Untitled: Part 7 [EDITS]

Leon shuffled with Ralph to bring Milo to the cafeteria, the door to the courtyard automatically swinging shut after their entrance. Normally it would be short walk, but with the added weight and squeaky shoes it seemed like miles.

The cafeteria door slid open as they approached it and staggered in. Milo breathed in labored breaths as they set him on a table. Soft music still played and Leon spotted his magazine, as if nothing outside the room had happened. All three left a trail of water beneath them, already accumulating into puddles.

Ralph was quick to act and said little. After ensuring that Milo was secure, he ran to the kitchen area in search of first aid. He returned with a kit and handed it to Leon. "Take it," he commanded. "I've gotta turn the fence back on before they attempt a rescue."

Ralph immediately departed, leaving a stunned and medically untrained Leon to figure out the rest. Leon first washed his hands and face of the excess mud, then tended to the few cuts and bruises Milo had. The bulk of the injury, Leon noticed, would be internal.

Milo's eyes, shut, quivered slightly, then slowly opened. He coughed and strained to get up but could not. "I think your left arm's broken," Leon said, helping his partner sit up. "And there could be more."

Milo groaned. "What happened?"

"Ralph startled the creature and I was able to shoot it.

Milo rubbed his head at an obviously swollen part. "Who's Ralph?"

"Ralph Thistle," Leon replied. "I don't know exactly what he does but he was the one who was taken earlier."

Milo spit up some blood into the now muddy mess next to the table. He breathed a long breath, contemplating. "There's no one b y that name at this facility."

Leon blinked twice, sat down and then stood back up. "What the hell do you mean? How can you be sure?"

"Because I evaluate everyone who works here and that man does not."

On the last word the lights shut off and for a brief moment the two were awash in darkness. Seconds later an emergency blue lighting system turned on, illuminating the room bu keeping dark shadows.

Leon spun to the entrance, gun raised, expecting Ralph to burst in at any moment. Milo pushed himself off the table and landed shakily onto his feet, steadying himself with his good hand. "Now we radio home and tell them we have ea problem...if the lines haven't already been cut."

Scenario Study

Sun sets over Los Angeles.

I've heard people talk of the great wide open before, but to see it for myself was something I never imagined possible.

Lights flicker in between silhouetted palm trees in a darkening blue sky. A sliver of a moon hangs low, still on its way up for its nightcap.

Workmen come home and lock their cars, lock their fences, lock their doors. The air hangs loosely, parting for anyone wanting its aromatic stillness. The last of the joggers makes her way back to the house to shower, snuggle with her family and watch their favorite program. In the East there would be hot chocolate. Here there's a banana strawberry smoothie.

I open the windows to let some of that cool air in, a sharp contrast to the hot dryness of the day. The breeze flows in, rustling the leaves of a fake house plant in the corner of the study. With it comes the soft sounds of dogs barking, cars moving, neighborly chatter, pool motors, and music.

I lean back in the chair to the full relaxed position and look out the window. I take one final, long, tasteful, soulful drag of my cigarette and crush the butt in the ashtray. I exhale.

I've discovered America.

Distraction

I wrote this while on a sleeper train in China in July of 2006. It's the culmination of a lot of philosophical thought from my Wisdom of th Orient class in Japan and traveling through the East. I really like the first long rant, but the second half still needs work, I feel.

From life breeds a multitude of
attachments and erotic intents
meant to lure the unwary down
a road lit only by sporadic overhead
lamps and the dim laughter of a man
who once thought himself king.
Go through the steps it takes to realize
where and when you can escape and
plan your move past the locked
doors that keep you chained inside
a prison of your own desires.
Find not what you were searching for
but the peace you never imagined.

Untitled: Part 6 [EDITS]

Leon turned around back to the compound. In the fence entranceway lay a shadowed creature, its fur drenched. There was extremely shallow breathing, nothing near enough to sustain life. Leon walked up to it and stared.

Through light dancing off the raindrops, he could see clearly human features that were dwarfed by animalistic tendencies. The teeth and jaw were sharper, made to rip through meat without the need of utensils. The nose was dog-like. Its eyes were shut but still held a look of attack. The whole face was covered in a light fuzz, with the rest of the creature completely covered in fur.

Leon looked up and saw the other man standing over Milo. He walked towards them.

"What the hell is that thing?" Leon asked of the other conscious person. "And who're you?"

The other man quickly got to his feet and walked to the fence. Leon trailed him. "My name's Ralph Thistle. Help me." Ralph grabbed the creature's arms and started pulling it into the perimeter. Leon grabbed its legs.

"I guess you're the guy I saw get taken earlier." There was no response except for a few faint grunts. Frustrated, Leon pressed on. "Could you do some explaining of this?" Leon said as he dropped the body near the fountain. He followed Ralph back to the fence.

"I don't think I can," Ralph said, locking the fence. He checked it several times. "We'll need something stronger."

"It's supposed to be electrified."

"And we both know that's not the case." Ralph paused and looked into the forest. There was nothing to see. Leon wiped some mud from his face and shivered. He had hoped the rain would wash off the mud but he still felt the slimy stuff all over him. Ralph turned to the compound and the injured Milo. "Now come on. We've got to get somewhere safe."

Leon followed Ralph to help pick up Milo's limp body. "What do we do with that thing?" Leon motioned behind him with his head.

"We'll bring it in next," Ralph responded.