Categories > Original > Drama > The Lord of Alhena
He got home at six o'clock. Before dawn was still far away, but the city was beginning to come to life. Someone was already in a hurry to work and lights were on in some windows. He lived in a four-story brick house in a residential area, in a tiny apartment on the top floor. He liked it, although there really wasn't enough space, he used to think about moving.
Throwing off his clothes that smelled of blood and someone else's sweat, he went straight to the shower, he wanted to get rid of the sticky feeling on his skin. The bathroom was filled with clouds of steam, the temperature of the water resembled boiling water, and Rahu basked under the hot streams without feeling discomfort.
- Good body, - he examined his hands, - I used to be small and skinny, but now I have changed for the better and my skin is not as white as before.
He stepped out of the shower and looked into the mirror.
- I'm even handsome.
Rahu saw himself as for the first time. The young face, untouched by stubble, was distinguished by its regular shape. The nose is neat, but with a slight hump, the features are slightly contrasting. Full lips and bright black eyes, still with traces of bloody tears. Wet chestnut-colored hair was slightly curled, but according to Milos, he was not curly, rather, they lay in soft, barely noticeable waves.
He smiled, showing white teeth.
"Milos Weinrich," he said the name as if tasting it, "I don't know if you ever really existed, or if I was you from the very beginning, I just didn't remember anything. For so many years I lived instead of you, I knew so many joys, I learned to be a man. Now everything has changed and you will never return. Now you are dead, but I will play your part, because only in this way can I remain unrecognized. Your personality will become my armor, the mask that Rahu wears. I will find out with whose help I freed myself and who is the master who transplanted me into your body. I need to find him and ask a lot of questions, otherwise I can't live in peace.
Rahu looked at his reflection and the longer he looked, the clearer it seemed to him, as if his face was crumbling like clay shards of a vessel. Beneath them was another face, white as a piece of paper, almost dead. It belonged to a young man of about fifteen, everything about him betrayed his belonging to the Asian type. His beauty was fragile and sad, he seemed ephemeral, as if a revived portrait of an ancient painter. Hair darker than the night, like a smear of mascara, fell on his forehead, almost covering his coal eyes, in which crimson tears appeared. They were filled with an ocean of pain. Behind him, the darkness swirled and engulfed him, which made him even paler and his features became frighteningly ruthless.
He touched the reflection with his hand, and the young man behind the glass repeated his gesture, Rahu shuddered and pulled away.
"No, no...never again..."
He will no longer be the same. The mirage dissipated.
Rahu grabbed a towel and began to dry his hair furiously. Unwelcome memories tore at his head, but he restrained himself, not allowing an avalanche of grief to flood his mind. It was necessary to think about something else, about how to live in a new, albeit familiar world, to learn about the fate of those who were close to him. Find the one who freed him.
And most importantly.
An animal grimace distorted his features.
To deal with those who kept him imprisoned for more than half a century.
Dance on the bones of the peacefully deceased.
Rip out the heart of everyone who escaped retribution.
From now on, Rahu will become their executioner. And there is no one in this world who can stop him.
The eyes were bleeding again. Passing a finger across his cheek, he collected the hot moisture and drew three numbers on the mirror.
The sound of breaking glass filled the bathroom, followed by cold laughter.
*
For more than a week he hardly left the apartment. Occasionally he went to the nearest supermarket, where he bought mountains of sweets and ate them to an almost fatal state. Previously, he would have developed poisoning, or diabetes, but now it was unlikely. Candy wrappers and candy boxes were scattered on the floor of the only room, and a mountain of dirty plates grew in the sink.
From an empty box, he built a sparrow feeder and placed it on the balcony. The dissatisfaction of the neighbors did not care.
He did not attend university. I also ignored calls from friends.
From early morning until midnight, Rahu sat at his desk at the laptop monitor. Sloppy piles of paper piled up on all sides, and he was already tangled in them. On the screen flashed a series of Japanese characters that he understood, as well as Chinese.
- Not enough information, too little, only in general phrases and that's not it! They built a memorial complex... interesting, very interesting.
Rahu reached for another candy.
- Now it's 2010, exactly 60 years have passed, - he began to chew furiously, - it turns out that I spent almost half a century in captivity, because they took me away after the surrender of Japan.
