Eve was sitting on a blue sofa. A dragon-shaped chandelier hung above her, its golden light revealing only half her face. She was wearing a long red frock, with thin golden stripes. Hands cupping her chin, she was staring at the floor. Richard anxiously stood on the red carpet and gazed around.
Book stacks were towards his left — making up an entire wall. Red roses hung from the lazy fan. And The Tree behind him, whose vines spread the wall; everything looked the same. That was until he looked out of the glass wall and saw that the beautiful dry lianas hanging from the roof were nearly completely burned. Richard's jaw flexed.
He coughed before starting to get her attention, "Hey, Eve. Um. OK, I'll get straight to the subject then." He sighed, "Was it petr-'
"I was only lighting my cigar." Eve said loudly, still staring at the floor. "I guess dry things catch fire quickly. Same thing goes for you too, old chap."
Richard tsked, "That is not convincing, c'mon girl… I heard what happened."
Richard went and sat in front of Eve. She smelled heavily of Vicks. Her deep blue eyes trembling with intensity, she looked at him; and forcing a smile, said:
"None to convince — if I don't file a case."
Richard lifted his eyebrows, "You serious?"
"As much as I can get. I don't want to get into all this shit. It really messes with the head, you see." Richard looked at her hands, they were twitching. She looked at them and said, "This is what I'm talking about," she groaned,"I really crave those when shit happens."
She continued, not blinking once; then nodded to herself as if confirming something. "Thanks for coming, Richard. Now I'm sure of my decision." She jumped to her feet, cracked her neck and turned around, "If you don't want juice, you may get going."
This hurt Richard. She was being way too formal.
"And what if I want?"
"You know you don't. O please Richard, I need my space right now. Understand." She turned to him and her face, for the first time, showed emotion,"I'm sorry, Chad. The thing isn't just this. It's also about father and the business."
"I-I understand. You can always talk to me, dear… I'm there for you."
Richard walked up to her. He looked Eve in the eyes and embraced her tightly. She was really warm, and her breath was turning light. "Take care of yourself".
"I really needed that." She said, and this time the smile wasn't forced.
Eve punched Richard on the chest, then slowly turned around and walked inside; dragging her fingernails – as straight as a blade – along the ground.
**************************************
Richard exited out the door. He had one too many and limped out into the verandah. He was satisfied.
This is how a party should be. The people, the food, the talks.
Why is she so damn funny? And-
And did I just... befriend a Colonel?
I did. I… I friended a Colonel. OH! That means-
That means I can salute now! Richard looked to his left and saluted the equally drunk Robert who was sitting on a table outside. He slowly raised his head, saluted, and fell backwards.
"Yeah, you don't get to do that." Cuz I am… cuz I am a kernel?
He knew something was off and stupidly stared at the sky, finger in his mouth. He didn't get it. Argh. Richard took his pocket comb and threw it angrily at the ground — and tottered forward.
A man was running towards Richard, closing a car door behind him.
It was his driver of the day. He held Richard by his shoulder and helped him to the cab.
"Kurnul needs no sapporch!" Richard blurted out and fell on his seat.
******************
It was a sunny afternoon. Richard had spent the afternoon, well, doing nothing productive. He strode back and forth in the hall, occasionally pouring coffee (that had turned cold) into his mouth . He thought, "I shan't blame myself. I'm a man with complete control over my mind."
He sighed. Hell, is lying to yourself over and over again called affirmations?
Richard looked out his window for quite a long time.
The forest just won't stop growing, uh I can't do nothing about it.
I MUST STOP IT. I have complete control over my mind. Not my emotions? I guess not…
I DO! DAMN IT.
He walked out of his home, without bothering to lock, to get the sunshine. He read somewhere that it calms the mind.
It was 2:30 and the sun glared at him. This is what I deserve. Fall down and burn the earth, sun. Please.
He looked ahead at the crowded street; his mind wished for a quiet place. It pushed him towards the alleyway, which he had always avoided.
But during lamentation, who in hell or heaven, gives a crap about their intuition. Richard also, with his hands inside his pockets, ignored his gut and walked into the alleyway.
It instantly turned quieter, as if a door was closed. He walked on deep into the alleyway, repeatedly kicking a broken glass bulb along the pavement; and he didn't even notice it.
Why do we need a heart? It's so painful and heavy. There's already blood everywhere in the body, what is there to pump ag-
Richard felt a chilling sensation on his neck. Mind back in the world, he trembled. He now saw that he was standing behind a tall brick wall. The smell around was repulsive.
He turned around at breakneck speed, hands covering his face, and found a woman standing there with a bottle in her hand. Her hair, bathed in hair tonic, was spread down like a curtain — veiling her face. He could hardly see her eyes behind the veil, which were focused on him, yet… blank.
Richard let his hands fall, and smiled at her. He was oddly relieved to see her. He wanted to express his pent up emotions directly to her.
"Hey sweetie. You're here! I'm so so glad to see you." He looked at her, the troubled mind not reflected in those eyes. She stepped backward.
Her posture had changed. She stood straight and slowly ran a hand through her hair. He continued, deeply engrossed in his own thoughts," I was thinking about you."
Jane's left eye narrowed. Her arm crept towards the bottle.
"I wanted to apologize, though - I must be frank - paranoia was from your p-"
He looked up to see her move - faster than he expected. She opened the bottle in one swift movement. Richard's eyes widened. He heard her roar.
Richard jumped away in blind panic — but it was too late.
SPLOSH
He felt his legs crumbling and burning — as if something alive was eating through his flesh. He screamed; his eyes watered abundantly. Then, his eyelids became heavy. Very heavy. And then — nothing.