I.

Jack
I was about to go to bed, with an old, tattered novel- the only one I
ever owned- to kill some time, but just then, it started raining.
I looked outside my window, which was, despite the night, unusually
dark. It didnt bother me that much; staying alone in a house, right in
the middle of nowhere usually made one- well, lets just say unafraid
of the unknown.
Another roll of thunder. I knew that I would regret opening the
windows later, but I couldnt resist the damp aroma of the loose dirt,
just as it started raining; I crossed my small room in three long
strides, and took off the latch.
Its something you can never explain just right. The feel of rain,
overpowering you, making you feel like you can be whoever you
want to be
Its magical. Its the only time I feel blessed, when I see the forest
around my house- all the trees, looking greener with every drop of
rain that was the final thing that made my decision; I decided to go
outside.
I took off my shirt, knowing no one would be there within a ten mile
radius, and got out of my house- well, a wooden room would be a
more appropriate terminology.
I looked back at the door, and the old, rickety bolt looked perfectly
misplaced, and kind of silly. In the last four years, I had never actually
closed my door.
I started walking in the rain, and it hardly took any time for my mind
to start drifting.

The last four years crave for human company might be one thing,
but my heart still said that I was well off. It had been exactly a year
into high school when I left my so-called home.
Ever since that, day after day, night after night I started off,
building a small cabin-type place with anything I could get, and a few
occasional lucky logs that came by; surviving, staying hungry, the joy
and sadness of being different- Every step that I took in the rain
caught me with familiarity- Ive been in this place for a long time
now, and I knew every part of it.
But tonight was not meant for sadness. Rain never leaves me feeling
heavy. I started humming a tune, too loud, too vibrant, just as I
neared the heart of the wild; Birds too, were usually chirpy when it
rained, and it was the same tonight as well.
I decided to spend the night outside. If I could just find a tree shorter
than the ones around it; being aware of natural dangers was one of
the many things that I had learnt from all these years.
I finally came to the perfect spot- the ground a bit high and a bit
hard, so that the water wouldnt be a problem.
In another five minutes, I was comfortably propped up on the bark of
a tree, settled down for a good, long sleep, knowing that the rain had
made up for the book that was now lying beside my bed, about a
mile away from where I was.
***

I was running, and running fast- they were right behind me- any
moment now, they would catch me; I felt a hand touch me on my
shoulderExcuse me!
I woke up as quickly as the dream- nightmare- had started. I was
awake, but frozen onto one spot, my eyes still closed.
I must still be sleeping. This had to be just another silly dream. No
human could possibly be where I was. It couldnt be right
I tried to open my eyes just a bit, to have a look and confirm that it
had just been my imagination.
I know youre awake, said the voice, the tone a bit nonchalant, and
somewhat blithe.
And suddenly, I felt something- a hand- touch me.
That was it.
In a second, the voice was pinned on the wet ground, with me on top
of her, holding her hands by her sides.
Wait. Her?
I quickly jumped back, and regained my composure. Surely, no
female could have the desire to join them. She was just a normal
woman, who- I had no idea how- had landed up where I had, four
years back.
She looked quite ordinary, and Im not talking about her looks. Just
that I could see she was just a normal person, and she was simply
lost.

And I had no idea how that could be true.

Im sorry, I said, my voice polite. For the major part of my
childhood, my mother had been my everything.
It was her, who had molded me into someone who could never
dream of behaving badly with women.
What for? I bet you body slam people on the ground all the time,
she said, more amused than angry.
What was it they called? Sarcasm. Right. I should have known.
I was not I thought for a moment, thinking how to frame the right
answer. It had been a while since I talked to someone other than
myself, and I was kind of surprised to hear my own words trying to
inject sense into another persons thought process.
I thought you were someone else. I said simply, being half-truthful,
but dead serious.
Well that clears everything, she said, with the same, playful smile
lurking on her lips, and hands in her pockets, Dont you own a
shirt? she said, as she pulled her hair back into ponytail.
I looked down wearily, as if I was confirming her accusation.
Abdominal muscles were generally supposed to be quite attractive. I
wondered if she didnt like it, or if she was just teasing.
I dont put one on, usually. Not many people come here. I said,
playing with the half-truths again.
Well I didnt mean to come here, eitherI dont know where the
rest of them are she said, looking around, as if a group of people
would come walking where we were.
How foolish.
There was some silence.

Now, I have never had trouble with silence, but something made me
feel that it must be awkward for normal people, to just stand there
without talking.
Who are you? I asked her finally, after a while, irritated; my
curiosity had grown over me.
Um she blinked, momentarily quite confused by my harsh tone.
Im Alice. Alice Wolfe. She finally said, And you? bringing her
hand forward, probably for a friendly shake. I looked at it until she
lowered it.
Im Jack, I said, not bothering to mention my last name; I never did.
My biological father didnt deserve to be mentioned.
Well. I guess thats that, she said, awkwardly, looking down at her
shoes, after another long silence.
For the first time, I saw her properly. She had one of those fancy
bags slung carelessly over one of her shoulders. Her long, dark hair
came a little below her shoulders, and she was wearing a simple,
sleeveless top with jeans to go with. I could tell- by looking at her
sport shoes- that she was probably out trekking. Just a normal
human, trekking near the place I lived.
It could seriously not be taken for real.

Youre bleeding, I stated, my voice suddenly not so harsh.

Huh? she said, looking up, obviously surprised that I was the first
one to talk this time.
Your leg, I said, coming closer. Its bleeding.
How can you know? Im wearing jeansplus, I dont even feel
anything. she said, her brown eyes a little wider with curiosity.
Damn it. I should have shut my mouth up. Let her bleed. I stepped

back.
Nothing. Youre fine. Just tell me how you ended up here, I said,
hastily trying to change the topic.
She said nothing. Silence is usually proportional to my temper.
Funny that I should know that, given that I have been alone for more
time than one could imagine.
Alice bent down, and rolled up her jeans. Right where I had earlier
pointed, she had a deep wound, which looked quite bad. Her jeans
were already damp, so the blood wasnt actually seen as a wet patch.
She got up, not bothering to put her jeans down, and just stared at
me, her eyes full of questions.
I shrugged, feeling it best to be indifferent.
How? she said, knowing that I would understand the question. I
stopped pretending innocence.
I asked you something first. How are you here? I asked, turning
around and walking down the incline. I knew she would follow.
Ill tell you the full story. But first, just tell me one thing, she said,
and I could almost feel her heart accelerating.
I turned around, and she just walked right into me; I caught her just
in time, and pushed her back gently. She seemed a bit dazed.
You were saying? I prompted, running a careless hand through my
hair.
Please tell me youre not a psychopathic vampire, she said, her
words coming out in a one rushed breath, as if she knew that it
would embarrass her.
I turned back again and laughed, laughed for a long time. The feeling
was something I had quite honestly forgotten. It had been a long
time since I last felt something was humorous. I remembered
vampires to be a some sort of blood drinking creatures.

