literature

Redemption: Chapter 2

Deviation Actions

Nisira's avatar
By
Published:
210 Views

Literature Text

Chapter 2:

From that moment on, every step he took, every decision he made, would be different, because of her.
~ Daughter of the Forest, by Juliet Marillier ~

Sky grabbed her toast from the bench and, jamming it in her mouth, hurriedly pulled her hair into a messy ponytail as she ran outside. She was supposed to meet Callie in half an hour and she still had to saddle Gem and make her way down to the beach. The young woman was riding her other horse, a bay gelding, down to the beach and from there was going to show Sky around Lydia’s property. It had been three days since she had first met the bouncy brunette and had spent her time getting to know Gem and exploring the nearby town. The people were curious but friendly and she had found herself very welcome. It had been only a matter of days before they began greeting her by name. Betty was her favourite person apart from Callie and a reliable source of information, if a bit of a gossip.
In between those times she found herself alone in the big house and as usual she thought of her parents. She still cried occasionally, on those mornings when she wanted nothing more than to get out of bed and find her mother in the kitchen sipping coffee in her baggy dressing gown and to be greeted by her father with one of his corny “dad” jokes.
But she had broken out of her numbed state and found that the grief was not quite so choking, that she could actually look forward to her day even knowing that they wouldn’t be there at the end of it.
Most of that was due to Gem and Callie. The former raised her head at the sound of Sky’s voice calling her name and whickered in greeting. Sky looked about as Gem made her way toward her, spotting Spaz grazing some way beyond Gem, but there was no sign of Sunny.
She called out again and this time Spaz raised his head and trotted toward her, throwing in an excited buck for good measure, knowing his hay was coming.
Sky frowned and felt the first nip of worry. Sunny was usually the first at the gate in the mornings, waiting with bright eyes and pricked ears for her breakfast. Today she was nowhere to be seen. Worry began to gnaw at Sky’s belly and she slipped between the rails. The far left corner of the paddock dipped down in a steep incline and lead to an old dry creek bed. Sunny had to be there although Sky saw no reason why, as there was no grass down there and it was too early in the day for the young mare to seek the shade of the taller trees down there.
Gem and Spaz watched her in curious puzzlement as she walked past them but remained by the fence, sure that food was forthcoming.
Cautious of snakes, Sky walked with her eyes to the ground and slowly made her way to the dropped corner of the paddock. She leaned back as she inched her way down the hill, slipping slightly on the loose dirt.
There was a splash of colour between the trees ahead and Sky felt a rush of relief as she saw it was Sunny, and then a jolt of surprise when she saw the reason for the horse’s absence.
The mare was standing face to face with the boy Sky had seen upon her arrival, standing by the letterbox. The two were only about a foot apart, each staring into the other’s eyes and Sky was taken aback by the strangeness of it. The boy was not patting the mare, nor was he feeding her and Sky had not the faintest idea as to why Sunny would forfeit her hay to Gem and Spaz for this strange stand-off. Neither one was doing a thing, just standing and staring very intently at the other.
“Hey,” Sky called, once she had overcome her surprise, her tone friendly. Never mind that the boy was trespassing and had caused her worry, he was someone her own age, a potential friend, and Sky had not realised up until that moment how much she missed her friends.
Her friends in Melbourne she had shut out after her parents deaths. They had tried to reach out to her and at first she had cried with them and shared her heartache and grief, grateful for their support. With time, though, she became more distant and withdrawn, not answering any of their calls and turning down any offers of help or to visit, and eventually they had left her alone. Now with the distance, both physical and emotional, between them she doubted any of her previous friendships would last.
Neither boy nor horse responded to her voice and deciding they simply had not heard her, she called again. This time Sunny turned her way and seeing the horse respond, the boy turned too.
Upon seeing his face Sky was struck by two things. First was that he was good-looking, very much so. He had a lean build but beneath the hooded jumper she could see the line of muscle. Most of his hair was hidden beneath a backward-facing cap, but unruly curls peaked out the front, framing his angular face, and beneath the cap’s peak she could see were he had pulled it into a short ponytail, the colour somewhere between a dark copper and a rich brown.    
But the sight of his face immediately wiped any thoughts of good-looks from her mind. It was completely expressionless, blank, void of emotion. Under any other circumstances she would have been annoyed, assuming his expression was due to bored indifference, that he was simply being rude. However she could not deny the sincerity of his expression. It was as if he truly did not feel any emotion at all. It frightened her to see such nothingness in a person’s face; it wasn’t normal.
Sky stared at him with a mix of hesitancy and shock, and upon seeing her unresponsive to his movement the boy turned back to Sunny, almost as if he had expected it.
