Leaf People

“I’ve got something to show you, Mark. You have to see this,” expressed Jen excitedly, gripping his left hand. She emphasized ‘got’ and pulled him away from gawking at the castle’s throne room.

“What is it, Jen?” inquired Mark, perturbed. “I was enjoying this. They even let you wear a crown.”

“Rude. Can’t you say excuse me?” suggested a parent, as they walked fervently against the flow of traffic. “Hello?”

Brushing aside her long hair, she continued until she reached the drawbridge, halted, turned and smiled towards her boyfriend of four years. The autumn air hit them like two kites caught in a tree. He saw her dancing eyes and heard the violinists in the background playing for beer. Cheap beer at that.

“It’s not far from here.” She pointed to the forest nearby, nodding, “It’s a fountain.”

He smelled her soft lilac perfume as she drew near to him. “A fountain? I don’t want to see a fountain,” he replied, rolling his eyes and motioning towards the castle’s entrance.

“Please. It’s not just a fountain. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen.” Like a historian, she supplied, “It’s made of cold stone. It’s wide like a circular pool and is about two feet high. And there’s ancient writing on the six foot wall behind it.”

“I’m not convinced.” He watched the guards lead some of the patrons to the witches’ tavern.

“It’s empty,” she added, planting a kiss on his cheek.

“It’s empty?” he said curiously, kissing back. “That’s not much of an argument, honey.”

“They say the leaves from the trees above it have been pounded into the sides and bottom of it. And it makes the fountain light up, with a natural glow.” She clasped her hand with his.

“Now, that’s intriguing.” After pretending to think about it, he said, “Sold. Let’s go!”

In her robotic Arnold Schwarzenegger voice, she laughed, “Hasta la vista, baby.”

Nudging her in the side, he countered, “I’m not a girly man.”

Passing the moat, the medieval weapon’s shop, the guild’s stock room, they enjoyed each other’s company along the way. There were odd stares as some listened to their conversation.

“I’ll be back,” Jen giggled.

“I’m the Terminator, and I’m going to pump you up.”

“I’m Hanz, and he's Franz. We’re going to pump you up.”

“No, the Terminator’s going to pump you up.”

“Don’t be a girly man.”

They both laughed out loud as the onlookers joined in their fun. The two kites flew happily holding hands. A breeze entered the scene as they arrived upon the forest.

“Would you two like a painting or a drawing?” asked an artist, wiping the charcoal from his fingers onto his shirt. “There’s no charge, courtesy of today’s festivities.”

“Not just yet,” Mark said, after reading Jen’s facial signs.

But she quickly injected, “We will after we’re back from the fountain.”

“The fountain. Ah, yes. Of course. Of course.” After they left, he whispered to himself, snickering. “I better start drawing now.”

***

Jen and Mark followed the dirt path. The overhead shade from the tall trees made it colder than it really was. Jen shivered slightly and felt goose bumps on her arms.

“Are you okay?” Mark remarked, after she coughed.

“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little cold. Doesn’t it feel like someone’s watching us?”

“Yeah, forests are like that. Anyway.” He removed his thin jacket, offering, “You may wear mine.”

“Thank you, sweetie.” She wore it over her clothes, placing her hands into the pockets. “Hey, what’s this?”

“What? Huh?”

Feeling out what was in the pockets; she showed a small rectangular black box to her boyfriend. It was small enough to contain a piece of jewelry, like a necklace or a bracelet. Snatching it like lightening, he became flustered, and blood rushed to his head.

“That? That’s nothing. Just um, a pill box,” he said surprising himself, grinning.

“A pill box?” She wasn’t born yesterday and asked smartly, “What do you take pills for?”

He mumbled, “It’s for my. You know the thing on my, you know. Um, it’s a man thing.”

Stopping in her tracks, she saw he was gazing at the trees above. “Ok, I get it. I won’t ask.”

“No?” he quietly spoke, staring upwards.

“No, I can wait.” She rubbed his back. “Now, let’s go for the fountain.”

He relaxed more, letting his shoulders down.

“May I see it?” she politely teased.

“Not yet. I want to wait till the right time,” he choked, clearing his throat.

“Okay. But show me soon.”

“I will.”

***

When they came upon the ancient fountain, the place was empty and silent save for the surrounding trees rustling above. Of the two, Mark was the first to react.

“Amazing, you say these are from the leaves?” Already at the fountain, he sat on it admiring the illumination.

