The rain and one pathway

One afternoon, I was about to go to work when the rain started pouring. I had my lunch with my housemate and have some usual conversation then I dressed up for work. I took  my red umbrella and started walking out of the housing area. Theoretically rainfalls stimulate your brain to think and that what it did to me on this slow afternoon.

I watched the car passes by as I walk along the road. All was routine and usually I like it when I walk either to work or home because that's when I had time for myself, thinking about a lot of things and the possibility of everything. I even fantasized that the stairway on the road side is a portal that divided my own world and the real world. As I waited by the side of the road for the cars to pass by, a lady in motorcycle passed and looked at me. I automatically threw a smile and realised that, no matter how, where, or what you are doing, when someone smiles to you the next thing you do will be smiling back to the person. Friends or strangers. That's the good thing in life. Positive energy neutralizes everything.

Then, came the time I'm supposed to walk across a slightly elevated hill, all the cars rushed past me and I was walking a little slower. Again, I had a thought, maybe some of the drivers were headed for the same direction as I was, like we are all headed towards the same direction everyday, towards the future. The only thing that differs is the method. They ride cars, they could be in their desired destination few minutes faster than me who was walking. Likewise in life, all of us have different method in achieving our goals, therefore the time needed differs slightly from one another. Have we ever asked ourselves whether we enjoyed the journey we had in our lives?  I enjoyed my walk, and I am learning to enjoy my life journey. The bitter and sweet of our daily life is going to be the most valuable story one day. No one in this world have the same story in their life, the plot maybe the same but the scene and the actor is not.

As I almost reached my workplace, I crossed path with a guy talking in the phone. He was almost soaked in the rain as he was walking without umbrella. He probably hadn't expected the rain or he didn't bother being drenched. Analogically, in life we are supposed to be ready but there are times when we can't expect everything. That's where our down fall is. Whether you want to fall hard and crumble, or fall hard and stand tall again, it's a choice you have to make. Failure is a venom, but weaken venom is an antidote.

That day wasn't a beautiful day. It was raining, it was busy at work, someone passed away and I went home late seeing weeping relatives. But I learned another thing. Life is beautiful as long as you don't lose it. Life should be enjoyed as long as you can. Do the things you like, spend times with the people you love, and never regret the things that passed. Yes, in reality, life is suck, lots of problems, lots of obstacle but those are like flowers of a tree. We ourselves decide whether the flower should turn into good fruit or bad fruit.

People says there is always a sunshine after the rain or you can only see the rainbow if its rain. It's true. The sunshine is the most beautiful after rain and the rainbow is the brightest.

Beyond The Horizon Part 3

Part 3

The Wall Nordia

Wall Nordia

February, 13th 2220

             

          BRUSSH! 

Steams gushed out of the outlets as the man pulled down the lever. He was sweating profusely under his worn out jumpsuit. His jumpsuit was covered in old and new oil stain. Sounds of machines buzzing and metals clunking as the large gears rub into each other fill every corner of that enclosed room, the sound made it impossible to hear other thing and he had gotten used to it for some time. The air was humid and steamy hot, it was worst than smoking a dozen pack of cigarettes. He had to struggle to breathe under a specially designed mask that made him looks like a fire man. The man continued to pull every lever on his way, there were twelve of them. He was rushing to get out of the room as his shift will be over soon and he has not eaten lunch yet. It was past lunch-time anyway, probably almost dinner time by now. The huge iron door at the other end of the room creaked open and another man peered in. 

"Eiwald! " he shouted. His voice was swallowed by the endless deafening sound of machines. He cursed and stepped in. 

"Hey!  Eiwald!! " he shouted again, louder. His friend was just a few pace ahead but he could have been deaf after years of working in that place. He walked towards him and before Eiwald could pull another lever he touched his shoulder. Eiwald looked a little surprised but he stopped. 

"Horan! What are you doing here? " he asked, almost shouting. His voice was muffled under his thick mask. On normal silent days, he would not speak that way. He was known with a gold in his mouth. 

"Finish off quick and get out of here, " his friend shouted back and signaled that he will wait outside. Eiwald nodded. He pulled the last lever and a massive hissing cloud of steam poured out,  filling the air with more humidity. He shivered at the thought of getting caught in those steam. He quickly ran for his toolbox and went out to meet his friend. He pulled his mask down as he stepped out of the door and locked it.

"Damn man! It's super cold outside!" Eiwald exclaimed as he closed the steam chamber's door. Indeed, it was winter outside and thin layer of frozen water droplets lined the massive metal chamber. He wondered whether it was really the winter that had the water frozen or was it because of the difference in temperature between the metal chamber and the atmosphere. Snow had been a rare thing since years ago even during the freezing winter.

