Michael

Short Stories
2006-05-31 08:16:14 (UTC)

The Darkness In The Deep ... 6 / ?

The quarantine smelled of crowded bodies. Small chatter
could be heard, here and there, as people wondered how much
longer was left for them to be left in that room. If, ever,
to be release, that is. New Haven, the city that the refuges
had arrived at, was not typically known to be particularly
humanitarian in nature. For that matter, they were not
typically known to be a haven of any sort.
Charlie sat upon a bench, his face in his hands, as he
thought about nothing in particular. His eyes would
occassionally glance around, a strange curiosity within him
as he wondered if the people with him in this cell were
fine. He found himself caring. Which, was uncharacteristic.
Or perhaps it was more, that he wanted to know where the
cute girl was, and how she was doing. The small spark of
caring for one individual he had never met, spread sowly,
until it made him care for the well being of a community of
people he had never met.
"Strange world" Charlie said to himself, at this glint of
introspection. He leaned back against the metallic wall, and
looked up into the bright ceiling lights.

"Small world, huh?"
Charlie blinked, and looked back down. It was the young
woman he had met on the bus.
"Hi, there." She smiled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to bother
you or anything. I just wanted to thank you ..." she trailed
off a moment. The young woman glanced behind her back,
noting the others. There was a reason why Charlie was alone,
the crowd not being near him. "They're just a little scared
right now," she said, turning back to Charlie, smiling
happily as if nothing were wrong. " ... Otherwise, you know,
they'd thank you and everything."
"Yeah, well, don't be so thankful yet. They probably won't
let us out of here for a long while, until they're sure we
don't pose some kind of health risk."
"That guard knew you though." smiled the young woman. "Oh,
and by the way, my name is Carla" she said, outstretching
her hand to shake.
Charlie took her hand, and smiled. "I'm Charlie. Oh, and
Carla?"
"Yes?"
"... You smile way too much for someone who can't possibly
know what will happen to them."

...




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