Salience

Chapter 2: Family After

Three years have passed since the incident, Acher woke from his dreams and found himself in the hallway alone. He crouched low, quickly tiptoeing past his sister's door. He shuffled his feet in place as her doorknob turned slowly. The grin on his face grew wider and his eyes had a devilish look of glee. When she stepped into the hallway he yelled at her, “Lighting rod transference attack!” He grabbed her arm with a cheetah-like speed sending an electric shock into her body. A loud pop echoes off the wall with a quick yell in harmony. Astrid stares blankly at her big brother.

“You and those stupid socks again. Also, you didn’t scare me, I yelled because of the shock,” she said.

“Uh, huh. Bow down from my mighty power,” he said quickly while puffing out his chest.

“Mighty? The only thing mighty about you is your stink, ugh,” she said as she pointed into her mouth and stuck out her tongue. With a tomato face, he changed the subject quickly, “That’s me becoming a real man now.”

“Oh, so I’ll add smelly to the other great qualities of your manliness like dirty dishes and that pigsty you call a room,” she said pushing past him to the bathroom.

“Hey! It’s called organized to my liking,” he said even though she stopped listening to him. He walked away from her while his mouth mimicked her sassy remarks to head to the kitchen. Once again he found it littered with empty beer cans and liquor bottles of different quantities of liquid left. He peered over the counters to see his father barely lying on the couch with a portion of his body touching the beer-stained floor and a leg wedged between the back of the cushions. This wasn’t anything new to Acher yet he grew angry with his father and started to trash the bottles. Each bottle and can filled him with more rage with one bottle finally shattering and slicing his hand. He let out a short welp and started reaching for some paper towels to soak up the blood. His father lay lifeless. Astrid peeked around the corner finding her brother dripping blood on the floor.

“Dude! What are you doing?” she asked.

“Uh, I cut myself, duh!”

“Don’t get mad at me, I didn’t cut you.”

“I’m not, just, never mind. Do we have any bandaids?”

Scratching her head she said, “Uh, bathroom?” He quickly walked past her to rummage through the bathroom cupboards.

“I don’t believe it!” he yelled echoing down the halls.

“What?” Astrid yells back.

“What?”

“I said WHAT!”

“There are NO bandaids! This stupid effing house, I swear,” he said.

“Language!”

“I said effing.”

“Close enough,” she said. Rolling his eyes habitually alone in the bathroom made him roll them again. He left the bathroom and cleaned his wound with some water breathing sharply through his teeth. He asked Astrid to grab him a rag while he put a piece of paper towel on the wound, wrapping the rag around it.

“I’m gonna head to the store and grab some band-aids real quick,” he told his sister.

“Dude, we have school. You’ll miss the bus,” she said.

“No, I won’t, I’ll be quick. If I miss school it won’t be a big deal. What’s dad gonna do? Ground me? Ha!”

“That’s not nice, you know he’s sad,” she said frowning.

“I don’t care, he barely does anything unless it's drinking.”

“He’s sad!”

“So are we! Doesn’t mean he can just lay around all day and do nothing and drink, what about us? Don’t we need help? Look I don’t have time for this I gotta get to the store before it’s too late,” he said. He grabbed a jacket from the rack beside the door and looked at his sister saying, “Look if I don’t show up at school it prolly means I’m kidnapped and you’ll be an only child.”

“Don’t say that! What if that really happens?” she asked.

“Then the magical SPs will come and save the day!” he said sarcastically.

“And we know they always save the day!” she said.

“Saving lives in the name of justice!”

“Stopping evil in the name of justice!”

“Giving crap in the name of justice!” they said together. After a quick laughing exchange and pretending to have superpowers using crude hand gestures Acher said his goodbyes and left the house.

Immediately as he hit the streets with his bike, a beat-up station wagon ran him off the road. This has happened several times already and Acher had some choice words for the driver, “Hey! Watch where the eff you’re going dumbass!” he said as he added the middle finger towards the driver for extra flair to his insult. Acher wondered why this driver had it out for him but he never retaliated or said anything back. They drove away every time more calmly than before swerving towards Acher almost as if it was intentionally playful like one big joke that only the driver understood. The neighborhood was quiet as per usual and the songbirds sang differently this day. Acher of course didn’t notice the birds as much anymore after his mother passed. No day was special as every day was just a day to him. He noticed an old man standing outside their house as the incident happened and the old man frowned. Acher gave a weak smile and then rolled his eyes once his back faced the old man. He hated that.

