Influenced by Romeo and Juliet, inspired by Star-crossed Enemies by Ice Nine Kills.
On cloudy, cold nights, it was common to find Mark in a bar like this. Actually most nights it was common to find him here.
The Second Glance was a rather unassuming place. Looking at it from the outside it could have been anything. No sign adorned the front of it, and the only evidence the place even had a name, was the dusty menu behind the counter.
It’s safe to say not many people know about this place, and Mark loved it that way. Mark stared at the small TV screen in the corner. He couldn’t hear the TV, and the remote was lost a long time ago, so the TV was perpetually on the news channel.
Mark didn’t mind though, he wasn’t here for TV, or even to drink, he just enjoyed the ritual of it after a long day of work.
He didn’t enjoy interruptions to his ritual either, so when a soft hand tapped his shoulder, he quickly turned to see who would dare disturb him. Mark was lean, but not small, and after 7 yrs of military service, it would be hard to miss the ever present threat his muscles represented. When he spoke people listened to him, and yet when he turned to face the intruder, his words caught in his throat.
The word Amazonian would do her justice, she was tall, and deceptively thin, but to Mark, the muscle definition was obvious. He could spot a fellow soldier when he saw her, yet when she spoke she spoke gently.
“ Is anybody sitting here, ” she asked, pointing to the seat next to his. She had an accent when she spoke. Japanese, Mark guessed.
Mark waved for her to sit, and without another word she sat, signaling for a beer for herself.
She didn’t speak immediately, but when she noticed Mark still staring at her she asked
“Can I help you with something?”
Ignoring the question Mark asks, ” How did you find this place?”
“I was just on my way home , and saw the building. I pass by it everyday, but I never knew what it was”, she said.
When she spoke, she spoke softly. There was almost a disconnect between her imposing stature and her soft spoken words.
Mark turned back to the TV. He kept an eye on her though. He was never a great conversationalist, but he was intrigued by the girl. He was relieved when she spoke again.
“What’s your name?”
“Mark”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mark. My name is Mei”, she extended a hand, and Mark shook it.
“What do you do for work, Mark?”, Mei asked.
” Construction, mostly.”, Mark said, “. “What about you?”
” I’m a dance instructor, dancing has always been a passion of mine, so I started my own studio”
Mark lifted his eyebrows in interest, “That’s quite the accomplishment.”
Mei lit up when she spoke about dancing and her studio, a fact that was not lost on Mark. “ Where is the studio located?”Mark asked.
“It’s right down the street, i’ll show it to you,” grabbing Mark’s hand she dragged him out the door, “We can be there and back in 10 minutes at the most ”, she met a little less resistance after saying that.
The two of them stood shivering in front of a building with floor to ceiling glass windows. They had rushed out so fast they hadn’t brought jackets. The building itself was modest, and yet somehow looked out of place in the melancholic middle of the bustling town. Mei turned her key and stepped inside quickly, ushering Mark in as well .
“We should get out of the cold”, she said, hurrying Mark through the door. The lights went on as Mei flipped the switch, and her face lit up. Pride shone through her features as she beamed. The place was simple, but functional. A trait Mark appreciated, he never muched liked flashy things. He ran his hand across the perimeter, as if he could feel the building breathing even as he walked. Mei pulled ahead
Hurriedly she reached for the stereo, a ballad filled the air with a rosey glow, even as the lights dimmed. The music was slow, and Mark watched as Mei glided across the floor. Every step, graceful and intentional. Mark found himself amazed, to look at her, he would have thought her more of a fighter than dancer, but he couldnt have been more pleased to be wrong,
He chuckled at the irony of his thiniking. He had also been a dancer well into his twenties, before joining the military. Looking at him now, you wouldn’t think he could dance at all, and while he may have lost a step or two over the years, he stepped in seamlessly. Like a leaf flowing into a river, he followed her every step. Muscle memory moving his body in ways he had long forgotten, and as the music picked up, he found himself leading the way Twisting and tiwirling, they seemed to move as single entity.
