*I really encourage you to listen to the song Not Today by Imagine Dragons while you read this story! I tried to embed the song onto this issue, but if it doesn't work, go to Youtube on another tab and listen while reading. Thanks!!*
The sound of the street bands playing with their pastic buckets, metal rods, and wooden bats leaks through my ear buds, interfering through the song. I jolt mid-step when a phone call joins a loud BANG of the biggest plastic bucket.
"Hello?"
A shuffle. "-- Jacqueline?"
"Yeah, Adrienne. What's up?"
"Can you come by to Cally's Music Store real quick? F****** Matt spent the whole day with Jane again! I kinda need someone to listen... and you're the only one I can trust... Will you come?"87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ucJzs37Gl
Que eyeroll and chuckle. "Of course. See you in a bit."
The flaming leaves skipped along with the slight breeze that smelled of coffee and pumpkin pies, while playfully inviting me to dance with them. For once, the short and sweet moment of inner peace filled me until the brink. But like the soft foam on top of a cup of latte, it disappears instantly, only leaving behind the sweet and bitter taste in your mouth.
My duffel bag hit my hips as I strode along the sidewalk, easily avoiding from bumping into people. I blew away strands of my auburn hair, rubbing the sides of my hazel eyes gently from the exhaustion. I finally stopped in front of the music store that I promised to meet at with Pauline.
My "2 year old" best friend, Pauline Rutherford, was waiting inside of our "hide-out", and since the music shop had dark, velvety couches with a coffee machine on the corner, she was quietly sipping on a paper cup with her long, pale legs crossed.
I waved with my free hand, and as I receiving her wave back, there was a sudden and heavy whoosh. Something for sure fell onto my flexed arms.
I had imagined it as some sort of long bag that someone from above, or a piece of furniture since at first, it felt like a new log of wood. Still holding the long object, I squinted into the sky, looking for a pair of flailing arms, but all I saw were two clouds joining together, forming a dinosaur playing the guitar. Suddenly, my fingertips and the pale, white flesh of my arms sensed a warm beating of the figure. I froze. As if all the nerves on my arms finally woke up after a long nap, the soft, cashmere fabric and the rough pants on the other side made me jolt as if I had been electrocuted. There, right in front of my two dark ringed eyes, rested upon a man with tan, yet pale skin, long-ish dark hair curtaining one side of his forehead, with the sides of his head buzzed short. A normal and healthy person would have had at least a little bit of color in their cheeks, but he was almost black and white. His lips dry and ripped, cheek bones bulging out of his thin face. He didn't have any injuries from where I saw, but for sure he ached inside. But the most saddening thing was... I was him a couple of years ago. Exactly the same.
Without any thought, I dashed into the book store with the mystery dude still in my arms as I carefully placed him on the empty couch.
"Jacqueline!--" Pauline's eyes traced over the guy's helpless body, bringing up her thumb to her mouth, and started to chew away. She continued through her thumb, "What happened? I saw something fall into your arms from above and... " She shook her head, worryingly.
"I think he's okay... At least he didn't hit the floor right?" I forced a glad smile towards her, but she saw right through it.
"Jacqueline... Don't be worried. I think he's alright too. But are you okay? Looking at his height, he seems to be pretty heavy, even for a girl that works out regularly."
If I said I was completely alright, then she would surely think suspiciously. They always find out. I shuffled uncomfortably and replied, "I'm fine, but my shoulder feels a bit sore... Anyways! Didn't you have something to talk about?"
She took the bait and looked at her watch. "Ugh, I just feel that Matt and I are slowly floating further apart...." This and a bunch of nodding continued for some time until Pauline stopped abruptly for a family meeting at the next town. I followed her to the door and saw her leave for her navy car.
I rubbed my left side of my face to the back of my neck as I turned away, trying to think of what he was doing. Did he accidentally fall from his apartment window? Balcony? Maybe laundry accident? I know there are apartments above this place, so that's a possibility. But it could also be an attempt at suicide... Ugh, I guess I'll have to wait.
I sat patiently next to his head, and we took the whole couch, but after passer-byers saw the situation they all let it go. After about 30 or 40 minutes, and with swirling thoughts still running endlessly through my mind, I heard a rustling sound. His wallet finally made a muffled slap onto the carpet as it opened.
Before I picked up the wallet, I turned my head left and right and to the mystery man just to make sure.
ID: 463748987Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdGoP2XJhk
Name: Rune Dawson87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTH4mN1BY8E
Gender: M87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHGF36YFmo
HT: 6-09 EYES: UKN HAIR: BRO 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuioDRlCa2
...
After placing in his ID card back inside, a pitch black card protruded from one of the slits. Curiosity trickling from the tip of my fingers, I picked out the card and almost fell backwards. I felt my face grew darker by the minute, on the brink of tears. My eyes stung from the small, white name, Noctivagant.
My fingers shook, almost dropping his wallet and the card after hearing the couch creak a bit while the man sat up.
My voice still shaking uncontrollably, I said, "Uhm... Your wallet dropped, so I... kinda..."
"Why am I not dead." He finally opened his eyelids, revealing a pair of white-blue iris, but there was still a black pupil right in the middle. His eyes could pass as a normal person's, but I could tell... they weren't. But, that wasn't the most problematic situation at the moment.
Attempting to sound calm and collected after realizing that he did try to take his own life away and his relationship with Noctivagant, I replied, "Well, you somehow fell right into my arms in front of this music shop."
"..."
I rolled my eyes and with a smirk, I said, "Oh, no need for too many thank you's. I'm overwhelmed."
He darted his pale eyes towards me and growled, "Look, I would hate to ruin your oh-so happy and sarcastic day, but nobody asked you to save me from my own decision."
Suddenly, anger piled up inside, eventually exploding as I rebuted, "Excuse me?! And who said you can just jump off of your own balcony?! Sure, blah blah, it's your property, blah, but you could've seriously injured someone else if you fell on top of them! Was that what you wanted?"
"Like anyone cares. No one ever does." He scoffed, closed his eyes and walked out the door. I hurriedly picked up my bag and chased after him. His white cane was something I haven't seen before when I unexpectedly caught him, but he picked it up swiftly and continued on his way, limping.
Why do I feel like I just got dumped...
I shook the ridiculous thought away, and sprinted towards him. It felt a bit suffocating to leave, just like that. I dashed towards the limping guy and walked calmly next to him.
Without changing the angle of his head, he said, "There's no point in following me."
There's no point in following me? What the actual fork? I mean, I'm not the best person in the world if you read Jacqueline's Life History Book, but I'm not that indifferent about everything. Plus, he knows something about Noctivagant, and maybe he'll know something about Jackson.
I cleared my throat and said, "Well, guess what. You know something that I really need to know, so sucks for you if you feel uncomfortable, or whatever."87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVZhR1FnC5
He stopped his long strides for a moment, but he kept going anyway. I was planning to know where he lives, so that I'll know where to go to find him. 87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaLa45oDhk
I had complete determination to find my lost younger brother, even if it means to manipulate this man... but I was done with the stupid s*** that I've done in my past. I was planning to use Rune Dawson, and maybe help him a little bit, but nothing won't stop me from finding my lost brother. I promised... and I'll finally be able to fufill that empty promise.
To be continued...87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgRryAdqkN
- WindyFontaine87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6KcTQT6VL
*Still editing, so if there are mistakes, just ignore it. I'll hunt it down and fix as soon as I can, and I'm just publishing this first. ^^ Thanks for reading!!*87Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcl2T9Ezaj
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