Chasing Hearts

Prologue

Rain blanketed the sleep Danish town and not a soul roamed the streets as they all sought refuge in their homes. All except one. Outside one dull brick building a blonde boy, under a large purple umbrella, stood hesitantly at the peeling green door. He would seem to be made of stone, or marble with is pale complexion, if not for the key in his hand, slowly unlocking the door. He was not quite sure if he wanted to be home yet. His mother had grown increasingly distant and her behavior was starting to alarm the young man. Still though, if he didn't come home soon, his younger brother may start to worry. Eirikur was only three and therefore would not understand his brother's aversion to staying in the house for any amount of time.

Making up his mind he pushed open the door, closing his umbrella behind him. Once he was in the entrance hall he removed his sopping jack and boots, small puddles forming on the scratched wooden floor. Tucking his possessions under one arm he made his way carefully up the stairs to the flat where he lived with his mother and brother. Their father had left three months prior to Eirikur's birth. Jakob had been fourteen at the time.

Reaching the top of the staircase, he noticed a small silver-haired toddler curled up by the door. What was his brother doing out here? "Eirikur?" the teen spoke softly, kneeling beside his sibling. "Eirikur wake up. You can't sleep out here."

Wide violet eyes blinked open and the small form sniffled for a moment.

"Bror?" He yawned, rubbing with eyes with still pudgy fists. Jakob nodded calmly, still puzzled as to why his brother was out here in the first place. Eirikur scooted forward to burrow into his brother's chest, tightly gripping the other's damp blue sweater. Smiling softly into the other's hair, Jakob reached up to open the door before scoping the tired toddler into his other arm.

Jakob could hear scuffling further in the apartment but other than that the air seemed eerily still. Closing the door with his foot, the scuffling momentarily ceased. Something wasn't right here. "Mother?" he called out softly. He looked around the small room for any sign of the woman. Suddenly, as his eyes landed on the two haphazardly packed suitcases leaning against the doorframe, he understood.

Carefully settling his brother in an armchair across the room, he steeped around the telltale bags. Entering the small bedroom of the main entrance, he saw her. Another suitcase lay open on the bed, more clothes and objects being added every moment. He did not speak, but leaned against the doorframe, waiting for her to notice him. She spun around, appearing to search for something when she caught sight of him and made a nervous gasp.

"What's going on?" he asked levelly, his arms folded over his chest.

"I can't do this anymore," she half-whispered zipping the bag shut. "I can't keep living like this. Your father left…then Eirikur…he's looks so much like Steils. I just…I can't…" She mad a sound almost like a choked sob as she shakily lifted the suitcase from the bed.

Jakob's eyes, the same dull blue, locked with his mothers he struggled to maintain his blank, unfeeling gaze. "You're leaving then? Just like him, you're leaving us?"

She didn't answer as edged past her son and into the short hallway. Eirikur sill slept soundly in the other room. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry…"

Jakob turned his face away in anger. On some level he'd always known it would come to this, but that didn't make it any less painful now that it was happening. "Jakob, I…"

"Just go," he said coldly, some of his anger showing.

Without another word, the door clicked softly behind her.

Later that night, as Jakob climbed into bed with Eirikur, carefully tucking the blankets under the three-year-old's chin, the younger brother spoke.

"Is mor gone?" he asked.

"Yes," Jakob answered evenly, tucking the blanket around Eirikur's other side. He would not let his brother see the bitter anger still lingering in his eyes.

"Is she coming back?" he yawned, squirming to loosen the blanket and scoot closer to his brother's warmth.

"No," Jakob sighed, giving up on the blanket and simply holding his brother closer. "It's just you and me from now on."

Jakob stared through the window over Eirikur's head, taking in the dismal night. He felt the silver-haired boy's grip tighten then relax on his nightshirt. "Okay," he mumbled, nodded his head before attempting to draw even closer. Only when all that could be heard were the sounds of rain, and Eirikur's steady breathes did Jakob finally let go; and for the first time that he could remember, Jakob bitterly wept.