Out of Darkness

Early in the morning, before her family was awake, Victoria put the harness on Achilles herself and grabbed a small bag of clothes and other important belongings, and her cane, and went out in the rain to walk. She was a grown woman and confident that she could last a day or two away from home, and Brandon got to go constantly and be gone for weeks at a time without so much as a note left behind. She was at least leaving a note for them on her laptop. It had brail keys, so she was able to write to her friends in New York, and it read all the emails aloud for her, so she could know what they were up to as well.

“I’m leaving for a day or so. I need some time to myself to think and being a grown adult, I deserve the ability to make the choice myself. I have my phone, of course, and Achilles is coming with me. Don’t worry; I’m just fine to do this. I love you all! Victoria.” She wrote and left the laptop on the kitchen table for them to find, and left in the pouring rain.

“Where should we walk, Achilles?” she asked while being pelted by the cold rain in her yellow raincoat and matching boots. He of course didn’t answer her question, and stood patiently while waiting for her to walk. The rain was falling at an angle from the wind, so she decided to walk in that direction. No destination in mind, and only searching for freedom to walk where she pleased.

After a few hours the rain stopped, but she continued to walk down random sidewalks and streets, letting Achilles guide her into places she had never been before. She could tell that she had wondered into a nicer neighborhood, probably one of those areas full of rich people, who were sending her disapproving looks since she was dressed in second-hand clothing that probably didn’t even match, carrying an old schoolbag full of clothes. They all probably thought she was some filthy hobo, looking for charity.

She walked, and walked, enjoying the freedom to just walk. She hadn’t been allowed to go for a walk on her own since the accident. Her last walk was with him, the night she agreed to go all the way with him. Six days before she lost what felt like everything.

Her phone started ringing after a while, and she knew it was her family. She answered calmly, only to be yelled at and ordered to return home at once. She argued for about five minutes before just hanging up her phone and continuing on her journey.

Almost instantly her phone rang again, but she only answered long enough to hang up again to silence the ringer.

Again, her phone rang instantly.

“What?” she demanded, answering furiously.

“Get your ass over here, before our parents go ballistic. They’re going to kill you.” Her brother explained seriously.

“No, I don’t WANT to go home! I like being able to walk where I want without someone grabbing my arm and telling me to be careful. It’s like I’m some crippled four year old! I’m sick of it, Brandon, I want some time to be a grown up damn it!”

“Listen, mom’s crying her eyes out thinking that you’re going to be murdered or something, dad’s flipping out because you could be attacked and in the worst case, raped or something, and you wouldn’t even be able to report it because you can’t see them. I don’t like the idea of my big sister out there by herself, unable to defend herself if she needs it… just come home, okay?”

“No.”

“Victoria, come on!”

“Brandon, no. I’m done being treated like a child. I’m a grown woman; maybe after a day or two you will all see that I am able to survive in the world, and I can earn some respect.” She answered, and hung up the phone again, this time turning it off and dropping it in her bag.

She walked until the sun started to set, checking her watch and listening to it read out the time. Sighing as they walked through what she knew to be a park by the smell of the flowers and grass, and children playing on a playground, she sat on a bench and accepted the fact that she had gotten lost. Achilles could keep her from being hit by cars, and knew to stay out of traffic, but he couldn’t find their way home. She joked that her dog was directionally challenged; he could probably get lost in their back yard.

“Come here, Achilles,” she sighed, unhooking his harness and letting him relax for a while, “Stay close.”

Of course, Achilles was off like a rocket to stretch and run off some energy, and take care of other doggy business needs. He never “did his business” while on the harness. He knew better than to do things like that. When he wore the harness, he was ONLY a Seeing Eye Dog.

“Shinya, I’m sure she’s all right. She is probably just hiding under something somewhere. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s at home waiting for you.” A tall and thin man with dark hair sighed as he stood beside his friend who was staring blankly into the park.

“It isn’t that. That woman there, the one wearing the raincoat, I know her.” Shinya explained.

“The one that looks like she got dressed in the dark?”

“She’s blind, Die.” Shinya sighed.

“THAT’S the woman? Miss Death?” he questioned excitedly, “We should go talk to her!”

“No. I need to find Miyu-chan.” He answered and started walking again. Before he could step into the park, Die grabbed him by the arm and pointed to the small dog that was crossing the street. It was, indeed, Shinya’s missing pet. There was a car going well above speed limit, heading straight for her as well, which made his heart stop.

Tori was sitting on the bench, going over her situation of being lost, and unable to go home even if she wanted to, knowing that it would be hell to pay, and wishing like hell she could see the flowers around her, or the children playing in the evening light, when Achilles’ deep, booming bark pulled her form her thoughts. She heart a man shout “Miyu”, tires screech, another man’s voice ranting in Japanese at the “stupid dog running into the road”, but nothing more from her dog. She quickly pulled her stick from her bag and started making her way in the direction she heard Achilles’ barking.

