1 Chapter 1: Sunset
Pat pat pat...
The sound of splashing water disappeared in the distance as a stone sank deeper. A young boy who looked 11 or 12 was sitting beside a riverbank on a rock bolder. It was a strange river. It was wide and rippleless. One could skip stones over the surface of the slowly flowing water.
He was in a trance, staring into the distance, completely oblivious to the presence slowly creeping close to him. A boy of a similar age came into view and tried to startle the other by screaming and popping in front of the other.
"Gaaar!"
The boy failed miserably at imitating a roar. It was comical that he didn't notice he did it any differently than he wished to.
The boy sitting on the border was unimpressed but his trance of thought was broken. He looked at the newcomer with an annoyed face. Finally seeing the unwelcomed guest, he sighed and continued his stare into the distance. He was more mature for his tender age. Picking up a random stone from the bundle beside him with smooth surfaces indicating they were carefully chosen, he aimed and threw the stone far into the river. This time he was unlucky and the stone sank right into the river.
"Look what you did. Stop distracting me, Kael." Vexed, the boy said in an irritated childish voice.
He stood up from the bolder he was sitting on and glared at the other boy. Maybe not very mature.
"You are still as grumpy as a grandpa, Luci. I wonder who would be your friend if not me, Mikaela Howell, the nicest person?" The newcomer stated with a voice filled with slight pride and narcissism as he got closer to the border, "I'm here to play. Why did you leave me home?"
"Do you want me to say it?" asked Luci as he looked down upon Mikaela.
"No. Forget it, you will just say something not nice again." Mikaela mumbled at the end. His bright ruby eyes showed a trace of sadness.
"I'm glad you know," Luci answered in satisfaction.
The silence persisted. Mikaela climbed the border and sat beside Luci. He only relaxed after a while when Lucien said nothing and secretly sighed in relief. Together, they gazed at the sunset in the distance beyond the mountains far away.
A cascade of colors showering the sky and a warm glowing radiance was apparent in the hazy distance. It was an ethereal sight that mesmerized the young boys into a daze.
Only at such moments would the opposite personalities get along since they dreamed of what mystic sights lay beyond those mountains they could not see past. Their hearts longed with curiosity.
The sky was already blanketed by the night veil when they realized something important. They stayed out past curfew. Lucien and Mikaela ran through the fields as quickly as their short legs could manage.
"Mom is gonna be mad again. Why did you insist on staying?" complained Lucien.
"Who watches a sunset halfway? We had to wait until the light disappeared." Mikaela tried making a logical argument in his defense.
All in all, he feared his mother finding out. It was much worse than Lucien's mother finding out.
"Yeah, if we didn't have a curfew, your idea would be perfect, dummy," said Lucien with sarcasm.
"I'm not a dummy, Luci. Call me Kael," grumbled Mikaela, but knew what was said would not reach Lucien.
"Anyway, hurry. We have to make it home before Father gets back. Mom will cover us." said Lucien.
They nodded in agreement and rushed through the familiar path home. In the distance, significantly a distance away from other houses, lights were on in the two houses. There was fencing around both wooden houses. In the front yard was a garden mixed with flowers and vegetables forming a rather chaotic beauty. The two houses stood close to each other within the same yard and fence but were separated by a small path leading to the backyard where different cattle and other domestic animals were tethered. On one edge, were fabrics and clothes hanging on thin metal wire hanging lines.
Without a second thought, the boys rushed to the left house. Their breathing was uneven but even then they tried to be as quiet as possible.
Lucien pushed the door leaving Mikaela on the doorstep as he rushed to inspect if his father was home. When he had confirmed he wasn't there, he came back and hurriedly pulled Kael in, leaving him in the guest area. From the sweet wafting aroma, he could tell his mother was in the kitchen. After a few seconds, he got to the kitchen to find a silhouette of a woman near the fireplace.
"M-mom. I'm back," said Lucien, nervously fidgeting with his clothes. He was unsure how to bring up the topic of covering up for them with his mother.
She turned around and looked at the boy with obvious forced dissatisfaction, "Lucien, I thought I told you to be back early. Look, I delayed dinner because you weren't home yet. I am sad you don't listen to Mommy like you used to." Her body motioned in exaggerated sadness.
A woman of average height and loosely tied up brown hair revealing ocean blue eyes underneath her bangs. Her body was curvy, vaporous, and seductive. Her curvy hips, slender waist, and heavy bust could hardly be hidden by the floppy dress. Her simple clothes or messy disposition didn't shadow any of her superior charm. From a third viewpoint, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
She was Lucien's mother, a woman who seemed to be in her mid-thirties, Bianca Alaric.
'Mother called my name. She is pissed.' Lucien thought.
Lucien panicked and tried to explain.
"Mom, I listen to you. The sunset today was pretty and Kael and I wanted to see it but, and…I'm sorry." Lucien resigned when he realized he was making excuses. His heart sank after making such a mistake and apologized.
"I'm glad you know, my baby. Wash up quickly, both of you, and come have dinner." She winked and said in a warm voice filled with love and turned to serve the dishes on the table.
Lucien sighed with relief knowing his mother would keep today's mistake a secret from his father. Mikaela would not get many questions if he had dinner at his house, but how he handled it afterward was not his problem. He left the kitchen and rushed to the guest room.
Bianca who was serving dishes frowned and her blue eyes like Lucien's turned ice cold.
"It's almost time…" She muttered.
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