Oblivion's embrace

...

It was nearing the evening of a warm summer day. At the city's play garden children enjoyed the last rays of daylight as they ran after eachother playing games like tag and hide-and-seek. The noise they created was a warm and welcome sound, the sound of happiness, youth and simple bliss. Parents and elders were monitoring their kids from a distance, smiling at the innocent scene unfolded before their eyes. Soon though, the last light of day died down and so childeren and parents went home. One such kid, a little boy nearing the age of 5 ran towards his big sister as she called him over. "Aww do we have to go already, big sis?" the boy asked. Chuckling lightly she anwsered "It's almost dark Ryu, mom and dad are going to be worried." Pouting he reluctantly took her hand, looking back over his shoulder at the play garden. "You can come again tomorrow okay? Now if we hurry and get home on time I'll read you a bed story". Ryu looked up as his sister with a big smile on his face and nodded "Promise okay?" he said excitingly. His big sister returned the smile and winked at him "Of course! Now come on! Last one home is a rotten egg!" and started running ahead. With a whoop he raced after his sister, laughing all the way...

...

Coming from downstairs the sound of plates and vases crashing against walls echoed through the house. A hoarse male voice yelled menacingly "You're so stupid bitch!", then another crash followed. "Don't you talk to me like that! Get out of my house!!" came the anwser. Upstairs Ryu huddled close to his sister with every loud sound. Tears were streaming down his face and his whole body shuddered continuously. The soft strokes through his hair given by his sister didn't help much as Ryu could feel she was also fear and worry striken. Slowly he raised his head and looked at his sister, asking "Why are mommy and daddy fighting so much? ... Will they ever stop?". She heaved a trembling sigh and took him even tighter in her arms, still stroking his short blonde hair. "I don't know Ryu...". Feeling the tears welling up in his eyes again, he buried his face in his sister's chest, clenching her blouse... trying so hard to be strong...

...

The room was a typical hospital bedroom, monitoring machines abuzz with activity, the monotonic beep of the cardiac monitor a constant factor in the depressing mood that circled the room. Ryu looked at the person in the bed, a pale face with dark-circled eyes, hair in a chaotic mess, oxygen mask over her mouth. Sitting beside the bed he took her hand and gently squeezed it, hoping he could send her a message. He still wondered why she had to be sick...Why did she have to go through this suffering... She's done nothing wrong...she's always been there for me...Why...WHY DAMMIT! Ryu gave a start as she opened her eyes, flashing a faint smile at him. "Sis!...Hello big sis...how are you? I hope I didn't wake you". Smiling still she weakly shook her head at him. Feeling amazed at how strong she was he squeezed her hand again for reassurance, hers or mine?, and smiled back, a sad smile. "Ryu..." she whispered hoarsly. "Don't talk sis...you should rest, so you can get better". "Ryu...be strong Ryu...don't be sad..." She swallowed once and continued. "I know you can be strong...I believe in you...". Trying to make his smile less sad, Ryu gave her a kiss on her forehead. "The doctor said I can stay here for the night." She nodded..."I'd like that..."
As the lights in the hall died down, so did Ryu's conscience drift away into oblivion...
It was morning... The doctor's voice sounded far away "Wake up...!"

...

"Wake up...!"

.........uuuuggghh...

"Wake up Ryu..."

...huh...what? who's....?

"Wake up Ryu Alvein... It's time..."

...Time?



The light was bright!

Quick Update

Hey all,
Quick update. Second part is coming soon, but between my lazyness and writers block/n00bie skills it isn't easy. More comments people! :) It warms my heart, gives me feedback and shows to me that i'm not doing this for nothing. Some must have read the story without commenting... I hope ~.~; and it's way better then me whining all the time.
Ah anyway, going to get some much needed sleep, you could almost drown in the black pools beneath my eyes :s

EDIT (27/11): Thanks for the comments and feedback people :). Part 2 is about 2/3 done (estimated).

