Time felt slowed down as we walked through the cabin. I noticed Marcel and Cleo in the backyard as others gathered around them out of curiosity.
I placed my paintbrush on the empty nightstand as we reached Ms. Valeria's door. Alex didn't bother knocking—he twisted the nob as he pulled it open. Despite Ms. Valeria being sick a sweet floral scent radiated from her room.
Now that I think about it, this was the first time I've fully been in Ms. Valeria's room. It looked like it came right out of a highclass library.
Bookshelves laced together throughout the walls as indents for windows were placed in between columns of books. Her bed laid in the center of the floor as the headboard connected to the wall.
Looking to my right was a desk and wooden stool. The desk was full of papers as pencils and pens sat in a cup.
The most intriguing thing though was a sword that was framed above the headboard. The sword's hilt was a silvery white with etches of writings that I couldn't make out.
The pommel of the sword was an orangey red sphere that looked like it had a fiery glow to it.
The blade looked fierce but at the same time beautiful. A line of silver ran through the middle of the blade, similar to the color of the hilt, as what looked like streaks of gold, white, and yellow wrapped around the edges of the blade.
It also looked a little worn down as I could notice the sword's point was dull and the blade itself didn't look too sharp.
What was most interesting though was the scabbard. It was below the sword in the frame and it looked as if it was made from molten lava.
Ms. Valeria laid under the covers with her eyes closed. Alex stood over her. "I know you aren't asleep." Ms. Valeria didn't respond but an unexpected cough blew her cover as she tried to hold it in.
Even then she still laid under the covers without moving a muscle. "Is there something you need?" She asked.
Alex raised his voice. "Don't act like you don't know why we're here."
I was taken aback by his tone. I didn't think he could talk to her like that.
She sighed before sitting up in bed, leaning against the headboard. "It was just a matter of time huh."
"You lied to us… you've been lying to us this whole time." Alex said as he looked down to his hands and clenched them. "Why did I never try to leave? I used to stare into that void for so long, but I never dared to take that step."
He sighed as he unclenched his hands and relaxed them at his side. "Have we been getting manipulated this whole time?"
Ms. Valeria didn't falter at Alex's words, she sat proud as a faint melancholy smile grew on her face. "I did it for you… all of you. I had to protect you."
Her gaze looked like it locked onto mine. "I couldn't let anything happen to you."
"Protect us from what exactly… what's out there, in the real world." Alex said. His words must've hit Ms. Valeria hard this time as she looked down to her lap.
"There's a world full of evil waiting for you. That real world is cruel… it's unforgivable—unfair." She shifted positions to her side, now facing away from us. "I hated that world."
"That's so selfish!" Alex yelled out as Ms. Valeria visibly shuddered."We should be the ones to decide whether the world is evil or not, that wasn't a decision for you to make!"
Ms. Valeria raised her voice as she still laid on her side. "It was the choice that kept you all alive!"
She coughed a couple times before turning to look Alex in the eyes. "And I would make that choice a million times over, even if you hate me for it, because I would rather have you hate me than to see my children suffer—or even worse, die. That's not the life that was promised to you."
Alex teared up as he stomped out of the room. I was alone with Ms. Valeria as she took a deep breath. "Im so sorry you had to find out like this." She looked so genuinely sad—guilty really.
"What you did was wrong… but we can't change the past now." I walked closer to Ms. Valeria as I grabbed her boney hand. "Let us see it… let us see the real world."
Her hand tensed in mines. "You can't."
"Why not?" I responded as I let go of her hand. "We need to be able to decide for ourselves Ms. Valeria."
She avoided eye contact with me as she lowered her head. "This isn't about me being too weak to let my children see the world, it's something else."
"What else?" I asked. Her muscles tightened. "A bargain…or a deal of sorts."
"A deal?" I questioned as Dahlia popped her head into the room. "Simon, I need you out here now." Her voice was firm—assertive.
I gave a look back to Ms. Valeria before leaving the room with Dahlia.
I don't know what to think right now. That couple steps in the hallway felt like eternity.
As we walked into the living room everyone was sitting at the kitchen table, the only empty seats being Ms. Valeria's and Alex's.
I sat at the end of the table as Marcel sat at the opposite end. "This is stupid." he muttered as he kicked his feet.
"It's not stupid it's necessary." Cleo added. "We need to talk about this, like a family."
Luther scoffed as he leaned in his chair. "I leave for not even half a day and everything's gone to crap. You guys really need me don't you."
"Where were you anyway?" Runi asked. Luther puffed his chest out. "It's actually a secret."
"Can we take this more seriously?" Dahlia said as she smacked the table with both hands. Marcel stood up from his chair. "I don't wanna talk."
Cleo grabbed his arm as he got up—shooting him a quick smile. "Please, for Ms. Valeria?"
He reluctantly sat down as Dahlia took command. "So, what happened between you two?" The silence was loud, nobody said a word as we sat there.
I felt Dahlia's foot kick mine as she widened her eyes at me. I sighed as I cleared my throat. "I'm not the one that has a problem here."
