Okay, sure I'll post more.
I shuffled out into the clear air and looked to the south. The dark sandstorm was finally leaving. How gracious of it. I stepped onto the mostly paved, brick-laden street. I began my trek eastward.
My trek ended as I came upon a backless stone bench. I laid my weary body across the cool surface and closed my eyes. Her faint, listless whisper swirled and slipped through the crevices of my mind, bothering me. Who the voice belonged to, I couldn't tell. What she was saying clearly was not for my ears. But she was there… She was always there.
“Chaps! Over here! Come, come. Jon! Wake up man, the others are here.” A warm and hearty voice called out.
I furrowed my brow, trying to ignore them. Trying to pretend I was asleep.
“Redvers, he’s sleeping. You know he always does this after a storm.” A smoother, softer voice followed after.
“He’s not sleeping. Ugh! You fall for this every single time!” A wiry, uneven voice said. “You’re such a simpleton!”
“He is not simple.” A thick but calming voice replied, “He’s sympathetic to Jonathan. Those storms seem to chase him through this city, like a dog after its own tail.”
I gave up. They never let me be. Not the voice inside my head nor the ones outside. My upper body rose from the bench before lazily opening my eyes. I… chose not to look upward, to not meet their eyes as they bore down on me. It’s hard to look at these men when you know how things work in Dusone Way.
I gathered my courage and came face to face with Redvers: the army vet. That’s what he called himself. He did live as a soldier, but he died as one too. Never had the time to be a veteran.
“Ah, finally, old boy! You’re with the living! Er, uh… Well, at least you’re awake. Pretty bad one, wouldn’t you find it. Barely got out of its way.”
I gave him a dry chuckle and looked at the others, none of whom laughed with me. I let my eyes roll to the back of my head and front again as I used Redvers’ large frame as leverage to get to my feet. I dusted off the small particles of dark sand I saw on his shoulder then pushed past the whole group.
“Sorry, I’ve been…” I started. How have I been? Tired, I guess.
“You don’t have to make up an excuse, Jonathan. We know all too well, it’s not easy walking these empty streets. Especially in one of those storms.” His calm voice washed over me, like the waves did him. Farikou, the most trustworthy of the five of us, stepped towards me, grabbing my upper arm. He whispered looking down at the blackened, brick road. “With all that goes on here, I would try to sleep for eternity as well.” His grip strengthened and his arm shook. I slipped my palm onto his perpetually wet skin. “Thank you…” I said.
Farikou was a man deeper in complexion than I. His abysmal eyes forever bloodshot, his legs and arms forever chained. Stuck to his body by the water that never leaves him is a cream colored, rough-textured cloth that he wrapped around his waist and shoulder in an effort to cover himself. When I asked him upon our first meeting to look into the sun, he asked in return if camaraderie meant something to me. We stared at the white sun together. Nothing came of it. Nothing except the chilling voice of the woman becoming ever so clearer in my head. “Come to me.” She said, but I never went.
He let my arm go and composed himself.
“Ah, ah. We shouldn’t bother too much with Jonathan’s business. He has his reasons.”
“Yes, Farikou we know but… we just wanted to make sure he’s fine.” Saida replied.
I turned away from them, my locks whipping behind me. I kicked a stone off into the distance as I started walking to the west of the city.
“I’m leaving.” I said.