“Yes. Like a pestle and mortar, the leaves were flattened to the sides and bottom. The glow they each give is nothing like I’ve seen before.” She joined him; sitting on the fountain’s flat top.

He asked, “And what about the writing?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know what it says. I was hoping there would be someone here.”

“To explain to us what it meant,” he finished her line of thought.

“Exactly. But there’s no one here. Not even other visitors.”

“I don’t get it either.” Mark liked the glow highlighting her face and gentle eyes.

“Anyway, kiss me.” She saw the leaves’ light caress his face.

“Huh?”

“You heard me.”

Moving closer to her, holding her hand, Mark kissed Jen. Closing their eyes, they both kissed again, while beside them the fountain gurgled. She tasted his mouth and pressed her lips hard on his. From the fountain’s bottom center, water rose as if someone was sucking it up. Mark kissed back, pushing against her upper lip and then her lower.

“We need to get a room,” he suggested in between kisses.

“Surprise!!! Look!!!” she smiled happily, angling over to the water.

“What the…. Where did this water come from?” He stood up with chills running down his back.

“From the kissing. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen.” She placed her hands in the water, as the glow bugged wildly. Some leaves fell from above.

“I’m not so sure about that.” He ran his hands through his hair, not sold. “Look at it. It smells like pollen, or like….”

“Like dew. I overheard a couple share about it earlier. It’s true.” She dipped her hands like a cup and tasted it.

“What are you doing? That’s like creepy water.”

“It’s perfectly fine. It tastes like fresh water to me. Nothing special. Give it a try.”

He thought, “Well, maybe there’s a camera somewhere that watched us kiss.”

Kneeling, he peered at the water.

“Come on, honey. I’m still alive.” She shoved him.

After touching it with his pinky finger and waiting, he noticed his finger was still attached to his hand, so he drank some of the water.

As Jen watched him, she laughed, “You’re so silly.”

“Wow, that’s smooth for tap water. It has an easy feel to it.”

“Like fresh water, silly.” She rolled her eyes. “Come on, let’s go. I’m getting tired.”

They got up, stretched, and left for home. Without a moment’s glance back, they walked together towards their car. It was in the opposite direction of the painter, the weapon’s shop, guild house, violinists, witches’ tavern, and the castle.

Meanwhile, the water had receded as if it never had awakened.

***

That evening, as the couple entered the house, they charged right for bed. They hadn’t said two words on the drive and had been yawning the whole way. Plopping right into bed, they slept hard in each other’s arms, as if given a sleeping pill.

“So sleepy,” dazed Mark.

Click.

“What was that?” said Jen dreamily to herself, as she witnessed a camera flash in her mind.

“Huh?” Mark slipped.

They both eased into a vivid dream.

***

“Where are we?” Mark asked to Jen, who was beside him in a long hallway.

She shook her head. They looked all around them. Things happened to fast to catch a breath. In front of them, about ten yards away, a giant brown worm broke the floor. It yelled, showed its endless rows of teeth, and ran for them. The worm’s size took the entire height and width of the hall, there was no way to go but in the opposite direction. They didn’t know how long it was, but one thing was for sure, it was a giant worm! They looked terrified and fled on extinct. The hallway was bare, and their hearts jumped like a waterbed. They heard it charging and felt it shaking the floors. The shock almost clogged their breathing. They couldn’t even glance back at the giant worm’s two large eyes. Side paths were coming into view. Jen veered to the right smack into a dead end and Mark dove left into a room, while the giant worm headed straight until it had finally lugged up its entire body into the hallway from the broken floor.

“This can’t be happening. What do I do? What do I do?” Jen thought, as the worm’s large size had her trapped. “Why is there a dead end in a hallway? This doesn’t make any sense.”

She pounded on the brick walls, yelling for Mark. As her hands felt the wall’s grimy texture, an odd smell distracted her. The odor was of sweat and worn socks. She turned at the worm, seeing its side heave out and in, as if the worm was inhaling and exhaling. Without thinking, she punched it, and the breathing abated for a bit. She waited, relaxed, and then sat down on the corner. The worm’s skin didn’t move, but something curvy, black, and large came across the skin.

She watched. “Okay, what’s that?”

What was thought a bow became to be….

A half oval with a strange black half circle in its middle….

It was really a large oval with a black eye.

“Yikes!!” Jen scooted herself as far as she could into the brick wall.

The black eye stared at her. She stared back at it, keeping her distance as much as she could.