Marcel went to say something but hesitated—like he couldn't get the words out. He hunched in his chair as I continued. "This happens all the time, we get into some argument over something who knows how stupid, we fight about it, then we make up."
"I guess you never really grew up from back in the day, I think we're becoming a little too old for this same dance."
I could see Marcel's expression change, like he really took offense to what I said. He went from almost sulking to sitting up in his seat. "I also think we're too old for this, you should've grown out of your cowardice years ago."
"It really makes it worse because you don't even realize it, the tone you speak with sometimes, like you have everything better to do. The condescending attitude that from what I know you didn't even know you had."
"You've been trying to change haven't you, be more social and honest, but you're still living a lie Simon, and it isn't hard to see."
The room didn't dare to make a sound as our words clashed with each other's. My stomach turned as Marcel spoke. Everything he's been saying is right. I'm so flawed in so many ways I don't even realize.
Am I the one in the wrong?
I grit my teeth. "This isn't about me is it, no no, it's about you, it's about how weak you feel. You think if you had a vusk like me you could actually make a change—a difference in our small little lives?"
Runi interrupted. "Okay that's enough."
"No." I said as I stood up. "Well guess what Marcel, you could have 3 vusks and you would still be useless, too weak to make a change just like I am!"
My breathing was heavy. I didn't even think about what I was saying, I just spoke. I let my emotions consume me.
Marcel also stood up as he walked to the door. "I never want to talk to you again."
Silence once again enveloped the room. "That was… something." Cleo said. "I think we should give Marcel some space for now."
"You went too far Simon." Dahlia growled. I ignored her as I pushed my chair in.
Walking through the hall I could hear Runi trying to talk to me. I zoned everything out, only one thing was on my mind.
I felt a small hand grab my arm as I ripped it away. I quickly jerked my head back. "Don't… touch me."
I didn't allow myself to see her reaction as I grabbed my brush and made my way upstairs.
As I entered the lounge my legs froze. I stared at my easel as pieces of it laid on the ground. My remaining canvases were all destroyed.
I walked closer as I noticed even my old paintings had rips and tears in them. The sketch of Ms. Valeria laid on the floor with a punch hole through the middle.
A desolate expression filled my face. I ran my hand across the old painting of everyone in the backyard. It was ruined.
When did he have the time to do this? I looked closer to the punch hole in the Ms. Valeria sketch. "This looks bigger than Marcel's fist."
A yell from downstairs stole my attention. "Simon, Ms. Valeria wants to see you!"
Taking a quick sigh I picked up the sketch and moved all of the destroyed pieces to the back corner of the room.
I made sure to show no emotion as I walked down the stairs, sliding my paintbrush into my pocket.
Dahlia leaned on the wall as I entered the hallway. After seeing me she walked away as I opened Ms. Valeria's door.
The same floral scent hit me as I stepped in. Ms. Valeria sat up in her bed, like she's been waiting for me to enter.
A weird silence followed as I closed the door behind me. "So, what did you need?"
"Don't you want to finish our conversation?" She asked. I cracked a small chuckle. "That isn't why you wanted to see me is it?"
She spoke in a lighter tone. "I overheard some of your conversation with Marcel, you know it breaks me to my core to see you two fight."
I pulled the stool from under her desk as I walked it closer to her bed. "He's acting like a child." I said as I sat down.
She softly smiled and nodded. "That's because he is a child, just like you."
I took a deep breath. "I don't care anymore, if he doesn't want to talk to me then that's what he wants."
"Why do you lie Simon?"
My face perked up. "What do you mean lie?"
Ms. Valeria shuffled forward in her bed as she lay down. "No matter how much you say you don't care… I see it on your face."
"I can tell you wanted everything to stay exactly the same… but that's not how the world works, and I'm sorry for not showing you that real world."
"You saw his face, didn't you? How did he look to you? Did he look guilty or apologetic for his actions, or did he look confident and prideful."
"I know Marcel… he loves too hard, it makes him compulsive at times, but I also know Marcel is forgiving, tell me Simon, did you give him a chance to ask for forgiveness?"
My hands felt moist. More and more I'm starting to think I made the wrong decision.
Maybe I shouldn't have taken shots at Marcel like that.
I dragged my hands down my face as I could feel the sweat on my forehead. I was in the wrong.
Ms. Valeria cackled. "Did you know you always do that, the hands on your face thing, I think it's cute."
This has become a habit of mine, but I could tell she was trying to lighten the mood.
"I think I'm gonna try and apologize to Marcel, if he doesn't accept it that's fine, but I at least want him to hear me out."
Ms. Valeria smiled, almost like she planned this out. "You are so strong Simon." Her eyes looked as if they were filled to the brim with love.
"I think I do want to finish our conversation now." I said between laughs. No matter how down I am, Ms. Valeria always manages to make me feel better.
She coughed a few times as she adjusted her position in bed. "I don't even think I remember the conversation we had before."
I knew she was joking but I decided to remind her anyway. My voice got a little more serious as I looked to my feet. "The barrier, and that deal you made."
Ms. Valeria smiled as she looked towards the warm sun setting through the window. "Ah yes, the deal I could never regret making."