"Your skin had gotten used to the heat in there. I'm still sweating," his friend scoffed.

Eiwald grinned. Horan, his best buddy and childhood friend has a point. He had been working with the steam chamber service team for almost five years now and he had gotten used to the high temperature and it somehow made him feel good. The steam chambers were part of the largest industry in Wall Nordia, the refinery. Artificial whiskey. Food and beverages was one of the crisis in Wall Nordia for it was known with it's barren and dry land for many years. The people could not cultivate anything on the land or catch anything from the sea for the mercury level were too high to be edible. Therefore, they became creative and innovative in order to survive. Dr Hunsk, a famous biologist had invented the artificial food cultivator that purifies water and transform microscopic ion into edible food. There were no obesity in Wall Nordia as the food supplies were rationed per head. 

“I wonder when are we going to get a raise. I heard that the council is going to add on more taxes by next year,” Horan sighed as they walked away from the steam chamber. He sometimes snickered when the stale mid winter air passes through his nostrils. The air was polluted by hydrogen nitrate as a by-product of the production of artificial food. On their right was the waste chamber. The chamber was tightly sealed but it was too old to contain the piling waste from the factory and some strong gases leaked out sometimes.

“I bet we won’t get any. The company is struggling itself,” Eiwald replied. It was true, the company that runs the factory was thinking of cessation few month ago but luckily they had not made up their mind yet. Something came up but nobody knows what happened.

“The hell, we’ve been working like fools. Maybe we are,” Horan cursed and shrugged.

“Anyway, what’s your plan on weekend?” He continued. They turned to a corner and now heading to a hall with transparent walls and many doors. Each door was a cultivating lab, where all the food and beverages were tested and before they were sent out to the quality control then the distribution chamber for packing.

“Nah, I just need to get some rest. Maybe I’ll just stay at home, watch some old movie or read something,” Eiwald was thinking of his small room in Great Garden Apartment. The only place that he can call a world, peaceful and warm at any time of the year. It was not as great as its name but comfortable enough for a single man whose works requires most of his time outside of the house.

“You should live a little, my friend. You’ve been staring at the same wall for the past five years and still going to stare at it now?” Horan rolled his eyes. Although he knew that his friend was a total shut in and not up to something new person, he wanted him to enjoy his life while he can sometimes. Horan knew his story and he respected him enough to keep pushing him out of his shell.

“I’m just not up to doing anything, really. It’s been a busy week. I need to pile up some energy for Monday,” Eiwald grinned. Horan eyed him and shook his head.

“Well then, see you around later. I have to get home quick, my girl is coming over today,” he smiled.

“Say hi for me, I’ll hang out with you guys later.”

“Sure,” Horan said as he waved him. They parted at the entrance, Horan walked towards the street that lead to the Rumble. He lived alone in his small house in The Rumble that he bought three years ago before he got divorced. His daughter will come once in every two weeks and stay for a few days before returning to her mother’s house in the city center.

Eiwald watched Horan disappear among the crowd and walked towards the opposite direction. The sky was pink and people were rushing out of the industrial area. That area will be closed in another hour and the curfew begins. He could hear less conversation on the street as always, people were conversing only to those they personally knew and they do not talk to strangers very frequently. Trust issues in society. He preferred it that way because he did not want to get stuck in awkward or embarrassing situation with someone he does not know.

He passed through few closing stalls and shops. Everyone was busy wrapping up for the day and he was catching the time himself. He never wanted to be caught up in the curfew for there were bad rumors about the curfew. The housing area was another four hundred yard away and he had to walk another three blocks of industrial building to get to the edge of the town where his apartment was.

The temperature was dropping as the pink glow in the sky turned into reddish purple. He could hear a siren from the observation tower, followed by a long one indicating the curfew will be in another hour. The siren served to rush the people to abandon their day job and return home as soon as possible. Eiwald broke into slow jog. His routine on every weekday. Walking turned into slow jog then running if he had to.

“Damn!” He cursed as he realized that he was again beyond time. He could feel the adrenaline rushing in his veins sweeping the remaining exhaustion from the steam chamber. It did not matter to him, he need to escape the curfew and return to his comfortable bed. He slipped among the crowding people that are heading to the same direction and blended into the stagnant gray colour of the crowd. Trying his best to avoid physical contact with the other people as a precaution of getting into trouble or contracting communicable disease. There had been an out break recently and few people from his neighborhood had been sent to the quarantine camp last week. The city council had decided to keep the patients in the quarantine camp due to the limited hospital space and some speculated that the council do not want to spend unnecessary money on the under privileged resident. The politic inside Wall Nordia was as bad as its sewage system.

