The Last Theiro

31

Alec
•••

On the wall that had been crumbling those past twenty years, I rested, letting my eyes roam over the graffiti. With the finger of my right hand, I felt the cracks and the pits made by so many seasons of hail and rain. My left hand tightened involuntarily around the candy bars, making the wrappers crinkle. They had seemed like such a great idea in the store, something we had eaten when we were kids, back when we were just two spotty teens throwing airplanes at the back of the class. What if in the last two decades she had become someone else, prim and well-to-do? For all her antics, Tracy was the smart one. What if she just looked at them like they're cheap candy and chocolate? Come to think of it they're kind of hard to chew and they made a mess.

Before I could stow them behind the wall I heard her.

"Alec! Is that Curly Wurly's?! Awesome!" It was Tracy, an older version, but still in jeans, casual, smiling...

Before I could protest, I was pulled into a hug and buried in odorous bubblegum.
"How are you?" Tracy asked when she pulled away.

She stared at me for a while with a raised eyebrow. "Alec, what happened?"

I swallowed, sending down the grief and guilt. "Can we talk somewhere else?"

Her gentle brown eyes widened. "Sure."

Tracy's house was identical to its neighbours right down to the shade of paint on the iron balconies, but I knew which one was hers right away. Whereas every other dwelling was simply the towering black brick, hers was a riot of blooms in every shade. Along the rail hung boxes and below were hanging baskets. So without even checking the number on the door, she wrapped the brass lion knocker three times and waited. I heard the approaching of footfalls and the door opened a crack, a hazel eye peeking out.

"Mama." Tracy smiled warmingly and tilted her head in my direction. The hazel eye swiveled to me and narrowed. "Alec has come to visit."

Mrs. Lewis stared at me before she opened the door and extended her warm arms to me. I welcomed the smell of hot buns and smiled at her.

"It's so good to see you again, Alec," she said. She reached up and caressed my cheek. Her brown eyes were filled with empathy.

I crinkled my nose. "Same to you, Mrs. Lewis. Although, I do wish it was under different circumstances."

Mrs. Lewis dropped her hand to her side and her hazel eyes flickered to Tracy who nodded her head in encouragement.

"Please, come in, dear," she murmured and wiped her hands over her pink apron.

Mrs. Lewis lead me to the kitchen and I seated myself awkwardly at the table. Tracy hovered at the entrance and crossed her arms over her chest. Mrs. Lewis settled a steaming cup of tea in front of me and wrapped her hands around my knuckles affectionately.

"What is it that's bothering you, Alec?" She questioned with caution.

I heaved a sigh. "The vampires are closing in on us. The land of the dead has been tampered with, resulting in lost souls entering our world. The empire is collapsing. The people are angry and displeased with our rule. And..." I paused and glanced up at Mrs. Lewis and Tracy then bowed my head, as if to send a silent signal to warn them for what I was about to say.