Episode 3: The Empty And The Empath

The drive itself was not a very big problem. Baltimore was only just over an hour and a half from Nickel Mines and both of the young boys, the last two passengers still left in the van, slept almost the entire ride. It had been a rather long day for both of them. The sheer intensity of emotion within the small apartment had nearly stifled Matt and Beau never slept at night anyway. However, Elara had to remain vigilant for the house which she sought was a rather small place that appeared exactly the same as the surrounding houses with the only thing to distinguish it was a number: 42. 

After she spotted the humble apartment, she was forced by the capitalist force of urbanization to circle around for another fifteen minutes in search of the elusive free parking spot. When she eventually did, the spot was slightly too small for the large van. This, in turn, forced Em’s right tires to rest uncomfortably on the cracked curb bordering some poor soul’s tiny front lawn. To wake up the two slumped over bodies in the back, Elara used the last cassette that Jo had left in the car: an entire hour of Tchaikovsky  featuring the 1812 overture. The tape was near the end and so, one out of 21 cannons, had them both wide awake, hearts racing.

At first, she was convinced that Beau and Matt could handle their business alone but then she remembered who it was she was talking about: two sixteen year old boys who could barely hold themselves together even without external stressors. So she begrudgingly exited the van and accompanied them to the door. 

Together, they stood on a welcome mat with the words ‘Please Go Away!’ scrawled in sans serif across the beige surface. As this met her eye, Elara couldn’t help but think in the most sarcastic tone she could possibly give: This is a good sign. 

The sound of chainmail rapping against the gray door echoed in the small entrance which they huddled in. After an ungodly amount of just standing, Elara knocked again assuming that the author inside was likely avoiding them. She was not wrong, of course. There was the distinct sound of someone nearly falling down the stairs before the door was opened timidly. A taller man with blonde hair in a high bun that paled in comparison to hers, stood behind the hardly open door. Even though he stood at an above average six feet and seven inches, he still had to tilt his head up to look Elara in the eyes. Once he was able to assess the abnormally large woman who took up most of his doorway and blocked out the sun behind her, he turned his gaze to the boys huddling around her like scared children. One stood close to his height with dark hair cropped just above his green eyes, the other was a considerable amount shorter with a much lighter expression on his face. “You’re surprised, aren’t you.” 

It was in a small voice that the shorter of the two surprised the man. The taller one shot him a glance and whispered something in french that sounded like a curse word or two. The shorter one looked back and mouthed the words: ‘I thought he might want to know.’ Which was met by the taller boy’s soul piercing stare that sent a shiver down the author’s spine even though it wasn't even directed at him. The tall woman coughed slightly, drawing his attention back up to her. The fist at her side uncurled into a finger pointing down at the shorter boy. “I believe you lost this one?”

The man fumbled with a glasses holder that he produced from the chest pocket on his technicolor hawaiian button down. Once the thick glasses encapsulated his eyes, which made them look nearly three times larger, he leaned down and still squinted at the boy as if he was trying and failing to read his mind. An uncomfortable moment passed before, in a breathy but intelligent voice, he at last spoke. “Wh…Who are you?”

Indignant, Matt stopped his cowering and stepped out from behind Elara. “How do you not recognize me, Gareth? My name is Matthias Clancy, your character, and I didn’t much enjoy what you did to me. You made a wreck of my life and I want you to change it…please…” 

His voice trailed off as the man’s face did not change from its confusion. Seeing that his friend was left out to dry, Beau swallowed his fear and stepped out beside Matt. “This is my best friend. My only friend. If you don’t do something about this I’ll-” 

The man opened the door further and twisted his elongated face into his best imitation of confidence. “Now, I don’t know what you are all talking about. How did you even know about Matt Clancy? His story isn’t finished and never will be. I lost all will to finish it. Why I don’t know but-”

Matt allowed himself to move so that he was almost inside the house, his body now blocking the door from being closed. “I left, you idiot. You ruined my life by killing the only person I loved before. I am not asking you to fix her but to fix me. What did I ever do to you to deserve this? You played with me like I was a doll until I cracked then you thought ‘Oh, I’ll just throw him away and publish this stupid book.’ Do you not have a heart? I know that you feel fear so it must be in there somewhere. Why don’t you use it for a change and give me the only thing I ever wanted.”

Gareth began to grow angry, which was the last thing that Elara wanted out of this interaction. “Well then, what is that you want, Matthias? What in the hell do you want from me? And what makes you think you will get it? You are the one who left after all. Convince me why I shouldn’t just close this door now and walk away.”

