Lourdes stumbled over the rocks in the backwoods creek. Her rubber boots did nothing to keep out the chill of the freezing winter water. Milo, her brown retriever, splashed past her and covered the back of her pants with cold, dirty water. She hissed and whipped around.
"Milo! Slow down, crazy!" But Milo didn't listen. He was a dog, for goodness sake. A dog that was now about two hundered feet away. She stepped onto the 1 1/2 inch thick ice left over from last week's snow day. It was weaker than she thought and her heart dropped when her foot did the same, into the creek with another splash. Her heart rate dissipated and now the front of her pants were wet, leaving her hissing. "Why do I get so freaked out wen the ice breaks? It's only ice, and I know that."
People could be like creek ice. When the ice is first there, it's unbreakable, seemingly, letting you dance around and stomp, sliding along the relativly smooth surface. Then you come back the next day. The ice is the same, but it groans and creaks in the middle as the thaw starts. Then comes the times you come back with your confidence in the ice, it lets you drop into the water.
There was also ice that was covered in the sandy silt of the banks, making it look like it was part of the beach. When you step on that hidden platform, it breaks and scares you out of your whits. Then when the thaw comes, there are those tiny little bits of inch-thick ice that still cling on to the sides of the waterway, which is now raging and flowing fast, water like brown silk.
But not all people were like ice. Not even close to all. There were so many like giant trees, letting you lean on them safely. Then others like the wind, moving on and moving others. But Lourdes didn't know where she fell in. Frankly, she didn't want to. Sometimes, she felt as if she were the best person in the world, and others, she felt like the worst. An angel, or a jerk. A friend, or a foe. It depended. That was her point of view.
Everything she answered about what she liked was answered with an "It Depends." She felt that everything depended on the situation. She wanted to live in the now, to live in what was happening. Not plan two months ahead, just for one little pinprick to bring down her tower of cards.
Deep thoughts for a walk in the woods. Very deep thoughts. She called Milo back to her and started towards the house. The looming, bare trees swayed like skelital limbs in the wind. She slipped her dark ebony hair out of her eyes and stepped over a fallen log. Just then, Milo crashed through the trees, into the bushes, and across the frozen ground. He then stopped with a skid at her feet. Like always. They stepped out of the woods and into the dried up grass. Jensen, her drown tabby cat, sat bored looking on the porch. he didn't like the outdoors. In fact, he hated them. With all his heart. Lourdes pet him out they way in, only getting a dirty look in return.
"Lourdes, you have a package. Your're lucky Milo didn't tear it up. Despite the sign, that FedEx guy still left it by the door and not on the table." She gigled at her mother's remark and accepted the package from her. She walked into her room and sat on her bed.
To: Lourdes Delaware
From: SOTSM
URGENT: OPEN IMMEDIATLY
She turned the little package over in her hands. It was about four inches by three inches and as she opened it, she became aware of a small jewelry box inside. She pulled it out of the bubble wrap and opened it. A small, clear crystal, about an inch long, sat at the bottom. she picked it up gingerly and no sooner than she did, it began to desintigrate. She felt a bit dizzy and watched as the sand turned to dust, and the dust turned into a cloud that snuck out under the door. Her head swam. She lay down on her bed as the room spun. Then when she closed her eyes, it stopped. She sat up.
Her hands weren't there. Her arms seemed to be dissapearing quickly. No! Stop! She thought. Her hands returned. This was curious. She thought again. Dissapear again. They were gone. She smiled.
10 minutes later, Lourdes, now invisible, walked into the kitchen. Her mother sat at the table eating lunch. Lourdes stood directly behind her, without her knowing. It was a bit comical.
Imagine what I could do with this, she thought.
YOU ARE READING
Something Strange: The Arsonist
FantasyLourdes doesn't know where she belongs. She likes to be alone. But when fate pushes her into the hot seat, how will she react? Rory Is very docile. He has many friends, but he doesn't talk much. When new powers appear in him and others, how will he...