Me being a psychopathic vampire was quite an amusing idea, given

the fact that I was a vegetarian.
Why are you laughing? she said, obviously annoyed, as I turned
back again to see her cheeks turn pink. I guess with that whole blood
scene, she had obviously come to a weird conclusion. The phrase
Kids these days crossed my mind, which made it tougher to control
my amusement, given the fact that she was around my age, maybe
even a couple of months older.
Nothing, I said, and just for her sanity, Im not a psychopathic
vampire.
She looked at me, and I knew she must be feeling more alien than
ever. So I controlled myself, and turned around, still having a grin on
my face.
Well, thats a relief, she said, ignoring my smile, Where the hell
are you going?
To tape that wound up. The place I actually live in is about a mile
from here, I said, now walking a bit faster.
A mile?! she said, obviously not up for it. She did look a bit tired,
and I couldnt blame her. Plus she already had a wound, that
wouldnt be very helpful in walking a mile I wondered why she
hadnt felt it before. But I know all about that. Its happened so many
times- being clueless about the wound until I see the blood.

How bad is that leg of yours? I asked again, as I kept walking.

I told you, I didnt feel it till I saw it. So its okay, I guess.
Then keep walking, its about five minutes from here. I said, now
coming back to my normal pace. When I walked alone, it hardly took
half the time. And I usually couldnt control the urge to run.

Yeah. Five minutes. You know, we could sprint instead?

Sarcasm again. I was actually having fun. Human company turned out
to be pleasant after such a long time. Well, I still had a million things
to sort out- but patience was something I had learnt over the last
few years.
You made a deal. Im not a stupid vampire. Now can you tell me
your part of the story?
And that started my first proper conversation in four years.
***

So tell me, I said again, as we reached the flatland, How exactly

did you land up here?
She was walking beside me now, and I could see that she was Out
of her comfort zone, lets just say. I could relate; I hadnt forgotten
when I first came here- just that for me, it was even more
maddening. At least she had someone to talk to. And I did have my
doubts- if she really was in the position I had been, four years back.
I was just with some friends from my school. We had planned to get
out of the city and go trekking someplace. There were like, fifteen of
us we stopped for a break after about an hours journey, and I
just she trailed off, looking down.
Youre hiding something, I accused, and immediately feeling like a
hypocrite; who was I to accuse her of secrecy?
Alice, though, being in a defensive position, could not argue with
that.
Well, she paused again, and then threw her hands up, a resigned

look on her face. I had a fight. With one of the girls I hate. And
everyone thinks shes a big deal and- well, I was just mad. I regretted
the idea of coming with them in the first place.
I looked at her from the corner of my eye. She was looking straight
ahead, her expression furious.
I had to control a strange urge to laugh. She was so into her bubble,
that she forgot everything around herself. I saw the log that she
would trip over in fourthreetwo
I kicked it out of her path neatly, just at the right time. She just kept
walking, not noticing anything; her hands moved a lot, which made
the whole scene even more animated. I wondered if she would
actually be able to talk, if someone dared her to keep her hands at
her sides.
I mean, who wouldnt- she stopped, Are you still laughing at me?
she said, annoyed, finally looking at me.
I tried to hide my smile. Didnt work.
Its nothing, I said hastily, as my grin widened, go on, I prompted,
as she continued to stare at me. She looked straight again after a
second, decided to drop it, and continued.
I went a little away from them, as we got down; into the woods on
the side of the road. I dont know why, I just kept going for some
time, andand-
The rest didnt matter. She would not remember how she came
here. I didnt.
She was angry, so she had walked away.
I could relate a lot to what she was saying. And that was not a good
sign. For either of us.
She put her hands on her temples, like she was having a headache.

Weird enough, I knew exactly how she was feeling right now. The
best word for it would be pure frustration.
Enough, I said, no hint of humor in my voice anymore.
She didnt respond. She was still clutching her head, her eyes
squeezed shut, like it was painful to even think.
I said enough, I brought her hands down to her sides, and she
opened her eyes. I looked at her for five full seconds, and at last, she
seemed a bit clearer.
Huh? she said, probably wondering what just happened. Her
pinched forehead cleared, and her eyes were a bit wider than usual.
You need to rest your mind. Now. Just stop thinking about how you
got here. Think about something else, I told her, my face grim. This
too, I knew just too well. Things get worse each time you think about
things you cant understand. Bitter. Painful.
Like what? she said, still befuddled, but at least she was
responding.
Whats your favorite color?
Green.
Why?
She finally came back to her senses.
What do you mean? she frowned. Mission accomplished.
There must be a reason, right? I said, now in a full-on-nonsensemode. Trivial talk, in a way. Anything to get her mind off things.
Are you trying to distract me? she suddenly said, frowning.
If its working, sure, I mumbled, as we- finally- reached my small
home.
This is where you live? she asked, in an eager tone, like she was
ready to find the nearest place to crash.
Apparently, I sighed, as I opened the door.

No lock? she said- not in a surprised tone, though. More skeptical, I

guess.
I shrugged carelessly, as I went over to a shelf on which there were a
few pieces of cloth, and a few herbs; I usually got bruises and cuts all
over and- though I never care to use medicine- it was always a safe
backup.
I turned around, and saw her bending over to see the Book that was
on my bed.
Whats this? she asked, holding it up.
Well, moments like these, are what makes up the simple definition
of obviousness.
It is a Book. I said, slowly, just to rub in my point of clich.
She rolled her eyes. Yeah, right. I was the dumb guy. Funny how
things work out.
I meant, which language is this? she asked, now making some
sense.
Ive never known. I can just read it. Its like, understanding without
thinking about something. I said, being completely honest for the
first time.
She sensed that I was telling the truth, which left her even more
confused.
What do you mean? she said, frowning, her eyebrows up.
Obviously, she thought the idea was ridiculous.
Sit. Let me do the thing I need to do first, I said, making her sit on
the bed, Ill tell you everything you need to know.
And that would be a lot, I thought internally; she wasnt going to let
go of even the tiniest bit of information she could get.
Sure, sure she mumbled as she sat on my bed.
She put up her jeans till her knee, where the cut was still looking
pretty bad.

