He stared into the abyss, the abyss that was this small tender girl- those soft hazel eyes and that warm inviting smile. Those eyes that were like the deepest pools of his own suffering and illness with so many complex layers of color. Her body was Rome and his soul was Christ nailed to a biting and splintering cross.
So far gone, He hardly minded that his soul would be forever damned for the thoughts that plagued the older males own mind. None of it mattered, the only thing that did matter was this perpetual girl child, only sixteen- that sat across from him in a shabby little diner on the border of the city. Bluish green fake leather seats and retro looking furnishings. Black and white floor tile in a checker board fashion. Her legs were swinging back and forth and tapping at his own playfully every now and again, a soft smile curling up the corners of his mouth. Her lips a rosy pink as they wrapped delicately around her straw. She sipped lazily at a concoction of melted strawberry and vanilla ice cream, the straw making an unpleasant sipping sound as she hit the bottom of her glass. But to him, the sound was just like the rest of the people in that diner. Unimportant, forgotten and nonexistent.
None of them held this pure naked innocence and unadulterated light about them. Not like the artificial halo that cascaded over the top of her head from the window, neon lights across the street by the small motel of which they made their temporary residence.
He could hardly believe it.. it was like a dream. This little fawn that had eaten from his hand so easily.. following the trail without much question. They were 'friends' after all he supposed.
He was in heaven. This was his heaven as he sat quietly with his little protegee.
As he gazed at her face, he wore that same friendly, gentle smile he always presented her with. The one he had flashed her time after time when she had come to the soda fountain. It was so odd, he never once before felt himself to intrigued by such a young girl. No other little doe eyed skirt had garnered any more then a normal plain smile he gave all the customers. His job had been so trivial.. despite her beauty it had not simply been her looks that caught his attention in all honesty. It was her kindness... her gentle nature.
.~.~.~.
Mariku Ishtar was an immigrant who had come to America as a child with his family from Egypt. He was now twenty-five years old. He had a simple life, two brothers and a sister, a father... their mother had died while giving birth to his youngest brother Malik. They had been devastated but they carried on, their father taking to drinking as he grew older. He could be in all honesty a very nasty man. Religious and set in his ways and intolerant, he passed when Mariku was a teen from alcohol poisoning.
Despite the hardships, Mariku and his siblings had got along rather well. Mariku and Rashid working to help support them as Malik was still a child, leaving Isis to care for him. That was until a cold, quit December evening when Mariku had slipped, taking to alcahol not long before as their father did. Isis ended up on the floor with a black eye, bruises and a broken nose. Mariku was kicked out and spent the night in a jail cell. His family no longer wanted anything to do with him. Mariku never came home, finding his way to a nearby town where he set up his new life -his family- he came to find out, had left their home their father had bought to move to the city. Malik was old enough now to get his own job and despite the house being paid off, it seemed it held to many memories of their father and Mariku. So the house was left to rot.
Except it wouldn't be anymore. having done his time in prison and saved up every penny from his long shifts, Mariku had decided on returning to take over the house. he'd get a job as a mechanic or something in that town, it's not as if anyone would recognize him that wasn't family. They never got out much as kids. However it had not been in his plan until rather last minute that he would be coming home with a guest.
They had known each other for several months now, every day the bubbly girl would come into his work place, not necessarily to buy something all the time- which his boss was not happy about. Mariku would never object though, she'd hop up onto the bar stool, her thin legs dangling as she'd invest herself in some book or school work, sometimes asking for water. Often times she didn't even speak. Even if other girls from her school would come and chatter among themselves and greet her she never seemed very invested. Sometimes.. Mariku had noticed the slightest bit of bruising peeking out from the ends of her sleeves. The occasional bandages on her knees and scuffing as if she had fallen several times. He had written it off in his mind as just a clumsy child, most children or teens tended to rough house with siblings or not pay much attention when preforming a task. It was very likely the poor dear was unlucky.
Over time, the girl had warmed up to him more and more. Starting off with little conversations about the weather, questions about the school work she was working on or just.. asking how Mariku's day was.
This young girl knew nothing of what Mariku had done in his past and how he had lived. She knew nothing about his time in prison and how disgusting he had been to his sister. She welcomed his friendship with open arms and a naive sort of innocence. In her mind, Mariku was a gentle man who's presence she grew to enjoy and feel comfortable around him. Mariku was aware that he was not well.. some sort of mental issues that were never diagnosed, doctors or therapists were so expensive, he had simply learned to live with his manic thoughts at times. There were days when her presence was like a gentle warmth near him and he wouldn't pay much attention to her aside from the occasional glance or offer for more water... then there were days when his mind would become so fixated on her, and those tended to come after they started talking. He'd think about her even if they weren't making eye contact, her skirt, her hair, her eyes, hr soft voice, the way she would bite her lip in thought over her assignment. She had learned his name, taking note of when he seemed stressed or upset and offer calming words to him when the rush would die down and people would leave. He recalled on one occasion when he had cut himself rather badly on the metal behind the counter top and blood poured from his palm. How quickly that small girl had hopped up on the counter and asked for his hand to bandage it.
