She’d stumbled upon it as a schoolgirl. She’d been running through the forest outside
of town to escape the girls who hounded her at school. She’d run until the tears had stopped then kept
going until her lungs hurt. Then she’d
run even further. She had no idea how
long she’d been running but she stopped cold after emerging into the
meadow.
The forest had given way to the
most beautiful sight she’d ever seen.
Her days were filled with bleak, post war landscapes that contrasted with
the paradises of her dreams. But the
meadow had felt more magnificent than any dream, for it had been real. White and pink dogwood trees had dotted the
clearing. The angelic sweetness of
honeysuckle had brought a smile to her face.
A thin, silver stream had snaked its way between the flowering trees. She’d looked on in awe, taking in the blush
red of the azaleas that ringed her new found paradise.
She had stepped cautiously into the
clearing, not wanting to shed the image should it be no more than a cruel
mirage. She had reached to pluck a
tender pink petal from the closest tree and finally accepted the meadow for the
miracle it was. As she’d taken in the
view, tree by tree, flower by flower she’d realized this had been a garden
once. Someone had taken great pains to
arrange the bushes and trees in an aesthetically pleasing pattern. Heavy overgrowth indicated the garden
pre-dated the old wars. After all, who
had time to tend such wonders anymore?
She had returned to the garden many
times over the years, telling no one of her secret place. Not even her closest friends knew to where
she so often disappeared. After her
father died the visits had increased, occurring almost daily. In these days of disease, starvation and
constant fighting the garden brought a sense of peace and calm her life
desperately needed.
Today she stood in the center of
her secret garden and absorbed the serenity.
The boy had come to her again today.
His relentless pursuit of her hand seemed to have no end. For years he had courted her affections, yet
she could not reciprocate. He was too cruel, too self-absorbed for her to
consider anything beyond acquaintance.
Unfortunately he was the clan
chief’s son. As such he felt entitled to
anything he wanted, including her. She
did not understand for she was not the prettiest, the smartest, nor the
funniest girl in town. In fact she was
rather stubborn and independent. This
though, according to her mother, was precisely why he persisted. For someone who could have anything he
wanted, the girl who said no became infinitely more desirable.
He’d expressed that desire again
today. She’d been on her way to the
market when he fell in step next to her.
He wasn't going to give up on her, he’d said. He was to be the next clan chief, which would
make her the most powerful woman in the town.
She could have anything she wanted.
Her mother would be well taken care of.
None of it mattered to her. He was a pig.
She could never be with someone who had such disregard for others. She’d told him so. He had not taken it well.
She had finished her errands and
retreated here to find solace. She sat
at the edge of the stream with her back against a pink dogwood. The scent of honeysuckle was stronger than
normal. The sweet aroma always relaxed
her. She arched her back, tried to work
out the kinks earned during morning chores.
She reached into her pack and brought out a fresh peach she’d picked
yesterday evening. She lost her grip and
it rolled away, several feet past her outstretched hand.
No matter, she thought to
herself. She reached out from within and
the peach gently rolled back to her, coming to rest against her leg. No one knew of her minds ability. She’d noticed it early while doing
schoolwork. She’d been able to
manipulate pencils, rolling them back and forth across the table. She soon graduated to other small items but
never really explored the ability.
She’d heard stories over the years
of others with similar powers. It was
thought the post war radiation had some effect on certain people. These minor mental abilities manifested from
time to time but if found out exile usually followed. People feared what they did not understand. Always had, always would. So she kept her abilities to herself, content
with retrieving the occasional utensil or stray fruit.
She reached down and picked up the
peach, wiped a few loose pieces of grass and dirt from the skin, and took a
bite. It wasn't quite ripe and the tart
juice ran across, then dripped from her fingers.
A gentle spring breeze ruffled the
flowers, sending a handful of petals cascading from their limbs. The breeze carried them across the
meadow. This was her favorite time of
year. The spring had brought all of the
garden’s flowers to bloom together. The
trees and bushes now lost their petals occasionally to the breeze or the casual
pull of gravity. The effect was a
gentle, botanical snowfall that proved more healing than any doctor proscribed
treatment.
She leaned back against the tree
and closed her eyes. The sun’s warmth
pressed gently against her skin. She
slowly worked her way through the peach, pitching the pit into the stream with
a quiet splash. She exhaled slowly,
forcing the last bit of air from deep inside her lungs as she felt her muscles
begin to relax. She concentrated on the
pressure placed on her back by the narrow tree trunk. The rest of her body began to disappear as
she lost herself in the garden. Finally,
even the tree trunk disappeared from her thoughts.
Life’s worries left her. The concerns that came with daily life blew
away with the dogwood petals. She let
go of everything and just let herself exist, alone in her garden.