“Achilles! Achilles, heel! Heel boy!” she pleaded, preying that he hadn’t been hit and sighing in pure relief when he brushed against her.

“Good boy, what is that? What do you have?” she questioned, feeling something small and furry in his mouth. It was moving and whining, and it took her a second to realize that it was a small dog. As soon as she pulled her hands back in shock, Achilles set the dog down and lied beside it, licking and grooming it as if it were a puppy.

As she tried to piece together what happened, two sets of footsteps ran up to her from across the street, soon turning to two voices. One was an extremely worried, and sounded somewhat familiar, and the other was an angry voice that she had never heard before.

“You should learn to control your dog!” he announced as they got closer, “I hope for your sake that she isn’t hurt.”

“Please, take some time to listen to me, and really see Achilles. He isn’t hurting the dog; Achilles has never hurt anything before. He’s a very kind and well trained animal.” She defended as a few tears built in her eyes. Achilles looked up from his grooming of the little dog and watched her curiously as she defended him, and his friend took that opportunity to take his pet from him.

“I’m very sorry, I don’t know what happened. I came when I heard him barking, and then the car’s breaks making that noise. I didn’t see what happened… I couldn’t have even if I were standing right here.” She explained as his rant finally ended, unable to prevent her tears from falling down from behind her glasses.

After a few seconds she heard the man sigh and take a step closer to her. “Please don’t cry.” He said, sounding almost ashamed of something, “I shouldn’t have been so quick to assume the worst about your dog. You’re right, he is very well trained and a very kind animal. I didn’t mean to come across so mean, please accept my apology.”

“No, it’s all right. I should be the one to apologize. I’m an emotional disaster right now. Is your dog all right?” she replied quietly.

“Yes. He was very careful with her.” Shinya explained, relieved that Miyu wasn’t harmed in any way, “Are you all right though? You’re shaking, and your face is bruised; I can see your black eye from behind the glasses.”

Tori sighed and looked down before hooking her harness on Achilles again. “I’m all right… yesterday was, difficult. I’m all right though, yes. Only some bruises and a cut or two.” She answered quickly, “Forgive me, your voice sounds very familiar, have we met before?” she questioned as Achilles sat like a statue beside her, not even moving when a stray cat walked up and brushed against him.

“Yes, a few days ago, I walked into your cane.” He answered.

“You! You’re the one I tripped! I’m so sorry! It seems I only continue to make your life difficult, how can you be so calm with me?”

“Because you haven’t done anything with intent to make my life difficult. Our first meeting was as much my fault as it was yours, and this; this isn’t a bad situation at all! Your dog saved my Miyu-chan’s life from being hit by a car. She is a very small dog, and would not have survived.”

“The driver, I heard him yelling, and the breaks of his car screaming. Is he all right?” she asked worriedly, suddenly concerned for the driver who had sped away long ago.

“Everyone is all right.” Die smiled; finding it adorable the way her eyebrows jumped above her ugly dark glasses when her eyes went wide like that. She was about to answer when a very loud clap of thunder echoed, making her jump and whimper slightly.

“How far from here do you live? We’ll walk you home before the storm comes.” He offered while Shinya continued to slightly fuss over Miyu, who was also startled by the thunder.

“I have no idea. I left this morning before the sun had really come up. I don’t know where I am, actually. I’ve been walking nearly non-stop since I left home.” She shrugged, “Don’t worry about walking me home. You should go home, though, it feels like this storm is going to be a little rough.”

“Why did you leave home?” Shinya asked quickly, worried that it had something to do with her bruises.

“My family and I, we don’t exactly see eye-to-eye.” She laughed sadly, “Anyway, that isn’t important right now. You should take your dog home… it doesn’t sound like she likes storms.” She smiled, adjusting her glasses after jumping at the thunder again.

“Doesn’t sound like you enjoy them either.” Die smirked.

“No, but I’ll be all right.” She nodded.

The thunder echoed again, and this time Achilles whined and nudged her hand. He was sensing danger and she knew it. “I should go. We need to find a place before the storm comes.” She announced and pulled her bag over her shoulder before buttoning her coat again.

“Where do you plan on staying? I doubt you’ll find a hotel that will let him stay with you.” Die frowned. She smiled and giggled a little bit while adjusting her hold on the harness and packing her stick safely in her bag. “I don’t know. I didn’t think that far ahead. I just wanted to leave; so I did.” She answered.

“Stay with me, then; At least until the storm passes. Even with the band here, I have room. You can have my bed; I don’t object to sleeping in the front room.” Shinya offered, not liking her situation one bit, but she kindly refused and began walking after bowing her farewell.