The music was almost an afterthought now, they watched each other closely. Reading the others movements, as if it was written on there skin, The song ended, but they still moved. Intertwined in a melody of there own creation, There eyes met, and they smiled
And thats where there story begins. Twin flames, together as one once more.
***********
Mei stood nervously in front of the door. She smoothed her hands down her dress, distractedly, she could hear the TV on inside and she stood and listened to it drone.
Conflicts in the east worsening, as more and more countries join the war effort. The president has yet to issue a statement on U.S involvement, but with the state of affairs worsening as they are, it’s only a matter of time before all out war is inevitable. In other news –
Mei raised her fist and knocked on the door. The TV shut off instantly, and she heard an excited shuffle behind the door.
After a minute passed, she raised her fist to knock again, but before she could, the door swung open wide to reveal Mark, his normally pale face, beet red from exertion.
He wore a nice suit, it was wrinkled a little, but the sentiment of it all wasn’t lost on her.
Mark wasn’t the showy type, but even as she walked in, Mei noticed the red rose petals leading into the dining room, and though she couldn’t see the table, she saw flickering candle light illuminating the back wall.
Mei noticed Mark discreetly trying to wipe sweat from his face. It was nice to know she wasn’t the only nervous one
They sat opposite each other at a candlelit table. Rose petals littered the table cloth and a plate of steaming food sat in front of them. While they had been nervous, at the start they quickly settled into a comfortable conversation. Mark was still a little on edge though, but Mei brushed it away understandably. It was their anniversary after all and, he had called her, and said he wanted to ask her something. While she didnt know what it was, she felt confident it wasnt a break up. All that was left for her to do was wait for him.
They ate and reminisced about the past year, and as the hours passed Mei began to wonder if he would ever ask.
“I do remember that night,” , Mei laughed, “I had just opened the studio too. I wouldnt normally drag a stranger across the street, I was just excited that day.”
“Well, I’m glad you did, or we wouldnt be here today.”, Mark said, humourously
“I was very surprised when you started dancing, I guess i dragged the right person.”
“I was a trained dancer in my twenties, I was pretty good too ” Mark said
“I didnt know that at the time though. Why did you stop dancing by the way? Youre so good at it”. Mei asked, she had asked similar questions before but had never got a response.
Mark seemed to think about the question before answering.
“ There wasnt a lot of money coming my way, and i needed it,” Mark said thoughtfully “I really tried to stick with it, but eventually the well ran dry, and with nowhere to turn, I turned to the military.” Marks face fell with every word, almost as if he were reliving these years, “ I really did want to dance, but sometimes things just dont work out. I got out of the military and i learned a trade, and that was that.”
Mei sat quietly, for a minute before speaking,
“My parents passed when i was young and even when they were alive we didnt have much money, so after grade school, I joined the military as well. I had always been athletic so i figured it would be an easy way to earn a paycheck. I actually learned how to dance in the military, and after 5 years i decided to open up my own studio. I tried and tried, but they all shut down. Until i moved to America.” , Mei said, “ That one also shut down, but Ill open another one, one day.”
“That doesnt seem related to what i was saying at all.” Mark chastised, playfully.
Mei laughed, “ No what i’m saying is, I feel like you gave up on your dream to quickly, I havent given up on mine and i dont think you should give up on yours.”
“Maybe, maybe. I guess I just don’t like taking chances. On the note of taking chances, I actually asked you to come here tonight to ask you something,”
Finally Mei thought, but she didnt say it out loud, instead she just smiled.
“I’m not very good at this, but I know that there is a certain point in a relationship where the couple actually lives together, and I , I mean, I dont , actually I was just wondering if you would maybe consider it. It’s totally up to you. I just wanted to maybe put it out there,-”
Mei smiled as Mark continued to ramble. Is this what was making him so nervous? He just wanted her to move in? Mei laughed, interrupting Mark , “ Of course, I will. I left some stuff here anyway, it makes sense to bring the rest of the stuff too,”
Mark laughed too “It’s hard to argue with that”
The couple gave their goodbyes as Mei walked out the door and she smiled, That had gone rather well in her opinion, and she beamed all the way home.
