The Garden

 

In a plain white dress, she sits in a small pile of sand. 

Thin wooden boundaries keep the grains from spilling out into the thick and vibrant grass covering the garden. 

Surrounded by the walls of a large cathedral the vast flowering hilltop was also part of the facility.

The stones were old and large and the windows of the building were long and full of colored glass. Strange and detailed battles played out on the windows – winged saints, demons, man – all warring and entangled in delicate geometric patterns and symbols.

A large stone cross covered in ever flowing marble roses hung above the doors that separated the lonely garden from the numbers of soldiers and brothers inside...

The sky was a rich deep blue and clouds seemed to glow as they slowly passed overhead.

The wind carried the soft smell of flowers, and small birds darted in and out of the sanctuary of shadowy trees growing along the cathedral walls.

Here the perfectly manicured lawn reflected the precision of its artisans, each vine and stick of brush snipped at exact length to please the masters of the house.

The sun was almost too bright yet the air was cool as an early summer day should be.

The white of her dress seemed iridescent as she drew symbols into the soft sand with a twig taken from a small branch.

Softly she hummed like a child, accompanied by the quiet clinking of her charmed bracelets as her hands completed the drawings mechanically.

Her eyes, empty and distant as her mind traveled away beyond the walls.

Heavy bells tolled breaking her state and pulling her back.

“How’d you get in?” She began, talking down to the sands, still scrawling out symbols.

“Easily” came the raspy reply from the shadow of a nearby tree.

She stopped and looking up she could scarcely see him until he stepped out onto the bright grass like a moving shadow. The dark clothe of his camouflage stark against the bright shades of green. But only for a moment... almost immediately he disappeared again, his strange armor became translucent, and she could plainly see the opposite tree line strait through him.

But the eyes gave him away, like phantom candles they still approached her though the footfalls were absent.

Inside the building, men were shouting commands and heavy boots could be heard scuffing the polished floors. Still, for the moment, the courtyard garden was empty except for her girlish form.

As she stood their eyes locked, she ceased blinking until the moment he stopped only inches from her face.

“Why” came the question from the thin air – though she could feels his breath hot on her face.

“I was promised it was safe here” she spoke softly looking in to the deep fires of his eyes- “for me and my people”

“It’s a prison lady.” As he spoke she could hear the soft scraping of his deadly blade being pulled from its sheath.

The sound froze her breath, and she knew he sensed her fear and a smile was growing on those invisible lips.

“There’s no security in this world...” he rasped “you showed me that,”– she could see the glint off his blade as it made an indention in the sand on her right. “Your illusions can only last so long.” He ripped the blade quickly through the symbols on the sand.

The grass around the box began to grey and the beautiful green world, the flowers; the birds faded and swirled away on the warm wind like a colorful dust.

Pale stones littered the dry courtyard; dead trees, soggy brush and spots of mud comprised the remainder of the ground.

He appeared again, His clothes a dark grey, matching the barren land, a short sword strapped at his waist and the other slack in his right hand. The tip of the blade resting on the dirt.