AN/ Jst a story i had to write for English. Hope you like. - RR please.

Desire

Humid air hung thickly over the hot, crimson red dirt. The bright, off white moon shined eerily through the bushy tree leaves, small pockets of light glowed on the sand, radiating red into the star filled night sky. Off in the horizon, thin, smoky clouds sat on top the mountain peaks, casting shadows throughout the land. The only inhabitant of the crater filled dust land was a willowy man with long, stringy black hair, streaked grey with age. He walked slowly towards the tall, royal blue mountains, the sand giving away slightly under his weight. As he got closer to the base, a metallic smell filled his nose and he smiled.

The cars sped by, blaring their horns as they passed, merging with the city lights. On the first floor of an eight-story apartment complex that took up most of the block, a young man quickly unlocked his door, wheeling himself into his modest home; closing the door tightly behind him. He reached up, flicking on the light switch, illuminating the small abode. After setting his keys on the small oak table, he then proceeded towards his kitchen in order to begin the grueling process of making dinner for both himself and his older brother Senir. That was the arrangement they had agreed to. Husky was allowed to go to his art school and live at home, while Senir worked, as long as Husky did the cooking and cleaning.

He reached his arms up, opening the freezer door and pulling out a small package of hamburger. Onwards to make their favorite meal: Hamburger Helper. A few grease popping minuets passed before Husky heard his door open. ‘Weird’ he thought. ‘Senir isn’t due home for another hour.’

“Senir,” he called. “What are you doing home so early? Did you lose another job?”

There was no answer.

“Senir,” he repeated.

Again there was no answer.

“Come on Senir, this isn’t funny! Where are you?” he asked, backing up his chair. He only moved a few inches before he ran into something, and instantly felt a hand cover his mouth.

“Husky?” Senir called, walking into their home. “Where are you?” he closed the door, turning around to find his home in utter disarray. The couch was turned over on it’s back, the floor was littered with books and papers. The bookshelf that should have been against the wall by the television, which was now broken, was now lying face down on the floor. “Husky!” he called more urgently, quickly striding through the apartment, in a futile search for his baby brother. A few moments of terror filled pacing passed when Senir noticed a small piece of paper taped to the door. He ripped it off the large piece of metal.

I have taken your brother to my home in the mountains. If you ever wish to see him again you will meet me their by midnight. Do not call the cops and tell no one. Come alone. If any of these conditions are not met you will be visiting your brother at the city morgue.

Senir looked at his watch, 9:30 glared back at him in cool neon blue digits.

The first thing Husky felt as he slowly began to stir was the air; it was cool and hung densely in the small enclosure. His nostrils flared with a pungent, burnt earth smell. The skin on his face and arms felt hot, as if he had spent the past three days cooking over a sizzling stove. Slowly opening his eyes he saw the reason for the warmth. He was lying in front of a rather small fire pit, small, but incredibly warm. Husky unenthusiastically sat up, his long muscled arms shaking slightly with fatigue, as he scooted himself against a cold stonewall.

‘Where am I,’ he thought bitterly, rubbing his eyes in a vain attempt to make the forest green orbs finally focus. His limbs felt heavy, as though they were made of lead. Just to keep his head up was proving to be a difficult task, let alone actually moving. Resting his head against the cool wall, Husky noticed a small number of things. One, he was in some type of a cave, and two, in said cave there was a tall figure who was lurking in the shadows a few feet away.

“Hello?” Husky called, surprised at how groggy his voice sounded. “Who’s there?”

In response to his question, the man took a few steps forward, stepping into the light of the fire. He was a tall man, with long gangly limbs, a crooked smile, and sharp, slanted eyes that were the color or freshly brewed whisky. His cloths were ragged and torn; stains of unknown origin littered the ratty garments, and they hung on the man as if they were intended to be worn by someone who was several sizes larger.

“Who are you?” he repeated as the man sat near the fire, rubbing his hands to get warm.

“My name is Sassafras and I-”

“Sassafras!” Husky blurted out. “Who the hell names their kid Sassafras?”

“You know,” Sassafras said, pulling out a long shinny knife from a weathered leather sheath at his side. “It’s not wise to insult your captor, you might just get hurt,” he finished, setting the knife in his lap.

“Taxi!” Senir yelled as a bright canary yellow car pulled over to the curb. He opened the back door, quickly jumping inside. “Take me to the dessert,” he all but shouted, shutting the door a little too harshly.

“Whoa fella,” the driver said. “What’s the rush?”

“Just get me there as fast as you can,” he pleaded as the cab sped off into the night.

It was 10:38 by the time Senir got to the beginning of the dessert landscape. He looked towards the mountains, the long, barren stretch of land seemed nearly impossible to cross in only and hour and twenty-two minutes, but he had to. Husky’s life depended on it. Senir ran, his long powerful legs quickly treading the distance, kicking the rough sand behind him.

By the time he reached the base of the steep mountains it was already 11:50. Good. He had a couple minuets to spare. There waiting for him, leaning lazily in front of a small opening was Sassafras.

“I was starting to think you wouldn’t show up,” he said dryly, taking a small step towards Senir.

“Where’s Husky?” Senir growled, his strong hands gripping the front of the other’s shirt, lifting him a few inches off the ground.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the other commented patiently, his amber eyes starring into Senir’s own ocean blue orbs.

“Why not? Where’s my brother?” he demanded, glaring dangerously into the other’s eyes, pinning him against the cold stone of the mountain.

