A Single World to Change - Chapter Two

Chapter Two

I went to school the next day as if nothing had happened. I had put the weirdness of yesterday down to being over-tired and had gone to bed as soon as I got home. It must have been a hallucination or a dream. Maybe I had sleepwalked up to the roof. All I could hope was that no one had seen me acting in a strange way or, at least, they wouldn't comment on it.
I was grateful that my friends didn't seem to think anything peculiar had happened and even began to enjoy their light-hearted conversation which I usually found mind numbingly boring.
Everything seemed more interesting now. All it had taken was one strange experience and my routine of boredom was broken. I wanted to shout and punch the air. I wanted to dance and sing, I was so relieved.
I managed a smile as I took my seat. The expression on the teacher's face reflected the surprise I was sure many around me felt. I had become fairly infamous in my classes: the kid who sat there, grim and silent. The stereotypical introvert. Many people had tried to talk to me at the start, regardless.
“Hey, what's up?”
“Nothing really.”
“Oh. Did you go to that party last week?”
“No.”
“Ah... never mind then.”
They quickly left me alone. Many were surprised to find I had friends.
The lesson was normal enough, as the teacher tried their best to ignore the kids at the back who talked in a near-continuous stream of unintelligible words. Some took notes while the majority just leaned back in their seats and waited for the ordeal to be over.
I was grateful for my window seat. I loved to look out over the wide, flat expanse of the rural landscape, the deep green of the grass that met the pale blue of the sky on the horizon. I found, looking at that thin line between land and sky, I felt at peace.
It was as I stared outside that I spotted the girl in the red jacket.
Hazel stood, her gaze almost strong enough to penetrate the window between us. My eyes locked onto her slender figure below in shock. I pulled my head back, removing my chin from my hands where it had been resting, and blinked once, twice.
What did she think she was doing? Didn't she know that the school had severe consequences for skipping lessons? No, I was sure she was aware of that, she probably just didn't care.
But why hadn't anyone noticed her? Usually there were a few teachers, or other staff, off duty. They often loitered in the courtyard when the weather was this good. Surely they would have noticed her? She must have incredible luck.
I swallowed and found my throat bone dry. I hadn't expected to ever see her again. How had she found me?
I pried my eyes from her and turned back to watch the teacher perform his role for the class. I forced myself not to look outside again until the lesson was over, but time seemed to have slowed to a crawl. My gaze slid towards the window every couple of minutes and eventually I couldn't take it anymore. Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, I turned. She was no longer there.
I frowned. She should have waited until the lesson was over to find me.
The instant the bell rang to signal lunch, I dashed from my seat and skidded straight down the corridor, deaf to the calls of my friends. I could guess where Hazel would be.

“It's good to see you again, Victor.”
She spoke in her usual wistful tones, but her voice was lighter. There was a hint of happiness that had been absent before. I leaned against the wire mesh, my arms folded in front of me, while she stood with her hands clasped behind her. Her hair whipped around in the breeze.
“I suppose so...”
I made no effort to hide my dissatisfaction. She picked up on it and a subtle change came over her melancholic features, as if shadow passed over them. It was brief, but I felt some regret deep within me, that I had caused her to look like that.
“I wonder what could be wrong? You seemed happier this morning.”
I was instantly alert. I had been in class all morning.
“Wait a minute, you've been watching me?”
She looked away, sheepish, but now I was annoyed.
“Answer me. Where you watching me earlier?” I growled.
She shrugged. She looked like a child caught staining a new shirt. But when her eyes met mine, they were filled with a deep sadness.
“What of it? It's not like I'm not allowed to.”
I frowned. She was right, but I was insulted by her careless attitude. She was like a different person from when I had talked to her yesterday; immature, sulking. Disappointment welled up in my chest.
I shook my head. “I suppose you're right.”
I made to walk away, satisfied to just leave it at that. It would have been fine if I never saw her again. She was just a reminder of yesterday. Something I would prefer to forget.
“Wait!” She called after me.
I turned. She remained where she was. Her sad eyes made her look like a kicked puppy.
I sighed. “What is it?”
Her deep blue eyes bored into mine and something like fear or excitement sparked within my chest. I saw her the way I had yesterday afternoon; tragic, alone.
“Well... No, it's nothing.”
The feeling vanished almost as soon as it had appeared. She was just a girl again. Nothing more than ordinary.
