The Other Side

Cezille07

Chapter 3. Five Minutes of Silence.

He didn't know how much time had passed since he last paid serious attention to the world around him, to the number of calendar pages that had been torn out. No, even the calendar had changed. A small number had been added to the last digit of the year.

But yes, it had been a long while. Things became habit, activities were routine. The daily visits from their three unpleasant guests who didn't bother with catification. Going to school and back home to learn things that would leak out his brain anyway. His father's distance, his mother's silence. Even the monsters spoke less and less to him.

He felt this made him less and less human—as if he were a robot going on concrete orders given, lest he paid the price for disobedience. He could surrender his hands, his sight, his hearing, his mind, and still carry on living the way he did. It would be easy to forget people, places...if it weren't for that photo of Elena standing on the fireplace next to their family picture. If not for that, he'd have forgotten her too—but who wouldn't, what with the monotony and dullness of this sick, dreary world? Nothing was happening, everything was an illusion, life had no meaning....

"Zick!"

What? Who? It was only Greta. But she hadn't spoken in a long time—at least, not when he wasn't intoxicated by lavender. "Yes?" he asked, or so he tried. Something was stuck in his throat, he couldn't tell what. It had been there for quite a while, but it didn't seem practical, not worth the effort to think about. "Yes?" he forced out.

"The phone! Someone wants to talk to you!" answered Greta from the kitchen.

Really? After a series of stiff, difficult movements he was able to pull himself out of bed for the first time that day and drag himself downstairs. He hung the receiver on his shoulder and propped himself on the wall. He cleared his throat. "H-hello...." He couldn't even say a casual greeting anymore? What a shame, to be a Tamer who couldn't command, who had no voice. But maybe the three Tutors were right. He was only half a Tamer anyway. So of what use was his Voice Dom? He stopped using his powers the day she left.

"Zick?"

It was a girl. A female voice he swore he'd recognize anywhere, anytime but here and now. But no, it can't really be.... "Elena?"

At this word, more than one head appeared at the door. Everyone gathered around him, curious, apprehensive. He couldn't blame them. He had known they sort of 'liked' her, the idea of the collective 'them', of a compound 'Zick and Elena'. It just felt right. She had been gone for so long; maybe, just maybe, now was the time to get that shaken past back on track.

He waited. On the other end, she waited. What, were they going to stand there, miles apart, only to listen to each other's breathing? Had they nothing more to say? No, of course not! "H-how are you?"

"I'm...okay. And you?"

How he missed that voice! Her sweet, gentle tone. He could feel his heart banging in his chest. What would he say? "Same here."

Now what? To ask the obvious? "So...why'd you call?" He had somehow been expecting an answer to the question, "Why'd you leave?" It startled him that she answered with something he'd been dying to voice out, "Well, I...I...you know, I missed you."

He wanted to faint, or jump for joy—or disintegrate into nothing. Would he dare say "I missed you too"? He gulped. With the monsters around it seemed more difficult. But he had to be brave for her, for them, the collective 'them'. He heaved a sigh and prepared to say it. This would be the one big shot of his life. Do it, say it, tell her!

Then she spoke. "So...I gotta go now."

What? No! Stop her! Think, brain, think! Why won't you do something! You don't even know where she is, how to contact her. You'll lose this chance, you'll never talk to her again. Say it! Now! "Wait, I wanted to tell you something...."

"What is it?"

He let himself slide down the wall into a relaxed, seated position. Just say it. "Elena," he began. That lump was reforming. He looked at each of the monsters' eager faces and took a deep breath.

"Zick?"

He felt his face grow hot when she said it. He missed her saying his name. There was his special ring to it when she said that word, the way only she can say it. He grasped the phone and exhaled. "Say it again."

"What?"

He waited. On the other end, she waited. He thought, maybe it was alright if they did just wait there, listening to each other's breathing, if only to bask in this brief moment of connection between them. He closed his eyes. Even her breathing was soothing and pleasant. When she asked, "Zick? What is it?" it wasn't an irritated inquiry the way she often asked, it was a question of concern. And at that moment, he did another thing he stopped doing since she left—he smiled.

Why she had to hang up right then was a mystery. Well she did say she had to leave. She waited for his statement but it never came. She had every reason to be confused and angry, if she wanted. Or she could as easily forget the whole incident. Forget him.

He dropped the phone. Didn't bother to hide the evil liquid that streamed down his face. She's gone. Again. And for the second time in his life, he let her go without saying the three magic words, possibly the only words powerful enough to catch her attention, and bring her back to him...forever.