“Because, if you hurt me, you’ll never be able to find your brother. I’m the only one who knows these caves,” Sassafras replied evenly, as though he where explaining something to a small child.

Senir thought for a moment about the prospect of being lost in a link of caves, and quickly decided against it. He had no choice but to trust this man. After all, if he got lost then no one would be here to save Husky. Loosening his grip, Senir set the other man down, taking a few steps back.

“You will take me to my brother now!” Senir commanded.

“Hold on, all will happen in due time. But first, do you know why you’re here?”

“To get my brother,” Senir replied. “Why else would I be in the middle of a deserted waste land with an insane psychopath who will probably end up killing me?”

“Follow me,” Sassafras sighed, walking into the opening of the cave.

They walked around the cave for what seemed like hours, moving in and out through crevices, up and down steep walls, and finally they arrived at a little alcove, hidden between two rocks. As soon as Senir stepped through the narrow fissure, and into the room, he instantly saw his brother Husky, leaning against the stone, the soft red orange glow of the fire shining peacefully on the slumbering boy’s face. He chuckled lightly to himself, ‘Only Husky could sleep at a time like this’ he thought almost bitterly, sitting down next to his brother’s precarious form, careful not to wake him.

“What do you want with us?” Senir inquired, starring into the small blaze.

“I want nothing,” Sassafras replied evenly, sitting at the opposite end of the fire. “My mistress would like a word with you. She’ll be along shortly.”

“What does she want with me? And how does this involve my brother?”

“We needed to insure that you would be compliant, and as far as what she wants, you’ll find that out soon enough. I can however tell you that she has a most generous proposition for you.”

“What type of proposition involves assault and kidnapping a defenseless kid? He’s paralyzed for Christ’s sake! How could you jus-”

“Hush!” Sassafras ordered, holding up his hand. “No more talking until she gets here. Why don’t you rest, you’re in for a long night.”

“Oh that sounds like fun! Let’s sleep while I’m trapped in a cave with a psychotic, bloodthirsty, deranged, psychopath who dragged me over a hundred and fifty miles form home because he kidnapped my younger brother! As pleasing and delightful as that sounds, I think I’ll pass.”

“You should trust me more, I’m only doing what I’m told, and I’ve been told not to harm you, as long as you stay here.”

“And I’m just supposed to take your word that you’ll leave my brother and I alone?”

Sassafras nodded his head ever so slightly. “Yep,” he stated plainly, throwing some more wood on the fire. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because you’re a sadistic, homicidal, maniac?” Senir offered, sneaking a glance at his still sleeping brother.

“He won’t wake for awhile yet, he’s pretty heavily sedated,” Sassafras commented, looking down at his small wristwatch, 12:45 showed brightly against the green backlight. “Well,” he said, stretching his arms as he stood. “I’ve got to go get my mistress. If I return and you’re not here I will slit your brother’s throat,” he finished, slipping through the small crevice.

Senir rested his head against the cool stone behind him, closing his eyes, welcoming the dark abyss of sleep.

When he awoke, Senir was surprised to see a pair of beautiful blue-green eyes staring at him. “Husky?” he asked groggily, trying to focus his eyes.

“No,” the figure said, the soft voice oddly comforting, making him want to fall asleep again.

Senir looked more carefully at the thing that was sitting on him, wavy brown hair hung loosely past its slender shoulders.

‘Definitely not Husky’ he thought. “Who are you?” Senir asked, rubbing his eyes in a futile attempt to clear the fuzziness.

“My name is Flower, and that,” she pointed a long, delicate finger at Sassafras. “Is my brother.”

“What do you want?”

“You,” she stated, her face merely centimeters from his own.

“What!”

“I want you,” she repeated calmly. “You see, I’ve been watching you for awhile now and I really like you.”

“Okay… um…. what do you want with me creepy stalker lady?”

“Don’t call me that! My name is Flower!”

“Well Flower… what of me do you want?”

“All of you. I want you to marry me.”

“What!” he spat out. “I can’t marry you! I don’t even know you!”

“But I know you. And I want you, and I always get what I want.”

“Well you’re not getting me,” he said dryly, shifting slightly under her weight.

“Really?” she asked, smiling slightly to herself as she leaned in closer. “And why is that?”

“Because I have a strict policy against dating crazy people?” he offered.

“I’m not crazy!” she yelled, standing up. “And you will marry me!”

“You can’t force someone into marriage! What makes you think that I’ll actually marry you?”
“Your brother,” she replied, sitting back down in front of him.

“My brother? If I don’t marry you, you’ll kill my brother?” Senir asked, his usually deep voice cracking slightly.

“Yes.”

“But I can’t marry you.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to kill your brother,” she said, pointing a shiny black gun at the unconscious boy’s head.

“NO!” Senir shouted, grabbing the sleek metal, pulling it towards himself. They wrestled over the gun for a few moments when suddenly… BANG!

Senir watched as the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground, the thick green straps painstakingly unwinding themselves as it went deeper and deeper into the earth. He glanced up towards the woods, his eyes linking with cold, detached amber ones. Sassafras was just standing there, leaning carelessly against a tall tree, his arms folded across his thin chest, thin lips forming a small smile.

‘How can anyone smile at a time like this?’ Senir thought cynically, dropping a white rose on the deep mahogany casket. He walked towards the narrow road where Husky was waiting. ‘I’d be traumatized if I saw my sibling die’.

Fin