Dark Horizon

Note: Sorry this one took so long, but with only 5 reviews for three chapters, I wasn't feeling very motivated. My apologies for that. Anyhow, here is number four, for those of you who are enjoying this. Please review.

Chapter Four: Snakes

The next morning, she woke stiff and exhausted, as if she'd never even slept at all. Of course, that was, in fact, plausible, considering the fact that she was lying on the ground in a sleeping bag.

With a bated little yawn, she pulled on her uniform and threw her bags and books and such into her school bag. She felt apprehensive about seeing Yuki again… she'd said a bit too much to him, she was certain. He'd probably be getting sick in a few months or so… because as she'd grown older, the time it took before people showed the signs of her 'curse' had grown shorter. Now it might not take hardly any time at all. And him carrying that sort of information almost certainly condemned him to being too close.

Shaking off her worries, she trekked out of the woods and on the path, and wouldn't you know that her excellent timing led her to nearly collide with Yuki. He stepped expertly out of the way, leaving her to trip and fall flat on her face.

Cheeks red, she stood up without help, not that any was exactly forthcoming. "Um… good morning, Yuki… Tohru… Kyo."

"Good morning!" Tohru said.

"Good morning, Miss Silvers," Yuki said, looking at her with an expression on his face that even she couldn't read.

"Whatever. Can we just get goin' already or we're gonna be late!"

The rest of the walk was mostly silent, except for Tohru's attempts at starting a conversation, which were generally greeted by either Yuki's polite interest or Kara and Kyo's acknowledging grunts.

"Will you be able to find your classes alright today, Miss Silvers?" Yuki asked when they got to school.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," she said shortly, a little embarrassed from the night before.

When she got to her locker, she found that the lock was just as difficult as before to open, but she managed. Throwing her books in, she rushed off to class, barely making it and sliding into her seat just as the bell rang. She could feel Kyo looking at her with slight curiosity, but she chose to ignore it.

That day seemed to be the longest one in her life. Without Yuki to lead her to classes, she found herself getting lost, although she told him she was fine when he asked why it was taking her so long to get to classes.

When lunch came around, she tried to sneak off into a corner, but Tohru found her and, with a bright smile sat down.

"You don't mind if we sit with you, do you?"

She should've said that yes, she did mind, but when she opened her mouth, she found herself saying that no, she didn't mind at all. They sat down, even Kyo, who actually didn't look quite so unhappy to see her.

"How has your day been, Miss Silvers?" Yuki asked, sitting in the chair beside her.

"Oh… it's been fine," she said softly, not meeting his violet eyes.

"That's good."

Tohru said something or another, and he started talking with her. Hana and Uo (as she had quickly come to know the two girls) were having their own little conversation, and she and Kyo were left in an uncomfortable silence.

"Um… so, Kyo… the er… the lunch is good today."

"Whatever."

She sighed, giving up, and only afterwards remembered that this was a good thing, that she wasn't supposed to make friends. Still, the conversation going on without her, and the person on her right not speaking made her feel very alone.

Finally, lunch was over and she could head to her next class; PE. She had never been extremely athletic, but she still found herself exhilarated from running in the brisk air. After that class, she felt a little better, although now beginning to wonder what sort of a life was in store for her.

A life of loneliness, unable to get close to anyone because it would only lead to their suffering, and then, through that, her own. What made it all the worse was, that above needing friends, it had been one of her childhood dreams to fall madly in love. She wanted to feel what it was like to love, what it was like to kiss someone and feel that they made her whole. And that was something she could never have. The guilt of such a person's death or serious illness on her shoulders was not one that she would be easily capable of bearing. She wouldn't call herself strong, because it was not the truth. She was just a coward, really, running away from her past and life itself. So why was it that the more she ran, the more afraid she felt?

When the school day ended, she felt even more tired and unhappy than when she'd first awaken in a damp, dreary hut with creaks in her neck from the hard floor. It wasn't physical discomfort that now wore her out, however, but the simple stress and pressures that being Kara Silvers had involved since she'd come to realize her 'curse'.

I wish I could be someone, anyone, else. Anything has got to be better than this. At least in real tragedy… there is always some solace to be found in that it was not your fault… or that you learned from it and can move on… and the people you love are there for you… but the people I love, they're all dead. I have no one left. Even my cat died, although that was probably from age.

She didn't even see Tohru, Yuki and Kyo when they came up behind her. She also had been standing spaced out by her locker without putting anything in or taking anything out, so she was quite a sight for the three.

"You just gonna stand there all day?"