Sky was confused and slightly alarmed. Who was this boy? Was he even real? Or was she simply seeing things? She stood rooted to the spot for several moments before she found her voice and when she spoke it was full of uncertainty.
“Hello?”
Boy and horse ignored her.
“Hello!” She called again, feeling the first stirring’s of anger. The boy turned to her again, a slight frown on his otherwise emotionless face, and mouthed, “Me?”
“Yes,” she snapped in exasperation. “Who else is there?”
The boy’s eyes widened and he fell back a step. Then he jerked suddenly, as if jolted out of a trance. He glanced at Sunny and then looked around him before turning back at Sky, peering at her sideways through narrowed eyes. She could not see them properly, it was almost as if he were hiding them from her, but they were a dark, dark brown, framed by thick black lashes.
Despite his evasiveness, she saw that his eyes, in contrast to his previously blank face, were full of emotion, part wary suspicion and part incredulous amazement. She was surprised. What did he have to be afraid of? And what was so amazing?
Deciding that the best course of action was to simply try and talk to him, she asked amicably, “Do you live near here?”
He blinked and stared at her, still frowning slightly. “Sort of,” he said vaguely.
Sky chewed her lip awkwardly, unnerved by the way he stared at her. Not in any wrong kind of way, but as if she were something he had never seen before, and he didn’t know whether or not she was dangerous.
She tried again. “Well…which school do you go to?”
“I don’t go to school,” he said, his tone suggesting that she should know this. She took a step towards him and he took a step back. Abruptly she was annoyed and marched forward to grab Sunny’s halter and for each step she took toward him, he took one away from her. She glared at him and he returned her stare with his narrow-eyed frown, looking almost perplexed. Pulling Sunny along Sky turned and started to walk back toward the house. The mare came amiably enough and Sky muttered to her, “Could you just wait at the gate next time? It would save me the hike, and the encounter with strange neighbours.”
“I’m not you neighbour.”
Sky started and whirled around. The boy, having followed her, was behind and just off to the side of Sunny. Where Sky and Sunny made noise with every footstep, twigs and leaves crunching beneath hoof and shoe, the boy walked on feet as silent as a cat.
“What is with you?” Sky was exasperated.
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you on my property and why were you staring at Sunny and why are you following me?”
“Your property?”
“Well, really it’s my aunt’s, but don’t get technical. And stop answering my questions with more questions.”
His expression was nearly blank again, only faint flickers of emotion passing across his face; still that slight wonder and faint suspicion. Seeing him full in the sun she could see that he was better looking than she had first thought. The sun glinted of something and glancing at his ear she realised that he had several piercings on his left ear, two hoops through his ear lobes, and above them another three studs, one above the other. She had never been one who liked guys with piercings, but it suited this strange boy, adding character to his otherwise bland face.
“So why are you on my – sorry – my aunt’s, property?”
He shrugged. “I go where I like. No one cares.”
“I care,” Sky said acidly. There was a flare of surprise on the boy’s face, a flicker of deep emotion in his dark eyes. An emotion that looked for all the world like hope, despite her sharp tone. She was reminded of the unrecognisable similarity she had seen in his face when she had first laid eyes on him. She saw it again now but as before was unable to identify it. Then it was gone, and was replaced by an entirely different expression; one of dismissal.
“Yeah, right,” he sneered.  
“Actually I do, I don’t appreciate you wandering around my property.”
“What are you going to do about it?” and he seemed more interested in her answer than in defiance.
“The police.”
He laughed, an unnatural sound, so completely lacking in humour that it almost could not honestly be deemed laughter. Sky felt a chill tingle down her spine in spite of the heat of the sun on her back.
“What’s your name?” the boy asked abruptly.
“Sky,” she blurted without thinking.
He thought about this for a moment and then turned and began to walk back towards the trees, from where he had come. Sky just shook her head in wide-eyed amazement. Who was this guy? She realised suddenly that she had given her name and yet not received one in return.
“Hey!” she called and this time he turned at the sound of her voice, his face impassive once again.
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
“No I didn’t,” he said tonelessly.
“What is it?” she prompted.
A faint frown creased his brow, the most severe expression she had seen him use yet. He looked frustrated and a little alarmed. Then to Sky’s astonishment he muttered, almost inaudibly, “I don’t remember.”
He didn’t remember his name? The concept was utterly absurd. How did you forget your own name? She opened her mouth to ask him, but hesitated and then clamped her mouth shut. If he didn’t want to tell her his name what did she care? Besides Callie could probably tell her who he was, after all in such a small town –
“Callie!” she yelped suddenly and looked at her watch. “Oh my gosh! I’m late!”
She tugged on Sunny’s halter urging the mare into a trot.
“I’ll see you around,” she called over her shoulder and above the sound of hooves on hard-packed dirt she heard his faint, “We’ll see.”