He peered at another site that tells about the history of Harbin.
- Only a few employees who were captured by the Soviet army after the liberation of Manchuria were judged. The rest continued to engage in science, and were even awarded state prizes. OH...! - a curse in Chinese escaped his lips, - everything is clear with them.
He glanced sideways at one of the piles, which he called "dossier." Names and short text were written on each individual page, some had photographs. In the upper corner of the sheets there were notes with a black marker. "Dead", "Alive", or a question mark.
- I need something else, - Rahu hit the keyboard with his fingers, - not a word about us, there is no mention of "ZERO EXPERIMENT" anywhere, or the code name "Black Gadfly". It feels like there was no information about us at all, because they could not destroy everything so perfectly. There are always traces, but the Internet does not give a single clue. Not a single witness. For so many years, not one of the former employees has ever mentioned a word, although they did not hide their involvement.
Rahu rubbed his eyes, which began to bleed again. This happened every time he experienced rage, or despair.
A gentle chirp caught his attention. Turning in the direction of the sound, he saw a sparrow merrily pecking at dry crumbs near the feeder. Rahu smiled and carefully got up, trying not to make too much noise. Going to the balcony door, he began to watch the bird, and his face became peaceful.
Sparrow noticed his silhouette and jumped slightly. Twitching his head, he fluffed himself up, trying to look menacing, and chirped louder.
- Ha ha, you're a serious guy, - Rahu winked at him, - now I'll go to the store and bring that sugar bun, remember it?
It seemed to him that the sparrow's beady eyes gleamed at these words.
Yes, I like her too! I'm ready to eat three at once, but for you it will be too much, don't you think?
Sparrow jumped on the spot, as if trying to convince Rahu that he was wrong.
- I also recently saw a lemon cake ... if you wash it down with hot chocolate, you can go crazy with pleasure ... I have not tried it yet, but it smells incredible. I think today is the day to buy it. Do you know why?
He paused.
Because today is Saturday!
Sparrow began to trill, as if he really understood everything that the man was telling him. Rahu smiled slyly at him.
- If I bring you a sugar bun and some lemon pie, will you fly again?
The bird froze.
- Since you agree, can I call you by name?
So the sparrow became known as Chao.
Throwing off his clothes that smelled of blood and someone else's sweat, he went straight to the shower, he wanted to get rid of the sticky feeling on his skin. The bathroom was filled with clouds of steam, the temperature of the water resembled boiling water, and Rahu basked under the hot streams without feeling discomfort.
- Good body, - he examined his hands, - I used to be small and skinny, but now I have changed for the better and my skin is not as white as before.
He stepped out of the shower and looked into the mirror.
- I'm even handsome.
Rahu saw himself as for the first time. The young face, untouched by stubble, was distinguished by its regular shape. The nose is neat, but with a slight hump, the features are slightly contrasting. Full lips and bright black eyes, still with traces of bloody tears. Wet chestnut-colored hair was slightly curled, but according to Milos, he was not curly, rather, they lay in soft, barely noticeable waves.
He smiled, showing white teeth.
"Milos Weinrich," he said the name as if tasting it, "I don't know if you ever really existed, or if I was you from the very beginning, I just didn't remember anything. For so many years I lived instead of you, I knew so many joys, I learned to be a man. Now everything has changed and you will never return. Now you are dead, but I will play your part, because only in this way can I remain unrecognized. Your personality will become my armor, the mask that Rahu wears. I will find out with whose help I freed myself and who is the master who transplanted me into your body. I need to find him and ask a lot of questions, otherwise I can't live in peace.
Rahu looked at his reflection and the longer he looked, the clearer it seemed to him, as if his face was crumbling like clay shards of a vessel. Beneath them was another face, white as a piece of paper, almost dead. It belonged to a young man of about fifteen, everything about him betrayed his belonging to the Asian type. His beauty was fragile and sad, he seemed ephemeral, as if a revived portrait of an ancient painter. Hair darker than the night, like a smear of mascara, fell on his forehead, almost covering his coal eyes, in which crimson tears appeared. They were filled with an ocean of pain. Behind him, the darkness swirled and engulfed him, which made him even paler and his features became frighteningly ruthless.
