The enemy within 07

7

 

Lena arrived to a rehearsal room at three p.m. sharp. She rapped on the door and in a moment Danny opened it.

 

„Hi Lena, come in.“ She stepped inside and looked around. The room was large, inlaid with light wood. She caught a glimpse of Carl and Fred at the back of the room. They made different poses and someone was taking pictures but she couldn't see him as Danny covered her view. „We started a few minutes ago. Help yourself to what you want to drink or eat,“ he pointed at the table and the fridge in one corner of the room, „and there is a couch over there. Make yourself at home. Later we can talk.“ As Danny moved to speak to the photographer, uncovering her sight, she saw the man and stiffened. She grabbed Danny's upper arm to stop him.

 

„Don't interrupt him, just let him work, Danny,“ she uttered. Danny looked at her in surprise. „You don't need to introduce him to me. I know him. This is my ex-boyfriend, Eric. I think I should leave.“

 

„No, Lena, wait,“ he lifted his eyebrow. „Do you want to say that he was...,“ he lowered his voice even though music played aloud, „... he was the one naked...?“ She nodded.

 

„Look, have a drink, sit down and wait. You can do as if nothing happened and we'll see,“ he stroke her upper arm. „I thought we could have fun. Promise me you'll stay at least till we are finished,“ he begged her.

 

„OK, I promise. You're right. I came here to have fun,“ she shrugged. She pulled a bottle of Pepsi out of the fridge and settled on the couch, her legs up. She was acting as if she was really at home.

 

She watched them. They really had fun. They smiled, laughed, did crazy things, then they took their instruments and posed with them in their hands. She caught herself laughing every now and then, too. Her heart clenched as she heard Eric's laughter. He still moved with his back to her so he didn't know she was there. In a half hour and half Eric asked the guys for taking several pictures outside so they moved out of the room. She gestured to Danny she would stay here. He nodded and all of them retreated outside. She had plenty of time to think what she should do when Eric would see her there.

 

She finished her Pepsi and got up to take another when she noticed a window in the hall because they left the back door open. She crossed the threshold and stepped to the window. She had to laugh seeing Danny climbing on a tree. There was a garden out there. Eric stood with his back to her again, busy with taking pictures. His long hair waved in the wind, falling on his back. She watched his hands and arms and then her eyes slid down to his legs. She noticed he had hairy legs but what she found interesting was one shaved place on his right calf. There was a fresh scar after a recent injure. The skin was reddish at that place. Shaggy had his injure on the same place. She smiled faintly, turned around and made her way across the room to the fridge. No fairy tales existed. She was a grown up, she should know better. She took a seat on the couch again and unscrewed the bottle.

 

At six p.m. the guys finished their photo session and Carl and Fred went back to the rehearsal room. They put aside their instruments. Danny entered the room with Eric by his side. Danny asked him something and went to the fridge while Eric noticed Lena. She caught his eyes and her heart started beating like crazy. She'd like to run away, instead she forced herself to stay calm. At least on the outside. He stopped and put his camera on the table next to the door. She watched him coming closer, a lump in her throat.

 

„Hi Lena,“ he sat down next to her and clasped his hands. „I know it's uncomfortable to see me after what happened the last time we met but I want you to know that I deeply regret it. It was my fault and I should never have allowed it to happen. In case you can't forget about it which is understandable, could you forgive me, please?“ he looked up at her, leaning his back against the backrest of the couch.

 

„Look, I understand you're no pervert and I'm sorry I called you one,“ she spoke softly. „It was really a strange encounter but I can forget it. You're forgiven. I have just a little problem because I don't know why it happened,“ she lifted her hand as he wanted to interrupt her. „I understand that your secret prevents you to talk about it. I don't want to push you to tell me. Everything around you is so strange and mysterious but yet I feel something for you,“ she glanced at him. „You know I was wrong. I shouldn't have thrown you out. I was enraged and... I regret my behaviour, too,“ she swallowed and waited a few seconds before she continued. „I know when you told me to leave that you actually wanted me to stay. I didn't realize it at that moment. I shouldn't have left you alone. Can you forgive me?“ she looked at him.

 

„Oh Lena, I have nothing to forgive you. But if you need to hear it of course I forgive you even though I totally understand you,“ he stroke her upper arm. „Thank you for your understanding. You're an amazing woman and I also feel something for you.“ Looking in his eyes she spread her arms.

 

„Come here.“ He turned his body to her and pulled her in his chest, wrapping his arms around her.

 

Danny opened a bottle of champagne, poured it into several glasses, took two of them and was about to go to Eric and Lena to share the drink but Carl took his arm to stop him, jerking his head to them. Danny lifted his eyebrow seeing them in embrace.

 

„Perhaps we should join the others. They're staring,“ Eric whispered in her ear. She rose her head and turned around, catching Danny's eyes. She felt her cheeks redden. Eric let go of her. They stood up and walked to the table where the guys were standing.

 

„To what do we drink?“ Lena asked, looking at Danny.

 

„I think we should drink to our amazing photographer, shouldn't we?“ Danny lifted his glass and winked at Lena. She pulled one corner of her mouth in a half smile, nodding.

 

They talked, laughed and had fun. Danny played music and asked her for a dance. He was tall so she placed her hands on his chest and his hands slid on her waist.

 

„You aren't angry with him anymore as it seems,“ Danny said as they were swinging in the rhythm of a slow song.

 

„No, I'm not,“ she looked up at him, a small smile on her lips.

 

„Did he reveal his secret to you?“

 

„No, he didn't. I didn't want to push him. He'll tell me one day. You know he thinks I wouldn't believe him,“ she shrugged.