Silence enshrouded the group as Matt fought back tears that were flowing a bit too easily now, even for him. Steeling himself for another blow to the gut, he tore his eyes off the sidewalk and up to his creator. “I want a normal life. I want to be loved. Not by some sociopath but a real human being. I want to travel the world with the only person I love. I want to be happy as I know that you wish to be. Is that too much for you?” 

Gareth removed his glasses and rubbed his face for a prolonged period before mumbling into his palm. “Fine. Step inside and we can figure it all out… I guess.”

It was then that Elara figured she had done her job and should probably leave but being a warrior from the stars didn’t exactly come with social skills, especially modern ones. So, to say her exit from the conversation was smooth would be a gross misinterpretation. Elara was a lot of things but graceful was not one of them. How it went could be summarized by three events. One: she patted them on their backs and wished them luck. 

Two: She gave Gareth at the door a glare that said “If you mess up I will not hesitate to kill you” 

This was a glance she was very practiced in and it was perhaps more menacing than it had to be. 

Three: The trio watched awkwardly as Elara did her best to not run over too much of the lawn on which she was parked and not crash on her way out of the apartment complex. 

This is the story of the empty man and the empathetic soul. 

Stress stuffed the vinyl floored halls as he wormed his way through the crowd. Matt hated finals but he was thankful this would be the last of them he would have to do as graduation was next week. The whole building was filled with people who were avoiding going to their respective classrooms out of anxiety whereas Matt was eager to get there early as he would actually be able to feel his own emotions and calm down before he flunked his way into another year of high school. 

As he reached the math classroom on the second floor, just beyond the stairs, he was met by a familiar figure leaning against the doorway reading a book, likely having to do with World War One or something along those lines. Upon closer inspection, it was actually a bright pink novel titled ‘Network Of A Clandestine Lie’. “I didn’t expect to see you here, darling. You do realize your class is on the other side of the building, right?”

Beau looked up from the book and, though his face did not betray any feeling. It was his scent that gave it away. He was nervous, which was normal, but also happy. Matt would venture to say he was ecstatic even. “I couldn’t not see mon Ancre before.” 

He offered a half hug which Matt gratefully accepted. “Bonne chance avec ton travail, Chéri.”

Although Matt could only speak a little bit of french, although he was getting better, he knew that Beau was wishing him luck with his work and had the peace of mind to respond. “Oui, merci, merci. Now leave me alone,” he laughed, “I need to get ready.” 

Without another word, Beau nodded and walked briskly towards his own classroom, making the short trek just before the bell sounded off the beginning of the end.

Tests came and went as anything would. Diplomas were awarded and hats were thrown in joyous celebration. Eventually this joy faded into the question of what was next. There was a whole life to live before them. Matt didn’t want to take it fast. He wanted to take it all in. Travel the world and be himself. There was no one else in the world he would love to be himself with than with Beau. 

They spent the better part of the next year working various jobs and gathering funds. When New Year’s Eve finally came, they packed their things and said goodbye to boring lives. As they stepped into the airplane, Matt was hesitant. Is this what I should be doing with my life? Maybe I should turn back. Go back to school, get a degree, a house, a- 

These thoughts were put to rest when Beau stepped on behind him. He put his hand on his shoulder and a sense of certainty flooded through Matt. Whether it was his or Beau’s, he could not tell. However, he could tell that, for the first time in his life, he was where he was supposed to be. 

He looked back at Beau and offered a smile as consolation as he patted the hand on his shoulder before continuing down the aisle and to their seats. He sat in disbelief as the plane began to rumble down the runway. A year ago he couldn’t even fathom flying, nothing had terrified him more. Now it was like his soul was finally set free and he was truly content. 

“So, what are we going to do in Italy first?”

Beau set down his book to consider his answer. “Peut-être we shall sail in Venice. Or just enjoy a meal along the canals. I do not know, Cheri.”

He looked over at Matt, “What do you want to do?”

Matt swallowed before smiling at Beau. Boating was another thing that had always scared him, more so the water upon which the boats rode. “Boating the canals sounds great, darling. Perhaps we will eat before, I’m sure it won't be hard to find somewhere with great food, especially in Venice.”

Beau knew the subtext was ‘As long as it makes you happy.’ He knew Matt well enough to know this would be a very important step out of his comfort zone, so he was content that he was willing to give it a try. Even if it really was just for him and, for the first time in far too long, Beau smiled.

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