Ethereal

Chapter twelve

Chapter twelve:

Tremulously trembling with the agonizing convulsion -the secondary response to the course- Mikael let out a sigh, full of alleviation, at last. It was over, he was free. But not free en masse for the catheter shall stay a burden upon his heart.

He made his way out after both given and learned all the tedious instructions. As he exited, feeling he rather absconded the dull constructed dwelling bearing the title engraved on concrete " Stiftelsen Danviks Hospital" only to remember he forgot his car keys in the room. He re-entered, pacing towards the room on the fifth floor, fetched his car keys. Making his way out, his gaze met another, a familiar one.

There, before him, a face whose details he knew so well; hazel eyes carrying a burden like they always have, but there was something strange about them. They didn't hoist the fury anymore.. They were tender, pitiful. They tried to flicker joy, but they went astray.. Before him, stood Agata. His bygone mistress.

Her eyes took him on a pilgrimage, one to the past. An inevitable bond they once shared. Until a time came, that phrase was to be believed on her behalf only. Their affair was stained with the treachery, the betrayal. His betrayal.

It was then that he had met his former girlfriend and things between him and Agata fell apart.. Haltingly, she started to suspect something. It was all utter guesswork, and then came the dreadful truth about the infidelities. From his own lips. How bitter they had stung, leaving the astringency inside of her, crushing her into a demolished creature. But it was over.

She condoned him now, said her eyes.

"They told me you were already gone, I wanted to see you." She said with teary eyes.

"I came back for these." He said with half a smile indicating the car keys.

"I'm so sorry I-"

"Don't." He interrupted. "I'm more than fine, please excuse me, I need to get home."

He gave her a smile and made his way out, didn't even give her a chance to utter a word. He couldn't stand being around her, he couldn't look her in the eyes, her honest eyes.

Mikael started the engine of his car and headed off back home.Strange, he thought. Not even a message from his parents. He was starting to be seriously concerned. What has happened to them?

He stopped at the gate of the house, it was open. They never leave the gate open unless they were expecting someone. Curiosity fleed through him now. He stepped out of the car and paced to the entrance of the house, it seemed morbidly quiet. He turned the door knob, and there, the door was already left unlocked. He took a surreptitious step inside and called out.

"Mom? Dad? Is anybody home?"

No answer. Now that was peculiar.

He searched the rooms, the basement, the backyard.. No one was there.

He sat in the parlor, and picked up his phone, in an attempt to reach them on their cell phones. No reply. Wait.. There they are. Not his parents, their cell phones. They left them at home, but why?

There must have occurred something indispensable for them to miss their son's chemotherapy course.

What was that crucial thing? His mind raced and paced while terror dwelled within his soul..

No, the matter couldn't stand more waiting, he thought as he made his way to the front door.

As soon as he opened the door a distant illustration greeted him, the sort that forced a candid smile on his face.

It was his brother, Yves, he must have returned from Scandinavia. He hurried towards him, it all made sense, his terror was unnecessary, he thought.

Mikael's smile vanished. Yves.. He vanished.

What on earth was happening?