Callie just smiled and told Sky not to worry when she and Gem came cantering down to the beach twenty minutes later, Sky blurting one apology after the other, terrified of loosing her one friend so soon after she had gained her.
“Don’t stress, Blue-eyes,” Callie replied, using her nickname for Sky. “I was ten minutes late myself today and I’m late to most things anyway. Thought I was doing pretty well today too, and now seeing as you’re later than me, which is practically an unheard of thing, you’ve just made my day.”
She grinned her infectious grin and Sky smiled back in relief. The turned their horses up the beach, letting them walk on the hard packed sand near the water. Gem was, well… a gem , and sky found that, with her little experience gained from lessons years ago and Callie’s brief instruction, she could ride the old mare quite well. Gem was what Callie called a “push-button” horse and never put a foot wrong.
“You’ve got a good seat and a natural balance,” Callie complimented Sky. “I few more lessons from yours truly and you’ll be a pro.”
Callie had shown Sky the day they had brought the horses up to the top paddock near the house, what and how to feed them and had given her a brief lesson on Gem. Sky found that most of it came right back to her but it was good to have the instruction nevertheless. There was still more to learn though and Callie would show her the rest of it when they returned to the house, which Callie called The Mansion.
Now however Sky was bursting to ask Callie about the strange boy she had met.
“Do you know who Lydia’s neighbours are?” she asked.
Callie’s face screwed up in thought. “Yeah,” she said slowly, drawing the sound out. “On one side there’s an old couple that run a bit of a hobby farm. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings. They’re a sweet pair. You should ride over one day and introduce yourself to them. Mr. Cummings would be delighted to show you around the place - it’s his pride and joy - and Mrs. Cummings will be all too eager to fatten you up on cookies and the like.”
On the other side,” Callie continued, “Is Kevin Parks. Single guy, only has a small property; runs the local real estate agency. Why?”
“I met someone this morning,” Sky told her, explaining Sunny’s strange absence.
Callie was puzzled. “I’ve never know Sunny to pass up food. She’s real garbage-guts. Where was she?”
“Down in the top corner of the paddock. You know, where it dips down to the old creek bed? Anyway, there was this boy with her, about my age, seventeen-looking. He wasn’t patting her or feeding her or anything. They were just staring at each other. It was bizarre!”
Callie stared at her with raised brows. “I’ll say. What did the guy look like?”
Sky described him, leaving out his strange, vacant expression. Callie shook her head.
“Sorry, Blue-eyes, can’t say I know anyone like that. But then I don’t know everyone in the area, strange as that might seem.”
Sky frowned in thought, unaware of the way that Callie watched her.
“Was he cute?”
“What!?”
“Well? Was he good-looking? I believe the common term now is “hot”.” Callie’s smile was pure evil.
Sky blushed. “A little.”
Callie laughed gleefully. “No wonder you’re interested.”
“Not that way.”
“No?”
“Boy’s are not on my list of priorities right now. In fact they never really have been.”
“If you say so.”
“Well what about you?” Sky threw back. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Nah,” but her tone suggested otherwise.
“Just because you don’t have a boyfriend doesn’t mean you don’t like someone,” Sky prompted, but for once Callie had nothing to say.
“Come on,” Sky said cajolingly. “There has to be someone. There is someone!” she exclaimed when Callie reddened.
“He’s just a friend.”
“Sure, sure.”
“He is!”
“But you wish there was more.” It wasn’t a question.
Callie sighed. “Well… yeah, ok. I do like him. More than like him, even. But we’ve been friends since we were kids and he’d never look at me that way. ‘Sides, he already has a girlfriend.”
