Lost

A light rain lingered over the small town of Marrow. Night slowly crept among the quiet town, spreading its black fingers across rooftops. It whispered gently in the thrum of the rain. Its call was soothing and promised of sleep to the tiresome residents. 1

But a sad cry broke night's enticing murmur. It was from a young man no older then fourteen. He was abandoned by everyone, and even himself. He once had a name but it had been forgotten and erased from his mind. Now he only knew he was a curse to the townsfolk. He did not have a purpose or reason to live.2

He used to have a purpose, a family, a friend, but that was before the tragedy. Before his survival was a challenge. It had also been before love had been forgotten to him and no longer mattered.3

He stood amongst the aged tombs of the cemetery as his heart continued to throb at a sorrow filled rhythm. His skin pricked as the cold rain drenched his clothes. He gripped his head and bent low to the ground. His stomach was screaming in hunger and his head felt as if it would split open any moment from the bickering voices only he could hear. 4

"Leave me alone!" He wailed. Fresh tears were dripping from his eyes but they could easily have been mistaken for rain drops cascading off his face. 5

He felt his body screech in objection when he forced himself back to his feet. He wanted to stop the voices. He wished to help rid the town of what they despised. 6

His legs tensed at every step but he managed to stumble over to a collapsed tombstone. He did not know how it had come to be broken down in to large metal shards and to be truthful he did not care. All he knew was that the shards were large and sharp enough to do the job. 7

The shard was heavy when he lifted it from the ground and placed it where he thought his heart should be. The voices in his head were shrieking now. One ordered him to release the shard and leave the cemetery. The other merely urged him to continue on with what he had planned.8

He drew in the deepest breath he could inhale and plunged the shard in to his rain slick skin. He could feel sticky liquid oozing from where the shard rested just before his legs gave way. His head bashed against the larger shards of the tombstone and his body grew rigid. 9

He heard a soft pad of footsteps edging near him and the blur of a face staring over him. Unintelligent babbled came from his mouth but his senses faded and he saw no more.10

~*~ 11

His eyes shot open but then closed automatically when a bright light filled his vision. He tried opening them once again but this time more slowly. In a matter of seconds his eyes adjusted and he was able to look around the brightly lit room. 12

It was small and had only one window. A few chairs were scattered amongst the walls and to his left sat a dresser. A mirror and a fresh pile of clothes rested upon it along with a few photographs of people he did not know.13

He tore his gaze away from the surroundings and instead glanced down at himself. His ragged old shirt was gone and replaced with tightly woven bandages. 14

His heart began to play its sorrowful song when he realized he had failed at what he had tried to do. He was not dead but alive somewhere unknown. One of the voices in his head began to scold him for the action he had taken. 15

"Well, I see you finally decided to join the living!" A gravely voice exclaimed from the doorway and he immediately shot his gaze to the owner. The voice belonged to a stout but tall man. He had a stringy copper beard, peppered with gray. His face looked stern but also worn with age. His copper hair touched his shoulders and a few strands hung lazily over his small black eyes.16

He gave the boy a weary smile and clambered over the bed which the boy laid upon. He did not utter a word as the man placed his palm against the boy's forehead. He quickly withdrew it and stared straight in to the boy's eyes. But the boy quickly gazed away when an odd sensation formed in the pit of his stomach. 17

"You still have a fever....but I can get rid of that now that you are awake." The man stated aloud to himself. He turned from the bed and headed back to the doorway. He stopped short and sent another glance to the boy. 18

"I am John; may I ask who you are?" He said to the boy.19

"I do not have a name." The boy replied after a stretch of silence. He stared at the window to divert John's glance. 20

"Really now?"21

"Yes." He answered and only then did he realize how raspy and dry his voice was. How long had he been asleep? To his stomach it felt like years for it was groaning in hunger but to his mind it didn't feel like very long.22

"Your name is Lost now." John piped up and the boy couldn't help but lock gazes with him. 23

"Lost?" 24

"Yes, Lost. You seem to fit it. Your eyes are distant and you look as if you do not know where to go in life." The man stated plainly. He gave another weary smile and left the boy's sight. 25

Lost? He ran repeated the word over in his head, after managing to block out the voices. From what he remembers, he had never been given a name. He pondered on the name for what felt like a lifetime before deciding to allow himself to have a name. 26

He tasted the name on his tongue but it felt odd. He tried again but was distracted by the reappearance of John. He was carrying a small tray.27

"Try to sit up." John suggested and Lost nodded. After a few painful tries the boy was able to stay upright. 28

John smiled and sat on the edge of the bed. He placed the tray in between them and Lost was able to see what it held two plates of food, two drinks, and a bottle of dark liquid. 29

"Mind telling me why I found you half dead in the graveyard?" John asked and Lost's heart drummed louder in his ears. 30

"I wanted to leave for good." He answered. His voice cracked on a few words and the voices began to start up again. 31

John grunted and picked up the bottle of dark liquid. His brow was furrowed when he handed it to Lost. 32

"Drink a sip of it. It'll help your fever and wound. The doctors hate this remedy and don't want to admit that it works better then their junk." He rambled. 33

The liquid tasted bitter and terrible in Lost's mouth when he decided to do as the man wanted. He gave the bottle back and took the drink he was offered.34

"Why did you want to leave?" John asked as the boy took a large gulp of the drink. 35

"To stop hearing things and to make everyone else in town happy for once." Lost answered, his voice quieter. 36

"Happy? Why would they be happy that you are dead?" 37

"Because then they wont have to remember the tragedy anymore." 38

"Tragedy?"39

Lost nodded sullenly and tears started to slide down his cheeks. 40

"They say I caused the fire long ago. It had destroyed half the town and killed many people, including my parents. They said I caused it...because they saw me running away from where it had been started....I don't remember anything but seeing the red flames. I remember hearing someone scream for me to leave but I don't know who it had been." He said, forcing back a few sobs.41

He did not see the sympathetic look John gave him for he had buried his head in his hands. 42

"Just eat, you look staved, and I'll set up the extra room so you could stay here for the night." He heard John mumble. The bed creaked when the man stood up.43

~*~ 44

Lost stared silently at the mirror he had taken from the dresser. His reflection stared back at him and he scowled. He did not like it. The boy that stared back at Lost was white skinned with messy blond hair that stuck out like a porcupine’s quills. His eyes were hazel but looked misty and distant. He had a thin face and his cheeks still looked hollow even though he had been eating. 45

Lost drew away from the mirror when a loud bang came from the hallway. He had lived in the house with John for a year now and knew the house was usually quiet.46

He carefully climbed out of the bed; his chest still ached in pain if moved to quickly, and made his was to the doorway. He pulled open the door and nearly let out a shriek of terror. 47

The barrel of a shotgun poked his forehead and the pale faced owner moved so Lost could not close the door back. He backed away but the vile demon just came closer. 48

His body stiffened when he heard a click just as his gaze shifted and caught sight of John lying in the hallway. A pool of crimson liquid was on the floor beside him. Then he heard the shotgun go off and everything went black.49