Short Story: The Couple and the Height
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(This is a test post, I'm familiarizing with how this works since I want to write small stories here)
Steam billowed from a distance. A coal-powered ferry, bearing the resemblance of law and order, made port in the Palthree Town. Vacation's not long to end, Eri thought to himself. His career as a law enforcement detective was a boon to his life of crime and sin. Rigid disipline made him a crime specialist with a keen eye to solve mysteries and puzzles. Another eye-opener for him was marrying the love of her life, Rae. At just 30, she was an equally accopmplished woman who has carried a sports title that earned her the ultimate rank of master. A fencer for the national team, she coasted to an easy victory and won the World Fencing Tourney. Soon after, they both tied the knot in what was typically referred by local megazines as a 'dream couple'. They were not only the realization of dreams for most aspiring bachelors, but they were often seen as the dream.
Their accomplishments naturally made them adventure seekers. They were able to secure a sanctioned sea-voyage to a mysterious town and they had the blessings of both their law enforcement agency and sports organization to do whatever they want. They wanted to live on an island that balances risk and adventure for at least three weeks, and Palthree town was their destination. To their misfortune, most of it were strikingly dull as expected of a small port town within a somewhat deserted island. But there was one new friend they had made. A self-described hermit, this unkept man had piqued their curiousity. Worst was the fact that he left a pleasantful impression on them. They realized that they had to pay him a visit in his distant home. So began their long journey further inland, where civilization were vanishing with each step they took.
Mossy vines and loose gravel made their journey hostile. In the midst of a coming storm, they’ve begun small tredges through the deep forest. The unyieldy fauna was dry but alive.Even to their seasoned and athletic personalities, there were alot of uncertainties. But they kept their composure. After all, they were once referred to as the 'dream couple'.
“He lives in such horrid conditions” the Eri exclaimed. His wife, Rae equally conscious of their surroundings, took the que for a conversational turn, “I scraped through our paid antiquities and found one I think I don't need, while the rest are valuable to us. I don't think this hermit of a man would mind this cheap gift and the preserved food is something I think he will like.”
They were looking for a broken and abandoned church, which flanked an equally deserted house for which their friend lived under. They had a pleasant discussion with the man in town, and his unfortunate circumstance of having lived alongside the watchful eyes of a malevolent 'landlord' willed them to good favors and prompted them to be good neighbors. They often discussed about how it would be a shame not to see such an enigma before setting sail at sea.
Noise descended on them, a distant vibration of an invisible engine humming itself to life. A sign of civilisation. We’re here, they murmured to each other. In the distance, the shadow of a man carried a stack of papers, browned on the edges and wet in the center. He wore an all-black dress, concealing his head and and barely exposing his sandals. He called himself a hermit, and now they understood why. He was carrying what looks like papyrus scrolls stacked on top of each other.
“Hey friend!We came and brought something!” Eri exclaimed loudly.
The hermit paused at the surprise of their arrival. He struggled a smile before walking to greet them at the church, “Have we made plans?”
“I didn't think we would, given how well of an impression you made to us”
"No, no. You need to make plans. This is not how friends work. You're lucky he isn't here to torment both of you."
A silence crept on them both. the hermit, sensing uneasiness of travel with which they went through to get here, prompted himself as an accommodating host instead of a paranoid one, “well, I've got food, tuna and potatoes. Make yourself at home. I'll join you after delivering my papers to my carriage bag and locking the broken church”.