INK: Blue (INK Trilogy Book 3) (6 page)

"Should we hide?"

"I don't think so. I can't imagine that anyone who feels this strongly about keeping the grass neat is going to turn out to be too much of a threat."

They left their bikes and walked over to the pavilion, in just as good condition as the grass, and settled down on the benches, silent, admiring the perfection of a true artist.

Edsel let his mind wander, lost in thoughts of perfect summers where the holiday from school felt like it stretched out in front of him for eternity, but then always seemed to be over in a flash. He thought back to friends and the games they'd played: football, baseball, even bowls. The game turned out to be really enjoyable, even though they had always made fun of the old men and women dressed in their white outfits, taking it all so seriously.

"Edsel. Edsel," said Lash, nudging him in the ribs.

"Eh? Oh, this is going to be interesting."

Now that is about the most surreal sight I think I have ever seen.

Two men and one woman were approaching the pavilion, dressed in the obligatory white clothes of all those serious about their game of bowls. Each of them held a brightly colored bag that would contain their bowls, and they held onto them like they were the most important thing in the world. When they spotted Edsel and his family they stopped and put their heads together, talking in hushed whispers.

One of the men stepped forward.

"We don't want any trouble; we just want to play a game or two."

"That's good because we don't want any trouble either. We were just admiring the bowling green, that takes some serious commitment," said Edsel.

The man was instantly animated, although he stared nervously at Edsel's arms, clearly worried about what it signified. "Do you play? It does get a bit tedious always having to play against the same opponent. There's only the three of us."

"I used to, a long time ago. Haven't for years though. Anyway, allow me to introduce myself, and my family."

Introductions were made and Edsel couldn't shake the feeling that it was just all too surreal to actually be happening. But it was — they played game after game of bowls with the three enthusiasts until the sky began to darken and it was time to finish for the day.

They got directions to somewhere they could set up camp for the night, refusing the hospitality of the three people, wanting to leave on a happy note, not wishing to intrude. As they said their goodbyes, the trio wished them well on their travels and with that they were gone, back to their home, only to return again the next day to maintain the bowling green and play in the peace and quiet they all said they had really been enjoying ever since they found themselves the only people left in the village.

~~~

"Well? Are you glad you came?" asked Aiden, eyes shining from the light of the campfire.

They'd set up their tents, got a nice fire going, and after eating a simple evening meal they were just sat around, chatting, enjoying the company as if for the first time in years.

"I think you know me better than I know myself," said Edsel. "I hate to admit it but meeting nice people these last few days has been just what I needed. It's a reminder that not everything is bad, not everyone either. There is still good left, and there are people trying their best to help keep things going. I like it."

"Me too," said Aiden. "I know you worry about me, about everything really, but this is what life is about. Doing things, seeing things, meeting people. Even if it is a risk."

"You're right Aiden, and we are sorry," said Lash. "We thought it for the best, but hiding away isn't the answer. Those people today were lovely, and they've managed all right since The Lethargy. And Michael is nice too, so it was worth coming. Maybe it will even cure Edsel of his insane hobby of climbing rocks."

Edsel ignored the harsh stare, or at least tried to, but Lash kept on looking at him in that way of hers. "Okay, maybe you're right. Maybe I do need the rush, something going on. I never thought about it that way before, but you could be right. This is good for us, all of us. But it can't last forever you know?"

He's not going to like this.

"What do you mean? Why not?" Aiden didn't look too impressed.

"Because the more you travel, the greater the risk. You know that. At some point you have to think about safety, and it may not be the most exciting thing in the world but that is what happens when you have others to look after."

"You won't go back now though, will you? Back and hide away from everything, same thing every day? No new people, no new things."

"Honestly? We haven't discussed it yet Aiden. It's only been a few days, let's see what happens and how we feel after a few weeks. For now can we just enjoy ourselves but always be on guard? Not everybody is as nice as those people today. We all know this; I don't need to remind you of what life was like for us in the past do I?"

"No, you don't. I just thought you were beginning to enjoy yourself, to like being back, even if everything isn't perfect."

"I definitely am, which I have to tell you buddy, has come as quite a surprise. Let's all take each day as it comes and go along for the ride. Okay?"

"Okay, sure." Aiden put another log on the fire and stared deep into the flames.

I am enjoying it, I never though I would but I am. But for how long? Something will go wrong, it always does.

Edsel turned and looked at Lash, who just smiled at him and shrugged, telling him that Aiden would be all right, and that she didn't really know what to think about the life they were now living either.

We will have to have a serious talk about this.

TENT

Long after they heard Aiden begin snoring, and they were tucked up in their own sleeping bags — they had zipped them together to make a cozy double bed for themselves in their tiny tent — Edsel and Lash talked late into the night about the reality of their situation, as opposed to the conjecture it had all been before they actually arrived. Finally Lash fell asleep, tired from so many new experiences.

Edsel snuggled up tight to her, loving the feel of their naked skin against each other, still marveling at his luck even after so many years together.

Lash mumbled in her sleep, shifting position slightly, and Edsel held her tighter, never wanting to let her go. Never.

Before she'd fallen asleep they had talked about what was best, about what the future held, but in the end it seemed like they both agreed it was simply too soon to tell exactly what they should do — it was best to wait a while and then make a decision.

One thing was clear — Aiden was not keen on going back to the safety and quiet of the island. There was going to have to be some serious decision making to be done at some point, but they both agreed they could hold off for a while, see what happened, and try to live in the moment, enjoying their adventure while they could, keeping their fingers crossed that nothing bad happened.

What else could they do? They certainly couldn't stop Aiden from wanting to do things; it was natural, and they had been remiss to have kept him isolated for so long. It was no way to bring up a teenager, and now he was a man. A man that wanted to experience life firsthand.

Lash shifted in her sleep again, pushing her bottom out into Edsel's crotch.

I wonder if she'll mind if I wake her up?

CLIMB

About a week after their return to what he couldn't help now thinking of as home, almost like he'd been living in a foreign country on the island, Edsel announced that he was going to take a day to himself. Lash stared at him like she knew what he was up to, although Edsel was sure she didn't.

Aiden didn't care, he was happy to spend time with Michael — they were getting very close. Edsel wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but left them to it when they went off together.

As he cycled away from the apartment block, Edsel felt his smile getting broader. A feeling of liberation took hold of him like he'd been a caged animal just now given his freedom. He cycled hard, weaving through the town as fast as the streets would allow, heading inland, away from the ocean, from his family, from his responsibilities.

Edsel headed into the countryside; Edsel was going climbing.

