Outcast

Last week I got a lot of requests to continue the story of our wandering soul and the City of Duhr. I wasn't sure what was going to come out this week as I don't always know what will come through the keyboard BUT if you wanted more then you're in luck!

This week I will be building on that story so make sure you read Exile's Journey first. As a note, this is not a poem written for children. While there aren't any graphic scenes, it does deal with some adult topics. You asked for the next part and here it is :)

I might start adding to this story outside of #PoetryFriday so if you like what you're reading start following me to avoid missing anything. Also, I'll be posting here as I wrap up my first novel in verse so make sure you stay connected.

Outcast

A screech breaks the sky

crumbling me to the ground

my knees shattered from

the phoenix's

judgement.

Julia's eyes

say see you later

as they jut to my pocket and back

with her wily smile.

She waves goodbye.

My eyes

drink in the moment

less sure

if I'll see her again.

The phoenix

swooping down

snapping me up in it's beak

spitting me out over the wall

into the desert wastes

back where I started.

I am

again

cast out from the City of Duhr.

Sitting in the dust

the sand

the heat

the sun

I check my pocket

where Julia always leaves a way back.

Feeling a smooth round trinket

I pull it out

a compass

scratched brass

broken glass

pointing

south.

Stuck to the back

a note

written by her hand

with one word:

Vezun.

No water

no supplies

I start towards the direction of the compass.

South.

Sands and winds

claw at my eyes

my face

my lips

every gust of wind dragging with it the water in me

every step south growing cold

growing dark.

The sun doesn't follow me

it stays north with Duhr

leaving the desert

an arctic waste

a place I recognize

cold

alone.

On the horizon

a well of darkness

grumbling like a hungry stomach.

Above the well

whirling clouds

whips of lightning flinging about

ripples of thunder shaking the sands into waves.

The compass

points to the well

to the grumbling

to the lightning

to a gaping maw

slightly sticking out from the eye of the storm above.

The compass

is clear

Julia is directing me to the well

through the winds

to the grumbling.

I run

towards the well

towards the winds

towards the beast now slithering out the storm.

I jump

into the well

into the winds

into the frozen sands blowing up towards me

the beast from the storm following me down

mouth wide

teeth like broken stone crags

along an ocean of whipping tongues flicking at my ankles.

I fall

the cold swallowing me

the sands slicing at my skins

the beast chasing me down snapping at my legs

recoiling on miss

launching itself again

closing in

closer

closer.

I twist

away from the bites to my chest

pushing off it's warm nose

it's furry snout

it's face a mix of canine and serpent

it's eyes

unmistakably human

unmistakably those of my mistake

Heather.

As the beast snaps

slithering

recoiling

charging

I scream

and dodge

and regret

and know this beast to be my penance

for my nights with Heather.

Darkness

devours us both

leaving only her eyes glowing

as we fell

those blue eyes where I could find

a night's comfort

or distraction

before the sickness

and doctors

when I wanted what I had

and what I wanted.

Julia's eyes

the night I told her

didn't glow

they melted with tears and disappointment

and distrust.

That night I broke something between Julia and I.

Heather is here to devour

the pieces I have left

the pieces I kept

the excitement

the rush

the guilt.

A tongue latches onto my hand

pulling me upward

the cold from the well burning

blistering

as I feel the heat from Heather's mouth

blow over me like opening the oven door with my face too close.

Another tongue lashes my throat

another my legs

the fight and thrill in me is ripped away

leaving only

guilt

and silence.

Falling turns to floating

as I lift out of a stone well

striking the ground with the crack of bone on ice

the pain piling onto the guilt

aching in my soul.

Opening my eyes

I am in another city

a frozen

frail city

broken by time and neglect.

A building

gray wooden planks bound together

with brass bolts and blue ropes

smelling of burning flowers and

baking bread

has a sign hanging over the open doorway:

Vezun.

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Thank you for stopping by! Make sure you follow if you'd like to see what happens in Vezun. Thanks for hosting Poetry Friday this week Sylvia Vardell! Make sure to check out her blog: Poetry for Children! Happy writing and see you next week!