Dark Energy by carlsojos

Chapter 49

The memories flood my sleeping mind almost immediately. I remember how I woke up. I had cried for longer than ever before. When the tears finally subsided, sadness was gradually replaced with determination. I have to find my parents.

I manage to get out of bed, and begin pacing the room. I glance at a mirror and freeze at the sight. What in the world happened to me? I don't think a single part of my body lacks some form of bandaging. If I didn't hurt so much, I'd probably find the image almost funny. I put my ear against the door to listen. I can hear talking, but nothing specific. I can't go that way. I turn my attention to the window. I'm on the second story, but it leads into an alleyway, nobody would see me, if I can get down safely.

I look at the bed. There are a few stains of red from me-the owner will probably throw out these sheets. I pick the sheet up, grab it with my good arm and teeth, and give it a tug. It's pretty strong, but not quite long enough. I tear it in half and tie the two pieces together. Now I need something to attach it to.

I gently push on a cabinet at one side of the room. I can't get it to move. I pull on the bed, and quickly stop as its feet began to make a loud noise on the floor. I glance about the room, and my eyes settle on the mirror by the window once again. Am I really that hurt? I realize the mirror must be attached to the wall somehow. I walk up to it, and grab the top with my good arm. It's almost as high as I am, so I struggle to reach. Pushing my hip against the bottom, I manage to lift it off its hook.... Oh oh, I'm gonna drop it! A shattering mirror will definitely alert that old man, so I let myself fall backwards, cushioning the mirror from the ground. As the full weight presses on my chest, my vision turns red for an instant as pain rushes all over.

But the mirror didn't break. Once I remember to breathe again, I push the mirror off, and get up. One of the bandages on my chest is turning red- apparently one of my wounds reopened. I look at the wall where the mirror was, and see a sturdy iron nail driven into the stone wall. A simple loop knot to put on the nail and I have a way outside.

I'm almost out the window, when I stop and come back inside. The way I look now, somebody will surely stop me. I need some clothes to hide my bandages, first. There's no wardrobe in this room, and no dirty clothes under the bed- their mom told them to keep a clean room too? I eventually walk over to the cabinet. Mom always said it's not nice to open other peoples' cabinets without permission, but I have a good reason this time. I pull open the doors to find a selection of big clothes. I eventually settle on an old person's blouse and some baggy trousers, which I tailor to my smaller size by tearing off the legs at my ankles and use the scrap to create a makeshift belt. I pull on a thick pair of socks, to protect my feet from the desert sand, since I can't find any shoes.

Back out the window, I wrap the sheet around my arm twice and grab on. I lean out the window and work up the courage to put my feet on the wall. This is kinda fun! I jump in place a couple times, but then I relax my hand a little, and slowly walk backwards down the wall. I reach the knot in the middle, telling myself I'm almost down. As the knot runs along my arm, I suddenly notice it slipping! The sheet separates, and I fall a few feet to the ground. My good arm is bleeding from the makeshift rope digging in, and my back hurts from the impact. I'm not sure if I can get up.

Marika. The ability is there, if you will it to be. Remembering my father's words, I force myself to stand once more. The pain is worse than anything I've ever felt before, but my desire to find my parents gives me the strength to walk into the desert, alone. I know that Aiedo is likely to the west, surrounded by coastline and mountains on the other three sides, so I don't worry about getting lost.

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