Dark Terrors and Desperation in Diapers (private)

[Rye]

He shrugged looking back at them , they were hard to look at , almost making him feel all tingly and flinch at them "come on , the longer I'm here the worse I'm feeling about them. Let's go" he said "there won't be any in the orchard , who puts scarecrows in an orchard." he said leading the way back. He would want to come back here , so much was left unexplored. "We'll follow the creek , not the road , I'd prefer a more grassy route." he said seeing the bluebells and daisies rowing by the water, well watered from the river. He wouldn't mind a calm stroll after not finding anything useful.

At least he was starting to feel the same as her , but not to the same degree but there was something unsettling about them. They made him flinch and feel weak at the knees.

[R682]

"The orchard sounds good," Hayley murmured, already staring at the bluebells and daisies, her heart lifting at the first hoped for suggestion of beauty and tranquility. The threat was behind them, and suddenly out of mind again. The water looked cool and clear, and inviting even here. After imagining it for so long, she suddenly found herself desperate to put her feet in it at the earliest opportunity.

"Want to walk in the stream, to get there?" she suggested casually to Luke, hoping to phrase it in such a way he wouldn't think she was a total weirdo. "We could, like... it's probably easier that way, than along the..."

She came up short, and blushed shyly. How come even this had to be so awkward? Just admitting she wanted to paddle. How big a deal was that? Just because it was childish and impulsively sensual, and she'd wanted to ever since the idea of running water even occurred to her. It was okay for him to want to play hide and seek like a child; just because she was the older sister... it was a hot day. She was allowed!

Hayley drained the bottle of Coke in one stubborn movement, then tucked it conscientiously away in her bag. If she'd thought, she could have cooled it in the water first, before drinking it, which might have made it far more palatable. Too late now - just more pointless liquid to go straight through her. She glowered at her brother, mistaking his lasting unease from the scarecrows for sullenness. Why did he always have to make her feel this way? Forgetting, of course, that he was usually one of the few people she felt she could be completely honest, and it wasn't like she didn't feel this way around quite literally everyone else, at times, too...

They'd come to a stop in the little area; the best they were going to find. Hayley sighed to herself.

"Or how about that hide and seek?" she fumbled immediately, eager to move on, without giving her brother time to respond to her last.

[Rye]

Luke followed by the side , the grass soft and more green than he sorry excuse of weeds , growing in yellow tufts by the side of the road away from the supply of water. "Sure , we can follow it back , but lets not be too long , the sun looks like it will set soon" he said looking out as the sky changed in colour from pale blue to a cat of yellows , golds and reds. "Nah , it looks clean and everything but I would get my wet feed dirty on the way back with no way to dry them "Feel free though , we have running water , just don;t track mud in or anything" he said as he walked into the flowers and followed the stream and it split from the road and they entered the orchard.

There was a verity of near tropical and traditional fruit , from applies , to olives and lemons. A few were coming in while others were just going out of season. A few rotten fruit but nothing major , just kicked to one side by the roots. They were all very orderly in even rows and coloums , although as they followed they became more sporadic and the roots becoming upturned and slithering along the forest floor. The river opened up into a large area , a opening in the maze of trees , a large clear mirror like pool with a large rocky mound up at the far end , taking the river up and away on a slightly higher level. There was a single green weeping willow on the side , all on it's own and drooping down over the water. Over by the waterfall was a sort of waterlogged hollow , kind of half hidden by the waterfall. The ground was mostly smooth grass but by the pool the flowers really came up adding all sorts of bright bold colours to the area.

[R682]

Hayley walked after Luke in silence, and still at the side of the stream, shoes on, feeling embarrassed by her sudden impulse. This was why she normally kept quiet. Her mouth got her into trouble, and made her look odd, when she just came out with things like that.

When she saw the sight of the open open orchard and the glistening expanse of water, however, her mood changed once again, abruptly, back to delight. Even in her fantasies she hadn't imagined the sight of anything so complex and wonderful.

"Oh, Luke!" she grabbed his arm, in disinhibiting excitement, "Oh look at that! Isn't it wonderful! We have to swim! We have to!"

She had a bathing costume, back at the house in her luggage; something she'd rather optimistically made sure to pack. But that seemed miles away. It was all she could do not to start shedding clothes on the spot.

But there were the trees, too. Just what she'd promised Luke. She'd wanted water, but he'd wanted hide and seek. Really, she ought to swallow her impulses; be the adult one. Do what he wanted to do. She looked over at him shyly, trying to gauge his inscrutable expression. What did he think of her right now, really?

Plus, the sun was indeed setting. Perhaps all of these things ought to wait until tomorrow. Would their grandmother be missing them by now? When were they supposed to be back by, in order to be on time for their evening meal? Could they afford any more time at all?

[Rye]

Luke yanked her back a little "hold on hold on. We can't swim , one , it's nearly dark , two , grandma's waiting , three the hot water might not work and you'd have to walk back wet. We can go tomorrow" he said with a sigh , although the thought was tempting , now the sun was gone and the only warmth he had was from the flush in his cheeks he would rather not get wet. He did feel like he was ragging her along but he was being sensible right now. The temperature was dropping and the wood seemed just that much thicker , the shadows coming out now the pillars of sun light were fading. He half jumped to his sister and tugged on her sleeve "c-come on , let's go. I don't wanna get lost out here" he whimpered , whipping is head around as if trying to see something , getting more and more agitated.

