This is a new story that I wanted to try. I haven't been able to get to the other ones, and thus have lost my place for a while until I can finish the planning I had done for them. They aren't on hiatus exactly. They're just being re-planned for I can finish them.'
But I hope that you'll like this one.
Smoked: Prologue
A smiled played on her lips.
Above the Earth, in front of their window inside their playroom. They had turned the lights off to see the planet best. It lit their room with a blue smoky glow.
The mass below their safe little haven gave them dreams of the place they learned about from books and documentaries. Maria had lived their once, a long time ago. Back when all she could remember was ice-cream in her hands, a woman sitting next to her, and cherry-blossoms floating through the air. She couldn't remember the woman's face. If only she could remember…but she remembered the cherry blossoms. They were light and pink and happy…
"Will we ever get to go down there, Maria?"
Her blue eyes melted with warmth in his young red eyes. His voice was childish, wondering and anxious.
"Of course we will Shadow. Was that ever a question?"
Her face turned back to the blueness; it faded into her, filling her with blue innocent light.
"One day, we'll go back there…"
"You promise right? One day we'll go there together?"
His fist held on to her skirt, a child holding on as if for dear life.
But she smiled even then, her yellow hair the sunlight that she dreamed of.
"Silly Shadow, of course we'll both go."
Her hand squeezed his in all assurance.
"We'll always be together. I promise!"
Her whispers were soft, he clung on to them. Threads to his lifeline.
"And I'll show you the cherry blossoms, and we'll live just like in the fairy tales."
"Happily ever after" He whispered.
"I promise." She confirmed.
"You liar."
He clenched his teeth in the darkness. Sitting up in his bed, holding their picture.
Maria... Professor Gerald…
He was in darkness, the moon hid behind the blinds of the nearest window. But an arm's way ahead the blinds were open, and the light poured all over on a big rectangle. Like the window on the Ark. It shined even now on her in his hand. Even in her picture she shined.
"…You lied…"
Whispers in the dark… unhappy but he said it a matter-of-factly.
It wasn't her fault.
She had meant that promise…
She had meant that they would visit this planet. Together.
But he was here. Alone.
And she was no more.
"Please Shadow… for all the people down there… give them ….a chance… to be… ."
"Happy."
He laid back. Staring at the dark ceiling. It was his fault.
He couldn't save Maria…
Bang!
A wind went through his room.
She was shot.
While she tried to save him…
She'd wanted to keep his dream alive…
But…
She actually killed them for good… and now she was a liar…