I shivered as the cool air chilled me. I didn't want to be there anymore. Hazel unnerved me more than I would have thought possible. Yet she also intrigued me. I began to walk towards the door.
As the cold began to pierce through my thin, grey sweater, I paused. Wasn't she going to go home?
“Don't stay up here too long. You'll get sick.” I called to her over my shoulder.
I heard a quiet laugh of surprise, and found myself smiling as I descended the stairs.

I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling. A blank expanse of whiteness, like an endless desert. I let my mind drift to thoughts of the 'dream' yesterday. A strange coincidence that I would meet such an interesting girl after an experience like that. Almost too convenient.
I shifted to get more comfortable and allowed my gaze to drift over the small desk packed with books, the unplayed piano, the dying potted plant. It didn't look like a room someone lived in, more like a storage cupboard. I became more annoyed the longer The feeling grew and grew until it became unbearable. My fingers twitched.
I rose and, without thinking, sat at the large, black piano. Its neglect was obvious from the layer of dust that had settled upon the keys.
I began to play, although I hadn't realised I still remembered how. My notes were not as confident as they had once been. Still, the tune came slowly but surely, only partially muted by the dust. I played gently at first, then faster and faster. As if possessed, my hands leapt over the keys for the longest time. I played until the sun set and the moon rose in its place, over tunes I had once known off by heart but now struggled to recall.
A warmth grew in my chest and spread through my body. I smiled to myself as my head ducked in time to the music, keeping the rhythm. I heard myself laugh over the sound that echoed through the empty house.
Finally, my fingers left the keys and the music stopped. It left a painful silence in its wake.
I was out of breath, but as I stood I found that I was filled with energy. I had not felt like this for a long time. It was euphoric.
A loud knock on my door broke my trance.
“Um... Yes? Who is it?” My voice was strange to my ears. I sounded like I had just woken up. I sounded alive.
The door opened and in walked my mum. She stood almost a head shorter than me with an unreadable expression on her face.
“You just finished work?” I asked.
“Yes.” Mum sighed and looked at me with her dark brown – almost black – eyes. After a moment, she ran a hand through her thick hair. “You've started playing again?”
Her irritation was unexpected. Her face used to light up whenever I played a new song for her. But that was years ago.
“Um, yes. I just thought I'd give it a go.”
Another sigh. Her voice was heavy and tired. Numerous lines I hadn't noticed before ran through her gaunt face.
“You'll wake the neighbours if you play it any later and I'm going to bed, so leave it at that for tonight, okay?”
I nodded, surprised to find a lump in my throat as I watched her retreat. How had I not seen her age? Did I even remember how old she was? I strained my brain but, after several minutes, realised that I could not recall. What else I had missed over the last few years? Had she changed jobs, made new friends? She looked so worn out... Guilt gripped my chest with ice cold fingers.
“Hey, mum...”
She turned, standing halfway down the narrow corridor.
“Um, goodnight.” I smiled a little, for her.
She blinked, nodded, turned.
“Goodnight, Victor.”
She was soon out of sight. I returned to my bed and closed my eyes. Vague shapes of light danced in my eyelids. I wondered if Hazel lived like me. I couldn't imagine her in a quiet house like my own, she was too eccentric for that. Did she have parents with her all the time? Maybe they worked from home? I could see that.
As I mulled over these unanswerable questions, I lay back and, after only a moment, fell into a deep sleep.

Tap, tap, tap.
The sound came from far away, muffled as if behind something.
I opened my eyes. I had fallen asleep with my light on and the curtains only half drawn. Normally I needed absolute darkness. Even sunlight, blocked by my curtains, was enough to wake me.
But I could see no light outside. It must have been the middle of the night or the early hours of the morning. I hadn't slept long.
Tap, tap, tap.
I had thought it just a strange dream, but now that my eyes were open I could hear the sound with perfect clarity. It came from my window.
I struggled upright as I tried to shake off the numbness of sleep and stumbled to the window. I hoped that it was just the loose window frame and not a cut wire or broken tree branch. I had heard how dangerous those could be.
I pulled the curtains back as I prepared myself for the worst, but it still took me a few moments to comprehend what I saw outside.
There was pure blackness. No streetlights, no stars. I couldn't see anything beyond my windowsill. I gaped at the sight. Had there been a power cut? What could be the reason? Maybe there had been an explosion in the nearby plant, but I had heard nothing... And what about the stars, the moon?