Just close your eyes, I said, as I cleaned the wound, And stop your
complete thought process. Lose yourself for once. Like youre a part
of the place youre in. A sense of belongingFeel it.
Her body relaxed a little, and I sensed that she was putting a sincere
effort to do what I was telling her. I put a thin layer of the green
paste on her leg, as she twitched involuntarily to the sting. I took my
time, letting her keep her eyes closed, as I wrapped the cloth around
her leg.
I put her jeans back down, as she opened her eyes.
Thats better, I praised, as she got up.
She smiled. Whats better?
Not having to be a saint slash doctor, I said, turning around and
going over to where my shirt was.
You! she said, more annoyed than amused, Are your moods
always this extreme? Either Dead Serious or Mr. Hilarious.
I laughed, as I put my shirt back on; Thats one way to look at it, I
said, trying to be serious again. Well, I guess it was natural; Every
time I laughed, something had to bring me back to the serious note.
I dont see many other ways, she said, as she tried walking around,
to check the bandage.
It doesnt hurt, right? I asked, concern coloring my voice.
Nope, she said, as she came back and sat on the bed. Those jeans
couldnt be awfully comfortable, I thought, as she crossed her legs.
You sure you dont want to change?
She looked at her jeans too, which was by now almost completely
ruined.
I guess I could. I feel like taking a bath first, though.

Your leg.
Maybe not, then, she said, and her expression somewhat
simpered. I could tell that she was tired- her whole journey from a
normal school trip to this insanity couldnt have been brilliant.
Lie down for some time. Sleep, if you feel like it, I suggested, Ill
see what we can have for lunch.
I headed out without waiting for a reply. I was already out when I
heard her call.
Hey! she came to the door, and I turned back, expectant.
You havent told me anything! I dont even know this place, I dont
know who you are, and I definitely do not know where the rest of my
group she trailed off, and her eyes closed. She was going to fall.
I would have liked to say that I was right beside her in a flash, and
that she collapsed in my strong, wide arms. Nothing like that
happened.
She collapsed right in front of the door, with a low thud.
Oh great, I muttered, and went over to pick her up. I had told her
not to think about how she landed up here. Her fault.
I carried her to my bed, and put her down gently, making sure her leg
was not jostled at all. She would be fine, I guess- in some time, of
course.
I closed the door behind me.
Strange. Without actually thinking about it, I locked my door, for the
first time in four, long years. I frowned a bit as I realized that, and
opened the door. Besides, it would be irritating for Alice, if she woke
up to find herself locked.
Just another look inside, and I was on my way. By the time my house
was out of the sight, I had started sprinting. The idea of taking a stroll

through the forest just seemed silly, like someone had switched on
the button for slow-motion. Just not me.
I slowed down once I came at the clearing. I had to.
Right in front of me, where I met Alice for the very first time stood
seven familiar, hooded figures.
My skin went dead cold. My fists clenched, as one of them came
forward, his hands raised, palms facing towards me.
A sign of peace. I gave a crazy, mad laugh. I couldnt have asked for a
better joke.
Just the thought of them being peaceful was enough to drive me
insane.
Without thinking even for a split second, I threw myself at them, my
whole body arched into a single arch of destruction.

II. Jack

Lets just say they came prepared.

Its good that they did. At least it made me gain some part of my
sanity again. Still. Only a very, very small part of it.
Invisible shield. Their bag of tricks never seemed to end, just like
their utter cowardice.
I fell back, but I had enough time to balance myself. Instinctively, I
crouched low, waiting for their move- They werent exactly the type
of people who would just drop in to say hi.
We come not to fight, declared the one standing in the center.
I internally cursed. It was mad enough for them to have the pure
guts to show up, and the whole Peace scenario on top of that just
didnt make me less angry.
Do you think I care about what you want? I growled, still not able
to come out of my crouch. I couldnt risk being caught off guard even
for a second.
I think you would, another sneered, and he was immediately cut
off by his leader, who silenced him with one deadly look. Even with
that irritating shield, messing with me at this time couldnt be a wise
thing to do.
Your new friend-
I writhed furiously, knowing I couldnt do anything as long as I was on
the other side. They already knew about Alice. Another roll of anger
washed through me.

Dont worry. We do not intend to do anythingah, unpleasant to

her, he said, as saw a smile flickering beneath the dark hood.
I took a few deep breaths, forcing myself to think clearly. Red still
tinted my vision, but I ignored it as I straightened up, ever so slowly,
keeping my eyes on them the whole time.
What do you want? I finally asked them in a clipped tone. Being
emotionless had never been easy for me, but I had to stay calm.
Understand what was happening.
Nothing, actually, he replied simply, but before I got more irritated,
he said, I came here to strike a deal.
Im not interested.
Listen to me first.
With a lot of effort, I composed myself, knowing that I wouldnt be
able to stop if I didnt control myself. I knew that I didnt have to take
the bait. He was going to put it out anyways.
The girl wont have to go through the things you went. You could
save her from all that, he paused, and then smiled casually, Still
not interested?
I was still breathing heavily, but my eyes widened just for the tiniest
bit.
Whats the catch? I said through my teeth, afraid to give away too
many emotions.
Oh, you will find out, in time, he said in an amused tone, till
then try not to do something that could go against you.
And just like that, they were all gone, leaving me in the middle of the
clearing.

I cursed silently. I knew their so called intensions couldnt be good.

The price to be paid would have to be equally worse.
That was what infuriated me. Being alone in the darkness.
Well. Not completely alone.
Alice, I thought, as I quickly went back to what I was here for. She
could wake up at any time, and I didnt want to leave her alone
again. Not after all that.
You will find out, in time The words still rang clear in my head. I put
my hands on my temples, and closed my eyes. I sat down on the
damp ground, and focused my thoughts on the sounds that
surrounded me. The trees, the distant morning song of bird, the cold
wind ruffling my hair. I stayed there, my sharp ears picking up the
music of the forest.
The pain subsided, and I finally got up; I started back towards my
home, knowing it would be faster this time.
I sprinted, and even with the extra weight of the food, I could still
manage speed and grace. Skills and qualities, developed over the
years.
***
I slowed down as I reached the cabin, and stepped inside.
Alice was still sleeping, and so I kept everything on the slab, and
went over to the bed.
Now, dont blame me, for I didnt have the need to wake someone
up for the last four years.
I simply pulled the rug from beneath her, as it felt the right thing to
do.

