Last time they almost got him. He swims faster.
He didn’t have far to go. The edge was in sight. There he would be safer.
He looks back again.
The water started changing color.
Something was coming.
He does his best to swim faster.
The pain in his leg makes it difficult.
The thing gets closer.
He starts to panic.
He kicks harder.
He didn’t have much further to go.
He was at the edge.
Started lifting his upper body.
Struggles to get his foot out of the water.
It was caught in some fishing line.
He struggles to get it loose.
Just as he manages to get free, it stings him.
He screams loudly.
Then puts his hand to his mouth.
Slowly his surroundings start to blur.
The last he sees are the orange flashes. It was one long flash.
He passes out.
ع
“Where do you and your mom live, Sean?”
She moves the red square to the front.
Locks it into place.
Moves the blue circle to the centre and locks it into place.
She stares up at his face. His blue eyes were watery, his forehead covered in sweat.
He was doing that twitching thing.
This time his eyes twitched more than before.
She reaches for his hand.
She startles him.
He pulls his hand away.
When he realises it’s her he puts his hand back down.
He lets her touch him.
Her hands were damp, but warm.
He finds her eyes.
It always comforted him.
“Kimberly.” He utters softly.
“Yes, Sean.”
She puts the orange rectangle down.
“I’m scared.”
س
He comes to his senses just in time to make it to the next pillar as it starts to tumble to the dark depths below.
He jumps and runs along the edge and jumps for the next pillar.
The pain in his leg made it near impossible.
But it was jump and stay on the pillar or fall to his death below.
He jumps just in time for the next pillar as it starts to fall too.
Soon he was running along the pillars like he has done this before.
He jumps off the last one just as it falls to the bottom of the darkness.
He throws himself onto the ground.
Rubs his leg.
Looks up and takes a deep breath in.
He ducks.
The ball misses his head.
He gets up and starts running.
ر
The terrain was rocky.
The mountains in the west seemed almost fake.
A reddish brown, a murky green.
But like it stood out.
Luminous, yet dull.
The flat plains before you get to the mountains reminded her of Nevada.
Was she there?
Bewildered, she continues to make her way down the rocks till she reaches the bottom.
She was thirsty.
It was difficult to swallow.
The chill in the air burned her lungs.
She decided to keep moving.
If she kept west, she was sure to get where she needed to be.
That’s what she told herself. Why west she didn’t know, but her internal compass told her to keep at it.
Always trust your gut, Kimmy dear.
You have always been very intuitive. Trust and nurture it.
Her mom’s words.
Wish she was here.
“No tears now, please. I’m lost.”
You’re so dehydrated, could you even manage those?
“Probably not. But you know girls. We have endless supplies to keep the rain pouring.”
Always keeping it real.
“You know it.”
Kimberly stops.
Looks around.
Endless plains went on forever.
She takes a few deep breaths.
Continues west.
The mountains seemed closer with every deliberate step she takes.
You’ll have to move faster.
“I can’t.”
Try.
“I’m too tired. I need to rest.”
Try.
“Easy for you to say.”
Please try.
You’re in danger.
“Don’t you think I know that?”
She stops and rests her hands on her knees.
Breathes hard.
A hard wheezing sound accompanied her shallow breathes.
Try.
“One would almost say you cared?” She looks up.
Focuses on the mountains.
Try.
Slowly Kimberly forces herself to move further. Her feet dragged more, but she kept herself upright.
“Only a few more steps. One step at a time. Almost home.”
Yes.
غ
The tall blonde approaches her.
The tight suit revealing a swimmer’s built.
She found the suit odd.
He approaches more.
Careful almost.
He looks back slowly, then at her again.
Seems to straighten up as he closes the gap between them.
Finally.
He smiles.
His penetrating blue eyes never leave hers.
“What?” All that Kimberly could manage.
The sight of his face seems to boost her a bit.
“Finally you’re here.”
She swallows hard.
Finally.
His face smiles more.
“Come, nearly there.”
Without waiting for a response, he turns around and walks past a few loose boulders and disappears, his shiny suit reflecting the last of the light in the darkening skies.
Kimberly pauses.
Looks around.
Cautiously she follows him.
ك
“Have we met before?”
Kimberly almost sure.
“I don’t think so. Name’s Sean. What’s yours?”
“Kimberly.”
His eyes seem familiar.
Kimberly shakes it off.
م
“What are you waiting for?”
He looks at her, than at the telephone.
She wasn’t sure what he wanted her to do.
He gestures to the telephone.
It was a vintage desk phone.
Black.
The base was oval shaped.
One piece handset.
The rotary dial was strange.
She moves closer to the phone.
It didn’t make sense.
There was only one digit on the dial.
She wasn’t sure if it was the number eight or actually an infinity sign.
She looks at him questioningly.
“Go ahead.” He says encouragingly.
Slowly she picks up the handset.
She puts it to her ear.
There was no dial tone.
She traces the cable at the back of the black oval base.
She finds the end.
It was disconnected.
She rolls her eyes.
“What am I doing? It isn’t even connected.”
She was about to put the handset down.
He moves closer and puts his hand gently to hers.
“Kimberly, trust me.”
She takes in his penetrating gaze.
Though she tries to look away, she can’t.
His pupils were large.
The royal blue eyes drew her in.
“Try.”
She manages to break the hypnotic gaze.
Slowly puts the handset back to her ear.
Cautiously puts her finger in the rotary
dial.
Turns it till it rotates no more.
She looks back at him.
A smile plays across his face.
Such a beautiful sight, after only endless sand and rock.
She lets the dial go.
ن
“Don’t be scared. I will catch you if you fall.”
She hesitates.
Looks around.
“Where are we?”
“There will be plenty of time to explain later. Jump.”
Cautiously.
She closes her eyes and jumps, bounces on the pinkish-purplish surface and slides down.
She screams louder as the tip starts to narrow and she is able to see that she is actually high up.
“Sean!” She shrills.
Relax.
You are safe.
“You again? Get out of my head! Seaaaannnnnnn!”
She slips off the tip and starts to fly through the air.
ج
“What are those?”
Kimberly looks at Sean, then back at the flickering light away in the distance.
The sky was a haze of orange and purple; occasionally a flash of bright white and blue.
“I’m not exactly sure. All I know is that we should get there… soon. I’ve tried to do it by myself, but I can’t. I need help. I need you.”
He looks at her.
Turns.
Swallows deep.
“If we are to get there, we’ll have to work together. Trust each other.”
Kimberly continues to stare at the flickering. She faces Sean.
“How will we ever manage to get past those things?”
Sean shrugs.
“With faith. God will help us.”
Kimberly stares at him.
Smiles.
“Yes, He will.”
خ
“Maryland.”
She doesn’t blink.
“05:30.”
Satisfied, he gets up and leaves the room.
Kimberly stares off into space.
Toy Soldier Page 3