Innocent Evil by Tari Xalyr

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Don't you remember? . . . . " Words merged and lines disappeared into nothingness. I put the script back in my bag, after one day of non stop rehearsals my mind had had enough.


I turned my attention instead the girls near the front of the bus. They were dressed in a uniform from the local school. Blue and white tartan skirt with a blue jumper. Black beanies, gloves and stocking. They had given up on the man in the corner and chosen to return to their magazines. Giggling and gossiping; they got off at the next stop.

The bus was quiet and empty except for me and the man in the corner. Looking out the window, I reached up to press the bell but it wasn't my hand that touched the button first; it was his. Fumbling for my bag I got up as the bus pulled up at my stop. I hopped off the bus, landing in a pile of freshly fallen snow. Sinking slowly into the cold wet slosh. Reaching the path I began to walk towards my house, my now wet jeans and boots squelching beneath me. Reaching the front door I reached into my pocket for my keys.

Opening the door and stepping inside to the warmly lit hallway I let out a sigh of relief as the sting on my cheeks gradually faded. I walked upstairs, slowly, taking in the smell of hot food in the kitchen, the warm furry smell of the hall rug. I entered my bedroom and shrugging off my bag collapsed on my bed. I simply lay there. I don't remember how long. But it was all too soon when I got up to get changed and it was then it happened. Everything stopped.

The lights dimmed. I shivered slightly at the sudden chill creeping up my spine. Something was not right. My body positioned itself into a fighting stance as I strained to hear a sound. Any indication that it was only my imagination but none came. In fact no sound came. A cold wind slapped against my face. I turned to face the figure now sitting in my window box. The man from the bus stared back at me, unblinkingly. Slowly he rose, lifting his head to reveal a face but it was not the face I had imagined. It was not old or tired and wain like I had imagined but young and strong. He looked no more than nineteen. My body tensed as my feet slowly shuffled to prepare the body for the first blow but none came. He just stood staring at me. It was when his eyes met mine and I saw the glimmer of satisfaction I knew he had not come to for my family but had come for me. Although at the time, I did not know why. But it was not long after I opened a whole new door to my history. My past, present and future were to be governed by this one moment in time.

"Mary." Mum knocked on the door. I turned but a hand grabbed my arm. It pulled me back to stare at the man's face. He shook his head placing his finger over his lips. I nodded and he disappeared.
"Mary?" I opened the door.
"Yes mum."
"Dinner in five minutes, okay?" I nodded but she did not move. She peered over my shoulder and shook her head. "No wonder it's so cold in here. Why is the window open?" she walked across the room and closed the window just as the door closed behind me. She turned to leave but would never leave that room again.