Less Than Fantasy, More Than Reality – Chapter 6
Ultima66

<Author’s comments: Uh, well, I’m putting this up here after I’m actually done. I love this chapter personally, so yeah… Oh, and props to anyone who catches the song reference in this chapter (it’s near the end), not that many will because of my taste in music.>

Mark’s eyes opened. It was still dark, and he could only see the faint glow of moonlight coming through the window. He got up, making his way to the door of the room in the dark.

Mark walked out into the hallway. He looked at the clock in the living room. It was 3 in the middle of the night. Still, he wasn’t tired and didn’t want to go back to sleep.

He walked to Amy’s room and opened the door. The soft moonlight bathed it in a heavenly whiteness that was dark but bright at the same time. Mark sat down on Amy’s bed. Feeling the movement she unconsciously stirred and turned away from him.

She looked like an angel. In the absence of much color in the room he could still see her long blond hair. She seemed to have a smile on her face. He stared at her horns. To Mark they seemed cute, like they had always been there and conspicuous, not foreign in his mind at all. Did he always subconsciously know she was a Diclonius? Maybe, maybe not. He put his hand on her shoulder. It was soft and warm.

Mark turned Amy to face him, and leaned down so they were face to face. Closing his eyes he breathed in, taking in Amy’s scent. It was flowery-sweet, and being there made him feel that he knew everything was alright. Eyes closed he felt his lips graze hers, and he made an effort to lightly kiss her. Then he leaned over her head and whispered into her ear.

“Amy. I love you so much,” he said softly.

“Mark?” he heard back.

He got up and smiled at her. Amy’s eyes slowly flicked open and she looked back at him, her red eyes seemingly glowing in the moonlight, a stark contrast to Amy’s blond hair, milky skin, and the white sheets.

“I’m trying to sleep. You’re making me hot. I’m gonna start to sweat soon,” she said, unenthusiastically. Mark managed a smile at the remark.

“What will I do tomorrow without you?” he said.

“Find something. I have to work,” her turned around and tried to go back to sleep.

“That’s fine, I’ll see you tomorrow night, then.”

“You mean tonight. It’s really late. I’m tired. Just go,” she said.

“Bye,” he said. He walked off, going back to his own bed.

The day passed fairly quickly. It had only been a few hours but Mark had already begun to miss Amy. The whole time he wondered whether this was what retirement was like, no longer anything to do.

The door opened. Amy stepped inside, ribbon still in her hair as it always was when she was outside.

“I’ve missed you,” Mark said.

“I’ve been really missing you too. It’s strange, how we could feel this way even though it’s been only a day. Well, less than 24 hours,” she said, a smile on her face.

“Well, I guess what they say is true then. People spend more time working than they do spending time at home,” he told her.

“Tomorrow is Saturday you know. We’ll have a whole day to ourselves,” she told him.

“Yeah it is. You wanna go somewhere?” he asked her.

“Well we can sleep in. I think we should go to the beach and spend the day there. Then we’ll go eat out if you want. After that we come back home and spend the night together, just the two of us? What do you say?” Amy said.

“It sounds wonderful,” he said, “Well, we should eat now and see what else we can do for the rest of today.”

“I’m really tired. I think I’m gonna just have dinner and take a shower and just go to sleep,” she said.

“We’ve still got the night. Don’t you want to do anything?” he asked her.

“What’s there to do? I’m really tired, and we can be ready to do something tomorrow,” she said.

“I mean, it’s a bit early. When do you want to get up tomorrow?” he asked.

“Hm, I’ll tell you what. Tomorrow, we’ll get up early and go watch the sunrise. Just us. No one else will be there. We can forget the world, even if it’s just that moment,” she told him.

The sun had set and the night was dark. They ate and then Amy took a shower. Mark waited patiently and then took a shower and went to sleep. The following day was on their minds as they fell asleep.

Mark could hardly fall asleep. He was anticipating the next day far too much. Everything had changed. A few days ago he would have never guessed that he would end up like this, with Amy. Now, a fullness enveloped his heart and he knew something had gone terribly right in his life, even through the disaster. Still, he thought, the world had only given to him, not taken. What had it taken? There was no real disaster. His job? It was probably meaningless. His coworker? He didn’t really know him that well in the first place. Mark finally realized that his life had been up to this point a blank slate, and now he had finally found something to paint there.

In his mind hung the idea that for every good there was a bad and for every right there was a wrong to counterpoint it, but he didn’t even want to think what could go wrong. For now, all that existed was himself and Amy. He thought he could sense Amy thinking of him at the same time.

He awoke with Amy whispering in his ear. It reminded him of how he had awoken her just the day before.