Her apartment was small, and she was glad to be getting out of it, I guess i better say goodbye to this place, this is my last week, She thought as she began putting things in boxes
Mei was excited about her future, when her phone rang she answered it with an enthusiastic smile, but as the call went on the smile slowly drained from her face. She quickly reached for a pen and a notepad.
************************************************************
Mark smiled to himself, that had gone a lot better than he could ever have hoped. He didn’t even mind having to pick rose petals out of his carpet. A smile plastered his face, as he cleaned up for the night.
Mark turned the TV back on, as he worked. He enjoyed the white noise as he got his tasks done.
If you’re just tuning in, welcome. I’m happy you’re watching, but unfortunately this not a happy occasion. It is war. As we speak American soldiers are arriving on Japanese soil. Many Asian countries are calling on any able-bodied citizens to fend off the American military. It’s unknown if America will do the same, but from the current political climate I wouldn’t be surprised if we do. Again there’s been very little word from the President on this matter, but let’s hope-
Mark had hardly been listening, but once his brain caught up to his ears, the broom he had been holding fell out of his hand. He was running out the door before it hit the ground.
Mei was a dual citizen, and she lived in America, so there was nothing to worry about. Right? Mark didn’t want to take any chances, He bypassed the car entirely and ran down the street, headed toward Mei’s apartment.
The door was slightly open when he arrived. He peeked inside, before gently pushing the door open. The room was a mess, as if every drawer had been turned over on to the floor. The Tv, continued its rambling banter.
In other news, St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, take a look at what this local elementary school did to –
Mark turned off the TV, and just stood. Everything had been going amazing, and now she was gone. Why?
A piece of paper fluttered off the counter and onto the cluttered floor. Hesitantly Mark bent down to retrieve it.
I’m sorry, to leave you like this Mark, but I cannot abandon my country. Ive been called to duty, ASAP, and i have to go. I’m sorry. I would have come in person, but there are people at my door waiting,I guess this is more serious than i thought, I love you, and I hope to see you again soon. Stay safe – Love, Mei
The paper fell lifelessly to the floor, as Mark’s thoughts raced. Everything and nothing swirling around in his head. It wasn’t until he had opened his front door that he realized he went home. He stood silently, contemplating. Of course he had known that the war effort was picking up. Things had been getting worse for a long time,
but it’s so far away, it can’t hurt us,
That’s what he had thought.
Time passed, but Mark rarely noticed. Little things would remind him of times passage though. The ring of his alarm would remind him that morning was coming, the clang of metal would tell him he’s at work, and the slamming of a door would tell him he’s home.
Days, even months, would pass quietly, and uneventfully.
His phone rang sometimes, but it was never who he hoped it was, and this time was no exception. A man named Officer Hensley was on the other end. He had called to inform Mark that he was being called upon to serve his country. Of course Mark had expected this call, wordlessly Mark hung up. He walked out the door, hoping to never return.
***************************
Mei sat quietly, staring at her phone. It wasn’t good for much as it was. Not in a warzone. Instead it sat useless in her lap. Not that it would be more useful if it worked. What would she even say to him? Would he even want to hear from her? She threw the useless brick to the ground, opting not to dwell on those questions.
They might not even matter, they had reached an all time low point in the war, and things were only getting worse. While nobody ever talked about it, they all knew the likelihood of victory was slim, and so was survival.
They would die, as nothing more than cogs in the machine of war, fighting for reasons they may never fully understand.
That was war though.
Mei wiped her eyes, before she fully realized she had been crying. Quickly she wiped her face, and strengthened her resolve. She had never been the kind of person to give up, even if things were hopeless.
She only knew three things. She would never leave this war, she would never see Mark again, and she would never die a cog.
