Duo rose with the sunrise the next morning with his arms wrapped around Katja, holding her tight as if someone would take her away in his dreams.
At first confused by her presence, he almost woke her, but caught himself when his mind finally cleared the drowsy cobwebs of sleep.
Instead, he lifted Katja off of his chest and carefully, like placing a sleeping newborn in its crib, he laid her to rest on the ground where he just sat.
While she slept he built up the fire, had some breakfast, sat down, pulled out Katja's journal from his back pocket and began to read.
Of the few personal excerpts she wrote she never put the date in but her words painted such a vivid picture hat you knew the approximate time. A few excerpts he had read so far had spoke of unbreakable sorrow and a bit about the daily happenings. Most of the pages were covered with song lyrics, poems, pictures, pressed flowers glued in place, sketches and the scribbles of free associate writing.
As he read through he realized that, like himself, Katja had never really opened up, but rather placed an appropriate mask over her pain hiding within.
With that though, he automatically turned the page to reveal a poem. He looked down at it mildly surprised by its appearance and read.
Everyone bears one, everyone wears one.
Mine is always in place.
It's my protector, my guardian from reality.
It helps me to be safe from all the things that want to hurt me.
All the things that are inside of me tearing and prying, trying to escape, when I wear it,
it helps me keep them in place.
No one knows the real me, the one I hide or should say hides deep with in
me.
There it is kept safe, no one can hurt it and it can't hurt anyone.
For if it was to climb out from within myself, I wouldnĄ|t know what to expect.
I have never let it that far.
I know it tries so hard to get free, the real me that hides so cowardly.
It climbs the low walls, inside of me, but can never surpass the one thing that
protects me.
This thing inside of me takes a toll on my body, and especially my mind.
It taunts me, teases me, but I am strong.
I won't be weak, won't allow any one to know the real me.
For no one will ever hurt me again, no more crying, no more trying, no one
will ever hurt me.
If I keep my protector in place, no one will ever see my true face.
Because I hide, hide behind my guardian, my savior, my mask.
A different one everyday, the strongest one leads the way.
Always there for me, it will never leave me for now it is a part of me, it makes
me whole and helps me to keep everything in place.
My mask, my savior, my mask.
"So much suffering, so much pain, all bottled up," he mumbled to himself.
He read on for a few more pages, then he heard Katja stir.
She sat up rubbing the stardust from her eyes. Even when she first gets up in the morning she's beautiful. How does she do it? thought Duo with a little sarcasm.
Finally fully awake, Katja stood and began to stretch, then with out a word to Duo, walked over to the river and splashed some water in her face.
When she got back Duo had a hot plate of rations waiting for her.
Without a word she gave him a smile of gratitude, sat down and began to eat.
"Sleep well?" he asked while watching her eat finically.
"Pretty good. One of the better nights in he last four years." she answered with a somewhat reluctant smile. After she spoke she wrinkled her nose at the food, stopped eating, stood and started to pick up some of her stuff, leaving the food there.
Damn she must have lost her appetite, "You weren't cold?" he asked as he eyed the plate then looked to her with a mischievous smile.
Katja turned suddenly at the question. He had never been so forward before, but she shrugged it off and smiled back, her expression much softer then before.
"I've got to change. I'll be back in a few." she replied as she gathered her black backpack and walked down the path towards the waterfall.
Duo had gotten the response. He liked the extra heat, too. He looked to the river.
It had been a long time since a person would come near me without fear of death or injury, but Katja would never be that way, he smiled at the last thought.
The two of them always had a non-verbal communication between them. Both had glass faces. Their emotions and thoughts could be read very easily, especially by each other, but he had built a mask to hide himself, as did Katja. She had her mask long before they had met, but he could always see the person behind it. No matter the mask, Duo only had to look at her eyes to know the truth, those large deep sapphire eyes like gems imbedded in a ring with long black lashes that trimmed them like a seamstress would trim with lace. He never forgot her eyes, he never would forget.
A sudden chill ran down his spine.
She's been gone quite a while, he thought as he looked around the camp.
Feeling anxious, he got up and went looking for her.
It didn't take long; he walked down near the falls and found a pile of clothes near the edge of a small pool of nearly calm water, surrounded by thick lush bushes.
Perfect cover, he thought as his eyes scanned the water for her.
Then up from the churning abyss further out, rose Katja's head. Submerging in a full body kick, like a mermaid then reappearing a little closer each time.
As she reached closer to shore the water line sank inch by inch, until finally he couldn't stand the thought of spying on her while she was this vulnerable.
Of course that was just a thought, his body didn't agree with, so he remained, watching intently.
Then suddenly she stood and turned so fast that in the glare of the morning light he couldn't see her. Then, when his eyes adjusted, the sight of her naked shoulders and back finally got a response from his body. And he, himself, jumped from the bushes and ran back to the camp a little embarrassed and afraid that she had seen him. Duo just tried to relax near the fire and expel his mental picture of her naked in the water from his mind.
Katja walked up a few minutes later dressed in black cargo pants, black tank top, and white short-sleeved button up shirt. She was bare foot with soaking wet hair pulled up in a ponytail, carrying her boots and socks and backpack.
She sat down in front of the tree where they had slept and put her socks and boots back on, not saying a word, but with a knowing smirk that kept Duo from asking where she had gone.
Duo remained quite and poked at the fire with a stick, trying his hardest to not make eye contact.
Katja knew he was there, she had heard him run away, but didn't mention anything. She could see that he was obviously embarrassed. When she was done tying her boots she stood and picked up her bag.
I've got to do some work on the truck," she said with indifference.
Expecting her to say something else, Duo automatically cringed, expecting a tongue lashing, but quickly covered that up with a fake shiver and replied. "Okay, I'll be here if you need help."
Katja noticed, but just turned and walked away.
She went to her truck and emptied it of her possessions and some things that would come in handy, and stuffed them into a black backpack.
"So what ya taken'?" asked Duo as he walked up to the truck from the river.
Being overly curious he had followed her a few minutes after she left.
"Just some things that will be useful," replied Katja, who was lying underneath the truck, fiddling with something.
"What are you doing?" asked Duo as he knelt down to look under the truck.
"I'm setting plastic explosives on the under carriage and around the gas tank and engine so it will make a big explosion. Could you pass me a starter cap, please?" replied Katja absently.
Obeying her request Duo handed her the starter cap, and looked at the half of her body not covered by the truck confused and in a way that makes on reevaluate the others sanity.
Katja took the cap, placed it and then crawled out.
She remained seated and leaned up against the car. Duo was kneeling beside her, the confused look still on his face.
Katja looked at him with cocky knowledge of her plans, then smiled at him and explained. "First, I have no need for it. Second, I want to remind some one of a mistake," she replied.
The look of confusion melted off of his face to reveal a sinister smile that spread from his mouth to his eyes. He understood what was going on.
"So, do you want me to drive?" he asked.
Katja edged closer to him, an evil smile spread from her lips and lit up her eyes. "And miss all the fun? I don't think so."
