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by Tathos on Fri May 01, 2009 2:19 am
Thorn was still contemplating what to do when the stench got overwhelming; the mock-gasmask not doing anything to block out the smell.
He gagged and fell to the floor, holding his face tight to try to block it out. That settled it for him, it was better to be in a huge storm than to whether the putrid smell inside. Thorn humphed to himself, "A safe place for all, indeed."
He had seen the sign as he had entered the house, the carved wood telling how people would be safe and happy while inside the cottage. "Bah! Well, this is one person that you have failed, house!"
Yelling the curse at no one, Thorn opened the door and was hit with a frigid blast of snow and wind. Closing the door with some effort, Thorn remembered to pull out his snow goggles for eye protection.
His nose clear for a little bit from the fresh air of outside, Thorn took a deep breath and opened the door again, walking into the tundra and heading in a southward direction. He planned to get back to the shelter he had found the day before, the one he had hidden from the other snowstorm. Thorn mumbled to himself, "Yeesh! This place is worse than the Netherlands in storms!"
Putting one foot infront of the other, Thorn started trekking against the tundra, making good headway in the sense of steps. It was quick at the beginning, having the warmth and the heat still in his body. But soon, his strength started to wane and his muscles started to complain.
Thorn pulled out his trusty compass and pulled it close to his face. He saw that he was still going in the right direction, but no mountains or caves were anywhere, and he certainly hadn't ran into any walls.
He really REALLY didn't want to go back to that house. The smell was unbearable, the company was...Lacking, and there seemed to be no food in sight. So, stubbornly thinking that the cave-shelter would only be a little bit farther, Thorn continued on in the freezing snow; his strength getting lower and weaker.
Two hours later, Thorn sank to his knees in defeat and hopelessness. He had been sure he was going in the right direction, the compass didn't lie. But, he never saw it. Realistically, he had lost hope an hour ago, but it was only now that his endurance had left him.
Still having the bandanna over his face, Thorn pulled some icicles that had frosted onto the front of it, his hot breath melting the snow onto his mask.
Watching his breath mist into the whiteness all around him, Thorn laughed a little to himself. Just as he had lived, alone, he was going to die alone. It was fitting in a way. He recalled some people calling it living by the sword and dying by the sword? Or, was it just desserts? Or even poetic justice? He really couldn't remember; his mind was getting fuzzy and he started to feel the effects of hypothermia. Already, his body was telling him that he was getting warmer.
The hallucinations were starting to bring themselves to him also. He saw his childhood self sitting in a large schoolyard, the other children playing while he was by himself and only watched the other children shun him. Thorn saw his child self feel his ears, how they were pointed and the other kid's ears weren't.
Laughing to himself, Thorn took off his beanie that he always wore and felt his ears, pulling off some plastic covers that covered them. Was it wrong to not to want to be weird? Well, that didn't really matter; seeing as he was never around people in the first place.
Blinking his eyes to try to clear the hallucinations, Thorn knew that it all didn't matter now. He was going to die alone, in peace. Far away from anyone who ever knew him or even slightly tolerated him.
Laughing, Thorn listened and realized that it was even quiet for him now. Just what he always wanted.
Suddenly, looking up and seeing a dark form start to come out of the perfect white, Thorn saw a small figure make itself out from the fuzziness. Squinting his eyes and putting on his beanie from a force of habit, Thorn saw that it was a child; only wearing a dress that was basically rags. It was a female, and she had long black hair, with pitch black eyes; her skin matching the ivory that was all around Thorn.
"What are you doing out here, child? You will die in this cold." Thorn knew the words were drowned out as soon as he spoke them by the howling winds. But, strangely, they seemed to be clear in his own mind.
The girl only smiled and said, "I won't die, and neither will you if you come with me." The girl lifted up her small hand, beckoning Thorn to go with her.
He saw that the girl spoke softly and by all rights should not have been heard. But, the voice seemed to speak right into his head, sweet and luring.
Thorn raised his hand, reaching for her. But, suddenly, he stopped. "You're not real. You're just my hallucination, someone I made up so that I can have the hope of living even though I am slowly dying."
Again, the girl smiled and said, "I am as real as you make me. But, know that I can save your life, if you let me in."
Not really understanding her meaning, what really struck Thorn was her conviction that he would live.
Shrugging, he said, "What the hell? I got nothing else to lose." Thorn held out his hand to the girl again, but was stopped when he heard another voice. One that was almost sung as it was spoken.
"She may save your life, Thorn. But she cannot give you salvation. I can."
Looking around, Thorn saw another shape emerge from the white-out. He saw a woman float more than walk into view, wings on her back and garbed in pure silk robes. She had golden hair and sapphire eyes, seeming to look into Thorn's soul. "I can redeem your sins, letting you pass on and live with our father. You have lived a right life, Thorn. Although you have shunned people, our father has not shunned you, and he has seen your heart."
The "angel" motioned to the little girl that stood a few feet away from her, saying, "As I said, she may give you life. But I can give you heaven."
Thorn looked from one female to the other. They both looked equally innocent, if one more regal than the other.
What was he to do? Pass on or live with what was sure to be a much more different life. Unfortunately, life seemed to be full of these types of choices.
Knowing what was right, Thorn nodded to the angel. "Okay. I'll go with-"
He was cut off when he heard the little girl yell, "What do you want, Thorn?! Anything in the world, ask and ye shall receive."
The question caught Thorn off guard, making him think for a while longer. "I want to live. That's actually it. But, I know that if you offer a different alternative than an angel, then you must not be for the greater good."
The girl actually laughed, a little bit of resentment in her eyes. "The greater good is only a point of view, Thorn. There are so many things that can be, people only think they know. I know your true name, Thorn...I can grant your true wish along with your life. What do you want?"
Thorn started at this, the girl bringing up things he hadn't considered before. But, it really only came down to two things: live in power or die with a guaranteed spot in what was considered heaven.
Unfortunately, the right choice was all too clear. Thorn gathered the last of his strength and stood up, pulling down the bandanna from his face, even though he knew that words weren't necessary for communication. Enunciating his words loud and clear, Thorn said, "Angel...Take me with you when I die. But, I want to live!"
There was a voice that spoke crystal and clear into Thorn's mind, saying, "The choice is made."
A flash of light blinded Thorn more than the snow ever did and he yelled out, only seeing a glimpse of the angel and the child one more time. The Angel was crying and the child grinned, with a triumphant look in her eyes.
Thorn whited out, knowing no more.
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