“It can see right through me.” She brought her knees to her chest, folded her arms, put her head down, and hid her eyes from the worm. “Please, go away.”

Taking a quick peek, she saw it was still staring at her as if it was watching a movie.

***

Meanwhile, Mark had crashed into a row of easels, some of which fell on top of him, like lattices on a pie.

“Uhn! What happened?”

Though Mark bared no visible bruises, his head throbbed with pain like a headache. Broken pieces of wood blocked his sight, so he cleared them away. While rubbing his tussled hair, he sat up observing his classroom surroundings: scattered paintings and drawings of leaves, various wooden easels most with trays, spilled paints, loose charcoal, a chalkboard, a map, a cork bulletin board, and an unused modeling table draped with fabric folded this way and that. Then his nose wiggled, as the smell of sweat and old socks squirmed its way through.

“That is one horrible stench. Jen? Where’s Jen?” Standing, he scanned the room like a robot. “JEN!!!”

He panicked, sprinted for the exit, and. “The worm!”

The worm’s large size kept him in the room, like a prisoner. His thoughts on Jen’s life made his breathing hard, like a clogged artery.

“Why didn’t she follow me? How can I look for her when this thing's in the way?” he cried, beating his fists on the wall.

“Ya’ don’t,” answered an angry man. Talking to himself, he said, “Obviously.”

Turning around, Mark pinpointed him at the other end of the room. His headache bothered him still. The angry man was headed towards him.

“Who are you?”

“It doesn’t matter. You ruined my drawings.”

“I’m sorry…. Is this your pet worm?” Mark didn’t know what else to say.

“Don’t get funny. That’s a leaf worm.” The angry man changed his mind, walked for the broken easels, and told himself, “He picked the one room. All the others were dead ends. I figured he would have at least followed his girlfriend. Duh. Most people would, but this one….”

Mark was listening to him ramble. “Wait! Did you say you know where Jen is?”

“Yes, of course. She’ll be growing soon.”

“What?” Mark didn’t understand.

Kneeling, the angry man gathered his collection, shaking his head. Then, he stood and walked over to Mark.

“Let’s get you going. You’ve wasted enough of my time.”

Frustrated, Mark replied, “Your time?”

“Yes, my time. Look at this,” he commanded, shoving some of his work to Mark’s chest.

“Yes, I see. These are leaves, but I have more import….”

“Not just leaves. Look closer, clueless.”

Mark studied them: the soft rigid edges, the shaded nerves, the lit body, the curling ends, and the blinking center. Suddenly, like a tree branch scratching a window during a windy day, Mark felt chills scamper down his spine.

“These are real…people?” Mark wasn’t sold.

The angry man smiled from ear to ear, as Mark and him made eye contact. Goosebumps ran on Mark’s arms and face.

“Ok, you’ve learned enough.” The painter patted the giant worm like a dog. Just like before, the worm’s skin didn’t move, but an eye slowly appeared to where it was touched. “It’s time for you to go now!”

“Noooo,” Mark yelled, jumping back at the sight of an enormous eye.

But the mad man yanked him. “Look at the worm!”

“I don’t want to be eaten!”

“Who said anything about being eaten?” He said with disgust, “I thought you had a brain. This truly disappoints me.”

Mark shut his eyes, while being pulled closer. “I’m not going to look!”

“Yes, you are.” He kicked his right leg hard.

“Owww,” Mark yelled, reaching to comfort his leg.

“Jen’s here!!!” the deceiver shouted.

Mark’s eyes met the worm’s one eye. The trick worked too easily.

Whispering in his ear, the man said, “You know how when you walk in a forest, you feel like you’re being watched. Huh? You know that feeling, Mark?”

Not comprehending, all Mark asked was “where was this coming from?”

“You’ll find out soon, buddy. See you in two years,” he laughed out loud, watching Mark still in a trance, just like Jen used to be.

***

Two years later, Mark and Jen matured. Waking up from a long sleep, he stretched his feet, while she yawned. It was morning, around 8am. Mark was the first to say something.

“Wow, I feel invigorated, like my whole body has been energized. It’s like,” he exclaimed, cracking his eyes open. “….”

“It’s like what, sweetie?” Jen wanted to roll over to hug him but couldn’t.

“How are you guys doing up there?” wondered the painter who appeared to be talking them. He stood next to the ancient fountain.

“OH MY!! WE’RE LEAVES!!!” Jen shook herself, Mark, and the branch attached to them.