Eiwald dodged to his left when a woman pushed her way through and runs straight ahead. He wanted to curse but he swallowed his words when he saw the woman bumped hard onto a stocky man he saw in the factory earlier. He was the new foreman in charge of the distillery section. The woman apologized repeatedly as the man began preaching. Eiwald quickened his pace and passed them trying not to even take a glance, fearing that he would be caught in that super awkward situation. Like everyone else, he did not stopped to see what happened or to offer word of peace. He left them on the roadside to settle their own business for he was rushing himself.

The dark cloud in the sky indicated the prime time is about to end. He need to get home sooner so he started to run, testing his best agility to slip through the crowd without getting into what the woman just get herself in. He headed for the settlement area and turned to the much empty back street. He would not make it in time if he take the front street. Today he had to take the back door to his apartment and he was standing right in front of it.

The red rusty metal door.

    

P/s:

For those following this story, I’m sorry for the late entry and thank you for being there. I’ve been occupied by a lot of things lately. Don’t worry though, it’s only the beginning. Stay tuned… ;)  

Beyond The Horizon Part 2

Part 2

The Thirteenth Floor

Wall Marina 

February, 13th 2220

          As always, her warm room was inviting. She had been living there for almost three years by now. It reminded her of how was life in the sub-urban she used to live. The room was small but it was sufficient. What she loves most about her room was that it overlooks the border over the wall. She would spend some time imagining life over the wall from her window as the moonlight sparkled on the sea surface. And tonight, there would be no exception.

         She turned on the light and put down her sling bag on the small round table next to her bed. Still feeling the exhaustion from working at the factory all day and a little adrenaline rush from the running, she needed a shower. Hoping in mind that the maintenance had fixed the heater or else the water would be freezing cold at a time like this. It was supposed to be winter, but she had not seen any snow fall in many years. The last time she had seen snow was sixteen years ago. The next year was an extreme climate change and winter has never been the same.

          She went into the bathroom and tested the water heater. It was not working. She grunted in disappointment. To the hell with the cold water, I needed a shower no matter what, she thought. Problem with service in the apartment had been an endless issue since she started living there and nobody cares to push the maintenance. They were immune to complaints anyway.

           After finishing her cold shower as quick as possible and now dressed in her home clothes, she jumped into her bed. She reached for the bag on the table and took out the book she had borrowed and a leftover bun wrapped in plastic. That would be her dinner tonight. She started turning into the first page of the book while enjoying the cold bun. A sentence on a blank background was on the very first page of the book.

"Curiosity killed the cat, you'll never know if you never try." 

            Jade smiled. 

            "Curiosity killed the cat..." she repeated. Will my curiosity kill me? She asked herself silently throwing a glance outside the window. The horizon, what lies beyond it? Her interest shifted from the book to the vast view of the sea under the light of the half moon. The flickering light was like million of diamonds scattered on the surface of the water. Was it true that no one had really gone out there? She wondered. 

             She got up from her bed and walked towards the window. The wall stood firmly in the dark making it look sad and lonely. There were no activities in the city, the street light dimly decorated the night barely indicating life. The city looked lifeless at night, so does the world outside it. She tilted her head and realized, she actually could see everything from her room. All this while she thought that she was glad the room overlook the sea outside the Wall Marina, but tonight she realized that it actually overlooks the entire city, the suburban area, the man made river and the mountain ranges. She stood in amazement.

            "Why hadn't I noticed before?" she whispered. The apartment was one of the few tall building in the city and she was on the thirteenth floor. Which means she was at the level of Wall Marina itself. Holy Jade! You're too ignorant all this while, she muttered to herself. 

            She was about to draw the curtain when her eyes caught something on the other side of the sea. Something that never caught her attention before. She squinted her eyes to see clearly. She was not imagining it, she was sure that she saw a long edge similar to the Wall Marina. There was another wall on the other side of the sea.

             Another Wall Marina!  

p/s:
This one is a short chapter. I intended to make it short because there were not so many interactions in this chapter. Please stay tuned for the next chapter. Thanks ;)

             

             

          

Beyond The Horizon Part 1

Part 1

The Wall Marina

Wall Marina 

February,13th, 2220

          Her delicate fingers flipped another page and read.