Callie’s face was downcast, staring at her gelding’s neck, a rueful smile curving one side of her mouth. Sky could see the hurt on the older girl’s face; she truly did care for her friend who she wished was more, maybe even loved him. To see him smile at and kiss another girl would be agony, she was sure. Sky however had never had a boyfriend and so could not entirely empathise with Callie, only offer her sympathy.
“What’s his name?”
“Nate.” She smiled as she said it. Yes, Sky thought, it was definitely love.
“And he looks like…?”
“Straight brown hair, hazel eyes, tallish, baby-faced but brawny. He’s quiet, the opposite of me, and he takes most things seriously, yet he can laugh with me and be silly. I used to think of him as my big brother, and I told him that once. BIG mistake! So now I’m stuck as the little sister type and the third wheel.” She sighed.
They were silent for several minutes, before Callie couldn’t help herself and started talking again.
“So, back to the cute mystery boy; what was he doing on Lydia’s land?”
“I have no idea. He was with Sunny, and like you said, I don’t see why she would give up her breakfast just for his company. She’s not a smooch like Gem and Spaz.”
“Hmmm…” Callie pondered. “Maybe he just has the touch.”
Sky snorted. “I doubt it. He was certainly lacking in people skills.”
“Not like me, huh?” Callie fluttered her eyelashes and Sky chuckled. “No, certainly not like you. He didn’t seem to be all there.”
“Like he had a metal problem or something?”
“No, he wasn’t dull or anything, he was just…just… I don’t know. Vacant is the word that comes to mind, like he was there in body but not in spirit.”
They reached the end of the beach where rocks prevented them from riding any further, and turned the horses around to head back home. Gem and Callie’s gelding Rocky both sped forward into a trot, eager to be headed home.
“Want to try a gallop?” Callie asked, excitement lighting her eyes and making them sparkle. Sky wondered how Nate could pick the other girl over her.
“Sure,” she said, trying o sound nonchalant. Callie grinned at her. “Just hold on.”
Rocky lunged forward, and Gem was right on his tail. Sky thrilled to feel the powerful animal surging beneath her and burying her hands in Gem’s mane, leaned forward to crouch over the mare’s neck.
The two horses pounded up the beach, their riders laughing and whooping with delight and excitement. Sky felt as if she would burst with the excitement.
Finally Callie signalled for them to pull up, fighting to slow Rocky down, where Gem dropped to a weary trot, sides heaving.
“Sorry, old girl,” Callie apologised. “You haven’t run like that in a while.”
“Will she be alright?” Sky asked anxiously.
“Yeah, she’ll be right, just let her cool off for a bit. And while a gallop like that is alright now and then don’t do it all the time. She’s got spirit, but forgets that she’s old and has to take it easy.”
Callie spoke the last part fondly and reached over to rub behind Gem’s ears. The four of them walked the rest of the way back to the house. Sky noticed that the BMW was parked in the drive; Lydia was home.
“Do you want me to take care of the horses so you can see your aunt?” Callie asked, but Sky shook her head.
“I rode her, I’m responsible for her and there are still a few things you need to show me.”
Callie nodded approval and dismounted, Sky following her example, and they lead the horses to the back. There was a shed that, alone with a few old car parts and a spare tire housed the tack, feed and other horse equipment.
The girls tied their horses to the fence with a lead rope, under Callie’s instruction to never tie a horse by its reins. It did not take them long to remove Gem’s saddle and bridle and rub her down. Then both horses were watered and Gem released into the paddock. Spaz came cantering up to greet her, squealing his excitement. Gem tolerated his boisterous play with the patience of the old, but Sky could almost see her eyes roll in exasperation.
