LUCEM
LVIII chapter

What's really different here?

Memories blanket me, tie my bones.

I sleep. When I sleep, I dream that I am sleeping. In that dream, I dreamed I was dead. I can't tell the real difference from fiction, can't tell the dream from the truth, can't say any more time maybe it's been days or years, in a dead dream I saw me walking slowly and also running, calling to get up and caressing to stay asleep.

Sometimes I think that nothing makes sense in life. On a small planet that has walked into nothingness for millions of years, we are born in pain, we grow, we struggle, we get sick, we suffer, we make people suffer, we scream, we die, and someone else was born to start that useless comedy again. . .

Those who know laughter must also know crying.

Fair?

I turned around when one of the rats from the troop came running.

"Sir, I have to tell Miss Marbi that the destination has been seen" the rat said.

I took a long look to see what the rat had just said. "Come in," I said after finding nothing.

I was reluctant to leave the porch stairs I was sitting on.

✳️°

🌲

Not long after Marbella came. "We'll be there soon and meet someone, Mars."

"here?" My toot.

Marbella nodded.

"Our first goal" Marbella pointed out.

Another home? The house in the first dimension I saw. How many houses are there in this room?

I followed Marbella's steps as she quickly followed Moonflower and Jiso's troops towards the backyard gate.

"There is unprotected space until we reach the house" Marbella said, more intended for all. "Be prepared!"

When the fence was opened, our cleaved protectors stepped in as fast and alert a move as Marbella and Moonflower did.

High wooden fences surrounded the house, and vines were everywhere. A pair of men and women were standing in front of the fence waiting for us with smiles.

"Welcome," said the gentleman kindly to all.

The woman beside him walked up to me.

"Hey, Mars." the woman greeted me, a few steps ahead of us.

"He recognized me!?" I'm looking for answers from Marbella.

Marbella only smiled briefly and then turned to get involved with each other who was familiar with the two people before I could reply to the woman's greeting.

We entered the house. Tableless chairs lined neatly on the side of the wall covered with paper with pictures of vines from the ceiling to touch the floor covering the red carpet. They seem to really like plants, especially those that propagate.

The man kindly asked us to sit down and passed by the other room to do something. While the woman continued to look at me with a smile from the corner of the room.

"Marbi, doesn't that woman look suspicious" I said as slowly as I could. The rats seemed to agree

Marbella rolled her eyeballs. “Nothing scary about the woman. The only problem is that she is a cocky witch, she can—”

"Wait," I said, blinking. "Where did he go?" I'm standing.

I swear, five seconds ago he was standing there. I turned my head left and right like a cartoon character.

I rubbed my own arm, dropping myself back into my chair too hard, almost knocking myself down. I bowed, breathing a little funny, and then, for no rational reason, I laughed. Moonflower, Jiso and the mice all looked at me like I was crazy, and I didn't blame them. I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't even know why I'm still so surprised at magic tricks. There was nothing scary about the woman, her face was not even like a witch at all. I think I think too much.

"What's wrong with you?" Moonflower looked at me, stunned.

I glanced at Marbella. His face flushed red, it seemed that he was trying hard to hold his laughter apart. I snorted in annoyance.

“Ah.. that, I don't know, the witch is here, three I guess,” I said, keeping my voice low. I avoided Moonflower's gaze.

"I guess you're part of us, don't you?" Moonflower sat next to me.

"Because my head is stupid now, that's why I don't know." I glared at Marbella. He still put on that mocking face.

"Share," Moonflower said, and shrugged her shoulders.

"He's headed this way" whispered Jimmy who was sitting next to me.

His steps stopped right in front of me. I looked up. She smiles.

Ugh, very pretty.

"Hi" I said spontaneously. "How are you?"

He looks around. Against laughter. "I'm fine" he said.

Without saying anything else the woman stepped in front of Marbella, and Marbella immediately stood up to greet her. He put a box in Marbella's hand.

Moonflower glanced at me, then Marbella and back again. "I know you hate it when I ask this, but— Are you drunk?" His whisper.

"No," I said too loudly. I slumped further in my seat. "Not drunk. Just a little . . . tangled."

The woman raised an eyebrow looking at me.

Moonflower shook her head and sighed.

“Mars, this is not an ideal situation, but I need you to stand up," the woman said later.

"What?" I stick my head out. I'm staring. "Why?"

"Stand!" said.

I immediately complied with her request, standing awkwardly waiting for further instructions from her. Everyone was silent waiting. The woman whispered something into Marbella's ear and Marbella nodded.

"I'm sorry guys, the drinks are a little late, you must be thirsty" said the man who suddenly appeared from behind a door with a tray full of porcelain cups with floral patterns.

Moonflower looked sparkling staring at the circulated tray.

"thank you. I'll put it off, Mars" said the woman. He walked away with the cup in his hand to another door on the wall.

"Did I just interrupt?" ask the man with a stupid look.

"No" I answered.

The tea is very good.

The man stood holding a tray that had been empty like an enthusiastic mother at breakfast. He looks amazed at the rats that look very ethical. Jimmy, who noticed a note, folded his small thighs and sipped his tea more elegantly than ever before. And Jiso, who is always careless if someone looks at him for more than two seconds, is seen sitting too upright and rarely blinks even though the smoke from the cup often forces him.

I turned towards Moonflower, she became very quiet. Staring at the porcelain cup in his hand and touching every detail of it carefully. The tea still looks intact.

As for Marbella, the cup had been empty for some time. Really brother. I smiled at the rest of the tea in the cup.

'You're right, James. Life is always worth celebrating'