The Crow & The Sparrow

Chapter Six: For The Record

Nightmares began plaguing Kele's dreams. Becoming restless and an insomniac, it started to make her paranoid and irritable. The following days after her horrible birthday party only put a heavier weight on both shoulders. Though Cynthia never told her daughter about the events that would ensue afterward. Instead she worked on keeping it from Taima for as long as possible.

Thia was trying to be a good mother and assure her child would have a life before being wed. Keeping it from Kay would be sparing her the pain. But it really was sparing that deep wound for herself, not the daughter. I need to speak with Alaric about changing the day, wait until she actually grows up and understands what's going on.

three weeks may have passed but if you asked her what she did those twenty-one days, she wouldn't know. Not what she ate. If she slept or not. Last time she spoke to anyone was that night. All days were running together like someone just spilled water onto paper with ink writing.

The dark magenta circles beneath her mustard irises showed the wear that her smile dared not show. Light greenish blue rings connected Tia's brows to her purple and pink under eyes. Sitting at the kitchen counter, she rests a hand on her cheek. Cynthia had cooked breakfast only for her dear daughter to not touch it. Never a good sign for someone so young...

The distrust between Chunta and Kele was evident more than ever before, all ties were cut to her. Their relationship had always been strained but the other night was the last straw. He had always been a cruel parent, just something about what he said stuck in Kay's mind. It was uncalled for and cruel even for him.

Keeping off in the void pit that was Taima's room, or going back to the church to see if Eric was there. The days continued to pass till one Monday when she arrived at the roof. A familiar figure sitting in the center of the old worn shingled rooftop. Eric.

A smile broke through the depression in her heart. Crouching down to crawl through the window in the bell tower, Eric turned in fear for a moment. Releasing who it was, he relaxed and stood up, something in hand. Slipping it behind his back for a surprise moment. She looks tired, worn down, broken inside...

What has happened since I last saw her?

"Long time no see." The artist stated, "Been going through some stupid crap." the Sparrow rubbed her tired eyelids.

"How was your birthday?" Eric questioned as if he knew what happened, "I don't want to talk about it." was all she spoke.

"On a scale of horribleness?" Draven tried to joke, "Negative one hundred." Kay replied and walked over to sit by him.

"I have a father, but I never had a dad." Kele's heart began to ache, making her clutch it tightly. I could've killed myself or him that night. I'm condemned to hell on earth. No matter if I deserve it or not.

Making a hard fist around the black fabric of the first shirt Tai wore, the pitch colored button up long sleeve. Young Draven was taken back, speechless and having nothing comforting to say to her. All he could do was lay a gentle hand on the teen's shaking shoulder. No one should feel like that on their birthday. Out of all them, not in their sixteenth.

Noiseless sniffles filled the air around them, making poor Sparrow cover her face to avoid the pity look of Eric. It is supposed to be a coming of age day. Full of joyful moments and fun, not an evening of pure torment by her tone. Anger grumbled in his chest just watching the attempt to hide that she felt pain.

It was so quiet that the tear drops that fell onto the wooden beam almost echoed. Wrapping an arm across Kele's chest, he just held her there. Silent as a mouse crawling up the wall. The shakes of pain and anger is too much for her to endure. The dark circles, the hollowed cheeks compared to our first meeting.

It's killing her truly. Not speaking they were showing that it was okay for a teenager to have these moments of vulnerability. No judgment. No words of encouragement even. That's not what she needs right now.

Thunder started to threaten the pair as they sat together in a whirlpool of emotional struggles. The record that she forgot last time we were here, together.

"I have something to give you Kele." Eric spoke quietly to not startle the shaking Sparrow, "What." she whimpered.

"Your record that you bought, the first time we met. You left it up here. I have kept it safe till I could return it. I knew how important it was to you." Young Draven explained, unwrapping his arm from her shoulders and revealing the Hangman's Joke cover.

"My record..." Taima whispered, "How could I have forgotten it, thank you Eric." she gently took it from his hands.

Tracing the words and the picture on the front with her fingers, "No need to thank me, it was the decent thing to do." Eric smiled.

"Decent." Tai mumbled, "What?" Draven asked.

"Sorry. Decent... I'm not used to that word." All this teen has ever known is everything less than simple human decency?

Rain started to pour down onto the friends, making them laugh and run unto the cover of the bell tower. The rhythmic tinks of the thousands of drops of water on the metal tin roof was somehow relaxing to the pair. Sitting in the shelter, Eric and Kele just sat down together. Watching the storm consume the city below. Covering the streets and roads with at least four inches of precipitation.

The low thunder growls filled the dark clouds above. Ke moved closer to the opening, sticking one palm out to feel the rain hit the skin of her hand. Smiling as the water dripped off, Draven observed in content. Simple pleasures seem to be rarely available to her, just watching the storm makes a smile appear. I would give away all I have just to see this spirited girl to have happiness for longer than a couple hours.

Just seeing the angry winds whip through Kele's pale brown ponytails just brings me peace. How perfectly straight her teeth are whenever they are shown, it is incredible... Hard to believe this girl lives in such poor circumstances, experiencing so many horrors of the world. Even before she is an adult... The sharp points of her canines stick to her bottom lip slightly.

Ashy blonde locks, tanned skin, tired golden eyes, shining smile, and sharp jawline make a doll like girl. But yet she couldn't be more down to earth and real. Far from fake and shallow. Matching eyelashes flicker towards the iron gray sky, thick and long, they wave with any turn of attention. Taima lives in the moment, not getting out very often at least during rain storms.