He touched the reflection with his hand, and the young man behind the glass repeated his gesture, Rahu shuddered and pulled away.
"No, no...never again..."
He will no longer be the same. The mirage dissipated.
Rahu grabbed a towel and began to dry his hair furiously. Unwelcome memories tore at his head, but he restrained himself, not allowing an avalanche of grief to flood his mind. It was necessary to think about something else, about how to live in a new, albeit familiar world, to learn about the fate of those who were close to him. Find the one who freed him.
And most importantly.
An animal grimace distorted his features.
To deal with those who kept him imprisoned for more than half a century.
Dance on the bones of the peacefully deceased.
Rip out the heart of everyone who escaped retribution.
From now on, Rahu will become their executioner. And there is no one in this world who can stop him.
The eyes were bleeding again. Passing a finger across his cheek, he collected the hot moisture and drew three numbers on the mirror.
The sound of breaking glass filled the bathroom, followed by cold laughter.
*
For more than a week he hardly left the apartment. Occasionally he went to the nearest supermarket, where he bought mountains of sweets and ate them to an almost fatal state. Previously, he would have developed poisoning, or diabetes, but now it was unlikely. Candy wrappers and candy boxes were scattered on the floor of the only room, and a mountain of dirty plates grew in the sink.
From an empty box, he built a sparrow feeder and placed it on the balcony. The dissatisfaction of the neighbors did not care.
He did not attend university. I also ignored calls from friends.
From early morning until midnight, Rahu sat at his desk at the laptop monitor. Sloppy piles of paper piled up on all sides, and he was already tangled in them. On the screen flashed a series of Japanese characters that he understood, as well as Chinese.
- Not enough information, too little, only in general phrases and that's not it! They built a memorial complex... interesting, very interesting.
Rahu reached for another candy.
- Now it's 2010, exactly 60 years have passed, - he began to chew furiously, - it turns out that I spent almost half a century in captivity, because they took me away after the surrender of Japan.
He peered at another site that tells about the history of Harbin.
- Only a few employees who were captured by the Soviet army after the liberation of Manchuria were judged. The rest continued to engage in science, and were even awarded state prizes. OH...! - a curse in Chinese escaped his lips, - everything is clear with them.
He glanced sideways at one of the piles, which he called "dossier." Names and short text were written on each individual page, some had photographs. In the upper corner of the sheets there were notes with a black marker. "Dead", "Alive", or a question mark.
- I need something else, - Rahu hit the keyboard with his fingers, - not a word about us, there is no mention of "ZERO EXPERIMENT" anywhere, or the code name "Black Gadfly". It feels like there was no information about us at all, because they could not destroy everything so perfectly. There are always traces, but the Internet does not give a single clue. Not a single witness. For so many years, not one of the former employees has ever mentioned a word, although they did not hide their involvement.
Rahu rubbed his eyes, which began to bleed again. This happened every time he experienced rage, or despair.
A gentle chirp caught his attention. Turning in the direction of the sound, he saw a sparrow merrily pecking at dry crumbs near the feeder. Rahu smiled and carefully got up, trying not to make too much noise. Going to the balcony door, he began to watch the bird, and his face became peaceful.
Sparrow noticed his silhouette and jumped slightly. Twitching his head, he fluffed himself up, trying to look menacing, and chirped louder.
- Ha ha, you're a serious guy, - Rahu winked at him, - now I'll go to the store and bring that sugar bun, remember it?
It seemed to him that the sparrow's beady eyes gleamed at these words.
Yes, I like her too! I'm ready to eat three at once, but for you it will be too much, don't you think?
Sparrow jumped on the spot, as if trying to convince Rahu that he was wrong.
- I also recently saw a lemon cake ... if you wash it down with hot chocolate, you can go crazy with pleasure ... I have not tried it yet, but it smells incredible. I think today is the day to buy it. Do you know why?
He paused.
Because today is Saturday!
Sparrow began to trill, as if he really understood everything that the man was telling him. Rahu smiled slyly at him.
- If I bring you a sugar bun and some lemon pie, will you fly again?
The bird froze.
- Since you agree, can I call you by name?
So the sparrow became known as Chao.
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