“Please, it isn’t safe to stay out like this.” He pushed, making her stop mid step and turn to face him, but before she could retort he continued his justification to why she should stay with him.

“In the cold rain, out in the colder winds of the storm, you could get very ill. People have died in the streets before from such illnesses. I don’t doubt that Achilles could protect you if something were to happen, if you were attacked by someone, but I don’t like the idea of you being lost in the rain.”

“I love the rain, though.” She smiled, “And I don’t want to impose on you, and make your life even more difficult.”

“You aren’t.” Die cut in; “If he is offering to let you stay with him, in his home, after only meeting you twice, I would consider it an honor. I’m not sure if you’ve been able to notice this, but Shinya is a very shy man.”

“I noticed. It shows in his voice, but not much. Not in the way you would think of… it’s difficult to explain why, but I’ve noticed that being blind my hearing is a little different than it used to be.”

“It’s raining. Will you stay with us?” Shinya pleaded as the cold droplets began to bounce off of their heads.

“I honestly don’t know why I’m agreeing, but yes, I will stay with you. Be warned, though, if you try ANYTHING against me, Achilles is very capable of killing you. As kind as he is, his purpose is to protect Me.” She answered.

“We would never think of something like that. I promise you, you will be safe.” Shinya nodded as they walked down the street to where their car was parked. As they walked she was properly introduced to Die, and found it touching that he genuinely felt bad for making her cry earlier. Achilles kept trying to sniff and nose at Miyu, making Shinya nervous at first until they stopped and he licked her, wagging his tail hard enough to hit Tori and surely leave a bruise along the back of her legs.

“Achilles Down!” she snapped, hissing in pain as her legs burned after being hit. She heard Die chuckle, and a small part of her wished he had been the one to get hit, just so he could know what it felt like. Achilles had a very powerful tail.

“You have no idea how many times I’ve been hit by that tail. I should have let them cut it to a stub when he was a puppy… but I thought it was mean back then and didn’t want them to hurt him.” She sighed after recovering and letting Achilles up to cross the street.

“Why isn’t he walking?” Die asked when he wouldn’t let her step off the curb.

“He’s watching for cars. He knows that roads are dangerous, and if he hears a car he won’t let me across until he can’t hear it anymore. It’s saved my life more than once.” She answered, smiling when Achilles chuffed and pulled her quickly across the street to the other sidewalk. It took her a few minutes to get the courage to ignore how awkward it was and get into the car, and it was even more difficult to get Achilles comfortably in the back seat with her, but as soon as they were all packed into the vehicle and out of the now downpour of rain the car pulled away to take them to Shinya’s. It was an awkward ride until Die started a conversation, asking about Tori in an attempt to both get to know her better and break the silence that was sure to drive him and her mad. Shinya was occupied with Miyu and wasn’t bothered by the quiet.

“I have an honest passion for music, I always have. Any art form, really, but especially music. The drums. Any kind of drum, I love; I’ve always loved drums and wanted to be a drummer.” She answered after being asked about her hobbies.

“Do you play?” Shinya asked curiously after getting a look from Die at her mention of drums.

“No. I wanted to, but my parents thought it was too masculine, so I was given piano lessons instead.” She laughed, “They have a strange view on what is a good replacement. My brother goes to concerts all the time, for example. Rock concerts, heavy metal concerts… I wanted to go to hear the music live, because I love it so much more to hear raw from the musicians what they can do from their heart, instead of through edited tracks on an album. Instead, they took me to a classical orchestra.”

“Technically, they are both concerts.” Die nodded.

“Yes, but it isn’t the same at all! Electric guitars, amplified drums and bass, singers who can do and say anything they want without breaking the genre, women could wear pants if they wanted to, I want to experience it!”

“Have you ever been to a concert like that?” Shinya asked.

“No. I was going to, before the accident, but no.” she answered quickly and went silent.

“So you play piano, and have a passion for drums. Anything else that is interesting about you?” Die smiled, changing the subject away from its current path, which was clearly upsetting her somehow.

“I can play some chords, and one song on my brother’s guitar. He doesn’t know about that, though. My lessons in high school were a secret. I wasn’t supposed to learn to play that.”

“No guitar? There are many women who play the guitar; it may be one of the greatest instruments in music.” He joked.

“Sounds like you play. Shane was the same way with his guitar, always talking about guitars being the gifted instrument from heaven, designed by the gods and sent to humans. He would get very dramatic with it… his speeches never failed to make me laugh.” She giggled, “The guitar is too loud, and my parents didn’t think I could keep up with two instruments. That’s why I wasn’t supposed to learn it.”

“I do play. And he may be right about our guitars.” He chuckled and kept driving as she went silent again, eventually falling asleep with her head against the window and Achilles’ head in her lap.