"Beyond the horizon, there was a wall. A wall of mediocrity, hypocrisy, and ignorance built by selfish people. Souls lived on each side of the wall oblivion about the fact that they should have torn the wall to live mutually. It was known that there was a curse for those who cross the borders that they might never return. Either they will change or they would not belong anymore. The wall had been since keeping the city from the outside world as well as keeping the outsiders out. They called it the Wall Marina. In some other places, it is called a different name." 

           She slowly closed the book letting a thin layer of dust to fly while biting her lower lips, still thinking of borrowing it for the weekend. The work at the factory will be suspended on weekends as in another part of the world. The Horizon, the title was interesting enough though the writer, Kane Ares, was known to live behind the Wall Marina his entire life. She was curious about life outside the world, though everyone thinks that it was an omen to even think of it. However, twenty-six years was enough for her to foster her curiosity.

            She heard stories from the old-timer that the world used to be a free place, at least there were no walls that divided the continents and cities. People were free to travel at their own will as long as they have identity papers. The war started it all. The nations divided, people became defensive and the wall was built. The people were given permanent identity according to where they belong. It was a code at the back of their neck. No papers, all computerized. The only paper that can be found in the city was in that old bookstore. She has no idea how was it on the other parts of the world but that is how it is in Wall Marina. 

           The Wall Marina was the first place she had ever known ever since she opened her eyes. She belongs here but sometimes her natural instinct nudged her to learn about another part of the world. Books and stories helped her to answer her curiosity, but it was not satisfying. She was always curious, her eyes were itching to see the other parts of the world if it exists as the book says.

            "Closing time, lady. The curfew will arrive soon," the old man knocked three times on his desk. She was astonished by the sudden interruption. She turned to him and offered a guilty smile. She grabbed the book and walked towards the counter.

            "Oh sorry, Charles. I'll take this one for the weekend," she said as she handed the book to the old man. He scrutinized the book for a few seconds and look up to her. 

             "You know, Jade? The world outside is not like those fabricated elaborately in books. Kane Ares? Everyone knows he's never been outside. You know that too, don't you?" 

              "Yeah, I know. I just need something to read for the weekend. Life is quite suffocating at my room when I'm not at work," she scoffed. Charles smiled and stamped the date on the Borrow column and handed it back to her. 

               "You should go around with your friend sometimes. Well, now off you go. Before the curfew. Remember to return it on time." She mouthed a thank you to him as she put the book inside her worn out sling bag.

                 "See you later, Charles," she waved him goodbye and walked out of the half-windowed door. 

                

                  She runs across the street towards another block of a run-down building. Ignoring the hustle and bustle of busy workers returning home, some were cursing for the late shift to be over and some were just growling tiredly as they bumped into each other. The disappearing sun light enhanced the monochromic city and its monotonic people. Along the road was an endless metal rail for the public tram, the only transport that was kept and preserved since the city was built. The city council decided long ago that the reproduction of private transport had to be stopped together with cutting the trees. They said that it was for the sake of the future, so the industry in the city turned from production to recycling used material by means of reproducing things that were necessary only. She worked in a synthetic cotton factory herself, where all the people's monochromic clothes came from.

                 Her pace quickened as she goes. The curfew will be in fifteen minutes and she has a few blocks more to go. People around were changing pace from walking fast into running too. The curfew was not a joking matter, the police were heartless enough to shoot those who are out after seven. Two men were cursing at each other when she took a corner to Greenwall Street. They probably had an argument on something personal because she over heard them shouting a woman's name and one of them had been sleeping with her some time last week. Could be a love triangle quarrel, she thought. But she needs to get home as soon as possible. It had been a norm of this city to ignore other's problem and mind your own problem. Even if anyone saw someone bleeding to death, no one will stop to help. Society here in Wall Marina was rotten to its core and she felt sick just at the thought of it. The so called morality they portrayed was just a mask to their wickedness. She could not blame it on the people, it was the competition and the overwhelming limitation that drive them to get rid of humanity.
           
                Shaking the depressing thought away, she made her final run into the lobby of her apartment. Letting out a deep sigh of relief, she was grateful that she was saved for the day. She made it before curfew today but there will be a time in the future when she might end up shot in the head on the street. The thought made her shiver with terror. She scanned her code at the apartment counter and run upstairs to her lair on the thirteen floor.



p/s:
This is only the beginning and I'm not giving up writing... Lol
I should welcome you to the very first part of Beyond the Horizon.
I'm trying on writing again and this time I'd like to make it fun for me to write and hopefully those reading will have fun too. Let the comments section be filled with feedback... I thank you in advance. *bow* :)