snow was falling fast, part 5

[nebulia]

and then you are out.

you climbed down an old, rusty service ladder after using rope to lower the wagon to the ground. the last rung broke as you stepped off it, and the third to last one broke as the boy, who was following you, slipped a little and put to much wait on it.

you catch him as he falls back. your arms wrap around him and you both stumble backwards.

he is gasping when you get your balance. you set him back on his feet.

are you ok.

i'm fine. just scared a little bit. he looks up at you. is that ok.

i think so. i think it's ok to be scared.

ok.

you take the wagon and fix his blanket and you walk along the ground and he leads you and then you reach the wall and there it is. a door. small, maybe three feet tall, a large padlock and chain across the front.

it's a long moment of fear before you realize the padlock is undone, and you lean down and take it and the chain and set it in the wagon.

it might come in handy.

without the weight of the chain, the door swings open to the outside.

and there it is.

the Grey World, he whispers. he pushes the wagon out and then he crawls through.

you look behind you for a long moment, and then you follow him.

you're out.

i'm free, he says. look at all the space! no up or down, just space.

there's a gust of wind so strong it nearly knocks him over, and the blanket flies off him. You catch it only because you're next to him and it hits you in the face. you cover the wagon with it and then tie it with a the rope you brought to lower the wagon to the ground.

c'mon! the boy says. his face glows with cold.

you can still hear the pa system calling for him.

let's go! he grins.

it's a death sentence, but then, you were going to die anyway. and to him, it's the best adventure.

he'll die, too, but you're happy to see him happy, and you know it's so selfish, but you can't stop yourself anymore, not when he smiles like that.

you take the wagon and follow him.

and, just like that, you're out.




I get to go see The Golden Compass with gothsocks and her parents and Maman and Dad tonight! I'm so excited!

nebulia out.