She rolled over and fell right beside the bed, and her expression was
epic: confused, annoyed and irritated at the same time.
Ow! she mumbled, and her expression became even funnier, as
she gained full consciousness.
What was that for! she said, in a louder voice.
I couldnt help laughing, looking at her condition.
I was trying to wake you up, I said, still grinning, It seemed to
work.
Well, yeah! she said, and straightened herself, hastily putting her
messy hair back in a ponytail.
Sorry about that. I usually dont find the need to wake many people
up.
I thought you had brains! she said, which made me laugh even
harder. She looked at me incredulously, but my smile was infectious
enough to make her crack one, too.
Idiot, she said, not meaning it at all. Next time, find me an alarm
clock in this jungle of yours.
Jungle of mine. Even though it was absurd, I kind of liked the ring of
that.
Sure, I said easily, as I brought the food.
You just eat fruits and berries every day? she said, raising her
eyebrows. She wasnt actually complaining, just musing over the fact.
I usually dont eat for the sake of eating. I eat if I feel hungry, I said,
sitting across the small table I had right in the middle of my room. It
was usually pretty useless, as I never sat down for anything except
for reading my book.
Well thats something. For a jungle guy, I thought you would eat like
a truck. She said, sitting on the other side.
The other chair, too, was a showpiece- maybe to make me believe

that I wasnt always alone. Ridiculous, but I had spent a whole

evening making it, so it must have been a pretty strong feeling.
Trucks eat? I asked innocently, as I used the knife strapped to my
belt to cut the fruits. It was a relatively neat job, compared to my
standards.
Tell me you dont know what I mean, she said, rolling her eyes. At
least that was one reaction I could keep a proper track of.
I do know what you mean, I said, smiling, as I pushed the plate
towards her, And I do have brains.
She smiled, and popped a piece of fruit into her mouth. She ate
hungrily, and I couldnt blame her- No matter how small your
appetite may be, when you have not eaten for a day and a half,
youre bound to eat well, lets say like a truck.
Dude, these are seriously good! she said, as she took another bite
of an apple, Dont you, like, hunt animals or something too?
Im sorry, I dont eat meat. Kill and consume has never been my
style, I said, a frown creasing my forehead.
Oh. Didnt know that, she said, and there was a moment of
awkward silence.
God, Im a fool, she said, putting her hand on her forehead.
Its okay. Vegetarianism is not meant to be natural. Its handy,
though. Less messy. I said, as I stood up to get some water.
I set the water down, as she traced the lines of the table with her
finger.
You never told me, she said, finally looking up, About what
actually happened to me. This morning, I mean.
You had a head ache, technically speaking, I said, and quickly

continued before she could protest, You should try not to think too
much, about things you have no idea about.
She let that sink in, knowing that I would take the bait to continue.
You asked me how I could read that book, right?
Yeah. You never really told ho-
I actually did, I said, cutting her off, You have to stop trying to
make sense out of things that you cannot understand. Thatll only
make the ache worse.
Some part of her seemed to be on the defense, but I could see she
understood what I meant.
So I have to stop thinking? Leave myself hanging?
No, I said, gently, knowing that this had to be tough on her. You
dont have to stop asking questions. You just have to know which
one should be asked first.
I let that sink. She seemed to finally get the logic, so she gave it
another try.
If youre talking about order, she looked at me, like she knew she
understood the right question. Lets start from the beginning. Your
story. she asked softly, and held her breath, as if waiting for my
decision.
I smiled. Even though it didnt seem fair, it had to be the right
question.
It seemed to be getting dark outside. The breeze had suddenly
picked up after that storm, and even though it was drizzling a bit, I
couldnt complain. Rain had always been a good omen.
Lets go out. It may be a long night, I said, and got up.
Alice didnt protest, as she hurriedly stood up. I had finally agreed to
give her a few answers, and she couldnt really have hoped for
anything better

***
But dad! I pleaded, trying desperately to make him see sense, Its
not my fault!
Smack. Another slap, right across my face. Tears rolled down on to
the hard, wet ground.
I believed that the last time, he growled into my face, his eyes livid.
But Im telling you, I didnt do it! It has never been me! I wailed,
trying to make it sound true. It wasnt.
Then tell me, he said, shaking my shoulders hard, Where are all
the bottles!
I dont know, I lied, weeping. It wasnt my fault he couldnt live
without drinking for even a day. It wasnt my fault that I couldnt see
my mother getting hit by this monster every evening. It wasnt my
fault that he could never change.
You listen to me, you little devil, he said, his face inches from mine,
as he looked at me with those bloodshot eyes, You either tell me
where they are, or Ill make sure I do something that would make you
wanna kill yourself, he smiled, in a very evil way.
My skin turned cold, as it usually did, when I got really, really angry.
Angry, because I could pretend to cry all my life, but I couldnt
pretend to be afraid if he so much as touched my mom. Hitting me
and watching my tears usually satisfied him, but that was all I could
do to get his attention away from her. If that didnt work, I couldnt

imagine what I would do.

Thats when I made my mind up. I couldnt stop him; the best I could
do was just leave him.
I wasnt going to lie anymore. I wasnt going to be a part of this.
I cannot give you your stupid bottles, I said, pushing his hands back
with a new force, a brilliant energy.
How dare you- he said, coming over to slap me again. I was faster
this time. I caught his hand and pushed him away once more.
You can get them back. Theyre on the shore. I wouldnt waste much
time; the current could sweep them into the sea anytime, I said,
backing away from him, my brain going berserk with the idea.
I had to get some time. Thats it.
He fell for it. With another glare, he ran towards the general direction
of the ocean.
Yet another lie. I had burned all the bottles last night. It was good, in
a way. He would end up searching the whole coast before he gave
up.
More time.
I bolted to my house, and woke my mom up.
Jack? she mumbled, How are you home so early? Why didnt you
go to school?
School. I almost laughed, given the fact that I had not entered that
building for the last six years.
I dont go to a school mom. I said, hurriedly packing a sack of a few
of my clothes- jeans, and few shirts. I didnt have a clue how long it
would be before I would be able to buy my own clothes again.
What are you saying? she said, as she watched me, shocked.

