The light of closed eyes

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

(continued, beginning)

I must admit that running through an unfamiliar labyrinth of streets is not a pleasant occupation.

Well, how could I have known that there would be a dead end around this corner!

A real dead end. On both sides, the buildings of houses are closed, and on the third there is a tall stone fence, it seems, of some kind of factory. Probably, there used to be garbage cans or some kind of janitor's room. Now, apparently, the dead end served as a gathering point for local "advanced" youth. Empty bottles from "Klinsky" and "Bochkarev" were standing along the walls in the most neat way, crumpled cigarette packs and bags of chips lay in a heap.

I stopped. Now everything that happened least of all reminded me of a game. She looked at Mishutka, who was still snoring. Poor fellow, if he could remember everything, then this day could become his most vivid memory.

I turned around. A black cloak stood nearby, staring at me. Looking at him, you can't say that he just ran at a fairly fast pace about five hundred meters. As collected and calm as at the entrance. Breathing is the same even, clothes are in order. Not like mine - the sweater is twisted, the bra strap fell off, my hair was disheveled.

“Give me the baby,” he croaked and held out his hand.

I have never really stood out for courage or fortitude. I've always been a coward. All my life I was afraid of mice, cockroaches, spiders, and a bunch of other things. And at that moment of tremendous work it cost me to hold back the tears asking to come out. I still don’t understand why I didn’t give up everything, didn’t shove Mishutka into this man’s hands. Well, who exactly is he to me? The son of a friend with whom I have known for two months, to whom I owe nothing and from whom I do not need anything. And why did I stubbornly shake my head, remembering my little room? Then it seemed to me the most wonderful place on the planet!

I was very scared.

And I very vaguely remember how an iridescent burgundy ball rolled down and rushed towards me from the outstretched hand of the stranger. I closed my eyes, squeezed Mishutka closer to me, and instinctively threw my hand forward, trying to defend myself.

It must have been stupid.

But it worked!

Hearing a clap next to me, I opened my eyes and saw directly in front of me a slightly trembling bluish … shield … or a screen … As if the air in front of me had thickened, thickened, and small waves were running in it from the tension. Barely restraining the desire to touch this shield, to taste it by touch and reality, I continued to hold my hand up. Who knows, suddenly, as soon as I lower it, this shield will disappear, and the second I can no longer make?

My pursuer swore and threw another ball. I closed my eyes and pulled my head into my shoulders. The ball of cotton bounced off the wall, leaving a black hole in it. I swallowed convulsively. The shield proved to be a reliable defense. I would still understand how I made it!

The stranger, angrily shooting his eyes and clenching his fists, looked at me. I, too, afraid to move so that the shield would not disappear, looked at him with all my eyes.

Probably, from the outside we reminded of old films about the mafia. There are two authorities and they are fighting. My rival's cloak fell to the ground, the floors fluttering slightly in the cool autumn breeze. It's a pity my coat, albeit cream, was left hanging in the hallway at Lerka. The similarity would be complete.

I don’t know how the thought came to my head, clouded with fear, to attack him. Even, not to attack, but to try to get out of the impasse hiding behind a magic shield.

Remembering all the mystical films I had seen, I, without giving up, grabbed Mishutka more comfortably and tried to concentrate all my attention on the palm of my hand, imagining how the energy coming from it feeds the shield.

And she took a step.

Happened! The shield moved forward a little.

The black cloak perked up. He must have been trying to predict my actions.

Another step - the shield is in place, it moves with me and flickers in the same way.

The stranger seems to be worried.

- Give me the baby. He repeated. - You have nowhere to go! Give it back. You are breaking the natural course of life and destiny!

Without listening to him and continuing to concentrate, I took another step. The distance between us was slowly closing.

- You do not understand what you are doing! You can bring irreparable consequences!

During this time, I approached him a few more steps.

I wonder if he is just trying to persuade me, or does he really consider himself invincible?

A couple more steps - and I came close to the stranger. His silhouette floated slightly in the shimmer of the shield.

One more step - the black cloak recoiled, stepped back! So my shield is not harmless to you!

- You idiot! Listen to me! - He shouted.

What I don't like is when people raise their voice at me and call me indecent names. Moreover, there is a child here! And, pouring out all the accumulated fear and anger, I pushed the shield at my opponent.

They met instantly - the shield and my pursuer. I only had time to notice how he throws up his hand, but the shield has already covered him, hindering his movements. From a black cloak, my pursuer instantly turned into a firefighter or an astronaut in overalls. The stranger blazed with flickering fire, becoming more and more blue by the minute. And without thinking twice, I rushed past him and rushed away from this place.