Callie mounted Rocky and walked with Sky to her door before turning to ride home, shouting goodbye before she disappeared amongst the trees.
After pulling her boots off, Sky walked inside, peering about for signs of her aunt. The clock read one o’clock. Her stomach rumbled, confirming that it was indeed lunch time.
“Aunt Lydia?” she called and received a faint, “Upstairs.”
She jogged up the stairs, socked feet thumping on the wood. She found Lydia in her bedroom sitting at her desk, eyes glued to her laptop. Typical, Sky thought, the woman did doesn’t know what to do with herself when she isn’t working. She needs a hobby.
She rapped lightly on the doorframe and Lydia glanced up.
“Oh, hi. Sorry; I thought I’d be back last night but I was tired and thought it better not to drive at night. How have you been?”
“Fine,” Sky said.
Lydia looked faintly guilty. “I’m sorry I had to leave you straight away, but-”
“No, don’t worry about it,” Sky interrupted. “I was fine. Callie turned up, like you said, and she’s kept me company.”
“Oh, good.” This obviously seemed to clear Lydia of her guilt and she turned back to the laptop.
“Have you met anyone else?” she asked absently.
“Some people in town. They’re all very nice.”
“Yes, they are.” Seeing that her aunt was not about to strike up a conversation, Sky turned to leave.
“Oh, just a reminder, you’ve got school on Monday.”
Sky groaned; she was dreading that. “Do I have to? Can’t I just quit and get a job or something?”
As soon as she said it she knew she shouldn’t have. She was talking to the wrong person. Lydia turned to her slowly, her stern face clearly saying, I’m not impressed.  To her career-driven aunt, a proper, not to mention complete education, was a vital thing.
“You are finishing high school. End of discussion. Your parents’ deaths are no reason to just drop every thing.”
Sky winced and regret flicked briefly over Lydia’s face before it quickly masked by her usual cool demeanour.
“The school is just outside of town. You can catch the bus or get up early and walk.”
“Can’t I just drive the Ute?”
“The what?” Her aunt’s eyes went very wide.
Sky swallowed nervously. “The Ute; the one out the back.”
Lydia stared at her for several moments before realisation dawned. “I’d forgotten about that beast,” she muttered. “The previous owners left it here. You haven’t driven have you?”
Sky flushed, cursing her tattle-tail pale skin. Damn fair complexions!
“You have,” Lydia growled. “You don’t even have a licence.”
“I have my Learners, for over a year,” she added. “I did a lot of driving w-with…dad.” It hurt just to say it. She felt a familiar depression threaten to swamp her, drowning out the happiness of the morning with Callie.
“I thought most people here wouldn’t care,” she said, fighting to keep her voice from trembling.
“They might not, but I do.” Lydia was unyielding. “You are not qualified to be driving any car, let alone that monster.” Her tone showed her obvious disgust for the old car, but Sky thought her aunt’s distaste was more for the fact that it was a Ute, than for lack of safety. Snob!
There was no use fighting her aunt, it was futile and Sky was suddenly tired. She sighed. “Alright. I’m going to fix myself some lunch.” She didn’t offer Lydia any as she stalked from the room.

She lay awake long into the night, after the morning’s happiness and the afternoon’s anger had faded and there was nothing left but the seemingly endless grief. She stared at the photo beside her bed, longing for a life that she could never return to. A tear trailed down one cheek. Would the wound in her heart ever heal?
Soooooo... chapter 2.

Is still boring in parts, and doesn't make sense, but it will... later ;p
© 2008 - 2024 Nisira
Comments0
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In