~~~

Halfway up the craggy peak, Edsel knew he had made a very bad decision. As he hung by his fingertips, stripped to the waist and as alone as a man could possibly be, he realized that he would be lucky to escape with his life.

He should have stopped the minute he put his hand to the rock — there was no affinity with the hard surface, there was no Flow. But he'd forged ahead, convincing himself that he would find his groove, find the inner connection that made him one with the rock.

It never came.

I'm going to die because I'm an idiot. I should have been grateful for everything that I have, but I told myself I needed the climbing. Maybe I did. I'm an adrenaline junkie.

Edsel calmed himself, got his body back under control and cleared his mind of all thoughts.

Just the rock, just the rock. Move.

He swung an arm up, nearly missed the tiny pocket in the rock that was all that stood between him and his death. He got it though, and ever so slowly continued his climb to the top.

When he made it he lay on the scrub grass, panting and cursing his own stupidity. He had thought that the climb would be just what he needed to clear his head, give him some clarity after the confusion of emotions that had hit him since coming home. It had done the opposite, making him question more about himself than he ever had in the past.

It was obvious to him now that he didn't climb purely to feel the connection, and for a little alone time to commune with nature, it was because he was an addict; he needed his fix of danger. It was a rude awakening to come to terms with the fact that he had always been this way — it explained a lot.

Why would he have lived in large cities when he could have been safe somewhere else? The risk factor of course. That and the stark reality was that he enjoyed such environments. He had been living a lie for years now, removed from all that man had accomplished, trying to convince himself that all he needed was his family. In one sense that was true, but there was no getting away from the fact that he also loved the chaos as much as he did the calm, the peace and quiet. He'd climbed so he could stay in the countryside and keep his family safe; his adrenaline fix so he could keep their lives going in such a subdued manner.

Now it was a revelation just how addicted he was to the urban sprawl, the reminder of what once was. The opportunity to explore and have adventures, and yes, the risk of danger was exciting. He perversely enjoyed it.

That's why we can't stay, why I tried so hard to keep us away from this. If we live here then I will get us all sucked back into something, risk our future together.

It was a conundrum, Edsel understood that. On the one hand he had come to know himself better, and now realized just why he'd done the things he had, but it meant that he would have to try to convince Aiden that it was for the best. He knew that Lash was happy away from it all, but Aiden was clearly reveling in the life they were leading at the moment — it was going to take a lot of convincing to get him to want to return to a life where he only spoke to two other people and had no chance of meeting others of his age, or any age, and there was definitely no chance of the poor guy ever getting to discover the wonder that was the naked female body. Edsel couldn't believe he hadn't given the needs of the young man more than just passing consideration for all these years.

Poor guy, no wonder he's enjoying himself so much. God knows how he would handle meeting an actual genuine girl that showed an interest in him. How can I make that happen? Where would we find a girl for Aiden? Maybe that would convince him to come with us and stay safe, before harm comes to him. Even if we try to stay out of trouble here something will happen eventually, it always does.

Edsel suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, realization dawning.

Shit. I've got to get down off this bloody mountain.

~~~

Hours later, Edsel made it back to the apartment, where a worried Lash was pacing about, looking like she was going to kill him, hug him, or both, as she caught sight of him staggering through the door.

"I know, I know. No more rock climbing, I promise. Sorry," he said sheepishly, feeling immensely pleased when Lash did the hugging part but not the killing bit.

"I was worried sick. You went climbing didn't you? What is wrong with you?" Lash slapped him hard on the back, then punched him on the shoulder too.

"Ow! Careful, my muscles are killing me,"

"Oh, is poor little Edsel feeling an ickle bit tired from his big, oh-so-manly day out? Well, tough. You deserve worse."

"You're right, and I'm sorry. I'm never going to do it again. Listen, we need to talk. We need to see if we can't do something to convince Aiden to come back to the island with us. I'm no good here, trouble follows me around like a ball and chain. I keep expecting somebody to jump out from behind a bush with a tattoo machine and start waving it about."

"What's brought this on? You know I want to go back; I like it there. But Aiden isn't going to want to. Him and Michael are off out again; I've given up trying to stop him."

"I think we need to find him a nice girl. If we could convince him that it would be best for him to have a family away from this madness, then I think it would work if the girl was willing. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise he's never going to want to come back, so we'll have to stay as well."

"Yup, that about sums it up. Look, I realized something today when I was, um, climbing," Edsel took a step back just in case he got another punch. "I realized that I do like it here, that I like being slightly edgy, and that's not good. But I also came to understand that I love you and Aiden more, that I want more than anything in this world for the two of you to be safe and happy, so we need to find a way to convince him to come back with us. If you still want to that is?"