Calling on the run, and even with a child in your arms, is not an occupation for average minds. With one hand pressing the grunting Mishutka to his stomach, which with every step became heavier and heavier, with the second I tried to fall on the tiny buttons (my dad tried to persuade him to take a simpler phone, and not this microscopic "clamshell"!) Tube, which, moreover, every now and then she strove to slip out of my hands. Finally, I managed to find Lerkin's number in the phone book, and I pressed the receiver to my ear.

- Natasha, where are you? - A cry burst into Marinkin's ear.

For a few seconds, I pulled the receiver away from my ear:

“How can I tell you, Marinochka,” I said venomously. - I'm running past … the fourteenth, no, already the sixteenth building on Brick … Oh, I'm sorry, he's the twelfth. And now I must be running past the tenth …

- Excellent, - Marinka stopped my verbal flow, - if you reach the fourth, run into the second entrance and run to the seventh floor, it is better not to use the elevator, and in general, it is better not to stop, and there I will meet you.

- Thanks. Do not forget to send an invoice for the weight loss course later.

Marinka chuckled and hung up.

- And you’ll explain something to me. - I added, intercepting Mishutka with both hands.

Marinka met me. It cost me, barely alive, to drag myself up to the seventh floor (I even took an elevator to the second floor all my life!), She picked up Mishutka, whom I still held in my arms just by a miracle, and darted through the open door of one of the apartments.

- Come in quickly and lock the door! - It came to me.

Dreaming only of a glass of cold water and a soft armchair, running my tongue over my dry lips, I tumbled into the corridor and banged the door.

The apartment turned out to be small. A narrow corridor, a kitchen on the right, just a single room, on the left, as they call it, a bathroom. Clicking the locks and hanging the chain, I slipped on cotton feet into the kitchen and clung to the water tap. Maybe it is harmful to drink untreated and unboiled water. Plus, she was icy, and I risked catching a cold. But, feeling how life and energy slowly returned to me, I simply could not tear myself away. Quite rubbing my wet cheeks with my palm, I trudged into the room in order to fulfill my second dream - to flop on the sofa or in an easy chair.

At that moment, I was least of all worried about the fate of Lerka, Mishutka, Marinka and the stranger in black. Crazy running, fighting, running again …

I felt like a driven horse. My body was smashed to smithereens - my back ached, my arms ached, and I couldn't feel my legs at all. And I myself smelled then worse than a loader who had finished a difficult shift. I was so exhausted that I didn't even notice the dead silence in the room. After all, Marinka simply had to lisp, gag and rustle with diapers, and some diapers.

Entering the room, I almost burst into tears. But there was no moisture left in my body for tears. And only a couple of dry sobs escaped from my chest. Marinka was sitting on an old sofa, clutching Mishutka, who had not yet been undressed, to her chest. Next to her was the same blonde, because of whom I jumped out of Lerka's apartment. And by the window, my arms folded on my chest, stood mine … just right to call him an acquaintance. That same black cloak. Only Lerka-mother was missing. And where does she roam?

- Oh, - I smiled crookedly, feeling the damned laugh rustling in my chest and asking to go out. Only hysteria was not enough for me. - Are you still alive?..

“I must do my duty. - The black cloak responded.

What a bore! Is he a sectarian or what? Or a ghost that cannot find rest until its work is completed? The blond frowned. Marinka bit her lip. I tried to hold back the growing laughter.

“You don’t need to disturb me. You know what your resistance threatens. You are disrupting the natural course of life.

Marinka looked at me. I noticed how the air around her trembled slightly and floated. Apparently she was defending herself with something similar to my recent shield. Therefore, the black cloak did not take any active action, but simply tried to convince.

- Will someone finally tell me what's going on? - I asked, looking at her. - Why am I running like a wounded goat down the street, what is happening to me? What's the matter?

- We want to help … - Marinka's beginnings.

“You want to destroy the world,” interrupted her black cloak.

- Zelk, we are both stronger than you. - So the blonde gave a voice.

Ah, and my friend's name, it turns out, is Zelk! How sweet … It's just a shame that I was not taken into account here.

- Come on, I understand Mia. - Zelk nodded at Marinka. - But what are you doing this for? Just for the love of her?

Blond Aidi was silent.