She prayed. She prayed that Mark would hear her, and she apologized for what she had to do, and she prayed that he would forgive her
***********************
Mark took the lead, breaching the building and opening fire. Whether this was his second time or twentieth, he neither knew or cared. Muscle memory carried him forward, and he was greeted with an empty building. The rest of his team followed him in.
Checking his intel he made sure he was in the right place, he was certain he was. The truth became obvious immediately. This was a trap. A man emerged from in front of Mark. A dagger plunging deep into Marks chest. Mark stared in shock, before falling to the floor. Blood covered the ground around him, as gun fire sounded from far away.
The man went down quickly, and the team continued to move through the building. More gunshots were heard throughout the building, presumably more people in hiding. Mark listened for as long as he could, but the silence overtook him, and he fell into the void
*******************
The plan was a suicide mission, Mei knew. In simple terms, the plan was to let the Americans breach the building, and when they split up, take them out one by one. Of course a better plan would be to draw a few in and take them out with overwhelming force, but their resources in the area were already stretched too thin. Besides, Mei was just a pawn, and with little hope for victory, she knew her role was little more than cannon fodder. Her only purpose was to slow down the America troops.
Of course Mei had other plans, she would go out on her own terms, looking down at the half empty vial in her pocket. The gunfire drew closer to her, and she kept from her hiding place. There was only one soldier in front of her, and she dispatched him quickly and quietly with the blade she carried with her.
She wondered if the others had done what they were supposed to. Taking up refuge in a small room, she waited until the gunfire stopped. Win or lose, it was over. She walked out of her hiding spot, and went to survey the building.
“*************”*******
Mark’s eyes opened slowly. He was fairly sure he was dead, the most damning evidence being the angel that approached him from down the hall. She looked so out of place amidst the carnage and destruction, and Mark couldn’t help but chuckle.
The chuckle turned to a cough as he felt liquid build up in his throat. The angel turned to look at him, pity filled her eyes. The angel approached him then, she lifted him into a sitting position.
“It’s going to be ok”, she cooed, producing a small vial from her pocket, “ just lean your head back.”
Mark did as he was told, and the vial was emptied down his throat. The coughing subsided and Mark smiled.
“ You really are an angel, aren’t you?”, Mark whispered. The angel nodded, tears filled her eyes, and she smiled.
“ I just want to help you on your way,” she whispered back.
She held his hand, and then began to hum, the tune was unfamiliar to him, but it was heavenly, Mark rose slowly to his feet, offering his other hand to her. The dance was intuitive, almost as if they could read each others minds. They moved slowly, each step intentional, every breath practiced and perfected. The weaved in and out of each other, a flickering of the flame they once were. The angel sang, the words were lost on Mark, but he felt himself sink back down to the floor, the angels song guided him down, it guided him as he slipped away from himself, and it guided him gently into the beyond, as the arms of the universe pulled him lovingly into itself. She continued to sing, and she wept as she witnessed the fire between them fade, and the embers of his eyes diminish.
************************
Mei sat alone. Tears still filled her eyes. She sat and thought. She thought of her dance studio, a fleeting dream, just beyond her grasp.. She thought of Marks house, the one she had almost moved into. An entirely different life for her lay down that path, and she had been so excited. She thought of the bar, the Second Glance, that’s where she had met Mark.
Mark. She looked down at his body, lifeless in her arms, another victim to the cogs of war. She wept, as she looked at the empty vial laying on the ground. At least he had gone peacefully.
Mei laid her head back against the wall. She would die here too, but as she looked down at Mark, she realized there were worse ways to die. She smiled and hummed a final tune, her hand twisting through the knots in Mark’s shaggy hair.
*******************
And there they lay. A pair of war-torn lovers. They were found weeks later, and a local newspaper in America read. “How the war, started by God-only-knows, sealed the fate of star-crossed enemies”. Entwined in death, they live on in story. A testament to the only thing that could survive their war torn souls. Love.
Tyrek's Writing 