[R682]

Hayley had a similar feeling, all of a sudden, as she had back at the garage. As if reality had suddenly shifted around her. What was happening? Was she losing her mind? Zoning out and losing track of entire chunks and hours of time? She could have sworn that only a second ago she was standing admiring the beautiful summer lake of her dreams. And now, all of a sudden, the evening was pouring in like a tidal wave, at the atmosphere changing just as fast.

"Yeah, sorry... let's go back," she flustered to Luke, knowing he would think she were crazy if she revealed her confusion. Probably she was just tired; it had been a long and confounding day.

She started to hurry, sharing Luke's anxiety about the lengthening shadows. Not near the cornfield. Not near the cornfield. She tugged on Luke's arm to make sure he followed an oblique path to the house which gave it a wide berth. They probably would be missed for tea by now, as well, though just before it had seemed like they might have all the time in the world. She was walking as fast as she dared, on the edge of breaking into a run.

[Rye]

Luke nodded , not having to be told twice , he knew to follow the stream back , he didn't know how much further this place went on for but if they picked the wrong way they would be stuck out her. Following closely, his hand clenching hers tightly. The soon came back into the more uniform trees , evened out in rows, aft the far end was the farm house , bathed in gold light. As the two made it out into the open the dense overhead feeling lifted. Luke sighed and looked around , there was still some light , he needed a watch. It just felt so dark in there with no light what so ever , strange given they must still have a couple of house of it by the looks of it out here. He let go , loosening his iron grip now the darkens was behind him. He walked around to the front and opened the door to see Grandma.

The woman was carrying a large blue painted iron pot "Oh good , just in time , head upstairs and wash your hands for dinner" she said as she went to the dining room to set the table and serve up the food.

[R682]

Hayley breathed a sigh of relief to have reached the house, the journey back further than she could ever possibly have imagined. Who would have thought the sun could set so quickly and so heavily on a summer's day such as today? Where were the long balmy summer's evenings of her childhood, out here? And just what time was it?

Whatever time it was, thankfully it appeared they were right on time for dinner. Another fact to be grateful for. Hayley wouldn't have wanted to disappoint the imposing figure of her Grandmother, certainly not on this first day.

"Right away," she managed, in a whisper. "We're sorry."

Leaving shoes at the door once again, she led the way in a scurry upstairs to the rudimentary bathroom. It was the first time she'd been in, and she marveled at the creaking rustic pipework and simple cracked tiles.

"You already showered here?" she checked with Luke, not at all convinced at the functionality of the facilities, especially when the tap water came with a long delay, a shudder and a groan, followed by a sudden coughing explosion into the shallow bowl of the sink. "Did it work okay?" The shower didn't look like much, and she wondered if the water even ran hot. With the sink, she didn't even wait to see, just soused her hands once after rubbing them quickly with the course square block of soap. That would have to do.

Dinner appealed though. They'd hardly eaten anything all day, and after the exercise and the anxieties, Hayley found her stomach suddenly raw and needsome. She wondered wha promise might be offered by that pot the old lady had held. This would be their real opportunity to properly meet their grandmother, too. It was important she did her best to make a good impression, with what came next.

[Rye]

"It's fine honey , it is your holiday , but try to be back before dark. Otherwise it's cold food for dinner" she said , dismissing her apology.

Luke headed up with her "yea , it does work and it pretty nice , haven't tried to get it really hot , but it's warm enough to keep the chill off" he said as he sat on the bath and waited. "Might have to time it. I imagine it's heated by a furnace in the cellar or something" he said as he moved to the sink after her. After washing his hands he headed down the stairs and into the dining room , taking a seat. Grandam had served up the stew, it was bathed in a rich wine sauce , with big beefy chunks of meat and vegetables boiled soft. Luke groaned at it , he was never going to be able to stay clean with that "Umm , grandma....I um....need.....no.....be fed. I can't um , do it myself." he said , blushing hard and looking down at his lap.

"Oh. Because of the eye, hmm , well I can't feed you while I'm eating , but you can make the attempt" she said getting up. She returned with a late white terry towel bib and tied on the little blond. It had light blue stitch work and in slightly faded blue letters 'baby boy' with a picture of a train. "Try and eat and that will keep you clean. Once I'm done , if you're still having trouble I'll feed you for you" she said , the boys needs met , although pride had taken a bad blow , no one had done this to him even when he needed to be fed. His dignity weather beaten he picked up his spoon and tried his best to eat , getting it all over himself but did his best to get it into his mouth.

[R682]

Hayley watched her brother struggling and sighed. He really wasn't the same since... that... (What did happen to his eye, by the way?)

"Here, I'll do it," she said, at last, despite her own appetite. The food was really good, too; but she couldn't stand to know Luke was struggling so much. Taking the spoon from his hand, she scooped and gently prompted it to his mouth. In between times, she still managed to find time for the occasional sneaky bite of her own, which was a good job, because she found she was starving. The broth was very satisfying and filling, with a strong meaty flavour and lots of meat and potato. Her own table manners stayed neat and under control, despite the unusual situation, though she eyed her Grandmother cautiously, not wanting her actions to be taken as defiant.

"We saw your lake," she attempted; trying to make a little polite conversation despite her natural reticence, then to hide her shyness, immediately took a sip of water. Of course, what she really wanted to ask about was the scarecrows, but something told her that needed a little careful lead in.