hi!! this is not a Xmas story, I didn't know if it's good enough to be posted, but I've been told it's not that bad, so... :unsure: I really hope u'll like it. Please let me know what u think :)

Through the eyes of Ruby

Bump. Bump. Bump bump bump.

Crimson red flashing lights hit my face, as I sneak inside the crowded dungeon. My eyes hurt for the smoke that fills the space like a solid fog.

Noise.

Bump. Bump. Bump bump bump

Drunk men all around, this place smells of cheap whisky and beer… the crimson rays hit the walls like an evanescent modern spider web, well, like what I think a web could be. I saw one on a video-book once in elementary school.

Sweat. Dirty faces. Beer and women scent.

I push an pull through the crowd, my eyes glued to the small back door. My feet are heavy to lift on the cement floor, my head is spinning like I had taken one of those green pills so popular at the moment.

Hey honey, where are you going?

Hey foxy, come here!

A red head! Where did you buy those hair babe?

I did not buy my hair. It’s mine, like my blue eyes. I bought the pale skin I'm wearing right now, because my original one had freckles and I hate them. But this hair is mine.

A laser ray hits me in the eye and I stumble down like a junkie. Through the curtain of tears, I see the back door.

Hey baby! Have you ever had a ride with one from Mars?

I did, and it was not that great.

I stop before the iron door, panting. I lift my hands to touch it, feeling the cold surface under my palms.

I open it and sneak inside the dark corridor. Behind me the crowd whispers like one.

Silence, fresh air. The blessed darkness of a mother's womb.
I walk slowly, scanning the darkness. Sometimes a mere glimpse catches my attention: a white nail, the white of a pair of inquiry eyes. But no one stops me.

- Ruby.- a voice calls softly in front of me. I smile, more for myself than for him, as I know the man who spoke did sell his eyes so much time ago, and now ha cannot see me smiling in the darkness.
- Ezechiel.- I whisper.
- Already back kid?- he asks. I don't answer. - You were here yesterday.- I sense disapproval in his voice. - Kid, this is not the kind of place for one like you.-
Tears fill my eyes as I speak, trying to control the trembling in my voice.
- Need to check out my documents?- I ask rudely.
In the dim light I see the tall man shrug his shoulders.
- Itz the rule you know.-
I lift my right hand, offering him the palm. He takes out of his pocket a small, metal cylinder. I don't look at it. I'm watching the wrinkles on Ezechiel's face. "He should buy a new skin" I think.
A needle comes out the cylinder and I feel pain biting my palm as the needle penetrates my hand cruelly. The small cylinder illuminates and its yellow spotting light falls on Ezechiel's face. I stare at his empty sockets, speechless.
The computer voice cracks out the cylinder sneaking in my ears like icy water.
"DNA scanning complete: Ruby Vaatine Nasw, age 23 solar years according to the Moon calendar, citizen of Earth, number of identification 874AM592. Permission of presence on Earth: running. Permission of existence: running. Permission of Free Thinking: running. This citizen is allowed to access the system. Last scanning update: today, 17th of Octavianus 2702."

I breathe deeply. Ezechiel smiles, inviting me to sit on a small couch of dark red skin.
- Want something to drink?-
- A glass of water.-
He laughs.
- As always. You have expensive tastes kid. Not many people can afford to drink water anymore.- he pauses, half turning. - So, do you take the usual?-
I sigh.
- Yes.-

I sit down biting my fingernails, waiting. And then, his scent. A scent I could recognize everywhere.
I jump up, my heart beating crazy as I watch his silhouette getting clearer as he walks to me.
I run and embrace him, pressing my face against his chest, breathing his scent.
- Orlando!- I nearly scream.
He pulls away and looks deep into my eyes.
- Ruby!- he whispers, lifting a hand to caress my cheek, pulling me closer again.
I forget everything: the scanning process, Ezechiel, the bleak dungeon where crimson rays hole the smoke.
- I missed you so much!- I murmur holding him tight. He frowns.
- I missed you too, my love.- He squeezes my arms and drags me on the small couch again.
- Talk to me.- he says in a urgency, his eyes devouring my face. - I need to hear your voice love.-
And I talk. I cuddle up close to him and I shed myself completely. I tell him about my fears, my nightmares and my dreams. I talk shamelessly. He's the one I can talk to. He's the one who cares.
I sigh embracing him.
- Hush darling,- he whispers smoothing my forehead. - It's alright.-
I lift my face to stare at him, deep into his eyes.
- Orli, I love you.- I utter desperately.
He smoothes my cheek.
- I love you too.-
- No!- I burst out. - I mean I really love you! Since I saw you on than E-movie of the year 2000, I fell in love with you.- I gulp, tears fall down my cheeks. - I'll love you forever.-
He nods, serious, leaning in to kiss me. I taste my tears on his lips. I open my mouth and pull him closer, desperately, kissing him furiously with an hunger that tears me apart.

Steps.

Ezechiel walks closer. I look at him, too proud to scroll my head and beg him to leave us alone for another minute.
- Time is through.- he says kindly.
Orlando nods getting up from the couch. I clench my hands around his hand… love, please, don't go! But Ezechiel is staring at me so I let him go, ashamed of the tears running from my eyes.
Ezechiel smiles gently, handing me a glass of water. I drink it quickly and get up, ignoring the shaking of my knees. I wanna leave this place.
- I hope you got what you wanted.- Ezechiel whispers.
I swallow down bitterly, but I reply in a cheerful tone.
- Of course. You guys are the best with this kind of things.-
- Ruby? Where did you find him?-
I gulp.
- He was an actor in the early 21st century.- I whisper.
- 21st century?- Ezechiel bursts into laughter. - You teenagers find out the weirdest things for your Guided Fantasy Projections! When I was young, it was enough to imagine to have a good space-car or a date with the woman you liked.- he scrolls his head. - and now you require Fantasy Projections starring people who died 600 years ago.-
I smile bitterly.
- Here's your cash.- I say handing him a small diamond from my pocket. Since Venus became the Capital Planet of the galaxy, we all have to pay in diamonds, the Venus currency. I hate it, I have to go around with my pockets full of stones, it is not very comfortable.
- Thank you.- Ezechiel says holding the diamond. - Come back to see us, kid.-
I turn over and face the dim corridor. Far away, I hear the beating of music in the dungeons.
I lick my lips to feel his taste once again.
- I will.-

the end

Holy f*ck this is fantastic! I'm awestruck! :bow:

You've outdone yourself, this is even better than the muse and its sequel together! :faint:

Gesus, oh my God I love your vivid imagination, please write some more of those completely brilliant and stunning shorties!

:bow: