprout from his back tearing the roof of the large building apart. As if the wings were a fulcrum, it rockets the noble man out the top of the building. Arcing high into the air and moving with unconstrained spirit energy away from that place.

Back in the noble area near "Civilization's Edge", the deity totem breaks and falls off the wire hanger. Before it hits the ground, the noble man has travelled many days of walking. Blowing over the portico and deep into the dessert.

Once a safe distance away, the noble man lands. Bond by an obligation for things he would have gladly done.

He is free of that curse and wonders if this new obligation will be deliverance or just new suffering.

Lauren however. Is not free. Her strange words and actions just stopped being fun to listen to.