No time. I said, and finally looked at her. Mom, Im leaving. And I

need you to leave too, because I wouldnt be able to live with myself
if I left you behind with Mikael. I said, taking my fathers name in
front of her for the first time.
But Jack-
Make your mind up, mom, I said, a lump building in my throat. I
had to leave her. The words still rang clear in my head.
Why dont we go together? she whispered, alarmed now.
I shook my head, as tears- real ones, this time- overwhelmed me.
I have to do this on my own. You have your own life to live. Be the
artist that you always wanted to be. Get out of this city. Here, I said,
giving her a small bag in her hand; it was the money that I had been
saving for a long time now.
Besides, I dont have enough money for two tickets. Go, before he
comes. Ill manage. Go! I said, as she started shaking. I went
forward, and hugged her, as hard as I could. A warm feeling buzzed
inside me, and I knew it would be the last one for a long, long time.

***

In another hour, Mikael would have come home, to find the house
empty, and in time, to have no one to hate but himself.
In that same hour, I was on my way, along the road that led the way
outside the city- running, even though it was pointless. I was alone,
and he had no idea where I was. Running always made me believe
that I could escape reality.
But still, the sound of the wind in my head left a numb feeling inside

me, and I was glad that it made me forget the pain, the tears, as I
stumbled across the way, coughing and gasping for air.
I tripped over a stone and fell down onto the ground. Rain poured
down hard, as I inhaled the scent of the wet dirt.
I dont know when my eyes opened, but when they did, I was all
alone, in a dark place, surrounded by trees, and far, far away from
any place I had ever been to. I was in the biggest forest I had ever
seen.

***

Its getting too dark. Lets get inside, Alice said gently, as she
looked at me. She could sense that I didnt feel like continuing. You
must be tired. Well talk about it sometime later.
I looked down for a small moment, and then straight into her eyes,
with an indescribable expression. My eyes were wet, and she would
never know if it was the rain, or my tears.
She looked back, her eyes wide, and for a second, I knew she
couldnt think about anything else.
Yeah. Lets do that. Before you suddenly decide to collapse, I said,
just to lift up the atmosphere.
It worked. She punched me on my back, hard, by her standards, and
looking at her reaction, I could see that it hurt her more than it hurt
me.
I laughed, and she couldnt stop herself either. We started the jog
back home, as she finally seemed to understand- walking just didnt

make sense.
Bet I could race you, she teased, as I laughed harder. That, by far,
had to be the funniest moment of the evening.
Sure, sure, I muttered sarcastically, as I burst into a sprint that
could make even professionals cry.
I turned around after ten seconds to see the expression on her face.
Sorry, but I dont think I would ever be able to describe it. It was
quite funny, though. I laughed again, as I turned around and kept
sprinting.
It would be a long wait once I reached the house. Even though Alice
was fast, I knew she wouldnt be able to manage even half of my
time.
***

III. Jack
So what now? Alice said, going for the obvious question.
Im really not sure, I said honestly.
It was late in the night, and we were plopped on my small bed,
opposite to each other. The bed was meant to be for one person, so
that was going to be an issue. But it wasnt so important right now.
You still havent told me everything, have you? she asked, but her
tone wasnt accusing anymore. Now it sounded like we were on the
same team. She trusted me.
I wondered if I was worth her trust.
I havent, I agreed, but its getting late. And moreover, its your
turn, I smiled, as I got up from the bed and moved towards the fire,
where the sound of crackling wood gave a warm feeling.
Alice continued to sit in the same position, staring into the space
where I had previously been, her mind onto something else.
Jack?
Yeah?
How long have you been living here? she asked, her voice
unnaturally calm. It sounded like she was trying to brace herself.

I bit my tongue. I hoped we could have done this later. Or never,

actually.
But I couldnt lie to her. It would be pointless. And I couldnt ignore
her question.
Four years, I said, and turned towards her.
She sat still, and she didnt say anything for a while. I knew that she
was trying not to cry, so I looked away, and started doing trivial
work.
I wasnt used to this. I had no idea how to cheer someone up. I
hadnt done that in years.
I looked at her finally, and saw that she was looking at me too.
A tear fell on her cheek.
Without thinking, without knowing if it was right or wrong, I rushed
back to my bed, and hugged her, tight.
It was almost involuntary- I didnt realize that she was in my arms
until I regained my senses.
I felt her tears on my shoulder, and I didnt care. All I wanted was to
tell her that I was here, that I was there for her.
Jack, I wanna go home, she sobbed into my chest, her voice
muffled, I miss my dad, I miss my mom, I miss my brother- her
sobbing became uncontrollable when she mentioned her brother.
I put my hand on her head, and calmed her down. Her breath
gradually evened out. I released her softly, and she looked down. A
part of her didnt want me to see her in this condition. A part of her
did not want me to see her cry.
I wondered how she could be so strong, yet so fragile.

I lay her down on the bed, and sat down on the floor beside her, so
that I could see her face.
Alice Wolfe, I will get you back to your family, if its the last thing
that I do. I promise. I said each word clearly, without any conditions
or complications. It felt different- it felt good to talk to her without
having to mind my words.
I got up, and turned to leave.
She caught my hand from behind me.
Where are you going to sleep? she mumbled.
I smiled. Her hand was really warm. It felt nice to know that
someone cared for you.
The same place, where I first met you, I said, and gently let go of
her hand. I got out of the cabin. I knew that Alice would be safe.

***

IV. Jack
Wake up, you messy head!
That was all I heard, and the next moment, I was mid-air, thrown off
the branch that I had been sleeping on.
I fell down with a low thud. I looked around, confused, my eyes wide.
The sweet smell of revenge! Alice whooped with joy, as she danced
all around me, jumping.
You- how did you find me? I sat up, amazed, as I tried to fix my
apparently messy head while doing so.
Youre not the only one who knows this place now, mister! she
said, pride gleaming in her eyes.
Hah, I almost feel like making a log of your progress, like how
parents do for their kid; 25th Jan, she learns to walk and know where
shes walking, I laughed, as she tried to look angry.
Very funny, she held the look for about three seconds. Then her
expression changed, her lips trembled, and she burst out laughing.
Someone seems happy today, I said, my voice still rough from all
the sleep.
Yeah, well, I woke up, and saw that my leg was healed. A good
omen, Alice chattered, back to her usual, cheery little bubble.
I smiled wider, as she lifted her jeans, and pirouetted about to show
the now almost healed wound.
And whos going to guess what that means, she spoke in an
invisible mike, and looked around in the trees expectantly, like the

monkeys would come out and compete with me.

