Fragile Dreams, Chapter 7



written by Christine

Chapter 7

Present day

The door flew open. “SHIT!!!” A large circular object that barely fit through the door, suddenly popped free and rolled down the stairs, slamming into the opposite wall. Isabo watched as it bounced off that wall and start rolling straight toward her. Her chain prevented her from dodging to the side. She leaped over the top of the tub and rolled clear, trying to protect her bad shoulder and arm. The tub hit the corner, swirled and then landed flat. She struggled to her feet, holding her damaged limb.

	She glared at the figure on the stairs. Luka gave a sheepish grin. “Sorry, it slipped,” he said. “Are you okay?” “I’ll live,” she quipped back. “Hum… Not a bad spot,” he said studying the tub’s placement. “Probably would have put it there by choice.” He disappeared up the stairs.

Isabo turn her attention to the tub. It was big! It was more than what just one person needed. It could hold at least four people comfortably. Where it ended up was right next to the only floor drain in the whole basement. It was also where she could use it without any tension on her chain. But how was he going to be able to haul enough water to fill it, not even considering the heating problem? Isabo didn’t relish the idea of a cold bath. She could probably heat the water with her pyro power, but the pain the collar would give her for using it made her reluctant to consider it. Luka reappeared dragging what looked like a long soft rod whose end extended up the stairs and out the door no matter how much he pulled into the room. He had one end folded back and it was leaking water. He dragged it over to the tub and released the end. Water came shooting out of it. Steam rose from the water that was pouring into the tub. To Isabo it was something she had never seen before. She stuck her hand into the stream and quickly pulled it back. “Careful, it’s hot,” Luka said. Luka laughed at her curiosity. She was much more animated today. She was so different from the scared figure crouched and trembling in the corner. Was it only yesterday? “I got this tub from an unused livestock field,” Luka explained. “It shouldn’t be missed for a long while, if ever. They stopped using the field because demons kept eating the cows.” He saw how fascinated she was by the hose and realized that she had never seen one before. “That’s called a hose. It’s attached to a tank outside where I’m heating the water. Gravity is what is causing the water to come out. Much better than hauling by buckets don’t you think?” She nodded. The tub filled quickly and was nearly full when Luka felt the hose change temperature and closed off the end “You better climb in my Lady. I’m out of hot water so I have to get this hose out of here.” He left with the hose. She was still reluctant but she did as he suggested. The water felt wonderful as she lowered her body into it. She held her breath and sunk completely under the water. Luka returned with his arms full of shampoo and soap bottles. “My mother picked up a bunch of different soaps and shampoos imported from the Human world. I’m sure there is something here you’ll like.” Silence responded. “Isabo?” He looked up, concerned, and didn’t see Isabo in the tub nor anywhere in the room. His concern changed to panic as he saw the chain draped over the edge of the tub going into the water. He ran to the tub, dropping all the plastic bottles. “ISABO!!!”