[ WP ] On a walk through the park , on an average day , the sun flickers and goes out .

Part One 
 
 Perfection, while highly improbable given his recent experiences, seemed possible today. After a week of near constant flirting and deliberate innuendo Chase Donahue had finally taken a chance. Being thirty and no stranger to dating he was cautious enough to suspect that what he was feeling might be a projection of personal desire. Even so, there was something different about Lucy Allayana. 
 
 To Chase her personality and body were of equal pulchritude and it seemed to him that her skin was an impossible combination of porcelain and bronze. Her temperament was a proportional pairing of delicate and strong, each emerging at the right times. She was as happy watching old movies as she was working at the office and the practice of either was made more enjoyable when with her. Simply put, she radiated - both inside and out. An original beauty, Lucy was everything Chase wanted to touch, but had never managed to hold - a warm ray of light that a person could feel as it shone, being joyous for it's touch, but devastated by having no capacity to keep. After working with her for three years Chase believed she would be the pinnacle of his dating life. He believed he could hold her. He believed he could keep her. 
 
 He was glad he had finally asked her out. 
 
 Lucy's instructions were clear. Meet at the park, at the bridge by the pond, bring two sandwiches, two cokes, a red blanket, matches, a candle, and wear comfortable shoes. 
 
 Chase had protested at first. 
 
 `` Should n't I plan the date?'' He had asked. 
 
 `` You asked. So I'll plan.'' Was her response. 
 
 Her logic, while different, made sense. It also made Chase like her all the more. 
 
 Ready to meet Lucy Chase walked quickly carrying the items in his backpack. As he walked, Chase noticed the sky. It looked even bluer than usual. He laughed at how his giddiness was even affecting his eyesight. 
 
 `` I've got it bad and the date has n't started yet.'' He thought. 
 
 Unaware and singularly focused he walked past the people around him - the sounds of activity were everywhere. It was white noise from the din of life that produced for Chase an unconscious and inviolable sanctuary of optimism. As he approached the bridge his eyes scanned across it and he tried to look past the glaring pond beneath it. The sun was bright and he had to squint to make out the bridge. 
 
 `` Should have worn my sunglasses.'' He thought. His eyes, wrinkled into slits, made out a silhouette on the bridge. Smiling, he waved, and like a beacon the silhouette waved back. 
 
 `` Hey Chase.'' Lucy called. 
 
 Chase then had to walk the remaining distance to the bridge plagued by the awkward reality that flourishes when you ca n't clearly see someone that you are sure can clearly see you. He was keenly aware of Lucy's gaze and felt tremendous pressure to move towards her in a magnificent fashion. He wanted to run to her, both from excitement and wanting to get his trek over, but he was too cool to make that mistake. More than anything he wanted to impress her. Chase settled on maintaining his current pace and continued on towards Lucy. He was thankful to finally reach the bridge and quite sure he was already overthinking everything. 
 
 `` I could hardly see you. The glare was so bright.'' Said Chase. 
 
 `` Can you see me now?'' Said Lucy, obviously flirting. 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` Good. Do you like what you see?'' 
 
 He could n't believe how direct she was being. Chase decided to be direct as well. 
 
 `` Yes I do Lucy.'' He said, as years of bottled up attraction gushed forth. `` You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Getting to know you over the past three years has been incredible. I know this is our first official date, but...'' 
 
 Lucy interrupted, `` Why could n't you have come to me sooner Chase? Why do you always wait?'' 
 
 `` Scared I guess, but I'm here now.'' He said, still caught up in his wave of honesty. 
 
 `` Just look at me and remember what you see okay?'' Said Lucy, rushed and very serious. 
 
 `` What?'' 
 
 `` I just want you to remember something normal. I want you to remember who I am and that you can trust me.'' 
 
 A piercing screech filled the air. It was as if death, all deaths, had bound together to produce one penetrating sound that radiated from everywhere at once. Chase instinctively grabbed his ears, but wanted to cover his mouth as it felt like the sound was even coming from inside him. 
 
 A moment later there was silence. Not even a ringing of the ears remained. 
 
 Then the sound blared again. Glass windows exploded, followed by trees. The bridge shook and began to crack. 
 
 `` Give me the blanket.'' Yelled Lucy. She took the blanket from Chase. `` Just remember what I look like. Remember something normal.'' 
 
 `` What's going on Lucy?'' 
 
 `` It's about to get a lot worse.'' 
 
 Lucy wrapped the blanket around them both. 
 
 The screech stopped. People around the park began to scream. 
 