You can now take a bath, I smiled, as I got up, and stretched
myself.
Twenty points to Jack! she said, and we both laughed, as I gave a
huge yawn.
We made our way to the small pond in the clearing, chit chatting the
whole way. I got to know a lot more about Alice.
For one thing, she was a genius student. She could solve up to five
complex mathematical equations simultaneously in her head,
without writing down a single thing.
Seriously? You dont look like youre that brilliant Infact, I put a
hand on my chin, and looked up towards the left, like I was in deep
thought, Not brilliant at all.
I got a hard shot on my back.
Look whos getting stronger, I said, laughing, as I massaged my
back. Rather, pretended to massage my back.
Pfft, dont lie. But on second thoughts, youre right. At least I didnt
get hurt this time, she said, emphasizing the I.
I mock saluted her, and she was about to give another shot, just to
prove her point, but then we came to the clearing.
Whoa! was all she could say.
You like it? I smiled, as I led her towards the clear, clean water.
The pond was quite small, to the extent that it could even be called a

natural spring. Just that, the temperature wasnt exactly what one
would call natural.
There were really beautiful trees surrounding the water, with flowers
of the most amazing colors one can imagine, and some of these
flowers dropped into the water below, just to emphasize the beauty.
Its amazing, its so lovely! Alices mouth was wide open, but her
eyes were shining. I smiled to myself, remembering the first time Id
come across it.
I had to spend a lot of time to make sure it was safe, before I first
stepped in from what Ive learnt, beauty comes with a price.
But it is safe, right? she asked, now looking a little weary.
Of course it is, I laughed at her expression, But it makes me
wonder about the price Id have to pay for it someday, I said
thoughtfully.
We were right on its edge now. I stood with my back to the small
pool, facing Alice, who had a clear view of the scene.
Well, she said softly, and came close to me, and said
simply, Maybe its this.
She came even closer, still closer, until I could see my own reflection
in her liquid brown eyes. My brain for once, stopped thinking,
stopped calculating, and went into freeze mode.

She pushed me off the edge, straight into the water.

V. Alice
This is not done, Jack said, probably for the five hundredth time,
Why would you do that?
And trust me when I say this, it was impossible not to laugh- which just
triggered This is not done number 501. We were stuck in an infinity
loop.
We were walking back towards the cabin, after cleaning up. I hadnt
brought my shoes with me in the morning, and Jack never wore any, so
we were both walking without them. Our feet made soft impressions on
the sand, which was still a little damp. It felt nice.
Well, its a policy that Ive recently adapted. Every time youre on the
verge of becoming serious, Im going to make sure I do something
crazy, I said, as he rolled his eyes.
Hows your leg? he asked me, for the first time in a long time. Maybe
it was a relative feeling, because in the last forty eight hours, if he spent
twenty four with me, majority of it was spent fussing over my leg.
Even though I knew it was going to be fine, I wonder why I never told
him to calm down, and not worry about it. Maybe I sort of liked the fact
that he was worried about me.
I dont know what made me think that.
Its back to normal, I smiled, and automatically glanced down at it.

The cut had healed almost completely. A lot of the credit would go to
Jack and his herbs- I had never healed so fast in my entire life. I was
used to getting cuts and bruises, as I went on hikes and bike trips a lot,
but Id always end up putting a band aid and forgetting about it. Weeks
later, the cut would still be visible. This one, although deeper, was
already gone.
Well, thats one thing dealt with. Whats next? he said, eyebrows
raised.
Hey, how am I supposed to know? Its your jungle, I grinned, as he
bumped into me by mistake. He was kinda bad at walking slow, but I
could see that he was trying to be normal.
Youre the girl, you should be the one with the checklist, he
countered, and bumped into me again, this time swaying me to the
side.
Hey, youre doing that on purpose!
You seriously thought I was bad at walking slow? Jack laughed, Ive
lived in this forest for the last four years. If theres one thing Im proud
of acquiring, its grace.
Oh please. You cant show off just because you can walk- SHIT, I
suddenly stopped, and came in front of him, so that I blocked his way.
He arched his perfect eyebrows, smiling.
How did you know that I thought youre bad at walking? Seriously, this
is exactly why I confuse you with stupid mind reading vampires.
He laughed, as we recalled the incident. That was one thing that I
wished I could erase, because it made me look like I was this blonde
fiction-addicted teenager, which I was not.
Im a mathematical prodigy, for heavens sakes, was my only thought.

I still dont get why mind reading is related to vampires, he said, and
before I could cut him off and educate him about the current world and
its ridiculous fantasies, Besides, its not mind reading. Its more about
the behavior, or mood, if you will.
What do you mean? I asked, quite confused.
He looked past me for a second, into the distance, and then back at me.
He caught my shoulders and brought me back beside him, and started
walking again.
Do you remember what I told you about the book? he asked me, as
he looked ahead.
Yeah, I said, as I remembered vaguely.
About the language?
Oh yeah- that sometimes, you dont have to understand what youre
doing- or in this case, reading. I said, using his exact words, as the
memory came back to me.
Do you not think that you could do other things in the same way? Like
read people? Not their mind, I repeat, but read people, he said, still
staring ahead, still thinking.
Or maybe even solve complex equations in your mind, without quite
understanding how you solved it? he asked, as he finally looked at me,
straight into my eyes, We all have powers, love. Undiscovered talents,
abilities, that we didnt know existed. All weve got to do is
acknowledge them.
It clicked.
This guy, he had the innate ability to talk. And talk with a lot of logic.

That was what threw me off guard, because guys dont usually think
before talking- they just blabber stuff, and then try to justify the
nonsense.
With Jack, it was the other way round. You would sometimes find the
need to recall the words, really go beyond those simple words, and
then return to them again to see logic.
And when he looks at you in the eyes at the same time, it doubles the
effect. I lost my train of thoughts.

It was quite a talent, given the fact that hed spent the last four years
without talking to anyone.
I looked down, and cleared my head, so that I didnt make up for his nononsense attitude, by saying something like, Uh duh duh.
I looked up, straight back into his eyes, and gave the best reply that I
could form.
Uh duh duh.
What? he said, laughing.
I internally smacked myself. Even with the mental warning, my brain
was useless.
I get it, I said, slower this time, so that my brain didnt betray my
tongue again, Im starting to think the way you think. Its scary.
Jack laughed, not bothered with my slight tease at all. He hardly ever
looked bothered about anything. Trivial things usually didnt matter to
him- which made me wonder what bigger problems he might be facing,
which had made him so cool about normal stuff.

