Duran by Navsky at Inkitt

A Short Story: Part One

One

Duran

Lisa was holding on to the past like it was a bus she needed to catch to get her to work on time. Every time she thought of Duran and his terrible deeds, she would snarl. She would seethe and sputter. Lisa would focus back on the moment. Duran, an arm’s length. Lisa holding her text book close. Close like a baby to her breast.

Next, Duran frowned like a wicked sorcerer. Like a sorcerer without his stick. Flailing. Fury. No crystal ball. No book of spells. A frizzy yellow haired rascal of a practicing wizard. Even comedy failed him now. Lisa shrunk back against the wall. Willing her body to become motionless and minimal. Just be like a picture. Don’t move a muscle. She told herself again and again. His teeth touched and sparks flew. His anger was flowing from him and growing stronger. Within. “You!” He shouted.

“Rats.” Lisa’s hand covering her mouth. “That slipped out. All of a sudden, like…”

Her soothing voice seemed to bite Duran with each syllable. Calm descended on Lisa. This guy was crazy. Her plan to meld with the concrete wall was a failure. Duran saw her every move. Lisa quickly lowered herself and moved half crawling. Moving like a snake. Past the door. A long corridor echoed each foot. She felt like a team. The field in front. Lockers behind. Her head with the sunlight first, then the length of her aglow from the darkness. Time was of the essence.

That greedy, unmagical, spellbinding voice shot at her back. The breath of a thousand people mixed with blood. Yes, the sorcerer had worked his mischief in the past. A past, that Lisa too shared. Her youthful past was a vine swirled around a rusted fence post.

Jagged pieces pointed. A wayward stranger stone no chance. Duran knew his power. He understood darkness. Lisa was his light. If nothing else. Duran found her funny. Her humor of innocence and flop sweat. He sniffed the air. His nose high. Sleepiness descended.

Lisa was now in a peaceful park like setting. Seagulls squawked. The crash of waves in the distance. “Who are these people?” They seemed to recognize the scraggly haired waif with an air of dismissal and spritzed elegance.

She sat on a wooden bench. Paint chipped. Badly painted. Solid. She bowed her head in thankfulness. Her nightmare had seemed real. Duran. His personality. His deep want to attack. His need to visibly display his might. All cloaked in cologne. Harsh. Lisa looked in a mirror. Harsh. He mumbled her number of steps and which direction. Re-evaluating his next craft or spell.

A deep breath. The fresh cut grass, gray needles against iridescent sky. The stone smelling as damp cardboard. A whisper of another Lisa. Another Lisa.

What? A circle formed. Birds. Long winged with fat bellies. Soaring and sagging, dipping, tilting; skimming the scum of the dew. She felt bewildered. Dreaming still. Night was gone. A dazzling sun startled her reminiscing. Duran. Her aged teacher from grammar school. A kind man. Dear memories twisted to shriveled black kindle.

Lisa clutched her novel. ‘Heartbeat, a story about a girl who never awakens from her dreams.’ “Awful.” She said loudly.

“Miss. Are you ok?” a middle-aged gentleman stood in front of her with a furry, curly, brownhaired dog. “This is Toto.”

“Hello, Toto.” Lisa smiled brightly. “Have a good day.”

The man continued walking Toto around the green area. Lisa started reading her book.

[Start italics] Sorrow filled the souls of young and old alike. A time unlike no other. The earth was dry and arid.

There, in a small village lived a girl named Teresa Thenahabazena . At her grandparent’s house she grew tall and smart. One day Teresa walked early in the morning to buy cheese and bread for her family. She passed the house of Luraz. This man was looking for a wife. Luraz noticed Teresa as she passed.

Teresa felt the eyes peering at her from Luraz’s house. She quickly made her way to the cheese house and bought the items needed.

Her grandfather ate a slice of cheese bread. “This is good. Thank you Teresa.”

“Glad you like it grandfather.”

Grandfather looked at grandmother and said, “Teresa, I have decided you are blooming into a fine young lady. You will go to live with your aunt in the larger town and there you will find a love like ours.” Grandfather placed his hand gently on grandmother’s hand. Your auntie has assured us. She will find you a good match."

“No. I won’t.” Teresa said firmly. Her first disagreement with her grandparents. Teresa was distraught. Her grandfather was surprised and looked deeply hurt.

“It was not a question. You need to visit your auntie. True love or not-no matter. But, you will be tutored by your auntie in the ways of a fine lady. We are simple villagers, Teresa. Her grandfather’s eyes soften. Listen to us and go learn.”

“When?”

“Now. We will leave after you ready your bag.”

It was close to morning when Teresa and her grandfather set towards the town. They would arrive near midday.

Teresa dozed off and on in the carriage. “Here we are -Farsbour!”

Teresa looked out the window as they pulled to a stop. Teresa knew her kind no nonsense auntie Tabitha. Teresa grabbed her bag and kissed her dad on the cheek. Quickly, she made her way past the gate to the main door held open by a butler. [End Italics]

Lisa shut the book with a snap, and put the book on the bench, resting her head atop.

Lisa awoke. She had fallen asleep in the warm sunshine. Hopefully, she hadn’t drooled. Could you be tired from the movement in a dream? If you ate food in a dream would you feel full. After last night, Lisa could believe it. Slowly, Lisa looked for a road she recognized. She was lost. Perhaps, this was the Eastside. A long way to walk home.

Lisa wondered. Was it possible she might still be dreaming? There was a dreamlike quality to her surroundings, slightly off kilter. Lisa sat down, tucking her head towards her knees and went to sleep.

Awakening, she peered around. She instantly recognized this area. She speed towards home. Anxious to arrive before nightfall. Maybe, I shouldn’t go back to sleep. What if I dream as before? Lisa made a sandwich and dozed by her space heater.

Running and running. Lisa knew Duran was near. A scent of flesh lingered. “You have returned!” An agitation seemed to grow in him as an egg starting to boil in a pot. “I must be on my way.” She ran straight past his left side catching him in surprise. He was gaining now. She hid behind a tree, thick with leaves and fragrant flowers and noticed the sun still shining in the park. It was night now. Lisa puzzled in fear. Which direction was best? Duran was recoiling back to his terrain. Nose in the air. The scent of flowers overwhelmed his determination. “Tomorrow”, he whispered, into the thick moist air.

Lisa returned to the green space in an almost shocked state. She began reading again about Teresa. Somehow, the book was in her hand. Before bed, the book was placed on a side table.

It was better to awaken, then continue in this dream. She was sure.

[End of Part One]