Eyes that see into Infinity
Part 1
Chapter Eight
/
Roxanne stood from the couch her little curls bouncing as she stomped over to Tolem her hands in tight fists. "Where is Alex?"
The fizzy haired boy almost ducked looking scared that she might hit at him by the way the voice of her tone was. "I don't know, he said he would be here when he could. Gosh."
"It's been thirty minutes." She voiced angrily. "Go get him."
"Fine."
"That's better." She smiled and scampered back to her presents where all the girls were at.
Tolem rolled his eyes irritated with Roxanne's authority she thought she had just because she was rich and went to go get Phai. "Hey." He peeked in the room where Phai just sat non responsive at the screen. "Hey Phai!" he finally got his attention the boy looking at him. "Do you want to come with me to get Alex? I know you don't want to be here by yourself."
"Oh. Yea sure." The brunette boy stood from the couch. He could thank Tolem for saving him from this dreadful stupid party. So far all he heard was screaming and shouting and apparently for no good reason other than the house being filled with loud children.
The two boys headed out the house followed by the rest of the bullies who they were not expecting.
"Uh what do you guys want?" Phai asked seeing as he could never get away from them.
"We are coming with you to get Alex." Cassy said with a cocky smile. "It's not like we want to be all alone at this almost all chick party."
He took a lollipop out of his mouth and offered it to Phai who stuck his tongue out disgusted. "Gross." He shoved the boys hand out of his face. "I am not going to share germs with you."
"You won't; know if I have any until you try it."
"Let's just try to get along shall we." Tolem suggested always being the peace maker.
When they arrived at Alex's house the boys noticed the cars weren't in the drive way and one car just across the street that they did not recognize. Phai knocked on the door and they waited but no one answered.
"Maybe he went with his dad somewhere." Cassy said.
"Maybe." Crater looked around.
Cassy hopped up the stairs next to Phai and knocked on the door harder. "Alex you in there?" he shouted through the door and put his ear to it hoping he could hear a sign of life. The green eyed boy shrugged after no response. "He'll be back." He said. "Let's go back to the party."
"I'm starving." Said Cleitus the spiky haired boy. "I think I saw the pizza man arrive."
The boys started to turn back but Phai took the knob of the door turned it and pushed the door open. Something didn't seem right to him.
Alex always every time made an effort to go talk to him even if his parents were home. He would have at least called Roxanne or one of them if he weren't going to make it.
"Oh look at Phai breaking and entering. Not so much a girl anymore I see." Crater said pushing Phai aside as he stepped in the house large and sophisticated looking house. The big boy moved to the bottom stairs and looked up. "Alex!" he yelled.
"Its obvious he isn't home!" Tolem pointed out.
"Then why would the door be unlocked." Phai asked getting more and more suspicious about something.
Crater jumped down the stairs. "He's not in his room." After done searching up their.
Cassy and Phil came from looking around the rest of the house. "He is nowhere. Let's go back before his parents show up and get mad at us for being here. I do not want to be here for that.'
Phai ignored all their talk and hurried to the back yard and searched out their. He was starting to get worried. "Alex?" he called only hearing the slight breeze. Everything was so still and untouched and something just couldn't be right.
"Hiya Phai what are you doing in the next door neighbors yard?" He heard Callista shout from the back porch as she had an ice-cream cone in her hand.
"Uhh… we are looking for Alex Callista. Mind us. We're just about to leave." Phai said almost embarrassed he was caught by his own sister in some one else home. He almost forgot they could see their neighbors yard from there porch. Good thing his mother wasn't outside even though he couldn't be sure his sister would keep her mouth shut even if he told her too.
"I saw him earlier going to the field." She said pointing out. "I tried asking him if he wanted to share an ice cream but I don't think he heard me cuz he kept walking." She shrugged. "Oh well. I'll ask him later."
Phais' eyes widened and he saw that the back gate in Alex's back yard was opened. "He's in the field?" He asked quietly to himself trying to find a possible reason why he would be out there. "Why is he in the field?"
"What would he be doing out there?" asked Cassy with an upset tone. "Without his friends? That's almost an insult?"
Phai suddenly felt all his senses in his body telling him to go out there. "Something's wrong." The boy ran through the back gate and out into the field.
"Oo oo." Callista dropped her ice cream on the porch accidentally and hurried over to Phais' fence. "I wanna go help look for him. Help me over please!" she asked one of the boys who were looking to where Phai was heading. Leonnatus right away sprinted over to her and helped her climb over the fence trying not to get her pretty skin splintered and her dress torn.
"Where is he going?" asked Tolem looking concerned.
"I guess we can go find out?" asked Cassy tossing his lollipop in the grass.
"Let's go follow?" The little girl ran off out the gate shouting her brother's name like she was in some mission impossible movie.
