A Horrid reality
A loud knock at the door echoed through my house shattering the complete silence. Putting down my paintbrush and rushing myself out of the room, down the hallway and to the door. Upon opening the door I was confronted by a regular sized middle aged man in black uniform, whom informed me “The Duchess has informed me that you are to be removed from these premises, as she is deeply unhappy with your affairs into her family and your financial gifts to her cousin. You have until sundown to pack up and leave, should you not, you are to be taken to the dungeon and all of your possessions are to be handed over to her regardless of the outcome”.
I stood aback in shock as many thoughts and feelings swirled through my mind like a great vortex, and all I could muster was “Uugh ok. Thank you for informing me”. Without a single hesitation I gently and awkwardly closed the door, before running around the house like a mad man filling up every bag with money, valuables, my tech and anything else of value. At no point did my mind ever think about trying to turn the situation around, as it was filled with an intense desire to flee, to get out of here as soon as possible. I saw this day coming when madam Glen fell for me, and in turn I fell for her beauty and passion for the natural world as she took me round some of the most beautiful spots in the country and to her small village where the houses are built into the rolling green hills, sprinkled with technology. She did not seem to mind that I enjoyed my more feminine side and my wish to one day transition, but the Duchess despised me for those very reasons, and so I could only assume she awaited for in her eyes the perfect excuse. There is no point standing back and ‘fighting’ as I thought it would be worthless given the situation. No, it was better to cut my losses now and resettle elsewhere.
One by one each bag was filled to the brim, then hauled out of the house and into my long motor home, alongside my computer and painting stuff. The cupboards grew fuller with each bag, as did the fridge with whatever food I could stuff into it, and any other cubby hole I could fit items into before I crammed the small dining area with bags. The furniture was to be sadly left behind, alongside my great memories of living there since I moved in 5 years ago. It was a fair sized bungalow with white walls, and red roof tiles, and possessed a fair sized garden overlooking a small stream which flowed by at a steady pace. The neighborhood consisted of similar and semi-detached houses, with the occasional play-park and shop. Of course it was far from perfect, but it was an incredibly peaceful place, not too far from the beach, and most importantly it was home. No sooner had I packed the last bag into my motor home when I heard a ‘ping’, which prompted me to dip my hand into my pocket and pull out my phone, at the same time I was curious as to who it was until I opened it and saw a text from Glen “I’ve just been told by my cousin. I’m sorry this unfolded as it did, but for now I advise you to waste no time as I’ve heard she wishes to make an example of you. It’s unfortunate you cannot come over to my village as I fall under her jurisdiction at present, and I cannot guarantee your safety, let alone a joyful future with her still close by. That being said I hope one day we shall meet again under better circumstances, but for now I bear you farewell and a fair future”.
A tear came to my eye as I read through the text and pondered on who I have lost, and what I have lost. I sent her back a message “I am deeply devastated that this unfolded, but given her nature and dislike of the queer, I could see it coming. For now I wish you a pleasant future, I can’t say where I am going, but I’ll tell you when the time is right. Farewell my love”.
Slipping into the drivers cabin I put my foot down onto the accelerator and sombrely made my way out of the winding maze of streets, onto the road which took me north into the great meadows. The memories flashed by like a film reel playing ‘the greatest hits’ of my life in what was my home town and the life I led there. All the good, bad and weird moments flashed by like a strange fever dream, I felt a sadness take hold. A deep desire to return back to the town, back to the way things used to be. At one point I stopped at a lay by and slipped into the back toilet where I sobbed for who knows how long. However by the end of my sob session I continued down the long road taking me through the great meadows where in front of me I could see a great wall of mountains which appeared to have no end in sight on either side. I thought to myself “There they are, the Cassadian mountains, the place where I will hide and start afresh. I shall stop by a nearby hotel for the night”.