“So stupid, mind your own business,” he said to himself. “Always getting in my business like you really care. Annoying!” He pedaled harder standing on top of his pedals with each push fueling his rage. He hated the neighborhood. He pretended like he didn’t notice their whispers but he heard them. Their hasty hushed voices every time he was around outside going wherever he wanted or needed. Their eyes pierced through him as if he wasn’t even human. The more he passed the houses the more he resented everyone, remembering their sorrowful words that only a snake would believe. He knew the truth. People don’t care they just want to look like they care. He imagined each person's face as their house burned to the ground, flames burning in his eyes. They wouldn’t understand how it felt to witness his mother lifeless and cold. Barely an arm's length away tearing his body in half just to feel her hand one more time. Idiots. Fools.

He parked his bike at the pharmacy which was only about 10 blocks away from where he lived. He had plenty of time to go in get what he needed and be back in time for the bus. It was fairly early and morning dew breeze brushed his hair as he entered the store; the automatic doors were extra loud this morning and he scanned the isles for band-aids. His eyes widened on aisle three with a sign hovering above with big letters “FIRST AID”. A store clerk gave a silent hello without looking up from his phone at the register. He walked past a man in a brown coat who was looking at birthday cards and gave off a smell of oil. He grabbed the first box of band-aids he saw and returned to the counter.

“Five, oh, one,” said the clerk.

“Okay,” said Acher, reaching into his pocket to pull out a five-dollar bill. He hesitated to give it to the clerk as he only had the fiver and this was supposed to get him lunch. He put his head down before speaking, “Uh, I only have this five-dollar bill.”

“So, you don’t have the money then?”

“I mean it’s just one penny.”

“But the total is five, oh, one. You don’t have the penny then you don’t have enough to buy these band-aids,” the clerk said as he put the band-aids below the counter.

“Come on man, that's so lame,” said Acher.

“I don’t care, I’m in charge and what I say, goes,” said the clerk with a nasty grin. Acher stormed off through the entrance kicking the newspaper machine. Ignoring the pain he realized that he could find a penny on the ground from the newspaper machine or the vending machines that lined the outside wall. He got on his knees scrapping across the sidewalk looking for a glimmer of shiny brown. Someone must have had the same idea because he couldn’t seem to find one measly little coin. Quickly shuffling over to the vending machines he stuffed his arms under the machines and dug his fingers in the cracks of the side walk. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and cold shiver crawled through his body. He turned around slowly still on his kness craning his neck towards the sky with the sun blocking his view. A dark figure stood before him towering above as the skyscrapers he saw in magazines.

“Looking for something?” he asked. Acher didn’t want to engage in conversation with anyone in this town let alone a stranger. He turned away to return to the task at hand. Time was getting away from him and the last thing he wanted to do was make his sister worry.

“I understand that I am a stranger to you, but does that allow for you to be rude in return? I’m only trying to help and I don’t mean to bother you or frighten you,” he said gently. Without turning around Acher responded, “I’m not afraid of you. I just don’t want your help. Now leave me alone.” His body was pressed up against the vending machine with his head contorted awkwardly outward from his neck while his arm slid under the soda machine sliding across the rough and slimy concrete.

“Ah ha!” acher yelled.

“Found it finally have you?” said the stranger.

“Yes!” said Acher as he pulled his now grimey arm free of the cave of treasure lifting his findings to his face. Instantly his face changed from excitement to disdain. Throwing the object towards the ground he began to wipe his arm free of dirt.

“Ah, that’s unfortunate. What if I helped you?” said the stranger.

“Leave me alone, I don’t want your help, nor did I ask,” said Acher louder than he meant to. The stranger stepped forward with his palm faced up clearly empty and Acher stepped away watching closely. The stranger closed his hand with a quick flick of the wrist slowly opening his fingers revealing a few coins. Acher’s eyes lit up and instinctlively reached for them. Just as fast as he reached he pulled back as if being shocked from an electric fence and frowned.

“I’m sorry I didn’t even ask to have them but I also didn’t ask for you help,” he said.

“That’s okay. Like I said, I just wanted to help,” the stranger replied.

“So you are really going to just give me those coins?” asked Acher.

“Really, it looked important and judging by that wrapped hand you will get something useful.” Acher forgot about his wound and took notice that the stranger was paying close attention to himself. He thought for a moment then reached for the coins.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Not a problem.” The stranger then walked into the store leaving Acher dumbfounded and confused. Are people nice? Was that because he wanted to or because he knew what happened to him? Acher didn’t have time to dwell on such thoughts and went back inside with his head held high ready to win the war against the store clerk.

He slammed his money on the counter with his hand held out towards the clerk. The clerk rolled his eyes and filled his hand with his change and band-aids. As Acher went to the bathroom he could hear the clerk saying something under his breath about how he was still the boss and that everyone had to listen to his rules. Acher entered the bathroom and coughed. This bathroom was dirty and not taken care of very well as if swamps were to be the norm here. He held his breath as long as he could while he unwrapped several band-aids placing them in a row like soldiers along his cut.

