When he had first decided to leave school, it was nerve wracking. Never had he heard of someone missing a day of school. They would notice immediately that he was gone. He was sure of it. And yet, he had taken the risk. That morning he had done everything as he normally would have. He woke at exactly 7:02, finished getting ready by 7:17, sat down and ate until 7:26 and left exactly three steps behind his brother to the bus stop which would come at exactly 7:33 at the corner of Lewis and Martin. Except he didn't get to the corner of Lewis and Martin. As soon as he was out of his mother's sight, he stopped and let his brother walk on. He hid behind the house just before the corner, peeking ever so carefully and watching as the bus left without him. His brother hadn't noticed his absence, nor had the bus driver. He wasn't going to school today. For the first time in the six year-old's life, Lovino Vargas was free.
XxX
"Birdie!" Gilbert was overjoyed as he entered the small cafe, coming face to face with the personified form of the bird he had followed. He was a sight to behold, with his vibrant red sweater, pale but not white skin, sweet violet eyes and most breathtaking blond hair. It was the hair that reminded him of the small creature which had disappeared the moment the store door had opened. Gilbert didn't have the time to be sad by its departure, for its reason was finally before him. A total of fifteen blocks away, if he had counted correctly. Though it was easy to become confused in this world...
"Birdie?" His voice was quiet, to the point where Gilbert was unsure if the question was directed at him or just a voiced thought. But he would answer anyway, simply for the sake of having a conversation filling the silence around him.
"Birdie." He began with a triumphant nod. "Because your hair is like the bird that lead me here. Pretty awesome, but not as awesome as me." He watched the boy's expression change from one of disbelief to slight disgust as if he were questioning his sanity. Gilbert maintained a smile and began working past the strange first impression. "Gilbert Beilshmidt." He paused. "From your world." He added, to clear any confusion the boy might have. After all, his time here handy done much for his color. He placed a hand in front of him, almost regretting it instantly. How long had it been at home? Was handshaking still acceptable? Wait, he was still alive so it wasn't like it was years, right? Why the hell did he care so much anyway? Was it the hair? He couldn't get over that hair...
"Matthew Williams." Matthew took his hand firmly, giving a quick up and down motion before releasing. Gilbert suppressed a sigh of relief. He could sort out why he was so concerned later. Now he would focus on doing what his gut told him and looking good in front of this guy. He moved to the nearest table, sitting and propping his feet up before motioning for his new companion to sit. Matthew hesitated.
"If you're waiting for your latte..."
"No." Matthew shook his head, taking his place next to Gilbert before intertwining his hands and twiddling his thumbs. Was this Gilbert one of the people mentioned in the note? How much did he know about all of this? This world, the objects, returning home? ...Had he come here the same way he had? Matthew found his last question too personal. If he were to ask anything, he would simply stay with basics.
"I take it you haven't been here very long." Gilbert still held up his smile, doing all he could to ease the nervousness of them both. They would be around each other for quite some time, it seemed. Matthew nodded, letting out a quite sigh. "Well, welcome, I guess. Sorry I couldn't set up the whole party. Kinda short notice."
"It's alright." Matthew offered a small smile. Gilbert seemed to be a strange man, with a very blunt personality. Somewhat like his brother, Alfred. But he had already gone out of his way to ease Matthew's nerves, so how bad could he truly be? Matthew could hope he wasn't much of a nuisance anyway.
"I'm no expert on anything here." Gilbert began, his eyes taking off into the rest of the room. They rested on the windows at the front of the shop. "But I might have a few answers, if you're looking for 'em." Matthew nodded, thinking once again on what he should ask the man. There was so much he could ask, but he didn't want to bombard him. So he began with one he was sure anyone in their situation could have seen coming.
"Where are we?" Gilbert lightly chuckled, placing his hands behind his head and closing his eyes. He reminded silent for a moment, before returning his gaze to Matthew and shrugging.
"Beats me."
"You don't know?"
"I said I wasn't an expert, Birdie." Matthew frowned at both the answer and the nickname. "All I know is-" The man went silent once more, his eyes again focused on the window. Matthew raised an eyebrow, confused by his sudden stop.
"You know what?"
"We need to go." Gilbert quickly stood from his position, his once carefree attitude replaced by an expressionless complexion. "Come on." He quickly walked towards the door, opening it and allowing a blast of chilling air go blow inside. Even with Matthew's thick sweater, he began to shiver.