“Get up, Mark. It’s time for us to go,” he heard her say softly. He turned to face her.

He could see her beautiful gaze. Entranced in her, he whispered, “Kiss, me, Amy.”

Amy smiled and put her arm around his back as they closed their eyes and their lips met. Mark held his breath as he savored the moment. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally broke apart and stared back at each other.

“Well, what time is it?” he asked her.

“The sun should start to rise in about half an hour. There’s a meadow by our house. We should go there to be alone,” she said.

Mark quickly dressed and got ready to go.

“Are we going to bring anything?” he asked Amy.

“No, we can walk. I planned for us just to be together, with nothing else in the world there. Only you, me, and the sunrise,” she told him. It seemed so beautiful and romantic in Mark’s mind, as he was sure it was in her mind.

The walk was nice and peaceful. It was dark, but not too dark. The moonlight was still shining but the sky had started to lighten up. When they got to the meadow they held each other and sat down. Amy leaned into Mark’s body and they both sat there talking until the sun was into the sky.

“The world can be a cruel place,” Amy said.

“I know. It’s been so cruel to you and all the other Diclonius. Do you even think they’ll think of burying Darlene? She’s not a Diclonius, but obviously her parents were killed innocently. Is it right to take away the lives of so many people?” he said.

“I don’t think my parents are still alive. At some point when I was a kid, I just kind of felt that my parents were gone. It wasn’t that they left, either. After they left me I could still feel that they were there, but over time, I just felt that they vanished from my soul altogether,” she said.

“You don’t know how sorry I am,” he said.

“Hey, remember that poem? This kind of reminds me of it. Look at the sun. It’s so beautiful. It’s like creating a new world right in front of us. The night is so different from the day, it’s like a whole universe is being unveiled right in front of our eyes, like a phoenix rising up out of the ashes,” she said.

“You’re right. It’s really nice. Amy, I’m so glad you’re with me. I really just can’t say how much this makes me happy,” he said.

“I feel the same way. Trust me. Mark, when you’re a Diclonius, you don’t really tell anyone you care about them that much. You just learn not to. It’s too risky no matter who it is. Anyone in this world can sell you out,” she said, “I know I don’t say it as much as you do, but I probably feel even stronger for you than you do for me. My whole life I’ve felt empty and worthless, and now I’ve finally found you,”

“Well you do happen to be the only person I’ve ever loved this much,” he said.

“Diclonius. Not so much a person,” she said.

“Why not?” he said, “I don’t see how you’re different.”

“It’s not that I’m different. The world treats me different, and if we’re living by the world’s rules, then I am different,” she said.

“Then why are we still following the rules? I told you, Amy, it’s just you and me. Nothing else matters,” he said.

“There’s the sun,” she said, staring up into the crimson sky.

“The sun is nothing more than a ball of gas. If you want to we can forget about the sun too,” he said.

“I think it’s nice.”

They looked towards each other again, and they held each other closely once again, lips locking in harmony. Amy reached her arm behind her head and slowly pulled off the ribbon that hid her horns. Mark looked at them and thought they were beautiful, and a sense of peace floated through his being.

“Oh, Amy. There’s nothing I’d rather see right now than this. You’ve already made this day so perfect,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of fun ahead of us today,” she whispered to him.

Their voices were soft. It was a quiet morning and no one was around, but they still felt compelled to remain quiet. As the sun made its way farther and farther into the sky, they got up and started making back to Amy’s house hand in hand, feeling the warmth of each other’s beings.

They walked all the way back to Amy’s house for breakfast. It had been several hours already, but neither of them really cared. Suddenly, Mark looked at Amy.

“Hey, you’re not wearing the ribbon,” he said.

“So? What’s wrong with that?” she said.

“We just walked a little bit of a ways. And now it’s not dark any more. Someone could have seen you,” he said.

“Oh, you’re right… Well don’t worry too much about it. It shouldn’t be any big deal.” she told him.

They ate fairly quickly and got ready to go to the beach. Amy changed in her room and walked out a few minutes after going in clad in a red bikini.

“Oh my God,” Mark said, staring at Amy.

“What is it?” she replied.

“You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe it,” he said.

“Oh be quiet. I’m not that much to look at,” she said embarrassed.

Mark then put on swim trunks and they both wore a shirt and jeans over their swimwear. Then, they went over to Amy’s car and drove down to the beach.

The beach was fairly crowded. It was a Saturday morning, and it was an opportune time for people to go and have fun in the water. They found a spot and set up an umbrella and chairs.

They looked out towards the rest of the people there. They seemed very happy and uncaring about the world’s problems, just as Mark and Amy should have been. Still, something gripped their minds.