 

„Hm. And you think you would, right?“ he smiled knowingly.

 

„I don't know, Danny. Maybe.“

 

The others also asked her for a dance, so she danced successively with Carl, Fred and Johan, the drummer of the band who arrived later. Then Eric stepped closer with a slight bow and held out his hand to her. She slipped her fingers in his palm, givinig a short curtsy. He pulled her to him, looking in her eyes closely for a moment. He pulled back to keep a distance between them and placed his hands on her hips. She laid hers on his shoulders. They swayed for a moment, without speaking.

 

„Do you know what I don't like?“ she looked up at him, tilting her head on one side.

 

„Tell me,“ he shook his head no, curious.

 

„That you have to live with your secret all alone,“ she cleared her throat. „I'm sorry that I'm talking about it again,“ she ran her hand through her hair and he took her hand in his.

 

„Don't get me wrong but seems to me your mind's busy with my secret,“ he squeezed her hand gently. „Don't worry about me. I've been living... like that for ten years now,“ he trailed off.

 

„But I think you're still afraid when the nightfall comes,“ she whispered, her voice trembling. „I don't know what it is but I feel it's a threat, something bad,“ she shook her head. She felt the warmth of his hand, her heart beating in her chest. It was so good to have him close, knowing that he's OK right now. She'd like to stay with him and protect him against the whole world. But this is a male thing, Lena. Hold yourself back. Let him breathe.

 

„You're right,“ he closed his eyes and stopped dancing as he realized the music stopped playing. „I know you're expecting me to...“

 

„No! I don't...,“ she covered his mouth with her hand and immediately pulled it back. He took her chin to look in her eyes.

 

„It's OK. I understand,“ he said in a low voice. „You'll know one day. You're a smart and intelligent woman. But I'm scared of that day. You won't ever want to see me again,“ he lowered his head, slowly retreating, leaving her standing in the middle of the room.

 

Danny watched them, disconcerted. Lena walked outside through the back door to the garden and Eric left through the front door.

 

„Eric, wait, what happened?“ Danny called, standing in the doorway. Eric turned to him and stepped back.

 

„My apologies I didn't say 'bye',“ he smiled faintly. „Call me when you need me. I like working with you,“ Eric offered his hand to shake.

 

„Same here,“ Danny shook his hand. „I'll call you. Eric?“ he added and Eric stopped, looking at him over his shoulder. „She cares about you a lot.“

 

"I know. She's so kind and understanding... and loving," he sighed, closing his eyes but before he did, Danny could see so much pain in them, chill running down his spine. „I have to go. Please tell her...,“ he swallowed. „... that I'll call her.“

 

„I will,“ Danny nodded.

 

*

 

Lena was standing in the garden, touching the trunk of a tree. She felt like on a roaller coaster. His words echoed in her mind and scared her, tears pricking in her eyes. Someone touched her shoulder and she glanced at him, seeing Danny.

 

„What happened, Lena? Do you want to talk about it?“ he asked softly.

 

„I went too far, Danny. I think I pushed him,“ she turned around. „I didn't want this.“

 

„I don't think so,“ Danny shook his head. „Come inside to have a drink,“ he took her hand and led her in the room.

 

„What's the time?“ she asked when Danny took a seat next to her on the couch.

 

„It's half past nine,“ he handed her a glass with Pepsi.

 

„Thanks,“ she took a long gulp.

 

„Eric asked me for telling you that he would call you,“ Danny informed her.

 

„He left around eight p.m., right?“

 

„Yes, he did. I talked to him and he wasn't angry. He was rather upset and sad. I don't know him like this. I've had no idea that you know each other.“

 

„It's OK, you couldn't know it. I remember that you told me about him. He's funny, he shines like sun till the night's coming closer. He has a shadow on his soul, a weight that he carries on his back,“ she stared straight ahead. „I'd like to help him but it's not possible to talk about it to him. He scared me with his words. He told me that when I discover his secret I wouldn't ever want to see him anymore. The day he told me to leave he said that no one can help him. Doesn't it sound terrifying?“ she turned her eyes to him.

 

„It does. But I don't think he's a bad man no matter what he has to hide. I'm curious about what it is,“ he patted her shoulder. „He talks about you really nice. You shouldn't give up on him. I like him. And I like you. You two fit together very well as I watched you dancing.“

 

„Really?“ she smiled. „I don't think he's bad either. I don't want to give up on him. Something deep inside in my heart compells me not to,“ she raised her eyes to him. „What did he tell you about me?“

 

„He said that he knows you care about him and that you're so kind, understanding and loving. I saw so much pain in his eyes. He's never shown anything like that before. It chilled me.“

 

„Danny, I think Eric forgot his camera here,“ Carl stepped to them, pointing at the table next to the back door.

 

„You're right,“ Danny glanced there, nodding. He turned to Lena.

 

„You know where he lives. Do you think you could stop by to give it back?“

 

„Sure, it's no problem,“ she glanced at her watch. It was half past nine. „I hope I make it in time,“ she murmured to herself.

 

*

 

As she walked along his house to the back porch she could see him through the window. Suddenly he bent over, probably to pick up something that he dropped on the floor but she didn't see him anymore. She halted seeing the wolf running out of his house. She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

 

„No, it can't be possible,“ she whispered. She resumed walking on the back porch. The back door was opened, the lights on. „Eric?!“ No, he wasn't here. She opened the door to his atelier and carefully put his forgotten camera on the table. She noticed that his PC was on and she saw a picture of herself on the screen. She went outside and glanced at her watch. Five after ten p.m. If fairy tales don't exist how can I explain what I saw a few minutes ago? She left the house. She felt like a thief in Eric's house in his absence.