Chapter 3

As the air grows colder, the earth begins to raise in temperature. From the shadowy, dark ground the sky rises in a brilliant red that strikes fear and pain at first sight, and the clouds are a deep rouge with vibrant violet thunder-bolts shooting out from all around them. The view from the flower-box outside the window of the apartment building is awe inspiring. Eagles, crows, sparrows, and ravens all fly as one in the twilight sky as one dark cloud of flapping terror. All kinds of birds alike together in one impenetrable force. However, one by one, sects of the creatures begin to slowly tear apart and attack the others from the inside. While some of the aerial beasts remain focused and unscathed, a large amount of them begin to fall from the sky. The opera house below occupies no one and the wind blows softly but distinctly enough to notice the rising velocity. Papers and refuse are visible in the empty streets. Suddenly, wings begin to form and the feeling of flight fills the soul. The breeze wooshes past and causes both fright and a sense of security as another bird soars through the sky. One more bird becomes part of the whole and becomes salvation bound, due to fly regardless of strength or pain.

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Malachi exited his apartment. He yawned to couple with his lack of sleep as he turned around to lock the door. He stared at the doors fake wood pattern as be blinked slowly with his sleepy eyes. As he reached into his right pants pocket and removed his keys, Malachi thought of what he'd made of his life so far. He went to college four days out of the week and only works two days a week and for barely over minimum wage. His parents were still supplying him with the funds to afford his apartment. Malachi looked at himself as pointless and to put it harsher, a failure all-together. He sighed silently to himself and turned around quickly to proceed down the hall. But after looking up he saw the face of Crystal. She was wearing a black dress that made her look very business oriented. Possibly for a desk job of some kind? "Oh hey," Crystal began,"Your the guy I saw the other day in the elevator, right?" "Thats right." Malachi was delighted to see that she remembered him. "I'm sorry, I never properly introduced myself. My Name's Malachi." Malachi suddenly felt bold and reckless at the same time. A smile crept across his face. A pathetic smile, but a smile no less. "Would you wish to join me in the elevator again this morning?" Malachi had let the boldness that he felt earlier come out. "I would indeed," said Crystal with smile. In the elevator on the way down they talked about what they had in store for the day. Crystal explained that she had a job as a secretary for a business man who was head over a division of a state wide food utensil company, Utensicorp. Malachi nodded in affirmation and told her of his dead end job as a book store clerk. She giggled. Malachi looked at the floor and blushed a little bit. "No no no! I'm sorry!" Crystal pleaded with him. "I didn't mean it like that. I was thinking about how I've been looking all over for this one book but couldn't find it. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I was just thinking how maybe I'd poke in and suprise you today and have that as an excuse. hehe." "Oh its alright," said Malachi with another pathetic smile. He was actually shocked that she'd even do anything so thoughtful for an almost stranger."Well I hope so," she commented with a forgiving tone. He smiled a better smile at her and she smiled back. After they reached the bottom floor they walked outside together. He walked with her until they reached her car. There was crow perched on her right side side mirror which he proceeded in helping her shoo away. It flew off reluctently. Malachi sent her off in her Lexus and kept walking to the book store. A while later he spotted the same crow as before sitting on a post next to the door of the book store.