Thats a useful paradox. We usually think huge problems make our lives
miserable, but its actually the other way round. They make us realize
that most of the smaller stuff doesnt matter.
Its also probably the most useful thing Maths has taught me- If you
have a knack of facing tough problems, the simpler ones are nothing.
What are you thinking, genius? Jack asked, grinning, as my brain
processed all the information and analysis.
I looked at him.
Let me describe what Jack looked like.
He was almost six feet tall, which is a good four or five inches taller than
me; he had brilliant green eyes, and the long lashes around them made
them look absurdly beautiful. His dark brown hair was always messy,
although the texture was quite wonderful. It wasnt so long, which
made me wonder if he had somehow invented scissors in the last four
years. He had a lean, but really strong body.
The day Id first met him, I was surprised that I had been able to make
such a nonchalant comment about him not wearing a shirt- when all I
could think about was the prefect set of abs that almost seemed to
bulge out of his skin, as he lay there, pretending to sleep.
Nothing, I said, dishonestly. I would probably have a hard time
breaking down my whole thought process, and I wasnt exactly fond of
my philosophical side.
If he noticed, or rather read the dishonest tone, he didnt push it.
Maybe because wed already reached the house, and all we could think

of was food.
Its almost twelve, Jack said, as he stretched out, as if hed just woken
up.
I looked up at the sun. The almost part was enough for me to judge
the east-west direction. I realized that I hadnt still seen a sunrise in this
place.
What time does the sun come up around here?
Jack laughed, and I wondered why.
Even if I had a watch, I wouldnt have had the battery to last it for four
years, Alice, he said, laughing.
He seriously made me sound like a blonde.
Okay. I want to see the sunrise tomorrow. Tell me how Im supposed
to see the sunrise tomorrow, I said, laughing with him. Even I couldnt
help laugh at my own stupidity.
We wake up early, when its still dark, he said, and suddenly his eyes
gleamed, excitedly, Tell you what. Ill take you to a nice place to do
exactly that. Its about six kilometers from here, so
I raised my eyebrows, at the word six.
Make sure you dont wear those stupid shoes of yours.
My shoes? I asked, taken aback by this comment, Whats wrong with
my shoes? Theyre meant for hiking, I said, trying to defend my pink
Nikees.
Oh, please. You had a red-blue mark around your ankle the first day
you came here. Theyre not the right size, or shape maybe. Trust me,
youll be more comfortable without them.
You noticed my ankles? I asked him, laughing. I wondered what else
he had noticed about me, that even I hadnt. Immediately, I regretted

wondering about that.

A thank-you-for-saving-me-six-kilometers-of-torture would have
sufficed, he scoffed, and I laughed at him.
Okay, then. Thank you. But please, tell me that you have better plans
for lunch!
Today, Jack said, a sudden pride entering his tone, We feast from my
store.

***

VI. Alice

I thought you usually didnt eat for the sake of eating? I asked,
rather recited from memory, although I was more than excited with the
prospect of a feast.
Exactly, Jack beamed at me, I dont. Usually.
I laughed, surprised by how picky and accurate he was with his words. I
wondered if he had actually had a chance to live in the normal world,
with good parents and a good school, if hed have grown up to be a
host on a talk show.
Nobody in their right minds would have missed even a single episode.
How often? I asked, smiling.
Once every four weeks. Almost a month, he said, as we entered the
house.
A month? Thats a long time, I said, wondering if the treat was going
to be worth the excitement, given the fact that he could control himself
for a month.
Jack turned around and looked at me, the gleam back in his green eyes,
and a sheepish- yes, sheepish- grin on his face. It was an expression that
Id never seen on him before.
I cheat, he admitted, and laughed. His attitude was so infectious that I
couldnt help joining in.
My excitement was revived. If the place could make Jack cheat, it had
to be worth something.

I feel like Im having a wonderland trip, I said, grinning, First the pool,
then the upcoming treat, and sunrise tomorrow Im scared that soon
youll have nothing new left.
Jack looked at me, his pride lifting his chest, Even if youre here for the
rest of your life, there will be new stuff amazing you every second. Im a
man of my word, Alice, he smiled, as he threw me a clean, white,
button-up shirt.
Although the style statement wasnt incredible, I was thankful, because
even though I had washed my sleeveless shirt, the thought of wearing
the same clothes over and over again was kinda depressing.
Jeans werent a problem, though. I loved wearing the same jeans every
day.
Thanks! Wait, I said, suddenly realizing something, you said you
came here four years back why is this shirt still slightly long for me? I
asked, puzzled.
Jack turned towards me again, grinning, Conclusion is simple. I was
bigger than you even four years back.
I laughed, as I realized this. I couldnt imagine what hed have looked at
that time.
Suddenly, I felt like internally mocking the same old Vampire story.
How old are you, Jack? I asked, already laughing at the contrast.
Seventeen, he said, confused, Why?
How long have you been seventeen, Jack?
He looked even more confused. I laughed, and thought that it was time
that I explained the Twilight series to him.

When I was done doing exactly that, he was literally on the floor, and
laughing uncontrollably.
Hey, I said, a bit annoyed and laughing at the same time, I kinda like
it!
Yeah right, Jack said, still laughing.
He had started laughing somewhere in the middle, and even I had
started, so that I was telling the story in the middle of gasps and long,
relaxing breaths.
I didnt blame him for laughing.
He had not been exposed to the outside world for the last four years,
and I really wondered how he had matured so beautifully, without any
connections to anyone, or anything. The way he walked, talked, and
behaved was as if hed just had an early graduation from Harvardlaughing at the fantasies that clogged the minds of lesser mature
teenagers.
It didnt make him boring- it just made him that much more fascinating.
Now do you want to eat, or tell me about the second book as well? he
mocked, and I pushed him off. So much for being mature. The guy could
hardly ever stop teasing me.
Let me change first, I whined, and lifted the shirt in my hand, just to
make my point.
Sure, he said, still chuckling, as he went outside, leaving me alone in
the cabin.

***

Alright! Wheres this store of yours? I smiled, looking around the

room, with my innocent happiness splashing everywhere. I was really
excited.
Jack raised his eyebrows.
I realized, just like everything else, food was also something we would
have to go out for.
How far? I whined, my innocent happiness becoming innocent
sadness.
Jake suddenly smiled, Youre making progress. See? You were able to
understand what I meant just by my expression.
Doesnt mean Im too glad about it, I scoffed, but internally, I was
thrilled. Was this too, just another attribute that I could develop, and
maybe be as good at it as Jack was?
Yes, Jack said nonchalantly, and I was shocked, yet again. But I smiled.
How far? I pressed, this time, with a better tone.
Not too far. Distance small enough that it neednt be mentioned.
My smile stretched into a grin- Nothing like building an appetite to a
nice lunch.
I left my shoes outside the house, in a spot where the rain wouldnt do
them much harm- but it hardly mattered. I took Jacks advice seriously,
and had made a mental note to avoid using them.
Besides, I liked walking barefooted in the forest. It felt natural. The
ground was always nice and soft- never too wet, never too dry. Just
perfect for walking. It almost felt like the sides of a beach.

