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WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
By Andrew Heighway
Part One of Two.
“Have you ever had a moment where you finally figure out what you where put on this earth for? I thought I did once, and that’s the strange thing because if I told you about it you’d think I’m crazy. I don’t believe in destiny and if it was the case then I’d be angry at world for having no control over my life. My memory of it is pretty much black and white; kinda like Chaplin movie... no sound just feeling. Just the feeling of being connected to something different, something my father could never tap into. Aleu... you know she should have warned how powerful it was, it was amazing... the chase... the hunt... the thrill... You can’t blame me for wanting it so much... Can you?”
Dingo was restless... he had been for over two months now. He couldn’t help it and he couldn’t understand what was happening to him of late. He looked out of the window of his home and looked at the night sky; he was focusing on the stars. As he was looking his hearing became muffled until the normal background noise of Nome at night was gone, all he could hear was his heartbeat throbbing and it was getting faster. He had to get out of the house again, like he had been doing for every night that week. But this time it seemed different, stronger and more primal.
He was now running through a typical Alaskan forest, getting faster and faster with every heart beat. He didn’t care what was happening to him now; he just wanted to explore this new feeling further. He stopped suddenly, he sensed something in the air and it seemed to excite him in a way that he never thought possible. He then began to slowly approach an old tree and creped around it to take a look, and there it was... the most tempting thing he had seen in a long time, it seemed different now almost inferior. The chase was on... his heart was racing faster than it had ever been and he was gaining on his target, getting closer and closer and closer until... with one powerful blow to its head...
He was back in the town, back to reality and it was stained red. He was trying to wash the blood from his face; it trickled down into the sewer drain like wine spilling from a glass. A broken mirror was near by but he just couldn’t look at himself, what he saw sickened him to his core. Yet... he didn’t exactly regret what he had done. He took one last look at those stars that seemed to be different to him now; he turned away and headed home.
The morning came to Nome but it still felt like night for a tired Dingo who was wondering aimlessly around the streets bumping into passers by without a care in the world. His brother Kodiak was now in view, but Dingo didn’t react at first despite the fact that his brother had greeted him with ‘Morning’. Dingo walked by and a confused Kodiak followed him up the street.
“Hey! Dingo!” shouted Kodiak.
Dingo finally realised his brother was talking to him and turned to face him, he looked so tired, Kodiak became instantly concerned about him.
“Are you okay bro? You don’t look so good.” Asked Kodiak.
“Yeah I’m fine. Just tired you know.”
Somehow Kodiak didn’t buy the excuse; he knew there was something more. But he also knew that getting information out of his brother was too much hassle to do by himself, so he decided to ignore it for the time being.
“Ah-huh... Maybe you should go lie down or something. It might do you some good.” Suggested Kodiak.
“Look I said I was fine! Just back off.” Snapped Dingo, who then continued to walk up the street in the same aimless manner he had been doing all morning.
Kodiak was certain something was wrong with his brother, so he walked in the other direction to go and talk with his father.
“I think you’re over reacting son, Dingo is always a bit moody in the mornings.” Said Balto who was going through the remains of his boat with Boris.
Boris picked up the remains of a clock-work cat toy.
“Oh dear... there goes the only happy memory of your childhood Balto.” Said Boris.
Balto looked slightly annoyed.
“Remind me to kill Sam even more when I see him again... not even poor Chester survived his mini-inferno.” Said Balto.
“Dad I’m telling you, there’s something wrong with him. And I mean more than usual.” Said a concerned Kodiak.
“Look what do you want me to do? He’s tired, aren’t we all. I mean do you think I like living with Ralph. He eats beans for supper, lets leave it at that.” Replied Balto.
Boris then found the shredded and singed remains of Balto’s Blanket.
“Oh dear...” said Boris.
Balto looked almost heart broken.
“Yep... I’ve reached a new all time low.” Said Balto.
“Dad!” shouted Kodiak.
“Exactly what do you mean by ‘More than usual’” asked Boris.
“He’s been distant, he’s stopped seeing Rose, he’s always tired and not to mention the mood swings from annoyed too... actually, he’s just annoyed. Not really a swing.” Explained Kodiak.
“Look son, he’s been through a rough time. What Sam did to him... did I mention how much I’m gonna kill him for that?”
“Exactly, he’s been like that since Sam. Maybe not all his wounds have healed.” Said Kodiak.
“He doesn’t have any scars.” Said Boris.
“I meant the ones inside his head, the ones we can’t see.” Replied Kodiak.
Balto saw how worried Kodiak was.
“Alright, I’ll spend some time with him. If there’s anything wrong he’ll tell me, he always does.” Said Balto.
Kodiak then hugged his father.
“Thanks dad. I better go, I promised to help Dusty out with things.”
Kodiak walked back towards the town.
“He really cares for his brother, that’s nice...”
“Balto.”
“I mean it shows that Brotherly love really does exist...”
“Balto.”
“Unlike certain psychopaths who go around killing just because they had a horrible childhood...”
“Balto”
“I had a horrible childhood and I don’t go around killing and burning down homes and destroying blankets that have been with you for as long as you can remember-“
“Balto!”
“What?”
“Stop yapping and go spend time with Dingo. He needs you. Besides you’ll only give yourself a headache again thinking about Sam.”
“Right... Dingo. Got it. I’ll catch you later.”
Balto walked away. Boris sat down exhausted.
“Finally some peace and quiet.”
Things where quiet for a few moments, until...
“Uncle Boris!” shouted a familiar voice in the distance.
Boris stood up quickly.
“Oh no! Oh no no! Balto! Come back!”
Dingo was lying down in the warehouse with the water tank, the tank he was trapped in. He was staring at the hatch into the tank. He kept on seeing flash backs in his mind, of when Sam was attacking him and then of Sam dragging him into the hatch and locking him in. Balto walked into the warehouse, he looked concerned to find his son here of all places.
“Hey son. You wanna go for walk?”
Dingo didn’t reply at all, Balto wasn’t ready to give up easily.
“We could play some ball if you like.”
Dingo sighed.
“I haven’t played that since I was a pup. I’m not a kid dad.” Replied Dingo who had now turned away from his father.
“Alright... looks like the whole day I planned has gone out the window on the account of you ‘Not being a kid’ so I’ll cut to the chase. Is there something you wanna talk about?”
“Kodiak sent you, didn’t he?”
“He’s just worried about you that’s all.”
“Everybody is worried, everybody keeps asking me ‘Are you okay?’. I’m fine, there is nothing wrong with me and there is nothing to say.”
“You know, I thought Kodiak was overreacting, but I think he’s right. Just tell me, what’s wrong?”
Dingo stood up and walked towards his father.
“You know what; I think Steele had the right idea.”
“What?”
“Leaving I mean, getting away. Maybe I need to get away from this place so everyone can stop asking me annoying and childish questions.”
Dingo tried to walk past his father but Balto stood in front of him.
“Wait a minute-“ said Balto.
“Get out of my way!” snapped Dingo.
Dingo pushed his father to the wall.
“What the hell are you doing!” shouted Balto.
Dingo just walked away. Balto couldn’t believe what had happened, what was going on with his son?
To be continued...
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