I go into my room and read his journal, waiting for the house to get quiet.
Kenna helped me clean all the dust out of the castle. Zev continues to bring us people as he finds them on his hunts. People who have been here for varying lengths of time, some longer than me. Some only for days. But none have been here longer than Zev and the granny, Beatrice, who came with him.
We are excited by the people who know how to grow food, who know the terrain better than we do and have been teaching us the kinds of food we are able to grow ourselves.
Some of the people got to work building small homes in the valley between the mountains.
I forgot to mention, the mountain the castle is underneath is actually a mountain range of sorts. Every day Kenna and I set out to explore more of the tunnels and see how many exits to the outdoors we can find.
On one of these adventures, we found a door that leads to the area in the center of the range. It was then we knew it was all built in a circle. Unfortunately, the center was completely empty, no buildings, and the dirt was unworked.
While I would not complain about having all of these people live in the castle, I understand that living with no view of the sky can be unsettling for some.
Half of us pitched in to build homes for the “villagers,” as they have come to calling themselves. It didn’t take long before every family who wants to live in their own small home is settled.
The rest of the group helped work the fields, getting them ready to plant. Soon we will enjoy being able to eat freshly grown fruits and vegetables.
Kenna prefers her room in the castle. She actually asked me one day after several homes had been built if it would be okay with me if she stayed. Would you believe she asked me if she would be a bother? Like I’m not the demanding beast in this scenario.
I assured her that she was welcome to stay as long as she wished. She made quick work of inventorying everything in the castle. I’ve never seen anyone clean as thoroughly as she does, but I would never ask her to do that forever.
Over time, we have managed to house quite a group both in and out of the castle.
Placing a bookmark in my place, I listen for any noises in the house. Thankfully, I hear no noises indicating people awake, and I quietly and carefully change into my sweats and make my way into the living room.
On my way, I snag the thickest blanket off the back of the couch and move to the back door. Carefully, slowly, I slide the door open, cringing when the alarm makes a beeping sound. I hold the door open, listening for anyone moving in the house.
Finally, I step outside and close the door behind me. I use my hand to clear the snow off one of the chairs and wrap myself up in the blanket, every part of me is covered by its warmth, except for my face.
I turn my face up to the sky. The snow has stopped falling for the moment and being away from the city, I’m now able to see the stars. Using the names I made up for the constellations when I was a kid, I name all the ones I can see.
When a shooting star catches my eye, I immediately close my eyes as tight as I can and wish to see the beast. I keep my eyes closed and repeat my wish over and over again until finally my face is so cold I can no longer feel it and stand to go inside.
I set the blanket on the couch and sit in front of the fire to thaw out. When I can feel all of my fingers, toes, and face again, I finally make my way to my room. It takes me a couple of clumsy sleepy minutes before I’m able to get back into my Christmas jammies, and I climb into the bed, the journal hugged against my chest, and fall asleep.
* * *
THE BEAST
I sit on the couch, engrossed in Callie’s book, as I have come to call it, while the castle grows quiet around me. When I’ve finally finished it, I set it down and make my way to the solarium we saw the fireworks together in so many months ago.
I push my hand against the pressure switch that opens the false mountainside. The snow falls outside, and I move closer to the windows so I can see the stars.
Making my way out of the room, I move down to the ground level and exit into the village. The lights are out in the village while families do their best to get some sleep, preparing for Christmas morning.
I make my way to the center of the square, where I was telling stories that first time Callie snuck out of the castle. It was never necessary for me to question anyone on who let her out. Immediately, I knew it had to be Kenna who showed her the way outside.
I think back on that day, and a smile comes to my face. I tilt it up to the sky, letting the snowflakes fall on me, the cold more prominent on the scarred part of my face.
When I stop feeling the cold flakes against my face, I open my eyes and look at the sky. I can see stars all around. The only boundary is the edge of the mountain cutting off the rest from view.
The constellations here are different from the ones I remember back home. I never cared to name them, the hope always being to make it out of this place.
When a shooting star flies by, I close my eyes and make a wish. It’s a silly thing we did as kids and none of our wishes ever came true, but I wish with everything in me to be with Callie again. To see her face. To hold her in my arms. To kiss her pink lips.
When I run out of parts of her to wish to see again, or for the first time. When I run out of parts of her I’d like to touch. When I run out of the parts of her I’d like to taste, that list is the most extensive. And I finish off with all the things I’d wish to hear her say again. I make my way back inside. I stoke the fire in my room, strip off my outer clothes, and get beneath the covers of my bed, falling asleep to thoughts of Callie.