I pulled the sleeves of my shirt up to my elbows, as we started walking.

Much better.
We walked silently, in contrast to our normal routine. But it wasnt an
awkward silence. It was a comfortable one.
The birds above us were singing softly, and the wind made the trees
rustle. It felt as if we were both listening to music and walking- just that
the stereo system seemed to be moving with us, and tuned in to the
lovely sounds of nature.
Pretty soon, we reached the place- I was surprised, because although it
rained a lot here, and the humidity was supposed to be quite high, I
didnt sweat at all. It was as if my body simply rejected any signs of
tiredness in the jungle. Maybe it was because of the pure energy that
radiated from every inch of this place.
There! Jack suddenly said, pointing to a humungous tree, which was
so thick, that I first thought that it was many trees growing close to
each other.
What is this? I said, amused. I had not expected a tree to be a
storeroom.
Dont worry, Jack said, laughing. He probably understood the
confusion, Look up there!
My eyes followed to where he was pointing, and suddenly, the store
room sounded a lot more welcoming.
There was a thick ladder-like path, embedded in the trunk of the tree
itself, and it led all the way up to an enormous branch, about one and
half stories above the ground- and on the branch, sitting as if it

belonged there, was another room- bigger than where we stayed, and
even more beautiful.
You built this? I gasped, trying to take in the picture.
It took a full year- twelve months, Jack said, And it was worth every
second of it.
Wow, I said, breathing heavily.
I could see that it was worth each second. I wondered what was the
need to build it so high, but then I realized that if this was a store,
floods were one thing that shouldnt bother it- and Jack had made sure
about that.
He could have been an architect, for all I knew. The room was the
perfect definition of a tree house- the tree in itself was so big, that the
room could have been even bigger; but it was just perfect the way it
was. Unlike the cabin, this room was made only of wooden logs, and it
was really sturdy. The wood gave it a lovely colour and texture, and I
couldnt wait to get inside.
What are you not good at? I asked, shaking my head incredulously.
Not boasting. Im not good at not boasting, he laughed, and motioned
me to go up, Ladies first.
I gave him a skeptical look, but realized that he was actually very wellmannered. I suddenly realized he never stepped inside the house
before I did.
Sure, sure, I said, as I climbed up. The path on the tree was a little
difficult, but I was used to climbing ropes in the school gym. I knew that
it was actually an easy climb for Jacks standards.

In another five minutes, we were inside the room, and I was

comfortably sitting in what Jack called a natural bean bag. I really
wondered if I would have become so skilled if Id been the one
deserted- or rather, forested- for four years.
Probably not. Im too lazy, I thought, and mentally agreed with the
voice.
Jack brought a barrel-like thing from the corner of the room, where ten
more similar barrels were kept, neatly arranged in rows and columns.
I raised my eyebrows.
Whats the difference? I bet these too are fruits and berries, I said,
truthfully. After experiencing the royalties of the morning bath, I had
imagined a complete Hogwartss meal in my head, and the barrel
seemed to ruin that image.
Yes, they are, Jack said simply, and yet, I knew that there was a hint of
anticipation in his voice. That was all it took for me to get my hopes up
again. It took something big to get Jack excited.
He sat in front of me on the floor, and I abandoned my natural bean
bag, so that I was facing him, and peeked inside.
It looked quite humble. More berries, more fruits, of different colour,
shapes, and sizes- they looked nice, but I was (even though I didnt
want to be) disappointed.
Dont judge so quickly, Jack warned me, as he gave me one of the
fruits, Take a bite.
I sized up the purple-coloured, weird-looking object in my hand. Id
never seen a fruit like that.
Trusting Jack, I let my teeth sink in.

VII. Jack

Her expression was priceless.

I knew it would be, because I still remember the first time Id come
across that particular fruit.
For a moment, before the taste could register, before the buds could
send the amazing message to the brain, she looked quite normal. Like
one of those professional chefs, when they are thoughtful, as if theyre
trying to understand the food, with a sophisticated expression on their
faces- probably bracing themselves to avoid making a face, in case they
didnt like it.
And then her mouth stopped chewing, and her eyes bulged. Her pupils
seemed to enlarge, and the sophisticated expression on her face was
replaced by the expression of a person falling in love.
She didnt talk. She just took another bite, and then another. Soon the
fruit was finished, and her cheeks were flushed.
I want more, she said breathlessly, her brown eyes dancing. It wasnt
a question. She didnt ask if she could have more. She just demanded
more.
I snapped my fingers in front of her face, and she seemed to be lifted
from the daze.
What is this stuff? she asked loudly, with more sense, although her
eyes were still wide.
Theres more, I said, and gave her another fruit, a different one. I took

a similar one and dug in.

We ate for the next half an hour in silence, which was frequently
broken by the moans of delight. Our hands were messy, but we didnt
care.
Im done! she finally said, after trying about fifteen different fruits,
each better than the last one.
You sure? I teased, and got a lazy slap on my back. Too lazy, with all
the food.
I gave her some water to wash and drink, and we did everything
without standing up.
We sprawled across the floor beside each other, facing the ceiling, eyes
closed in content.
How did you get this stuff?
Well, this is what I eat. Every once in a while, I get lucky, and come
across something wonderful. So I bring it here, and keep it for times like
these, I smiled, eyes still closed.
So what came first? The chicken or the egg I mean The food or the..
the room? he voice was slowly trailing into softness now, as she
became less and less conscious.
The food triggered the room then more food more room I said,
my own voice matching Alices. Sleepy enough not to find hilarity in the
chicken and egg part.
You are a genius, she mumbled, and bumped into my shoulder,
almost like it was a token of appreciation.
I was silent, as my train of thoughts became more random, more fuzzy,
and sleepiness spread over me. The scent of the fruits made it even
more comfortable and drowsy.
Alice was in the same state. I could feel her breathing becoming deeper,
and her shoulder brushing against mine, as we slowly drifted into sleep.