Next thing they were all running out in the field.
/
Alexander please don't go out so far?
His lover shouted from the snowy hills of a mountain wrapped in deep and thick fur shivering and hugging him self to keep warm.
Don't worry Phai!
The king shouted back dressed in nothing to keep him warm from the snowy winds.
His lover watched eyes centered at his king and lover as the blonde man walked over the iced over lake. He had no idea what he was doing but he wasn't sure. He normally had eyes that never questioned his king but now he felt that this was reckless.
\
Phai made it to the pond. He looked around at first and the only thing that told him Alex wasn't further out into the meadows and had to be at the pond was the boat had shifted far from the deck and the surface of the wrinkled current in the water. He didn't want to believe but he had to. He jumped into the waters.
/
King Alexander!
Men shouted.
His lover eyes widened with fear as the ice below the kings weight cracked beneath him.
Hephaistion ran down the hill sliding as his boots fought with slush. He reached the hole where the king fell in. He dropped to his knee and tossed off his heavy coat and dipped his arm into the cold ice reaching for him but not to his luck. He saw his king disappear under the cold dark waters.
More men scurried about shouting the king's name. His lover took off his boots and more of his heavy armor and jumped in after his lover.
Alexander…
Alexander, wake up!
Alex…
\
"Alex get up! Please Alex." Phai's nerves were shaking. He didn't know if the boy was dead or alive and he couldn't even dare to think about him being dead. The other boys stood in shock not knowing what to do as Alex lay on the deck eyes closed. Cleitus had stormed over there gently pushing Phai aside. He was the only one who knew what CPR was and knew how to perform it.
"I will go get help." Said Cassy running off to go get Phais' mother. She was the only within the closest reach of them and most likely the only parent who would drop everything she is doing just to help.
Callista looked dead with shock her face had grown pale and her tiny hands shaking. Phil and Crater took off with Cassy while Perdicas and Leon stayed back with the tear filled eyed girl. This was her very first death experience if Alex was actually dead. Phai didn't want to go anywhere unless he knew Alex was okay.
My life of effort and despair almost took me then. I was alive thanks to Phai and Cleitus. I coughed up a good amount of water but I fell right back into a blurry haze after that. Before my eyes almost fell shut again I saw Phai. That's how I knew I was still alive. The fear in his eyes told me that I was selfish and how I could leave him like that, and that I am stupid crazy and reckless and that I only think about myself. I had to stay alive for him to show him that I would never leave him behind again.
Cleitus had carried me over to Phais house. I remember Phais mother's voice clearly telling my worried friends to relax and to go back to the party to get their minds off things and that everything was going to be alright. I was carried to the front seat of the car and I could see little glimpses of Callista tears growing in her big brown eyes as she sat behind me making sure I didn't die on her. How precious she was telling me that I was going to be alright and after all this was over we can have ice cream together.
I woke up fully in the hospital. My doctor studied and examined me but he already knew everything about my problems. He held again my secret and told Phais' mom that nothing was wrong and just to watch over me since my parents never could. He explained to her how unhealthy it was for a child to not be close and have a relationship with there parents. Maybe that is killing me faster.
I asked him and I shouldn't have but I did. He told me I have maybe three or fours years' worth of life. That is a lot to me. That was a blessing when I heard that. I thought my life would end right when I hit high school.
I always tricked myself, saying if I pretended I didn't have this problem and made more of life than just thinking about it all the time I might just live longer. A miracle could happen and that would be the miracle of forgetfulness. I need to completely forget about all my pains and sorrows. Since there are very rare cases of sleep deprivation I doubt there would be a cure in the later future. I checked 'forgetting' on my list. I would now stroll around like there was nothing wrong and my life would be perfect again. The mind is a powerful sense. When you want to forget, you do.
The good news was that I was alive. For now. The bad news was that I almost left Phai before my time.
"Tolem explain to me."
"Oh about that, Alex can't come, he had to go to the hospital." Tolem told a now very angry Roxanne who felt her birthday was just completely ruined.
"Why?"
"I don't know details but we found him at the bottom of the pond and Phais' mom took him to the hospital. As far as we know he's alive, just not talking." Tolem told it to the best of his knowledge.
The girls face fell. "Is he going to be okay?"
"We don't know yet. We're just going to have to wait."
After the party I remember Phais mom driving up into her drive way, Callista sleeping laying her head on me and all my friends waiting outside Phais' house sitting around the front step.
I never took my eyes off Phai who was looking at me with a sadness I couldn't understand. He was the last person I saw before Cleitus helped me into my house and in my bed. My friends all came and told me to get better leaving me with some warm tea and some blankets right out of the dryer and then left because it was almost passed ten and passed their bedtime. Phai stayed though, telling his mother that he would stay there until my parents came home.
