Lines Crossed - Volume 1 Chapter 41 Melancholy
I stared out the window in pure boredom, my legs propped up by a pillow and my chin rested on my arm as I stared off into the mediocre blue sky outside.
‘Melancholy is that what we can describe this as? I have been watching the world pass by me for weeks, nightmares constant nightmares off and on. I can’t go home, I can’t stay Am I just like this, here forever?’
‘Stuck waiting will I never see the people I know ever again?’
I paused thinking about that
Did I really have anything back there that I needed to return to?
‘Hadn’t I just been floating along in a world surrounded by people, but never making any impact on the world at all, never taking any part in it at all?’
‘It was a sad thought. That maybe I had not even left a hole to return back to that world and fill with my presence.’
‘That I could walk away from my own existence completely.’
‘Why had I been pulled here? Was it because I was so utterly important that they needed me here more than in my own world? Was it to change the fact that my cartoon world had come to life? Was I supposed to stop it from happening, or make sure it continued to happen? How was I supposed to do that then? I had no idea how I had gotten here, how anything had come to life. So how was I supposed to stop anything if that really was the case heck hadn’t I already tried that and failed with Mark’s death? If that wasn’t my purpose why was I here then? Will this story go on forever? Or will it reach the end? Will I just fade away with the rest of the world if I stayed?’
I reached into my denim shorts pocket and wrapped my fingers around the paper card in there. The one with Mark’s contact number on it.
“It says it is supposed to rain today.” Hyeri commented.
I dropped the magazine in my right hand I had given up pretending to read over a half hour ago instead I pulled my left hand out of my pocket and flipped onto my back before staring up at her.
She stared back at me and started laughing.
She wore black pumps and a grey and pink pencil skirt with a white blouse. Her short hair was pulled back and tucked behind her ears. She looked very much like the professor I forgot she was.
“Why do you look like a kid caught stealing?” She chuckled.
“I was thinking about”
“Mark,” she interrupted.
I blinked at her, curious how she had known exactly what I had been about to say. I played with the strings from my pink tank top hoodie.
“You haven’t said a word about him not even after he dropped you off here, after running into him at the mall. I figured it had to be eating you up a bit.”
“Ahh, yeah I dunno what to do about him. I feel like I need to avoid him. But also every time I leave the house it seems like I end up one where near him, it is like the world is throwing us together… it’s crazy. When I am near him, it feels like danger. Like everything says run, but there is this little feeling like I need to stay at the same time and I can’t help but wonder why”
“Danger?”
“Ah yeah, danger from his charm.” I covered it.
“Well, I suppose that’s that fatal attraction thing. Once you feel it, it is like acupuncture.”
“Acupuncture?”
“Yeah, you know, a thousand needles all at once but at the same time a soothing relief because nothing could feel better.”
She sighed wistfully.
I stared at her not for the first time marvelling at her like she was nuts.
“That exhilarating, terrifying and also really shocking feeling that also soothes you at the same time.”
“Can’t say I relate.” I stated, dryly.
Then I paused, frozen as my heart panted with the dull grief that never quite left me.
“Well, maybe once a long time ago, so long ago it feels like a different place and time.” I sighed.
“What if there is a sense of actual danger?”
“Danger? Like TV danger?”
“Yeah, like what if it seems like he has gotten himself mixed up in something? Something that people are trying to hunt him down for.” I asked.
“Well, I dunno about that, but people will always hate and covet what someone else has. So I suppose it would make sense that in the life of the rich and unimaginable, there are dangers that seem almost comic by nature.”
I coughed.
“Comic. That’s… Hilarious.”
She gave me a look of concern.
“True Hilariously true.” I said quickly.
“Anyway, while it would be fun to stay here and keep talking about rich people, problems, with you, all day, I actually have to get to work. Joon is at work too, he left early this morning, so you don’t have to worry about being quiet or anything else, if you want to laze about all day you can, no judgments on our parts. Or maybe you can go for a walk and get some exercise you have stayed cooped up in here for a while,” she paused.
“You will be fine if I leave you here, right?”
“Of course.” I smiled at her convincingly.
“Okay, well the pass code is on the fridge if you write it down somewhere don’t forget the paper anywhere. Oh, and don’t forget to take your phone if you go somewhere, and that it has some battery left too.”