"What's going on, Gilbert?" Matthew asked, following the man as they began their way into the street. It was drastically different than what Matthew had seen before. Aside from the sudden drop in temperature, the once abandoned street now was filled with civilians marching in straight lines. All looked straight ahead, keeping to themselves with exact destinations in mind. And in spite of so many walking on their way, the silence seemed more prominent than ever before. Matthew had to work to keep up with Gilbert's quick pace, dodging in and out of the many passerby. None seemed to pay him any heed, just as the woman in the cafe.
"It's evening." Gilbert spoke sternly, reaching an arm back to grab onto Matthew's. With the assurance of Gilbert's grip, Matthew allowed his eyes to wonder off of him and too the sky. He assumed what Gilbert had said was true, as what was once a pure white sky had now dimmed to a darkening grey. Anxiety grew in his chest the longer he stared upward. There seemed to be no sun or stars. Not even a cloud in view. It was simply a plain, vast color, only disturbed by the buildings around them.
"So why do we have to hurry?" Matthew questioned, continuing to keep up with his new companion. Gilbert sighed, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Do you think we will be able to see a think under a black sky?"
"There aren't any lights?"
"Would I be running through a crowd like this if there were?" Matthew glanced around him at the shops once more. The world seemed so modern, just like his own. The thought of electricity not being invented had never occurred to him.
"Where are we going then?"
"You ask so many questions."
"You said you would have answers." Had Gilbert not been rushing to see them out harm's way, he would have smiled at the remark.
"My place."
And that was how they had arrived at the small top room of the office building Gilbert had claimed as his own. It was supposed to be used as extra storage, Matthew guessed, as it lied between the stairs leading upward and the roof they lead to. Gilbert had moved boxes to the corner, making space for two makeshift beds and a table. Through the small window on the door that opened to the roof, the sky showed the two men that they had just made it before darkness decent upon the world. Matthew squinted as he watched Gilbert move to one of the boxes, removing a candle and match. He quickly lit it, setting it on the table and illuminating a small area for them to sit in.
"Why not a regular home?" Matthew asked, following Gilbert's example of taking the pillow from one of the bed's and using it as a chair. Gilbert raised an eyebrow and chuckled. Matthew felt at ease seeing his companion relax.
"Would you prefer rooming with some of this world's weirdoes?" Matthew joined in with a small laugh of his own. "Now back to what I was saying before." Gilbert stretched out his arms and placed them behind his head, leaning against the stack of boxes behind him. "You could go ahead and consider these rules. You won't see me breaking them anytime soon. First, as you can see, it's impossible to see at night. So no use going out in it. Second, the people here are about as useful as a sack of potatoes. Scratch that, you could get was more use out of potatoes. Don't bother with 'em. Thirdly," He leaned forward. "Always listen to the mail man's letters. He knows more about his place that either of us could ever hope to."
"The mail man?" Did he not just say to not bother with the people in this world?
"Have you gotten a letter yet?" Matthew thought for a moment, then remembered the envelope he had found in his room. He pulled it from his pocket and set it on the table. Gilbert smiled and nodded. "That's one of his."
"Alright then." Matthew returned the envelope to his pocket. He would question Gilbert on it's message tomorrow. He was tired now. Gilbert watched him and smiled, noticing as his eyes grew heavier with every brink.
"Get some sleep, Birdie." Matthew nodded, going to the bed Gilbert had given him. It was rather comfy for being an air mattress on the floor with a single pillow and blanket. He lightly smiled as a new thought crossed his mind. This was how some dreams worked, wasn't it? You go to sleep in them and wake up into reality. Matthew closed his eyes, holding onto his last hopes that this still was in fact a dream.
Gilbert remained at the table, watching the flickering of the candle before him. He always enjoyed the candles from this world. Though their soft glow was only a dim white, it left off a warmth that shattered the chill of the night. For such a small flame to. It made him wonder what a larger flame could accomplish... Despite the candle's close proximity to him, he felt a familiar chill run down his spine. He glanced around him, first inspecting the closed doors, then the sleeping Matthew. With nothing our of the ordinary, he returned to the candle. A pale violet envelope sat in front of him. Gilbert took the cool object in his hands, slightly shocked. The mail man never visited at night...
Not wanting to disturb Matthew, Gilbert took the candle and letter out to the roof. The chilled air and the candle's warmth began their war as he sat and opened it. Soon enough, the outside air won and Gilbert became uncomfortable. But he letter was open, so he began to read.
You lied to him.
Gilbert lightly laughed at the note. The mail man could be so strange, telling him things he already knew. He placed the note back in its envelope and stopped. He took a breath and listened to the night. He remembered the days he found himself sitting and listening to the night for hours on end. Just to forget the silence of the day, just to escape from his thoughts. The screams, the moans, the cries. Would this be the last time he sat out and listened to it all? Anxiety crept into his chest, telling him no. It was getting louder.