She was so sweet to him... no one had ever been so sweet to him, she had to be an angel of sorts. As if god was finally having mercy on him despite his sins and cruelty. He had begun to notice.. he'd have very graphic and malicious intrusive thoughts, though some resonated more then others. Ones with her crying and begging him to stop with her torn cloths and breathless voice. Ones where she would place her hand over his heart and trail it down his chest. Thoughts of himself grabbing her roughly like he would do with a woman his age.
Possessiveness... the feeling tended to flood him when he'd see her. If any other little boys came around trying to prod at her and how he would cast them threatening looks. Mariku was not entirely conscious of it, but it seemed the cogs in his brain were shifting and had been shifting into a place where he felt rather detached from everything besides her. Perhaps even.. having thoughts of snatching her up one day. taking her far away from it all and keeping her to himself. Then... then it seemed the angel of mercy had smiled on him the night before when he was about to lock up. The sweet, warm girl standing in the doorway as the lights were dimmed and he held his coat in his arms. He hadn't even realized it had been raining until he looked at her and she was drenched to the bone. Her small frame shaking as her long brunette hair clung to her neck and face, red rimmed eyes and what looked like a large bruise around her neck shaped like a hand. The image alone caused a horrified look to pass his features. She looked like she was about to speak, and then she broke down. unable to even forum a sentence as she stumbled over to him, clinging to him. Gasping and struggling to breath between harsh sobs. Puzzled and concerned, he simply held her tightly. Petting the back of her head to try and comfort the weeping and wounded dove.
How wonderful was the irony? how precise and amusing. He did not need to kidnap her, she came willingly. Begging to be taken far away, and so he would grant her that wish. He had not pride despite wanting to know who had dared to lay a hand on what was his... his. Yes, she belonged to him, he liked how that sounded. Never really having much to his name until now, he felt he cradled a cherub in his palm more valuable then any gem or gold. The soft mutterings of 'My father.' We're all he received and all he needed. One day, he'd have to make him pay... but for now he was concerned about her and getting her out of the cold into his car.
No more waiting, no more planning. That night, they left in his car. Neither one even bothering to look back at the fading sign in the distance.
.~.~.~.
It had been getting rather late, the sign hanging by the door clearly reading that the diner closed at eight. It was about seven thirty now and part of him wished they could stay like this forever. Sitting at the little booth, gazing at his new prize with such gentle fondness. No one else in the building aside from the thoughtful waitress he scrubbed away at one of the tables.
He had been so lost in thought he almost didn't register that she had spoken to him.
"Hm...?" A low hum left him as he blinked, his mind seeming to come back to the girl flashing him a grin across the table.
"I said it's so weird seeing you out of uniform. usually you wear those white dress shirts and pants. But you look so.. normal now." She giggled softly, covering her mouth. Mariku looked down, not really thinking much of it all. It wasn't that much different... just a red dress shirt with his normal black slacks. A light brown jacket resting on his shoulders. He supposed it would be odd though to her considering the only time she saw him was at work. He'd always seen her in her skirts and blouses though. Occasionally a sun dress that complimented her figure or shorts. Part of him hoped she packed those shorts..
Clearing his throat, he stood and motioned for her to come along. leaving his money on the table and watching her carefully as they left the little shop. He felt he had to keep an eye on her. Even if she walked in front of him he couldn't take his eyes off her in fear this wasn't real.. some sort of sick illusion brought on by his own mental deterioration. That this perfect nymph was not in fact living and breathing before him. Paranoia weighting heavy in the back of his mind by now, he was not stupid.. he would go to jail if the police or someone realized he was assisting a runaway, or worse assume he'd taken her. He hadn't! H-he had wanted to.. but he hadn't! She came on her own. But he knew better, that would never go over in court. if he was caught then they would blame him fully for it.
Serenity skipped along the side of the road into the puddles left behind from the storm, looking both ways before trotting across the street. She was so light in her movements, carefree and giddy. She in her mind no doubt felt she would be free from further abuse and she was now traveling with her good friend Mariku. Of course, there was some lingering thought about returning.. while the little game would be fun for now she knew in her mind she would want to go back after playing cat and mouse. She would want to see her brother again.. maybe she could live with mother? Unbeknownst to her that she would not be going back. Those puddles reflecting neon lights and the dim stars above them. Everything felt so big and yet so small to Mariku. The universe was vast and almost frightening but it seemed his whole world was closing in around this girl. Simplifying it all. Yet... he wanted more. He wanted them to be closer, to feel more in control. He didn't want to be friends anymore.
The chance to look back at that sign from her home town as they drove away the previous night... was the last missed chance she had to see it again. This was not the kind man she knew from the soda fountain. Deep down Mariku knew he was sick and nothing would be changing that. He'd own the galaxies that formed in the freckles on her face and hold innocence in his hands with a painfully tight grip.
She wasn't leaving. Ever.