“That’s a nasty cut there,” a voice said. Acher jumped so hard that his elbow smashed down against the sink and his whole body vibrated dimensions. Tears swelled and he turned quickly towards the voice, taking a step back. The stranger from before was there holding his bloody rag in his hand with a strange look upon their face. The stranger wiped his mouth before he spoke again, “What happened?”

“None of your business, give me my rag back,” said Acher.

“Oh, I seemed to have startled you. Not my intention I assure you,” said the stranger handing the rag back to Acher. He took the rag quickly and wrapped it around his hand tightly. He then went to walk past the stranger out of the door but the stranger didn’t move as if Acher didn’t exist. Time stood still and Acher felt the air change and when he finally looked up at the face of the stranger he found his eyes staring at him with an intent he never experienced before. His nerves and his attitude failed him and momentarily unable to move past him. The stranger snapped out of his hypnotic state and cracked a smile that seemed to raise up to the sides of his eyes and moved off to the side so that Acher could leave. Acher exited hastily looking over his shoulders several times as he bee-lined to his bike. He saw that one of his tires had low air and walked it to the air pump at the gas station beside the pharmacy. He pressed his palms hard against the tires feeling the pressure push him back. Satisfied, he swung his leg over the bike and stood frozen in fear. The stranger was standing in front of him towering his small frame. Fear crept into his mind and he blanketed his stare of neutrality to mask it. Now in the light and his fear giving him reason to pay attention could see that this was a man in his forties. Stubly beard with piercing blue eyes. He was taller than Acher and smelled of something familiar yet he couldn’t quite tell what it was.

“I’m sorry to bother you again, I usually get gas after I stop by the pharmacy. Would you be interested in work?” he asked inching closer.

Hastily Acher replied, “Nope.”

“Are you sure? I have a construction company and I like to higher neighborhood kids such as yourself to give you a little spending money. Maybe I could score you some beer or weed as well,” said the stranger. Acher looked down with his eyes bouncing back and forth. He looked into those piercing eyes and asked,” How much?”

“Depends on how much work you do but I promise you I pay a fair share.”

“I’ll think about it, but I don’t care about beer and that bullshit. Though, we could use the money,” said Acher.

“Well alright, well bring your bike and yourself to my car real quick,” said the stranger with his back turning and waving him over. Acher slowly glided on his bike to the car looking around for others. The trunk on the car was already open with a box of business cards at the ready. The stranger reached in and grabbed a card. He turned to Acher handing it to him with a smile. Acher reached for the card and in a flash the stranger grabbed his arm and slapped handcuffs with superior precision. Acher began to yell, “Hey man! What are you doing! Help!” The stranger raised his arms beside his shoulders and smiled, “Shhh, it’s okay. It’s just a joke.” He slowly placed his hands in his pockets and pulled out a shiny silver key. He released Acher from the cuffs and laughed. Acher’s face was blood red when he said, “You are an asshole dude, forget working for a clown such as yourself.” He turned away and the stranger called out,” Hey! Wanna see a trick?”

“No!”

“Look you’ll get to put the cuffs on me and I will escape,” said the stranger. Acher slowly looked toward the stranger and stared in disbelief.

“Seriously, I’ll escape.”

“Bullshit.”

“No, bullshit. Come here,” he said waving him back over jingling the handcuffs. Acher didn’t move for a moment and with a shrug went over to the stranger.

“Alright, place the cuffs on me,” he said as he turned his back to Acher. Acher did as he was told and placed the cuffs on the stranger and jumped back. The stranger then turned back to face Acher and smiled a Grinch-like smile that he had seen in a Christmas movie as a kid and started shaking his shoulders back and forth. He groaned several times and his face contorted as he shook more. A minute or so passed when the stranger let out a huge gasp and held his arms up victoriously in the air. Acher’s eyes widened and gave a few claps letting out a wow against his wishes.

“Would you like to learn how to do this trick? It’s very easy,” the stranger asked.

“Uh, sure?” said Acher and he held out his arms. The stranger reached and Acher jerked his hands away. The stranger smiled and got closer again placing the handcuffs on Acher’s wrists.

“Okay? So now what?” he asked.

“Try to make sure the cuffs are on tight,” the stranger said. Acher wiggled his hands and the cold metal bit into his wrist.

“There are tightly on there. So what do I do now?” he asked. The stranger stood with his grin getting bigger. His eyes began to truly pierce through Acher and fear was growing in the pit of his stomach.

“Hey, I don’t want to do this anymore, can you let me out?” Acher asked.

“That won’t be necessary,” the stranger said.

“And why not?”

“I’m about to show you how to get out.”

“Okay, so how do I get out?”

“Oh, you need this,” the stranger said holding up a silver key.