Scorched Earth

Madness

6am well before her alarm is set to go off. Eyes wide open. The air is still. I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE her breath quickens.

Bolting up she quickly grabs her clothes and goes.

Both her parents asleep still. She looks towards their room. A twinge of guilt pangs her. How could she do this to them. Especially her mother. I can't take it though.

She quietly leaves.

————

Outside the air is cooler than usual. It's kinda nice. Almost refreshing. You know, as refreshing as luke warm water after you've burnt your mouth on scalding tea.

She put her scarf over her face and headed for her favorite spot.

Down some old dirt roads. Well everything is dirt now. But these legit used to be dirt roads. Somehow the signs are still here. Mulberry Lane and Creek Crossing. Pfft! What creek? No creek now."
Anyways, on the corner of these two old roads that no one really knows about is a cluster of thickets. There is a whole field of them. Used to be an orchard her mother once told her. "An orchard!" She scoffed.
But in this old orchard is a cluster of thickets that form kind of a cove. That thicket cove. That's her favorite place. Sometimes she daydream about it all being fertile again. How an orchard would look. How it would smell. How a fresh apple would taste. How does grass even feel.
But today she was to upset to venture into those day dreams. She was here to be angry and cry alone in peace. To be angry at something she didn't understand. At world she never knew. At a loss she technically didn't lose. How can one lose a world they never had to begin with?
But low and behold who was in her thicket...
"Indigo?" She asked annoyedly.

"Oh god!" He startled.

"What are you doing here?" She asked with a stern brow.

"I-I was just camping out here for a bit" he replied with a calm demeanor as he stepped closer to her, blocking her view of a green canvas cloth on the ground that was obviously meant to cover what was under it. Faelynn glanced subtlely behind him and took a step back. "Ok..." she looked up and down wondering what to say. Do I ask what he seems to be hiding???? But that's probably a bad idea because after all what if he is a ruthless ruffian after all and kills me she mentally shrugged it off. "Do you want some coffee?"

"You have coffee?" Her interest was piqued.

"Yeah" he chuckled. "C'mon" he led the way out of the thicket. On the other side of it was a tiny camp fire, barely giving off any smoke.

"Huh, how do you get it to smoke so little?"

"Ah, that is a trade secret!" He joked while pouring a fresh cup for her. She took her coffee and sat down on the ground. "So does this mean you're settling in here?" She asked

"No" he laughed. "I'm only here temporarily". "Where to next then?" She asked

"Um, I don't know" he scratched his head.

"What are you one of those loner types looking for paradise?!" She joked.

"No" he smirked.

"Sooo then whyyy??" Omg totally none of my business. What if it's shady??? What if he'd have to kill me to tell me. Shady? No pun intended haha.

He looked down at his coffee then back up at her. Taking a deep breath he looked back down. "Because my family are all dead and I needed to get away".

Yikes Faelynn was floored. I did NOT expect that...

There was an awkward silence

"I'm so sorry" Faelynn tried to break the awkwardness.

"It's fine" he smirked "I shouldn't of said anything because now it's just awkward". Faelynn burst out laughing but quickly covered her mouth to make herself stop. Indigo just blinked for a few seconds before letting out a restrained smile and some laughter as well.

"I'm really am sorry for your loss." Err "losses. When did it happen?". Really??? Is that even an appropriate thing to ask? I guess I'll find out.

"There was a storm last year.."

"I'm so sorry. You don't have to say anymore"

"Thanks.. I just don't even know where I'm going" he chuckled.

Faelynn could see how sad and unsure his eyes were. "Why don't you stay in Greenwick for a bit?"

"Ha, I kinda have to. My bike is busted.."

"I KNEW IT!!" Faelyn gasped and jolted spilling some of her coffee. Indigo made a face realizing he let the cat out of the bag. "I knew you must of had wheels when you told me you were a nomad in need of a screwdriver!!"

"Wait.. how did??" He seemed a little confused as to how she put it together.

"Because screwdrivers are for fixing things and you don't have a home so obviously it would be your transportation!" He nodded and smiled at her line of thought. "Can I see it?" He tried to interrupt her "it's under the green canvas in my thicket right?" He tried to say no but she was off to her thicket. "Wait... your thicket??" He called out to her.

He ran over to see her uncovering and admiring seeing a motorcycle for probably the first time ever. He smiled at her childlike excitement. "Wait" he remembered. "Your thicket?"

"Oh yeah I call it that since I'm the only one that knows about it and it's my favorite place. I come here when I need to be alone because I'm sad or angry. Well I guess now you know about it now too. It's still mine though! Don't get any ideas about stealing it!" She said quickly joking.

She continued to peer at the bike. "Why did you need to come here today?" She paused realizing he actually paid attention to what she said.

Looking up she simply stated "Madness".

"What?" He looked concerned.

"I was going insane from the silence"

"Oh ok.."

"You should come over. You probably need to sterilize your tech clothes. Like really badly I'm sure"

"I-"

She didn't let him I interrupt "C'mon it'll be great! You know how to play chess?"

Feeling overwhelmed he agreed to go.

"Man my dads gonna love seeing a bike.." she paused "omg".. she realized

"What?" He asked concerned.

"My parents are gonna kill me"

"WHAT??!"

"No not for real!" She laughed hysterically. "Just your a stranger, nomad, male. They may be concerned you will kill us in our sleep".

"You bring up death a lot"

Her eyes widened " I'm so sorry" she put her hand over her face.

"I'm kidding" he patted her shoulder

"Oh thank god!!"

"Look I don't wanna cause any issues for your folks. I'll just stay put. You go home. I'm sure they're worried about you"

"Ok" he's probably right.