Chapter 7

 

Head hung low and hands in his pockets, Drake left the cemetery with much on his mind. It was midday now, and the sun hung high in the sky, light filtering through the many willow trees that dotted the dark place. As Drake passed under one of these mighty trees, he heard a soft cry. Stopping in his tracks, he glance back, but when he saw nothing unusual, continued walking back towards the church. There had always been talk of ghosts haunting their graves, but Drake had never believed the stories. Even the knowledge that angels existed did not sway him. Still, Drake froze as he heard his name. “Drake...” He strained his ears for another sound, muscles tense and ready to fight.

“Who's there?” he called. But then he saw her. “Leanne!” He ran over to the entrance of the cemetery where two large stone angels sat perched on tall pillars. Leanne sat slumped against the stone. Drake scooped her up as soon as he reached her and cradled her cold body in his arms. “Leanne?” He asked desperately. “What happened?”

She wearily opened her eyes to him with a hint of a smile on her pale lips. “I knew you would come,” she whispered, her head drooping in his shaking hands.

Drake's heart started to pound against the inside of his chest as her whole body went limp against his. “Leanne?” When there was no answer he began to panic. “Leanne!” he cried.

Drake scrambled to his feet, Leanne still in his arms, and began to run into the city. He searched frantically for the doctor's house that lay in the center of Eldor, which, from the church, was a rather far walk. But with Drake's determination and the hot blood that surged through his body from fear, he reached the small building in a matter of minutes. He kicked open the door and strode inside. “Doctor!” he yelled as he entered.

A wispy man walked in from the down the stairs. He smiled at Drake, but when he saw Leanne in his arms, his expression turned rather sour. “What happened, Drake?” he asked with a hint of fear in his already shaky voice.

“She " Leanne " I found her like this " I don't know -” Drake looked nervously down at Leanne, her face even more pale then it had been at the cemetery. His own was twisted with concern.

“Bring her here,” the doctor said sternly. He motioned towards the empty bed in the corner of the room. Drake hurriedly brought Leanne over to where the doctor motioned, and gently set her down on the white covers. He remembered doing this not too long ago with Truth, and nostalgia hit him as he released his hold on the unconscious Leanne. The doctor walked up behind Drake . “I'm afraid you must leave now.” Drake turned around the face the small man. “There's nothing you can do for her right now.” Placing a hand on Drake's shoulder with a smile, he continued, “Do take a walk, get your mind off this.” The small man scurried over to the bottom of the stairs. “Seth!” he yelled up. “Get down here immediately!”

The doctor guided Drake to the door, trying to be as reassuring as possible, but Drake felt no better. He trudged down the street, ignoring the crisp breeze that whistled through the alleyways of Eldor. The cold did not bother him. He thought of nothing besides Leanne and how she laid there, sick, maybe even dying, and he could do nothing about it. Drake's heavy footsteps lead him to the lake.

Drake gazed out upon the rippling waters of the black lake. He closed his eyes and inhaled the rich scent of the water and of the surrounding trees, and immediately his heart began to slow to a normal pace. It only made sense that his feet brought him here. This was his sanctuary. Drake opened his eyes and glanced around. There was no one in sight. That's right, he though to himself rather smugly. This is my lake. As he approached that bank he pulled off his shirt, dropping it onto the shore. His pants joined the tunic on the cool sand. Drake stopped before the water's edge, feeling the warmth of the water lapping against his toes.

This was no ordinary lake, oh no. It remained warm all throughout the year, giving it the unofficial title of Fire Lake. Not the most creative of names, but it fit the lake well. Drake waded into the water until knee deep and dove in, feeling the heat consume and comfort him. He swam beneath the light surface towards the bottom, watching as a group of fish scuttled by. All he could hear was the steady pulse of the lake, swaying the underwater plants and caressing his flesh. Closing his eyes, he relaxed his body and let himself drift to the surface. Once the cool air filled his lungs he pumped his arms and legs and began to swim to the opposite side of the lake. Drake however, did not stop when he reached the shore and turned back to where he had come. He repeated this until his arms were tingling, which with the great amount of strength he possessed, had taken him nearly half an hour, completing 24 laps.

Once back on shore, he looked up to the mid afternoon sky. He laid down in the cool sand, hoping for sun high above to warm him, and stretched out his arms and legs. Just then the shadow of a person was cast over him, blocking out the sun. Jumping to his feet, Truth stood there in her blue dress, gazing blankly at Drake. She made no move to speak. Drake quickly grabbed his clothes and pulled them over his wet skin. “You again, huh?” he mumbled sharply.

“And what's wrong with me?” she asked defensively.

“Nothing...” Drake looked at Truth. “Why are you here?”

Truth turned her head towards her bare feet and shrugged. “I wanted to swim. And you?”

Drake looked down too. “Leanne is sick.”

“Oh?” She seemed undisturbed by the news.

“I found her in the cemetery after church. I don't know what happened to her and I'm worried. I was just trying to get my mind off it. She's with the doctor now.” Could that be? Worry? Yes, we were childhood friends, but that's all we ever were in my eye. But now... Something is different. I can't explain it. Drake glanced up at Truth, who now stared intensely into his eyes. “Forget it, it's none of your concern. You don't care.” He stormed past Truth toward the town. His anger that she had intruded into his sanctuary was unimaginable to her, but it was enough to tense Drake's muscles again and remind him of Leanne. This twang in my heart is obviously fear, but there is something more. Funny how people think differently when others are in a time of need.