As I wondered what to do next, I saw something move outside. I wasn't sure how I could see it, with the complete lack of light, but there was definitely movement below.
I hesitated for only a moment, then reached down and pulled the window open. I found the still air outside was the same temperature as my room. In Autumn? That wasn't just unlikely, it was impossible. I ignored this as much as I could and leaned out.
There! The movement was obvious despite being so subtle, a twitch. I couldn't see what caused it, but it looked like light reflected off something. What could reflect non-existent light?
I heard a loud knock on the front door, as if someone had hit it with a fist of steel. I jolted back and looked from the window to my bedroom door, unsure of my next move. The knock came again, horrifically loud. My ears rang. It was like a nightmare, except somehow I knew I wasn't dreaming. Where was mum? Hadn't the noise downstairs woken her? I heard no sound from her room, right next to mine, so she must have been asleep.
The next knock was so loud, I had to cover my ears.
Silence. I straightened. I would have to deal with this myself. It must be a worried neighbour. But my mother and I had never become close to anyone who lived near us. We always kept to ourselves. I deeply regretted that now.
I smothered my fear as best I could and began the long walk to the front door. The hallway was dark - pitch black. The knocks were more frequent now, desperate. Below, I could hear a deep voice call out, but could not hear the words over the hammering. As my hand reached out, ready to lift the latch, a piercing scream ripped through me. A loud bang, then silence.
I froze, my hand only inches from the handle. My fingers shook. What happened? Why had the knocking stopped? Someone could be hurt, or worse. It would be too much for me to bear if I just let them die without going to help. I took a deep breath to calm myself.
Open the door.
I reached forward, my heart in my mouth, and wrenched the door back. I raised my arm before me as I looked out into the darkness.
I did not have to look far. Sprawled at my feet, upon the stone step, there lay a man. He was small and balding, wearing a black suit. But what really drew my eyes to him was the dark, crimson blood that pooled around his small body.
I must have passed out for a moment, because when I raised my eyes from the blood I was sat on the floor. What was a dead, or dying, man doing laid on the front steps? He looked like he had been stabbed. A narrow cut in the back of his dark jacket revealed a white shirt stained red with blood.
I stood and looked outside once again. Was the murderer still near? I should have returned to my room and locked the door, but for some reason I found myself drawn out. I was curious and this overpowered my fear. I stepped off the front step, careful not to nudge the body, when I saw the strange glint of light once more. A blade. It caught the light that did not exist and threw it back with a reddened gleam. Blood.
I took only a moment to link everything I had seen. The attacker was still here. They had been waiting for whoever lived in the house to come out so they could kill potential witnesses. Me.
My legs went weak. Tears came to my eyes as I realised that I was in danger, real danger. I tried to judge if I could make it back to the door before they got me, but I was too close to the killer. I could hear their breath, hissing through clenched teeth. I could see the blade it held being raised slowly. They knew I could not escape.
“No...”
I wasn't going to just stand there and let them kill me like that poor man on the step. I wasn't going to end up a corpse. I didn't want to die, to leave my mother all alone. It wasn't fair. I knew I had nothing to lose. It was either remain where I was and definitely die, or run for it and hope I moved faster than them.
Of course, I ran.
The world went into slow motion. My legs wavered beneath me. I heard a low laugh from behind and, like a monster from a nightmare, I knew the killer was after me. My feet rose and fell too slowly. My breath was ragged and shot from my lungs as soon as it was pulled in. My hand was out before me as I reached for the door, for safety.
Something hit me like a hammer on my back. Was this was what it felt like to be stabbed? It didn't seem like I was cut. However, cut or not, the pain was enough to cause me to fall, and I landed on my side. Hard.
The wind was knocked from my lungs and my senses were rattled, so I hardly saw the figure that leaped over my fallen form turn back to me. It took me a few moments to recover, but I was surprised I had been allowed that time. Surely the killer should have tried to finish me off?
I struggled to sit up as the dark figure made no move to come towards me. It talked to itself in a low, angry tone, and ignored me completely. I prodded my back with my fingers, trying to work out if I had any serious injury. But now, as the shock began to pass, it didn't really hurt that much.
Seeing me move, the figure turned and, in light that seemed to have no source, a young man stood with a scowl on his face. He was plain; average height and build, with brown hair and dark eyes.
