The drizzle outside was a welcomed guest to all the potted plants which decorated the windowsills of the Oasis Household.
Anabelle's mother, Mahea, was often up with the bluejays and humming birds. She would make a simple breakfast for her and her daughter and spend the rest of the day busying herself with household chores. Mahea's main source of income was online work. Whenever Ana would ask her mother what she did or what her job was, Mahea would simply wave a hand and insist that it was good work. Ana had long since given up on figuring her mother out. Her mother had gray wavy hair which was kept up in a bun and cool brown eyes. She was someone who was often happy and reliable and yet Ana knew her mother had secrets.
In Ana's mind, these secrets didn't matter when it came to looking at the big picture. Anabelle didn't know about her father, her mother's job, and a few other loose ends. Even so, the pair were very close. Mahea insisted Ana still live at home, despite having finished college for the time being. Not being a daughter who would want to abandon her mother, Anabelle complied and stayed put. As the sun shifted in the sky, signally a new hour in the day, a light ringing noise could be heard from Ana's room. A sleepy hand swatted at the silver alarm clock and on the fifth attempt, a hand connected with the top of the bell.
A loud groan was heard from within the cocoon of blankets and pillows.
"Ana, get up!"
"Hunghnnn..."
"You have to be at work in an hour!"
"Uhhgh!"
"If you don't get up, I'm not driving you!"
That did it.
Ana bravely threw the covers off and ran out of her room and waved her arms, face a bit flushed. "I'm up, I'm up!" She signaled and scurried back to her room. The two women lived in a two-bedroom apartment. It was cozy but not at all cramped. Anabelle looked over at her bed which was terribly tempting. She quickly made it to stamp out the need to get back in it. The day was gloomy and she was sure there would be a lot more patients than usual. Ana pulled on a pair of black slacks and a black tank top. She grabbed her purse and headed out to see her mother holding out two slices of toast and a bottle filled with tea. "Thank you." Anabelle smiled.
The two made their way down to their old Toyota Camry and headed for the city's hospital. The ride was filled with the static of the radio, coming in and fading out. The news wasn't very thrilling so Ana turned it off, rather keen to listen to rain than the lull of some tired old man trying to talk politics. As the car slowed down in front of the busy hospital, Ana had finished her breakfast and was in the midst of shaking all the crumbs out when her mother leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Be safe." Mahea said and rubbed the smudge of lipstick off of her daughter. Ana smiled and hopped out with her purse and shut the door. She turned to wave and the mother headed back home, careful to drive slower than she usually would.
Rain brought out the recklessness but also the meekness, in people.
Arriving to work with a few minutes to spare before her shift, Anabelle quickly put on some baby blue scrubs and went to go check on some of the patients she had been working with. The brunette rubbed her achy neck as she went into one of the rooms and talked with an older man who had been a frequent flyer in the hospital for a while. No one could figure out what was wrong with him. He had no family, hardly any money to his name thanks to the recent recession. It broke her heart but since the doctors were pushing him from one section to the next, Ana wondered if they were just wasting time when they should be sitting down and thinking things through, rather than try to push him on someone else.
"Morning Mr. Summers. With a name like that, I can't say you're a fan of the rain?" She guessed as she checked his chart.
"Actually, I love the rain. If it weren't for this winter storm, the spring and summer wouldn't be bountiful at all." He smiled.
She nodded and looked to him, "I'm gonna figure out why you're sick. Hang in there." Ana offered and put the chart down on the end of the bed and went off to check on the others. The hospital itself was big and always busy. It was the same one she did her beginning work in and she liked it so much, she stayed and was hired on for real. Ana felt like there was something missing. She wanted to get into a more specific sort of medicine but she wasn't sure as to what exactly. There was this hole inside of her and she had yet to really fill it, even with becoming a full fledged nurse with a real paycheck. Anabelle caught up with the others and then went to get some coffee.
She and her friends chatted while they talked about the rain which only seemed to intensify. "I bet we're going to have a car crash before noon." One woman said.
"I bet two." Someone else added.
"Don't say that." Ana frowned at them. Of course it was in jest but the nurses knew there some truth in it. Rain made driving hell and on days like this, people were either sick or being stupid because of the weather. "I'm gonna see if the Minor Emergency needs help." She said. Her friends wished her luck as she headed on down. She passed through the waiting room and saw it wasn't as crowded as she anticipated. She was glad for that. The woman put her name down to be put 'on call' in case things became too crazy. She then headed up to get back to work. The hours passed and soon it was lunchtime. You wouldn't know it looking out the window though, she decided to head out and grab a soup and sandwich at the corner deli.