From below, he watched them. “Don’t shake too much or you might fall off and die. Now, we wouldn’t want that.” The painter surmised, “Well, not after waiting two years.”

“HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO US?” she yelled, flapping this way and that.

“I can’t believe we’re leaves on a tree. This height is making me too woozy. I’m going to be sick,” Mark said, bending his feet over his head.

He saw Mark and Jen shaking constantly. “Look, you guys. Before I go, I should tell you that you have exactly sixteen hours left to talk each other before you completely lose your humanity. Enjoy it while you’re able.”

She saw the artist walk to another tree. From her position, she understood she was high up in a tree and she was a leaf! She didn’t know how, and it scared her, right down to the core.

“This is all my fault. My fault. I just know it,” she cried.

“It’s not your fault,” Mark supported her; “This has to be some crazy dream. That we just can’t seem to wake out of it. This isn’t real.”

“Dream? Did you dream about a giant worm?”

“Yes, I did. The giant worm. And the leaf drawings, the classroom, and even that artist guy. He knew where you were. I think the worm is his pet.”

“But I ran into a dead end and the worm kept staring at me. Did he say anything else?”

“He didn’t say much, but he did try to teach me something. I looked at his work. And it dawned on me that his leaf drawings are of real people. Then he forced me to look at the worm’s one large eye.”

“I see.” Jen pondered, “I hate what I’ve done to your life and mine.”

“Look, honey. This isn’t real. This is some really far out dream, just like with the worm. I promise you, we’ll wake up.”

“Sweetie, I was the one that took us to the fountain. That’s when it all started.”

“Well, the fountain’s below. What should we do? Jump into it.”

“Wait. That’s not a bad idea.” Jen continued, “But not yet.”

They waited, while the cold air rushed around them. It was like spring time. They saw some couples come by but none of them kissed at the fountain, so they waited some more. It was 3pm.

“This breeze is really nice. Isn’t it, Jen?”

“Yes, but we have to concentrate.”

“I feel like I’m going to be slipping soon. I mean, sleeping soon. Hopefully, then I’ll wake up.”

“No, don’t go to sleep. Try to stay awake. I don’t understand. We should have more time. That guy must have been wrong. Sixteen hours, my leaf butt. We have more like eight hours.”

Soon, she was slipping. Things were getting hazy. Her brain was flipping like a roller deck. Memories were being torn out one by one.

Then, she noticed how quiet it became. There were no visitors, just like two years ago when Mark and her had come upon the ancient fountain.

“Honey, stay awake. I think this is the moment,” Jen snapped.

“Oh look, there they are,” Mark tried to point but couldn’t. It was okay though, Jen saw them.

They saw a couple walk in just like they had. They sat by the fountain and kissed. And the water sprung forth.

“Should we jump now?” Mark couldn’t wait. He seemed to act more like a child than an adult.

“No, not yet. I need to think.”

Jen witnessed two leaves from the other tree fall.

“Nothing happened. There must be something I’m missing.”

“Me sleepy,” Mark waved wildly.

“Me too, sweetie. But we must stay awake,” urge Jen, like a mom.

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” Jen cried again. She couldn’t remember anything. She tried to think about her past, but nothing was coming up. Her brain hurt like a headache.

“My head feels so light.” Mark cried like a baby.

“Me too,” said Jen, like a child. “Stay with me.”

“Okay.”

4pm. Then, she saw it. Below, the couple had each tasted the water.

“JUMP!!!!” she shouted crying.

The water began to recede, while they loosened themselves and fell towards the fountain. Mark instantly went to sleep, and so did Jen.

They hit the fountain water...touching one another.

***

"What are you two doing in there?" commanded a police officer.

"Huh?" Mark's eyes opened, staring at Jen and then the cop. "We're alive?"

"Of course, you're alive. But you can't be sleeping in the fountain."

"Oh my gosh. WE'RE ALIVE, JEN!!!"

Jen awoke, confused. "Mark, why are you yelling?"

"Now, you two should get a move on. And forget this nonsense," the cop ordered, putting away his notepad as he scratched over two leaf drawings.

"You're right. Sorry about that. Come on, Jen. Let's go." Mark helped her out of the fountain.

As they left, the officer nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, worm. They'll be back. But until then, they'll be more people to draw."

***

Hope you enjoyed reading it. Please tip and let me know what you thought at [email protected]. Thanks.