He raised his blade, a thin sword, and levelled it at me. It really was coated with blood.
“You!”
I jolted back at his voice, loud and clear like a horn. I expected him to continue but he said no more, only glared at me with pure hate. Silence fell over us for a moment, until I began to feel uncomfortable.
“Um... yes?”
The man smirked, as if pleased by my response.
“What are you?” His voice was softer than before, but his eyes burned with fire.
I blinked, not sure how to respond. At my silence, he let out a bark of laughter that echoed in the night air.
“Ha! Do you not know what you are? Why, how strange!”
As he talked, he gestured wildly with his free arm, leaving the blade pointed at me. His eyes jumped around in their sockets, unable to remain stationary for even a moment.
“You deflected my blade! I demand to know how this is possible!”
I flinched as he took a large, exaggerated step towards me and laid the sword on my shoulder.
“U-um...”
“Don't mutter! Speak loudly and with resolve! Always with passion!”
If I had not been so scared, I would have laughed. His whole manner was completely bizarre, almost cartoon-like. He was unreal.
“I-I'm sorry, but I don't know.”
“Eh?!”
I paused for a moment. “To be honest, when I ran from you, I thought I was going to be stabbed. I don't know why I wasn't... Did you use the wrong side of the blade?”
The man frowned as he thought this over, but then he shook his head. “Not a chance! I never miss my kills.”
More confident now he wasn't trying to kill me, I tried to speak with more strength. “So you... you did kill that man then?”
“Of course!” He replied in a jovial tone. “I stabbed him straight through the back as he knocked on your door! Strange man that he was, he hardly ran at all. Not much fun.”
Anger rose within me. My hands clenched into fists. I almost didn't care that the sword was so close to my neck as rage smothered my fear.
“How can you talk like that? How can you talk about killing a man as if it's a game?” My voice was low. I kept it level as, otherwise, I would have shouted at the monster of a man before me.
He frowned and his smile disappeared. I had put my life in more danger, but I couldn't hold back. I was so angry.
“He's a person, just like you and me! Why did he deserve to die? What gave you the right to kill him, to stab him in the back like a coward?”
“Shut up.”
The sharp edge of the sword brushed against my neck. It didn't cut the skin but felt hot, like a brand. I tried not to show my pain, but my face must have given me away. He leaned back and shook his head.
“You don't get it? It's my role. This is what I'm meant to do. I need to go around in darkness, carrying my sword, killing people and creating fear. That's why I was created.”
I blinked, confused. “Are you... talking about God?”
He laughed then flung his head back and allowed the sound to reverberate off the houses that surrounded us. When he managed to stop, his face was alight with a grin.
“God? God's got nothing to do with this! You think I was created by God?”
I was unsure how to respond.
He ignored my silence and continued, his voice louder than ever. “I was created not by a god, but merely a subconscious mind. I know exactly where I come from and why I was made.”
He smiled at me, then winked. “I'm sure that's more than you know. You don't know your purpose, am I right?”
Stunned, I didn't reply. He sighed and prodded my knee with his heavy, black boot.
“No, I don't know.” I muttered.
He grinned with satisfaction.
“But I know what I believe to be wrong.” I continued. “You say that's your purpose, but surely you're able to control your own body? Why don't you choose for yourself?”
His scowl returned with renewed force and for a moment it looked like he was going to try and stab me again. But to my surprise, he pulled his sword back and slid it into a black sheath that hung on his hip. He watched something over my shoulder.
I wasn't sure what to say after getting no response for such a heartfelt speech. The man squinted into a light that grew stronger behind me. I could see it reflect off the silver that was embedded in the scabbard.
“Um, hello?”
He glanced at me as if he had forgotten I was there. “Oh, you. Even if I had time, I don't think I would answer your question. It's obvious you have no idea what's going on, so I can only guess at what's happened.”
“Excuse me?”
He growled. “As I said, I don't have time to talk to you anymore. Maybe we'll meet again, but for now she is waking up and I must go.”
I began to stand as he strode past me and towards the source of the light, which I saw was the rising sun.
“Hey, who's waking up? This is the second time something like this has happened to me... I need to know.”
He looked back over his shoulder with his cool, dark gaze. “Why, Hazel of course.”
With that, he was gone, and I was left alone in the silent driveway, more confused than ever.
As I turned to go back inside, I found that the body of the small man had vanished, along with any trace of the blood.