Slowly the sky turned from light blue, to a light blue mixed with yellow in the distance, then a dark blue at which point I made it to the outskirts of a small village called Bathgate. It looked like a quiet village with nothing of importance going on, save for the occasional pub which all looked traditional and toned down, outside of which I could see there clientele were of the more matured adult variety. The nightclubs on the other hand possessed luminous exteriors in all manors of bright colours and at a quick glance I could see the clientele appeared much younger, some of whom appeared far too young to be hanging around such an establishment. The road was alight with incandescent light orange from the lamps above, save for the pedestrian crossings which were marked by light blue strips and turned red whenever someone wanted to cross. I pressed on down the main street, eventually coming to a hotel simply called ‘Bathgate Hotel’. The outside appeared unoffensive and did nothing to stir the imagination, even as I entered into the car park, there was nothing which took my interest. It was a big white cuboid block consisting of two floors, with a set of rectangular windows and a double door. Above which rested the hotels name.
I gathered my stuff for the night, stepped out and locked up the van for the night. I casually strolled up the front door and entered a sea of white paint, only broken up by the dark blue carpet and a bored looking individual manning the front desk. He appeared to be a young man in his twenties with an air about him which seemed to suggest life did not work out as intended. He wore a set of grey clothing alongside a single beanie hat with the hotels name. When I approached him he moaned “How can I help you”.
“I’m looking to stay the night in here”
He replied “Ok, that will be 120 ducats please”. I handed him the 120 ducats from my pocket, as a consequence he awkwardly shoved his hand under the table, whereupon I heard a rummaging sound for a brief moment, after which he produced along with slowly handed me the key. I took the key and read the room number as 14, before plunging my way down the corridor eventually reaching the room at the far end which held a ‘14’ number plate. Slipping the key in alongside opening the door, revealed yet more blandness with white walls, a black double bed and a small bathroom, which when entered, revealed a single shower and toilet in impeccable condition, much like the room without a single trace of dust in sight. Dumping my small bag down I pondered on what next, at which point I strolled out of my room, closed the door and ventured to the foyer where I came across a woman who appeared young with brown hair and wore a long black dress with nothing out of the of the ordinary in style, and an absence dominating her face. she turned to look at me and spoke with caution “Hello stranger, without wishing to offend you may I ask where you come from?”
“I’m from Strayness which I’m moving out of and I’m currently heading to the mountains, where I can find somewhere good”.
Her expression changed to one of mild concern “The mountains are a beautiful place, but I must caution you to never go near any of the abandoned villages, as they are haunted by evil beings who claim stray travelers. At night those places are filled with evil, let alone the nearby castle ruins which some say are where it stirs during the day”.
I reply “Uh, what do you mean there is something evil there, I haven’t heard of such a thing existing in those mountains”.
“Indeed there is such a thing to us who are local to them, I’ve met a few travelers who passed through this place and were pronounced missing a while later. These legends have been around since time in memorial, and remain alive with us as the did back then. However not to scare you too much, there are quite a few places which are still roamed by the living, and quite a few wonderful cabins set in the woods nearby these places. Just don’t go roaming the woods at night”.
I nodded awkwardly and asked her “So how do they treat those of the queer variety?”
Her eyes averted up as if she saw someone, then back to me “Uh, that may depend, but I can assure you they will treat you well regardless, as there are a few places with gay bars and in general the locals don’t care about what you look like. Essentially unless you’re walking around those streets without any clothes, no one really cares though they will still judge internally”.
I thanked her for her advice, whereupon we spoke casually for a while until she declared her intention to head for sleep. “It has been great talking to you stranger. I wish you the best in your future, but for now rest is something I need.”
I took this as a queue for me to return to the sea of blandness, and rest for the night. I slinked out of the foyer, through the hallway, into my room and finally into my bed, of course I changed before getting in. I must admit the bed was very comfortable as it felt as if I was on a cloud floating above the floor. In no time at all I was in the dream realm. I drempt of being back home on a warm beautiful day, where I was out the back with Glen conversing on many interesting topics which passed the day by it felt as if time was on speed. In the dream I remember she told me “It’s bad right now, but darling I want you to get into those mountains and keep yourself safe. I shall be there when I have tied up loose ends down here, and have a good alibi to keep the Duchess off my tail”. She gave me a kiss on the cheek which felt truly wonderful, as if she was there for real and bode me farewell. The dream felt so powerful, so vivid it felt like a life on its own, it felt real and not something which one could distinguish from a dream. Awakening in total darkness a deep sense of disappointment filled me when reality hit like a wall of cold air, where I was in the bed alone. I went back to sleep once more slipping away into the night and into a world away from this one.