She jumped a little, more from the sound of Kyo's voice than what he was saying. After all, she wasn't used to it, since he refused to carry on any sort of conversation with her.

"Oh… whoops… guess I spaced out! You guys didn't have to wait for me."

"We've only been here for a little while," Yuki said.

"Yeah, we just got here," Tohru added needlessly.

She threw her things into her locker and pulled out the bag quicker than she'd have thought possible. This was bad… very bad. They wouldn't go away, and she didn't have the heart to be mean. But Yuki… Yuki should be afraid, after what she'd told him. And yet he seemed perfectly calm.

The walk proceeded about the same way it had last time. Tohru talked, Yuki replied, and Kara and Kyo just listened. It didn't seem to take so long this time, and before she knew it, there was the path to her little shack. "See you later, Yuki, Kyo, Tohru," she said. She felt, more than saw, Yuki's disapproval, but found it easier to pretend that everything was just peachy.

The shack was looking even more pathetic now that she knew someone knew that she was living there. Because she knew, though her conviction not to let anyone get her prevented her from admitting to it, that Yuki was right. This was not a good place for her to be living.

She threw her backpack cruelly onto the floor and pulled a book out of it. Reading was her favorite pastime, mainly because it took her mind off other, less pleasant, things. This particular novel, a fantasy with only the slightest hints at love, and featuring a loner as the main character, was perfect for escaping from the sorry truth that her life had become.

After a few hours, she finished it, and could no longer ignore her homework or her dirty hair and clothes. Scared as she was of going back to the stream, she had no other choice. She very well couldn't go to school smelling like the woods and her musty old shack, nor could she wear dirty clothes.

"Time to face the music… or more accurately, the colony of snakes," she muttered to herself, once again picking up her clothes.

Luckily, the snakes were not there. She sighed with relief, but chose nonetheless to wash the clothes first and herself later, only after she was sure there were absolutely no snakes near or in the water.

Her shirts, pants, fancy clothes, and other garments hanging safely on a makeshift clothesline, Kara took one last look around before taking off her clothes and settling into the stream to take her bath.

The cool water seemed to wash her troubles away, and it felt great to have a moment without worries or responsibility. But then, of course, she heard a rustling in the bushes and saw a white snake staring straight at her. For the strangest reason, she felt compelled to cover herself up before getting out of the water. Something about that snake was not normal. And then, she ran, screaming, back to the shack, leaving her clothes to dry.

"Snakes… I hate snakes," she rasped as she slammed the door. "Something about that one seemed even more abnormal than usual, though… the way it stared at me like that. It felt… almost human, too… I don't know… it reminded me a little of Yuki, but at the same time completely different. And now I'm talking to myself."

She sighed and tucked her homework away. It wasn't really all that late, but there was nothing left for her to do, it would seem, except sleep.

"I know! I'll head out to the grocery, and maybe a book store!"

The prospect of books always cheered her up. But she knew she needed to be careful with her money if it was going to last. Still, a few more paperback novels wouldn't hurt anyone.

She got lost about five times on the way to the grocery, but eventually she got there and headed straight for the cereal isle. She didn't have a stove, so naturally, it would be only dry cereal for her. Still, going out to eat for supper and skipping breakfast was no way to live.

Humming as she walked down the street, she bumped carelessly into a few people, whom she blissfully ignored, until she heard a strange sound with one of them and looked up. Tohru was holding the cutest little white rat.

"Aww… how cute!" she exclaimed before catching herself. "That is… um… Hello, Tohru."

"Hi, Kara," she said, looking a little flustered. Kara sensed that something was bothering her. Some secret had come to close to being revealed.

"But what are you doing walking around with a rat and…" she noticed some clothes in her arms that screamed memories of Yuki. "…Yuki's clothes."

"Um, well, you see… this is my pet rat, and um… I thought he might want some fresh air."

A lie. But Kara didn't call it. Doing so would be asking for the truth, and Tohru telling the truth signified trust, which lead to friendship, which of course she couldn't have. "And… Yuki's clothes?"

"I'm, um, getting them drycleaned."

Another lie. Something was clearly going on. "Oh."

"Well, it was nice to see you, but I really should be going, I have a lot of work to do and-"

"Alright. Don't let me keep you."

She watched her go, feeling saddened by the lies, although she knew it should have made her happy.

"Well, on to the bookstore, no worries!" she chimed to herself, earning wary stares from the passerby. Only this time, even the smell of freshly printed books could not stop the thoughts racing through her head.

End note: Hope you liked it! Click the review button and leave me one before you go! Thanks much!