Time ceased to pass for her, yet
when the shadow came to rest across her face she knew she had been gone for
quite some time. She didn't usually
notice the shadows of passing clouds in this state. The first clue that something was wrong was that she noticed the shadow at all. Her face had
cooled noticeably, the result of several minutes out of the sun. She was mildly annoyed at the prospect of
starting her meditation again. She
cursed the lingering cloud and wished it away without opening her eyes.
Then she heard him cough.
She sprang up like a cat, jumping
back to position the tree between them. Her shoulder slammed against the trunk
sending a shower of petals onto the breeze.
They fell in her hair, around her feet, were carried away by the
stream. The meadow’s peaceful beauty was
now ruined by his mere presence. She
looked up to meet his gaze.
His smile made her stomach
turn. He told her how beautiful she
looked, sitting beneath the dogwood with the sun on her face. He’d never seen anything so wondrous he said.
She asked how long he’d been
standing there. He said only a few
minutes. Then, with a smirk, he admitted
to following her from town.
Her head spun. She’d always been so careful, making sure no
one followed her. This had been her
sanctuary, a benefit surely to end should anyone else soil its grounds. She had years of practice avoiding followers,
cutting trips well short at even the slightest hint of an intruder.
Yet here he stood, glaring at her
with lust in his eyes. She realized then
her mother had been right. He did not
love her. He probably didn't even find
her attractive. She was no more than a prize
to be won, a challenge to conquer. He
could, and did have any woman he wanted.
All except her and that fueled his passion.
She told him to leave, told him
this was her private retreat. He told
her his family laid claim to all lands in the region, therefore the garden was
his. Tears welled up in the corners of
her eyes. Her heart ached for the loss
of her refuge. Her mind raced to
calculate his intentions.
He made them clear seconds later. His speed surprised her. He had her by the wrist before she even
registered his movement. As he pulled
her towards him her foot shot out and connected with the inside of his
shin. The blow landed just enough for
his grip to relax and she pulled free.
She felt his hand scrape across the
fabric of her shirt as she turned and ran.
She heard him laughing as she leapt across the stream. Her heart began to race, both from fear and exertion. She heard his laugh growing closer.
She expected the tackle that came
next but not the blow to her head.
Bright white stars flickered in and out of her vision and she struggled
to regain control of her thoughts. Her
breath escaped her as she landed on the grass, his full weight atop her.
He knelt across her back and
laughed at her attempts to squirm free.
His large, brutish hands beat around her ears in a mocking show of power. She thought to scream but realized none but
the birds were within earshot. Her
temple exploded in pain as his fist crashed against her skull with
terrible purpose. She felt herself
begin to fade.
When her mind cleared she was on
her back, his weight pressed against her hips as he straddled her. He leaned forward to take the kiss he said he
was owed. She tasted the salt of his blood
as her teeth sank into the corner of his mouth. Her own blood mingled with his as a fist connected with her mouth. She would pay
for that he said.
She felt his weight shift over her
thighs as he pressed his hands against her elbows, pinning her to the ground. He leaned forward again, bared his blood stained teeth. She spit her
blood into his eyes as he approached.
Her jaw broke as his fist returned.
Her mind retreated in on
itself. She knew she could not overpower
him, yet a thought nagged at the back of her mind. Something was just out of her grasp,
something that would help her.
She turned her head to the side and saw the peach.
She wondered if it would work. She’d only moved pencils and fruit before. How could it help her now? She reached within herself and then out towards
a nearby rock. She heard him gasp as it
glanced off his shoulder. She turned her
head to look him in the eye. Yes, that was me she told him.
He hit her again and she felt the
power rise within her. Her heart began
to race. She realized there was much
more inside than she’d ever thought possible.
She threw another rock. This one
hit him in the back. His hands came off
her arms. She tried to wiggle free.
The sun glinted off the knife as he
pulled it from its scabbard. Her mind
immediately discerned its deadly destination and she knew action was needed.
She reached inside one last
time. She reached with all she was,
asked for all she had. She
closed her eyes and concentrated on him.
She felt something deep within, thought it was the pierce of his
knife, realized it was something much deadlier.
Her body trembled with a great energy.
It welled up from a dark place in her mind and exploded out. She lost control of herself, her mind, her
body.
She heard him break, felt him fall
limp across her. She held her breath for
a seeming eternity, afraid to move. When
she finally exhaled the sobs came in terrible waves. Tears streamed down her face and her body
shook. She cried until the tears ran dry and her throat burned.
When she finally regained control
she pushed his limp frame away. His
lifeless form tumbled onto the grass. His eyes, devoid of life, stared at a cloudless sky.
She had meant only to escape but
had instead ended a life. She felt nothing for
him, but this power terrified her.
Whatever it was, whatever she was, no one could ever know. She would take this secret to her grave. For now though, she had to get out. She knew she would never return. She picked up her pack and strode solemnly
towards town.
As she reached the forest’s edge a
breeze passed through the garden. A
shower of pink and white cascaded from the trees and blanketed the grass. But she did not see it for her back was
turned on the sanctuary that had become a nightmare.