Grabbing a spare umbrella from the locker room, Ana headed out, sill in her scrubs. The smell of rain was very distinct and pungent as she walked down the sidewalk. In the distance, she heard cars rushing by in the slick street. She moved to let an old lady by who seemed to be on her way home from the market. The people around her were so fascinating, even if she didn't really know them, her mind liked to make up stories. As she popped into the deli, she grabbed a number and waited to be served. When she got everything and headed back to the hospital, she found herself stalling, though she wasn't sure why. She loved her work, of course but she wasn't sure if she wanted to eat lunch there.
But the deli had no sitting area so where could she go?
It was a weird conundrum but there could be worse pickles to be in. Anabelle shifted her weight from one foot to the other as she stood under the awning of the little deli. The bag containing her soup and sandwich was safe for the time being but Ana knew her indecisiveness may grant her a cold lunch. Still, the girl wasn't sure why she had such a knot in the pit of her stomach all of a sudden. Even though eating at work wasn't ideal, she couldn't think of anywhere else to go so she headed back up the next few blocks, lips curving down in an unsettled frown. It was a little thing, totally insignificant, but even so, the nurse felt lousy all of a sudden. She could never make up her mind so these fits weren't unusual for her to get. She told herself she'd get some candy at the vending machine on the third floor and a small smile crept back onto her misty face.
- - -
A series of long gray trees were Devon's only company for endless days.
He was a wandered by nature and he liked the space.
Even so, put him in the middle of a bustling town and he'd be able to charm anyone he set his eyes upon.
The male was gifted though some might argue it was a curse. Some in his position, well many actually, would say it was in fact a curse. Many with his skill had killed themselves or allowed them to be slain by someone else. Devon was someone who could read minds and use his own to move things. His skills were useful when he was around a new threat but in his eye, not everyone had to be a threat. But over the past years, it seemed those with special magical skills were deemed unfit for the world. Some could flee to other worlds while some went into hiding and soon developed a skill in which they were too ashamed to be the unique people they really were.
While he could read people's minds and seek the truth hidden within their heats, Devon wasn't an advocate for pretending to be something you weren't. He often laid everything out on the table. if he read someone's mind and found out something he shouldn't have, he would confess and apologize. Sometimes this would land him in hot water but he was spry enough to get away in the end. There was a time when he could have been called upon to do go, to find missing people or to get to the bottom of a bloody mystery and help parents figure out who killed their daughter. But not anymore. No. Nowadays, his skill wasn't used for such quaint practices.
His skill was mostly used to get by, to evade those who may wish him dead.
The boy grew up in a family of magicians. His mother was like him, a woman of the Mind. His father on the hand was someone who could be called a Spirit handler. His two younger sisters, to his knowledge didn't get any magical traits passed down to them. Devon was envious of that, to a certain extent. They could have normal lives, not muddled by drama and bloodshed. They could see the world for what it was, without blinding saying that all magic was evil. They knew better. And yet, Devon had to leave his family thanks to the evil that wanted to destroy magic. His sister would be safe, surely. But his parents had to leave their daughters in the care of friends.
Those days in their little village felt like forever ago.
As the man crept through the tin forest, his mind ceased wandering. He closed his eyes and focused his energy on what was around him. Were there enemies? Were there merchants? Or animals he could slay for profit? Rather than sense anyone, he felt a cluster of thoughts collect in front of him which told him that he was nearing a town or village. With his heart singing, he hurried along through the depressing wood. He emerged out of it ten minutes later and saw a large collection of houses and huts. From the smell of things, people were still living which was good. Very good. He put on his usual smile and marched forward.
He had on him, a long sword and a smaller dagger. He had a sack full of goods, a map, and some other things. He didn't have money very often but he was sure he could strike up a deal with someone. Giving something to get something was the fairest means in his mind. He found a small tavern where someone seemed to be playing music via a wooden flute. Devon ran a hand through his hair and knew that the day may be early, but he needed something to eat. He wished he could catch up wit his old companion, Kieran again. They knew of the rumors that fed hungry ears across the world. Someone wanted to restore magic to their hellish world. And yet, it seemed too good to be true. How would one reset the balance so that magicians such as themselves weren't seen as animals?
Setting down his pack, he took a seat and rubbed his face. Not only did he need something in his belly, but could also do with a bath.
Sighing, he dug out what money he had on him and approached the bar wench. "Can I get a jug of wine and some bread please?" He smiled and set down the coins. It should be enough but in some cities, people were starting to use different money, almost a means to alienate anyone who they thought didn't belong. The world had become such a harsh place and yet it was all Devon knew. Even so, he did appreciate it, he appreciated his life too. Which was why he wasn't giving up and casting aside his efforts. He was determined to undo whatever dark spell had been cast over the world. There was a way to fix things and the day he stopped looking, stopping running, stopped caring, would be the day he died and truly accepted hell for whatever it was.
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