Brigit's Flame week one, "Hero"

[riotheclown]

 

She was blind. He had to help her didn’t he?

Twix wiped his nose with his sleeve and then bit down on the nub of nail on his thumb, shifting his weight from one foot to the other and bobbing his head erratically. He could hear the tree branches clawing at the end of the bridge. He could see the water rising closer to the shore. 

A high piercing whistle sounded as the wind cut the metal grate. It sounded like some fiendish instrument heralding the end. His whole body was bobbing now.

The blind old crone was reaching out wildly with her hands trying to make her way to safety. 

Helping her would mean he would have to leave his perch and go into the storm. She probably smelt real bad; she was probably crazy. Why else would she be out here alone? 

She could not see him. She was blind. She could stumble past him and never know he was there and unwilling to help her. 

 “Safety in numbers, safety in numbers, safety in numbers…”, Twix repeated this over and over a uniform number of times. He had to repeat everything the same number of times, even if it got him beaten up. This was why he was alone. This is why he kept himself hidden.

She was blind. He had to help her didn’t he?

Perhaps he could just nudge her to safety without having to speak to her. He could do that. He could just give her the end of a stick and she could take the other. He took a branch that had fallen under the bridge and pulled off the excess leaves and twigs and started to make his way towards her. He poked her gently with the stick.

Startled she shouted “Help! HELP!”

The gang of thugs that tormented him appeared. He swung the stick threateningly to force them back. He knew it was a temporary achievement, besides they were all going to drown soon.   

He was no hero.