“Mia herself, without anyone's help, is much stronger than me,” Zelk smiled. - And she, like no one else, should understand what is fraught with what she is trying to achieve. More than one world can disappear! -

Enough! - I could not resist. - What's happening?

- They want to do something stupid! - Zelk laughed.

- Okay. I'll tell you what's going on,”Marinka spoke up. - The world is arranged in such a way that each person is born with an absolutely pure destiny. In his life there is still no evil, no good, no successes, no falls. Nothing. He doesn't even have a soul. Am I correct, dear Zelk? - Zelk, smiling, nodded. - And then two fairies should come to the newborn. Fairy of good, - a nod to Aydi, - and fairy of evil. - a nod to Zelka. - They give the baby a soul. Half of the light and dark sides. And they outline his fate. Each side can give the baby three equal experiences. A bear can become a powerful magician. A kind of messiah! He can defeat evil!

- Mia, Mia … - Zelk chuckled. - Old Thorgrim never taught you anything …

Marinka threw an angry look at him and turned to me:

- Tell me, isn't this a reason to do what we want? Do not give the fairy evil to give Mishutka the dark part of the soul?

- You will disrupt the world order, - Zelk croaked.

- We will help the world to become kinder, - Marinka whispered.

Getting up from the couch, she came up to me. Her shield slid gently over me, leaving a cool sensation on my skin.

- You have to help us. Help the whole world! Andi and I can hold him. Take Mishutka and run! - She thrust the child into me and pushed me to the door, closing her from Zelka.

- Did they plan my destiny for me too? Is my participation in these events also indicated there?

Marinka sighed.

- Natasha, understand, this is how the world works. There is nothing you can do about it. Besides, no one plans life for anyone. We are just planning some important events. For example, that you will fall deeply in love. But no one knows who exactly. Evil, in turn, can make you lose your love, but also not knowing exactly how this will happen. We just … I don't know how to explain …

“We are simply trying to attract a living being to our side in this way. Good or evil. - Graduated for Marinka Zelk.

I looked at Mishutka. As then, on the street, at my first meeting with Zelk, he slept, sucking his finger, not even knowing that his fate was being decided now.

- You know, Marina … Or would it be more correct to call you Mia?

- That's right and so, and so. I was born into this world. And once they called me Marina. - She responded without turning around.

“You know Mia,” I continued. - I'm not very smart, and not at all strong, and certainly a coward. But the events that made me a Human, well, maybe they haven't done it yet, but set me on the right path … Events that I remember with gratitude to that … the forces that sent them to me … I doubt that they were from a good fairy.

- Natasha, you misunderstood. Forces of good do not always give good events!

“Miya, this is all wrong from the start. Nobody has the right to decide someone else's fate. If we could ask Mishutka what he wants. But even the fact that someone comes and prescribes something in someone else's life to their taste and color is wrong. And good and evil … Mia, I do not know what your teacher taught you, - Marinka shuddered, but said nothing, - but you cannot destroy evil without destroying good too. They are inseparable. And how will Mishutka fight against evil if he does not know what it is?

Marinka finally turned to me:

- He knows good! It means that everything that is excellent for him is evil.

“Mia, you said yourself that good is not always good. How will he tell? Could I have known what love is if I had not lost it? And what is left of good if evil disappears? Everything is relative!

- Natasha …

- Enough. You three can't decide anything. I'll decide. Zelk, take the baby and do whatever it takes.

- No!

Marinka threw up her hand, throwing out blue lightning, but I got ahead of her, and a magical bluish shield swung open in front of me again. The lightning did not reflect from him, as was the case with the fireballs of Zelka, but disappeared into my shield. Blue waves passed over its surface, and everything was quiet. Good does not fight against good.

- You are using my powers! - Marinka was indignant.

- Zelk, take the child, - I repeated, without lowering the shield. - He definitely needs a soul, namely black and white, the only way he can become a man, and not an ephemeral creature. But promise to consider whether it is necessary to paint people their destiny.

- Mia, this girl is smarter than you, - Zelk smiled, and, instantly finding himself next to me, carefully took Mishutka from my hands. “I’ll give him back to his mother. And I will convey your request, - he whispered and disappeared.

Marina slowly sank to the floor and burst into tears. Loudly, from the heart, just as Mishutka recently roared.

And I, without saying goodbye to the hysterical Marinka and the blonde comforting her, moved out of the apartment.

Today I still have a lot to do: pick up Lerka's things, be sure to take a bath. And figure out what else I can conjure, besides the magic shield.

Josie.