Black Hearted

Part 43

Sean shyly hid behind Nate, watching the way Mark blushed at his comment. Mark was looking everywhere except at him now. Nate filled the silence between them by turning to ask him curiously. "Where did you get the money for these?" Sean tilted his head to let Nate's fingers touch his Pearl and bead choker. Lifting his hand, he pointed to Robin and Bob. Nate shot a nervous glance in their direction, but his eyes kept a close watch on the dense crowd around them. Sean could sense his distress. Large crowds seemed to bother him. When Nate's eyes returned to him, he forced a smile as he asked him softly. "How about showing me where you got these?" Nate's hand tapped one of his armbands with the hanging shells and beads. Sean nodded with a smirk, telling him excitedly. "Sure. You'll love it. Follow me!" Sean skipped off through the crowd, pulling Nate along behind him. At the little wooden stall, Nate became transfixed on all the shells and beach jewelry. Chuckling to each other like little kids, they looked over the woman's wares.

Mark was the only one who took no interest in the stall. Instead, Mark chose to lean against a nearby wall, grumbling out mostly to himself. "I don't know what you're getting so worked up about... They're just shells..." Nate nudged Sean, stating out bluntly. "Ignore him. He doesn't appreciate the gifts of the sea, unless they carry a gold value." Mark shot Nate a light glare but said nothing as he crossed his arms over his chest. Sean picked up a little pearl, telling Mark sweetly. "You see this? Do you know how long it takes an oyster to make one of these from a single grain of sand? How can you not see the value in something so pure?" Mark stared at him blankly, answering simply. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To you, that is pure. To me, nothing shines like gold." Nate rolled his eyes, paying the lady for a few pieces of jewelry. Sean set the pearl down, walking slowly over to Mark. Mark didn't move, his eyes looking him over like he was hiding something. Stopping before Mark, Sean told him in a soothing tone of voice. "You only value gold because others told you to. You were raised to seek a fortune. That to be happy... You must possess what everyone around you values."

Sean removed a copper coin from his pocket, holding it up for Mark to see before he continued softly. "You were taught to be greedy. To simply buy what others possess. To treat those without as lesser creatures. But nature cares not for your value in wealth. Nature doesn't take... It gives." Sean dropped the coin onto his palm and held it out for Mark, telling him in a heartfelt voice. "You've forgotten how to share. To trust one another." Mark shook his head, grimly stating out. "You can't share food." Sean took Mark's hand, placing the coin into his hand as he replied sweetly. "Yes, you can. You may go hungry... but a person should think of others before themselves. Good gestures go a long way. A person you help today, could in turn help others that one day... might just help you." Sean patted Mark's shoulder, starting to drift to a food stall as he called out to him over the crowd. "Wealth is a curse, Mark. You can have it all and have nothing of true value." Mark glanced down at the small copper coin in his hand.

Sean's words had weighed heavily on his shoulders. Even now as he stared at the coin, his mind only thought of how little he could buy with it... He couldn't remember a time when he didn't think about money. Closing his hand around it, he lifted his head to see Nate staring off in Sean's direction in disbelief. Mark approached Nate, casually asking him. "What's with the look, Nate?" Nate didn't look at him, answering in a wispy voice. "I... What he just said..." Mark shrugged disinterested, uttering out. "Just a bunch of tall tale thinking... That would never work in society." Nate put a hand on Mark's arm, still not looking at him, when he retorted calmly. "You're wrong. Atlantis worked like that. My father told me that Atlantis shared resources. They didn't believe in money... because Poseidon told them it was cursed by the gods. A test that man failed. Pandora's box." Mark began flipping the coin in his hand, sighing heavily as he grumbled out. "Nate, you're losing me. Speak plainly."