Dark Silence

22 days (1)

The first morning ray of the sun crawled lazily up the blanket and further on to Darnell's face. The man frowned, opened one eye, and covered it with his hand. He lied like that for a while listening to his own body and feelings, and understood that he no longer wanted to sleep. He got up from the sofa and went out onto the porch. For the first time in months, he had not dreamed of anything, and he felt well-rested, even though he woke up at dawn. Darnell squinted at the bright sun that was gently touching the treetops just outside Fanny's house. He fished a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and lit a cigarette, staring thoughtlessly at the forest in front of him. The first birds just started to wake up and announce the surroundings with embarrassed cries. Fresh clean air seemed to ring in anticipation of the next fine day.

Jack walked past the porch, waddling heavily. Stopping for a moment, he lazily raised his hind leg and scratched his round belly while standing. When he finished, he sighed with satisfaction and fell on his side under a tree, hooting on landing.

“Why you old fleabag,” the man chuckled, looking at the dog through the plumes of cigarette smoke.

Serenity and appeasement filled Darnell's heart. He always calmed down and relaxed while being here, at Fanny's place. Sometimes he thought that he should just settle somewhere nearby, build a house, and stay in the forest, away from the rest of the people. But, unfortunately, he was a crusty urban dweller, and the lack of civilization near his side would soon begin to oppress him. That’s why such therapy was only temporary relief for him.

A quiet calling whistle sounded from behind Darnell. He looked around and saw how Madeleine happily ran out of the house and walked towards Jack. He only had time to twitch his ears when the girl immediately hung on his neck, running her fingers into the thick fur. Darnell seemed that the dog rolled his eyes, patiently enduring another attack. The man approached Madeleine, who lifted her blue eyes shining with happiness at him.

“It's time for us to leave,” he smiled trying to cheer her up. “It's good that you've got up too, we'll have more time in the city.”

“You both woke up so early today. I remember you being such a sleepyhead,” Fannie said to Darnell while leaving the house and putting on garden gloves. “So, are you leaving already?”

“Yes, we need to get back to business,” Darnell said. Madeleine left Jack in peace, quite unwillingly, and stood next to him. “Go to the car,” he said to the girl.

Madeleine looked up at him and nodded. Then she flew up onto the porch to Fanny and grabbed her around the waist, nuzzling into her dress. The old lady only smiled in return, stroking her head with her free hand.

“It’s fine, child, things will work out, you'll see. As long as Darnell is with you, you are safe.”

Madeleine nodded, still burying her face into her stomach. After this she made herself step aside. She waved goodbye, and skipped down the pathway, past the luxurious chrysanthemum bushes, to the car.

“Did you want to ask me something?” Fanny walked over to Darnell. Of course, she guessed that he needed something from her, as he asked Madeleine to leave to talk in private.

“Do you have anything for nightmares?” Darnell asked the old lady. “I don’t know, some kind of an amulet, a charm, a decoction - anything will suit me,” he finished his request in desperation. Fanny sadly shook her head.

“I don’t have amulets for nightmares that you create in your head by yourself. But if this makes you feel better, I can give you an ordinary one that drives evil spirits away."

Darnell opened his mouth to refuse, since he already had one, but Fanny had already disappeared into the depths of her house. He hoped that she had something so special that only Fanny could create and that this would definitely help him. Darnell had his last hope on this old lady.

He looked down at the cobbled pathway. A dark blue beetle with a shiny shell crawled sleepily along it. Probably, this was the last beetle this year. Darnell squatted down, watching its slow movement that seemed like the bug was too lazy to hurry. Jack's huge head pushed under the elbow, and the dog sniffed the insect from afar. He snorted disdainfully and shook his head. The dog laid down on the path.

“My, you shouldn’t sniff each and every junk you see,” Darnell chided him, patting him on the head.

The man was about to crush the beetle but suddenly changed his mind at the last moment. He carefully grabbed the insect that started to scrape his two fingers with coarse legs. Darnell threw it into the chrysanthemum bushes. Their colorful placers instantly hid the unlucky traveler, giving him protection and, probably, a shelter for the whole winter. Darnell wished someone could help him to find a nice hiding place just the same easy way. The place where he could hide from the pressure that the world was constantly putting on him.

“Here, I have this dream catcher,” Fanny interrupted his thoughts, appearing beside him. “Do you like my chrysanthemums?” She asked and gave Darnell a cardboard box. Inside, there was a small dream catcher, writhen of vines and black threads, decorated with a single spotted brown feather.

“Yeah, they are beautiful,” Darnell nodded, looking upon the amulet.

"It's an owl feather," Fanny commented on her work, heading down the pathway to the forest, where Darnell's car was parked. The man followed her. “And it is made of the willow vine. Hang it somewhere by the bed. However, I’d say honestly that I don't think it will help you.”

“It's fine if it doesn’t,” Darnell replied, carefully closing the box. His old catcher would have to make room. Fanny stopped at the gate, letting him go forward to the car.

“You know, it's all in your head.” She looked at Darnell with genuine compassion. “You just need to accept yourself the way you are.”

"Trust me, I shouldn't," Darnell smiled back at her. Fanny just sighed in disappointment. The man felt uncomfortable for the fact that, perhaps, he offended her with such an answer. But she did admit by herself that she did not know everything about him, therefore she could not be right in all her judgments. “Well, thank you very much for helping us.”

“Oh, I didn’t do much,” Fanny waved her hand. “At least you made me a good company for the day. Drive already, the way back is long.”

Darnell smiled and sat in his car where Madeleine was already waiting for him to drive to the city.