“Thanks Mom, I will.” I rolled my eyes and she gave me a look before waving a hand absentmindedly and whisking out the door.
The door shut with the little song of bleeps that meant she had locked it and then the clicking of her heels faded away and I was utterly alone again.
For the first time in a long time all there was, was silence and the softest of breezes.
It all felt so real, the clock ticking away in the background, the gentle warm air tickling my skin from the window beside me, and the beams of light from the sun, warm and liquid on my skin, their heat felt very natural.
‘Can I really have given life to something so so Life like?’
I didn’t think I was that good a writer, heck I was pretty sure I wasn’t that good a writer.
But nothing else made sense.
And despite this new world I was supposed to just be a part of now, it was scary how easily that was to actually do.
I had to continually wake up every day and remind myself, this, these people were all just copies of my own. Their habits, their likes, dislikes, even the danger they were in. It was all a construct.
But still staying inside seemed dull and boring, just what was I supposed to do for eight hours while they worked?
‘Sleep?’
It seemed like a waste.
There is that cafe across the street, I could go and people watch.
I sighed and flipped back onto the couch and landed in the soft pile of pillows Hyeri liked to decorate it with.
Maybe in ten more minutes. I closed my eyes.
Just ten more minutes.
The parking lot filled with cars in neat little rows, but one stood out with an almost halo sheen catching my eye. A cool white Aston Martin Rapide sat in a spot with one empty spot beside it. I knew the car because I had seen it before.
In another world.
“Mark?”
‘But how did I?’
Mark walked while chatting on his phone Looking very enthralled in the conversation, I was too far away to hear. There was a loud screeching noise and I looked up at the same time as him.
I screamed.
MARK!!!
But he didn’t hear me, and I heard the most debilitating noise as the car crushed into bone. The glass flying everywhere, and the blood so much blood.
Mark! I cried out sitting up with a jolt and this horrible sense of urgency like someone was pulling me up against my will, like a broken doll. I couldn’t even move my limbs properly and instead stumbled for the door like a maniac.
Through the shakiness I managed to throw everything I needed together and I bolted out the door like there was a fire behind me. I didn’t even wait long enough to hear the lock catch as I slammed it in my rush.
My one track mind went straight to Mark. I needed to get to him, now. Everything screamed time was of the essence.
I hailed a taxi down and gave them the address to Mark’s headquarters for MW Motors.
“Please, as fast as you can. I will pay extra.”
The guy nodded happily and the objects outside swooshed past at a rate that was nowhere near the speed limit, yet inside my heart pounded worrying that it wouldn’t be enough.
The slight traffic cleared as we pulled into the front of the building he started to slow down.
“Ah.” I stopped him just as he was about to turn in.
“Around to the back, please, to the car park.” I stated quickly, my chest heaved with the unbearable pressure that was building inside me.
He nodded and pulled forward.
The man at the front of the booth let us in and gave us a ticket.
I jumped out of the car as soon as Mark came into vision. He was wearing the exact things I saw in my dream. The sound of screeching wheels blared loudly for a moment. And I ran for him like his life depended on it.
Our bodies smashed together and down to the ground out of the way. I realized in the moment we were undeniably each other’s worst nightmares. Inexplicably drawn to one another no matter where we were.
The car peeled past us and out of the car park.
“Ouch.” I groaned. Wincing at the pain that came from my knee. I looked down, it was bleeding but not bad. Then I looked back up slowly realizing I was on top of Mark.
I sucked in my bottom lip.
“Are you okay?” I asked immediately trying to get off of him and exclaiming as a slight pain lanced through my leg and up into my hip. I had pulled a muscle slightly when leaping after her.
He looked at me, surprise and concern splayed across his face.
“Yes, you are not heavy, and you did most of the work. I am more concerned about you? Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am fine. I am glad you’re okay. Alright, have a nice day. Bye.” I winced out.
I bent down and started grabbing all my makeup, phone, and everything else that had rolled out of my bag after I had thrown it and leapt after Mark.
“Mmhhmm,” I looked up a pair of keys dangled in front of me. I grabbed them while straightening slowly.
“Thanks.” I nodded then turned to walk away.
Mark reached out and caught my arm.
“Wait! Where are you going?”
“Home.” I said, carefully.
Mark scoffed. “What you can’t leave.”
“Can you let go?” I looked down at where his hand wrapped around my wrist.
“No”