I remember Phais mother calling my mothers cell phone and told her the news. My mother was absolutely livid over the phone shouting at her and I was sure she would never forgive my dad for taking off and leaving or herself for never being there.
Alex lay in his bed half alive and half dead and shivering, like he was laying in cold snow.
/
Hephaistion why am I so cold?
Alexander you're so silly. You fell into an icy lake. I had to go in and get you before you died. But you are better now. You have a cold and we are doing our best to get rid of it.
The general placed a hot cloth on the king's forehead. Candles and torches were surrounding him to keep him warm.
Are you okay?
The king's voice foggy from the lack of breath he had while sinking as he asks his lover the question.
I'm fine Alexander. I am not worried about myself. I am worried for you.
Can you help me up? My body won't move.
Stay put Alexander. You will feel better soon.
But I want to get up. I have things to take care of. I have to kiss you for saving me.
A dorky smile plasters on both of their face.
Those things can wait. Now rest Alexander. I will return in the morning.
Don't leave me. His weak hand took his lovers wrist.
The general sat back down and smiled. Then I'll stay but promise me you will sleep.
I promise.
Goodnight then.
The general lowered his face near his kings and kissed him gently and soothingly on the head.
Goodnight Hephaistion. The king closed his eyes.
\
The cold boy heard a knock to his bedroom door. He was to cold and out if it to respond so Phai slowly opened it. He stepped in peeking over and the bundle wrapped in blankets.
He approached slowly not wanting to interrupt his rest. He knelt near the boy and moved away some of his golden hair so he could see his pale face more. He realized the boy wasn't sleeping and his eyes being frail.
"Are you sick Alex?" Phai asked assuming from him shivering so much. He placed his hand on the body feeling it stiffen at the touch.
The blonde boy shook his head. "Just cold." He answered trying to smile at him but his muscles were to frozen.
"What did the doctor say?"
"That I will be fine."
"Good." Phai smiled. "That's really good. Actually it's great." Phai responded sad like he was tricking himself into believing it.
"How was the party?" Alex asked, not really caring. He knew Roxanne was going to get on his ass when she had the chance.
"Boring without you there." He admitted. "Can I just say that Roxanne is not a very nice girl. She tossed my present away."
"Sorry." Alex was indeed truly sorry that Roxanne refused to even give him a chance.
"It's okay. It's not your fault." Phai shifted his eyes to the ground and sighed.
"Why am I so cold?"
He lifted his head hearing the words come out Alex's mouth.
"Alex you fell into a pond." Phai responded leaning in close. "I had to go in and get you. Don't you remember?"
My eyes began to shut; the only sleep I get is either death or unconsciousness. Ridiculous. By the look in his eyes he knew that there was something more wrong than me just being cold. Maybe he thought I had water damage to my head or hit my head at the bottom of the pond or something but he looked through me. He saw through my eyes, and only one person could read me like an open book and that was him. He knew I wasn't alright.
"My mother called your mother. She couldn't get a hold of your dad. She said she will be here a soon as she can. I hope you feel better." He kissed the boy on the cheek and looked into his eyes.
That's when I found out he was the general in my dreams. Eyes that can see through me. Eyes that could bring me back to life.
"Don't go Phai." Alex grabbed his hand surprised he had the strength.
"I am not going anywhere. I'm waiting with you. But you got to promise me to wake up okay?"
"I promise." The blonde boy responded weakly.
"Goodnight then Alex." Phai stood to shut off the lights and then made himself comfortable next to the boy on his bed facing his direction.
"Goodnight Phai."
India, fifth day
"I have eaten something, aren't you proud of me." The still stressed looking general said as it was Ptolemy's time to visit him.
Ptolemy honestly didn't know what else to do about it. He never had seen Hephaistion this down in his whole entire life. Even after his fathers death the general remained active but now since Alexander was dying the generals didn't know what to do. Hephaistion pretty much lost all hope.
"That's good, Hephaistion. Have you drunken something yet?" Ptolemy asked trying to hold down his fatherly feelings. He loved the general as a friend and he would hate to see him kill himself over this.
"Yes." The blue eyed man stabbed the curled haired general with his eyes. 'Why do you care?"
"I am only trying to help." Ptolemy assured him through friendly eyes.
"I don't want it." The general's deep throaty voiced scared Ptolemy. He wasn't the way he normally was. The blue-eyed general stood from his chair next to the still sleeping king and his eyes were rimmed dark like they were dead and hollow.
Ptolemy was certain Hephaistion lied about eating just to get them to stop talking and probably tossed the platter of food they had brought him over the balcony.
"It's obvious my company is not wanted." Ptolemy stood from his seat. "I am praying for you just as much as I am for the king and maybe you will forgive yourself if you were to lose him."
The general didn't say a word and watched as Ptolemy left the room.