5
Chapter 24
Lo-Chem walked slowly through the fields; he paused for a moment…breathing in the fragrance of the flowers.
He could remember a time when he would spend hours doing so; he couldn't quite remember why.
He couldn't quite remember the feelings the blossoms and pedals invoked in him.
But he remembered doing so.
And on occasion…he still enjoyed their sweet scent.
He continued on his trek…letting the passing thought die.
He found his footsteps through the dirt and the tall grasses; his path took him to a small house…much like the one he grew up in.
He listened to the rocks beneath his boots; they made a satisfying crunch.
Animals chirped; the sound of grasses flapping in a gust of wind filled the air.
To him though…this world did not exist.
He continued onto the front porch; another young man sat upon the porch in the corner.
When the young man lifted his eyes….his face filled with joy. He quickly motioned for Lo-Chem to take a seat.
Lo-Chem obliged…gently taking a seat across from the young man.
In the young man's hands was a small pad of paper and a writing utensil; Lo-Chem glanced at it briefly.
The two-made uncomfortable eye contact for a moment…then let it pass.
The young man set the pad down…folding his hands over his stomach.
"He isn't here,"
Lo-Chem immediately relaxed a bit.
"If father found out I wasn't training…"
The young man nodded his head and chuckled.
"He went to town to run errands…he should be gone for sometime,"
Lo-Chem sat back in his chair and crossed his legs.
"Its been sometime since we've seen each other,"
The young man nodded.
"How is training?"
Lo-Chem glanced off into a corner to avoid eye contact.
"Its fine,"
"You don't seem convinced,"
"I am doing my duty," Lo-Chem replied monotonously.
He glanced back at his friend…eyeing the pad again.
The young man returned his questioning gaze.
"I still haven't decided,"
Lo-Chem's face filled with a bit of disproval…but his eyes understood.
"What does your father say,"
"He doesn't know,"
Lo-Chem was silent for a few moments. He glanced about the front porch.
In the distance…the sound of footsteps could be heard.
Both young men's eyes filled with fear; their hearts started racing.
Before either could react…an older man approached the front porch.
He stopped in front of the pair…eyeing each closely.
"Lo-Chem,"
"Sir,"
He glanced at the other young man. His face filled with disproval.
"Sakal,"
"Father,"
The three stood there in silence for a few minutes.
"Lo-Chem…you should go,"
Lo-Chem didn't move for a moment; his fear paralyzed him.
The man's eyes drifted to Sakal's pad; his eyes narrowed to slits.
"What is that?"
He held out his hand…expecting it to placed in his palm.
Sakal did not move either.
The man's face slowly started to fill with rage.
"Boy!"
His hand shaking…he slowly handed it to his father. His father ripped it from his hand…and began flipping through its pages.
His eyes widened as he read; he glanced back at the pair.
"Lo-Chem," he said through gritted teeth. "Leave. Now!"
Lo-Chem started to slowly move; he was a few feet from the steps…when he could hear Sakal being beaten by his father.
"This is an outrage! Your own best friend is doing his duty…and you are here writing poetry! You are a shameful boy! A disgrace!"
Lo-Chem stood there…listening to the painful cries of his friend.
At first…he thought to himself…he deserved it.
While he was off training to fight their enemies…Sakal was home.
While he was fulfilling the expectations of himself…Sakal was blatantly shrugging them off.
He felt a twinge of anger…a twinge of bitterness.
Then he remembered the flowers.
He remembered his hours of watching them and drawing them.
His face softened; his heart felt heavy.
He couldn't explain it; he just knew he couldn't walk away from Sakal.
He turned around and slowly rose up the steps.
He stood there for a moment…watching his best friend being pounded endlessly.
"I wrote them," he lied.
After a moment…Sakal's father paused. He slowly turned toward Lo-Chem.
"What did you say?"
The man's face was filled blood-curdling rage; his eyes bulged. The veins in his temple bulged out like roots of a tree.
Lo-Chem looked into his eyes…then to Sakal. Sakal's face was covered in blood and tears; his eyes were filled with fear. He flashed Lo-Chem a look of confusion through the anxiety.
Lo-Chem brushed away his fear. He knew what he wanted to do.
"I said I wrote them,"
Sakal's father began mercilessly beating him.
"You worthless dog! You come to my home and corrupt my son with your worthless writings! Your father will be devastated when he hears about this!"
"He's lying! I wrote them!"
Sakal tried to pull his father off of Lo-Chem.
"You shut your mouth, boy!" his father roared…throwing him off.
"I'll get to you later!"
As Lo-Chem laid there…being beaten to a bloody pulp…he looked into the eyes of his friend…who sat in the corner. Tears streaking down his face.
Lo-Chem winked at him and smiled. Sakal's face softened…and he understood.