“Mark, with so many people, it’s hard for me not to try to be cautious. I’ll try to act normal, though,” she said.

“It’ll be fine,” he said, “Look at all the people here. They seem so happy. You would never guess how they’d really react to seeing you as a Diclonius.” He whispered the last few words slowly, with no real enthusiasm in them.

“We shouldn’t worry. Things will be fine,” she said.

They had fun at the beach. They stayed there for the whole day, getting food from a restaurant nearby when it was time for lunch and finally going home for dinner.

“It’s a shame to leave the place behind. I’m getting tired of the water though,” Amy said. She walked over to the shoreline and dug into the sand for something.

“It’s nice, I agree. I’m never going to forget this,” he said.

“We’ve got time still. We’ll come back here someday,” she told him, “Whenever we have time would be nice.”

She walked over to Mark, holding an opened clam shell. Amy broke it into two where the joint was and gave one of the shells to Mark.

“Keep it. It’s really nice, isn’t it?” she asked him.

“Amy, you know, I’m really glad you’re the one helping me out with my life and all, even if you’re the one who needs it more. I wonder how I’ll ever pay you back,” he said.

“You never have to give me anything back. Isn’t that how it should be? I’ll do anything for you, even if it’s not necessary, because I want you to be happy,” she told him.

The sun was setting, bathing the sky in a rich red and purple and yellow that was almost as magical as the sunrise that they had watched together. They left for a restaurant and ate dinner there, people all around. It was a bit uncomfortable, but to them it didn’t matter too much. The food was nice still and it was good just to have this chance to be outside of the home.

“Today was magical. I can only imagine tonight,” Mark said to Amy.

“I’m sure you’ll be even happier, hm?” Amy said.

“We’re quiet,” Mark said.

“I like it this way,” Amy told him. Suddenly, the room seemed louder, but even through their soft voices they could hear each other lucidly.

“Amy, is it strange?” he asked, “You seem to be the one in charge of taking care of me. I wish I could be there to take care of you for whatever you need, but it seems like you don’t need my help. You’re always so on top of things. It’s amazing to me, I don’t know about you.”

“Why would it be strange to me?” she said, “I’ve been hurt inside, yes, but I’m here and I’m glad that things are good right now.

After dinner, they made their way back to Amy’s house. When they went inside, Amy went into her cabinets and pulled out a bottle of something.

“What you got there, Amy?” Mark asked.

“Something I’ve been saving for a special time,” she said, “It’s pretty old now. I’ve had it for quite a few years. But now, Mark, I don’t think I need to keep it for any longer. Would you have a glass with me?”

Amy got out two wine glasses and reached to open the bottle. Mark stopped her quickly.

“What is it?” she asked.

“There’s something,” he said. He reached over to her head and removed the ribbon. Then, together, hand in hand, they opened the bottle.

The wine was wonderfully sweet and strong. After just the one glass Mark began to feel a bit less like himself. Still, it made the night feel so much warmer and nicer that he didn’t even care. He noticed Amy start to turn a little red from it.

“You having fun?” he asked her, smiling at her.

“As much as you are, right?” she said.

“Of course. Amy, tell me this. What governs us right now?” he asked her.

“Nothing, Mark. Nothing but ourselves,” she said.

“Is it really true?” he asked, “Don’t the laws of the universe govern us? Time and space?”

“Space, no. We live in each other’s souls, and that goes beyond physical law, doesn’t it? But what about time?” she said.

“Amy, let’s throw time away. Let’s find that hill. That hill where time doesn’t pass by, and only the world around us changes to the changing time,” he said.

“What do you mean exactly?” she asked him, “Time doesn’t pass by?”

“No, let’s find our place where time no longer exists to us. No time, no space, no other people, just the love that we share. Love is a fragile and fleeting thing, but if we can throw everything away but the love that we share, maybe we can keep it alive for just long enough for us to never need to ask for anything else,” he said.

“How about…” she said, looking at the hallway connecting the rooms, “In there?”

Mark smiled, “It’s as good a place as any to start looking.”

“I think we can stop looking right there. Not just yet though,” she said, “We still have time.”

“I thought didn’t need time any more,” he said, “Right?”

“Of course. We can throw time away with everything else,” she said.

They talked the night away, though neither of them could really tell when it was when they finally left for Amy’s room, tipsy from the wine and happiness of the talking.

Amy lay down and Mark got on the bed next to her. Amy started to kiss him, as they both embraced each other.

The world, the room, the people, the horrors of society, the night sky, and time all melted away leaving nothing more than a simple reflection of all there was and would always be for the two, perhaps no longer even two any more. They felt as if they were one, and that’s how it was supposed to be.

Warmth, love. Warmth, love. Everything else disappeared.