--Warynn

Prelude

It's was an early morning. A calm morning, just like every other one...preferably. The pale orange light from street lanterns shone through the windows of the train carriage at regular intervals. With it came the low sound of iron wheels running smoothly on iron tracks, a sound ebbing and flowing like a barely audible hypnotizing chant. Outside, the first few rays of light started appearing from behind the horizon. It would be morning soon... But for now it was still night for all he cared. And night is not a pleasant time to wake up. Ah well... Just grin and bear it.
The first high corporate buildings started appearing just when the train started slowing down. Groaning slowly and blinking several times Ryu started to wake up. A hatefull feeling really. "Are we there already?" he muttered to himself, then took his brown school backpack and stood up, slinging it over his right shoulder. The few other passengers who were in the same carriage copied Ryu's behaviour, resentfully waking up from their shallow slumber with longstretched yawns and half closed eyes then gathering their belongings and heading for the train's doors. Ryu blinked a few times again to get the sleep out of his eyes, then fumbled with his sleeve to look at his watch. 7:30 . With tired steps he headed behind the other passengers, waiting for the train to arrive at the final stop, ready for whatever life was going to throw at him today...but not really.
With a screeching sound the train came to a full stop. As he stepped outside the frustrating noise from heavy construction met him head on. Along with it came the simply irritating sound of morning people going from and to work, with too much to tell eachother at this time. Why, oh why does everything sound so *loud* and *annoying* in the morning? putting both straps over his shoulder now Ryu shrugged once to realign his backpack well on his shoulders, then set of on his usual path: through the morning masses on his way to school. Above him the train station's roof was supported by old and ugly dark red metal girders and not so sturdy looking but equally old glass window walls. Beneath the roof, the new platforms radiated a wholly different aura. One of a modern, newly designed style, with smooth light gray marble blocks and "high-tech" announcement signs, complete with esotherically placed garbage cans. Construction of this new part was still going on but the contrast was already quite painfull. It didn't interest Ryu. It was a sight he had to watch on a daily level. Everyday on and off...
He didn't really like this current life style, getting up early, listening to some old fart in his midlife crisis quoting from some boring book, getting bitched at for not paying attention, and after that different class, same ritual. Then when all that was over packing your books and heading the opposite direction again, back to home.
Muttering, still, to himself about the cold weather Ryu just strode on, knowing very well that escape from life is impossible. Not that he didn't dream of it. Looking at that aspect of himself he knew he was a full fledged romantic dreamer. Someone with a hate for common day boring life with a taste for sci-fi or fantasy adventure. Pathetic really... But he didn't care. At least he wasn't weird, it all checked out according to the clichés. Hehh...
Arriving at his class fifteen minutes of walking later he sat down and got poked by his best friend Kaz. "What's with the grumpy face?". Arching an eyebrow at his classmate Ryu grumbled softly "You tell me why I should be smiling when I got out of my bed for another day of nonsense." Kaz chuckled lightly and leaned back on his chair, running a hand through his short, blond curly hair "You didn't have to... You know classes aren't obligatory here in college". With a sigh Ryu placed his head on the bench and closed his eyes "Really now... I'd like to graduate in the end yknow. I don't want to spend any more time here then absolutely neccesary." Kaz simply nodded and patted his friend on the shoulder getting a grin for anwser. As Ryu almost drifted back into a sweet peaceful slumber again a staff member entered the room and addressed everyone present. "Prof Cole is absent today, that means your current class is cancelled. Good day all". Suddenly wide awake and with a seething fury directed at all the universe Ryu violently grabbed his bag to sling it over his back, nearly knocking Kaz over in the process and headed for the door with wide strides. "For freaking bloody fuck's SAKE! THIS is why I got out of bed!? I cannot be-fucking-lieve this horseSHIT!!" Kaz quickly caught up to Ryu laughing heartedly with the whole situation. "This is hilarious...3 hours of free time for nothing. No, 4! with recess!" Shooting a angry look at his amused friend Ryu hit the elevator door with his fist, having to hold back not to do it several times, just to work off his morning mood and frustration. When the elevator arrived, Ryu and Kaz got inside and pushed the ground floor button. "So what do you want to do now?" Kaz inquired. Shrugging slightly Ryu grunted an anwser. "I guess we can't do anything but hang out in the city I guess. We have to get back for the afternoon classes still... dammit". "Yeah" Kaz nodded and both stepped outside when the elevator doors opened on the ground floor. "How about we go to the pub and get ourselves a drink? My treat." A smile appeared on Ryu's face and his foul mood got a bit brighter because of his friend's suggestion. Maybe this day wasn't going to be bad after all?
Stepping outside, they headed along the street, taking turns here and there towards their favourite place. The city was already bustling with pedestrians and traffic, cars zigzagging between the big container trucks, bikers pedalling onward towards their destination, trying to stay clear of the other dangerous motorised traffic, and occasionally the odd motor cycle zooming in between the slower cars. Ryu and Kaz nearly reached the pub when suddenly some screeching came from behing the street's corner as several people started screaming and came running in the opposite direction. "What the hell?"Kaz barely had the time to utter a curse before a small truck came speeding on the wrong lane towards the sidewalk where he and Ryu were walking. Ryu's eyes widened as he saw the oncoming vehicle and yelled "It's out of control!", but all effort for warning and escape came too late. Desperately trying to brake, the truck hopped on the edge of the sidewalk, taking Kaz down sidewards with a sickening crunch and hitting Ryu frontally tumbling him over the hood. The last thing Ryu was aware of was the sound his friend's breaking body... Then everything went dark. So dark... so... very.................. dar...-

Miracles (and smirking)

Hehh, that's the first time work had me feeling satisfied and made me forget my worries. Miracles ain't gone yet eh... Pheh *smirk* Thanks Lars for asking me that question eh, damn Java!
I would update more but my emotional state has me all exhausted and ragged up. Another empty day tomorrow, i'm not looking forward to it, hehh *still smirking* Whatever...

--W