 `` Lucy! What is happening? What is this?'' Chase yelled. 
 
 `` Nothing. At least soon enough.'' 
 
 `` I do n't understand!'' 
 
 `` It's because it's answers I ca n't give to questions you ca n't ask. Now get down and close you eyes. Just picture me okay. Do n't forget what I look like.'' 
 
 The screech sounded a third time. Lucy pulled Chase to the ground and rolled the blanket around both of them. It was the position Chase had hoped the date would end in, but with completely different circumstances. 
 
 Then as the third screech ended the sun flickered in the sky and then suddenly and all at once it went out. 
 
 Chase opened his eyes. 
 
 `` Lucy I ca n't see anything! There's no light. Where is the sun?'' 
 
 `` Chase I want you to stand up and open your eyes. Do you remember what I looked like a minute ago? Do you remember something normal'' 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` You're about to see me again, but it is n't going to look normal.'' 
 
 `` Lucy your scaring me and I'm already scared.'' 
 
 `` I know Chase. You just have to follow me okay, but we have to move fast.'' 
 
 A bright ember began to glow in front of Chase. Where Lucy had been moments before was now nothing but a ball of warm light. 
 
 `` We have to move Chase. No one can follow us and this bridge is n't going to hold.'' 
 
 Lucy, whatever she was, began to move. Not knowing what else to do, Chase followed her. The sanctuary of optimism gone - Chase now heard nothing but screams. 
 
 `` Help.'' People called. 
 
 `` I ca n't see.'' 
 
 `` Where is my baby.'' 
 
 `` What is happening?'' 
 
 Chase followed Lucy easily. She was the only light he could see. There were no streetlights. No emergency lights. There were no headlights from cars. Moving past the chaos Lucy lead Chase to large metal door that opened into a maintenance warehouse. 
 
 `` Open it.'' Said Lucy. 
 
 Chase did as he was instructed. The door was rusty and squeaked loudly as it opened, a mixture of rust and dirt fell from it's hinges. 
 
 `` Let's get inside! Now!'' Lucy warned. 
 
 Chase followed her inside. Out of instinct he closed and locked the door behind him. 
 
 `` Do you have the candle and matches?'' Lucy asked. 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` Light it.'' 
 
 Chase scrubbed the match against the side of the box. It hissed and sizzled as it ignited. He held the match to the candle. A glorious flame flickered and appeared. It was the most magnificent light Chase had ever seen. 
 
 `` Good job Chase.'' 
 
 He looked over at Lucy. She looked exactly like her old self. She was competed normal. Just as beautiful, maybe even more so, than before. 
 
 `` You changed back.'' He said. 
 
 `` Nope. I'm the same as I've always been.'' 
 
 `` I do n't understand.'' 
 
 `` Have you ever seen me in the dark.'' 
 
 `` No. I guess not.'' 
 
 `` Exactly, I'm not that kind of girl.'' Joked Lucy. 
 
 Chase managed a confused chuckle. `` Lucy you need to help me understand what is happening.'' 
 
 `` I know Chase and I'm sorry. I ca n't tell you directly. Trust me I've tried. If I do this wo n't work. Your going to have to use your intelligence to figure it out.'' 
 
 `` I have no idea what is going on and I have even less of an idea how you knew it was going to happen. I mean can you see the future? That seems reasonable considering I saw you turn into an orb of glowing light. Can you predict the future?'' 
 
 `` No Chase. I can not see the future.'' 
 
 `` Well then how did you know?'' 
 
 `` What did I ask you to remember on the bridge?'' 
 
 `` To remember what you looked like.'' 
 
 `` Exactly. And did you.'' 
 
 `` Yes.'' 
 
 `` Was it difficult.'' 
 
 `` No not really.'' 
 
 `` That's right remembering one thing is not difficult. But more than one thing can be difficult if there is not enough time to study up. One needs time for repetition. 
 
 `` So you remembered everything by studying up.'' Asked Chase. `` Like memorized it through repetition?'' 
 
 `` Memorization is just repetition.'' 
 
 `` How many times?'' 
 
 `` Answering that does n't work. There's no adequate name for quantities undiscovered. It's impossible to process.'' 
 
 Chase looked at Lucy - mesmerized and confused - he had wanted to be with her for years. Now he was with her and he had no idea who or what she was. His dream had become a nightmare 
 
 `` Hey Chase you better get out those sandwiches. We are gon na be here awhile.'' Said Lucy. 
 
 To be continued - if anybody is interested. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

