The Creation of Ruben
Author: Hollyn
Challenge: Rum Raisin: #10, guardian
Toppings: Whipped Cream
Extras: n/a
Rating: G
Story: Synergy
Title: The Creation of Ruben
Word Count: 619
Summary: Imaginary friends can sometimes have a life of their own.
Characters: Eden Lee (age 10)
Notes: Been reading around RaTs and it has my creativity flowing again, at least for now. : )
Eden wavered on the tree branch. She felt the old wood crunch beneath her weight, finally ready to give in to the call of gravity. She gasped and clawed upwards for the branch above, but she was already tumbling through the air. She squealed and clapped her hands to her eyes. There was a horrible moment where there was nothing but the air shooting up around her, lifting her hair straight above her head and making her clothes flutter and snap like a flag on a blustery day.
Then something caught her under her arms, giving slightly to account for the force of her fall. Within a split second, all the falling was over, and there was no pain to be shown for it. Someone was cradling her to their chest, crooning soothingly.
Eden opened her eyes and looked up at the man who held her gently. He smiled down at her, his arms as strong and tender as if he was carrying an idol.
His skin was glowing with a faint green light, and Eden pressed her tiny palm to his shining, stubbly cheek in wonder. He laughed and smoothly set her on her feet, then knelt before her.
“Hello, little Eden,” he said, his voice as low and soothing as his movements. “Are you alright?”
Eden shyly played with her hair. “Yes. Thank you.”
The glow of the man faded quickly, and Eden’s eyebrows drew together.
“My name is Ruben,” he said. “You made me when you fell.”
“So you’re my imaginary friend?” Eden said doubtfully, not recalling any other time her imaginary friends had come to her rescue.
“Sort of.” He smiled, and his dark grey eyes glittered strangely.
Ruben had thick, rough hair. Eden touched it, wondering at how it glistened like bronze and gold.
Ruben smiled and lowered his head for her to play with his hair.
“You’re very special, Eden,” he said.
“Is that how I could make you?”
“No, lots of people can make things like me. You’re special because of all the things you’ll do when you’re a grown-up.” He explained, making a face at her. She giggled and touched his nose, then took his hand.
“I’ll show you to mommy,” she declared, pulling at him. Ruben’s hand tightened around hers and he tugged her back.
“Your mommy wouldn’t like to meet me,” he said, his expression twisting slightly.
“Would she be able to see you?” she asked. Ruben hesitated for a moment.
“I don’t know. But she wouldn’t want to see me, I’m sure,” he insisted. Eden gave him her best skeptical face, then sighed heavily. Ruben laughed and hugged her tightly. Then he held her at arm’s length.
“I need to go away for a long time, Eden, do you understand?”
“But you just got here,” Eden said, bewildered and hurt. He nodded, cupping her face in his hands.
“I’ll come back for you. Nothing will keep us apart in the end. I promise,” he said. His comforting look disappeared as the back door opened.
“Eden, who is that with you?” her mother called, hurrying down the steps. She froze as Ruben stood, his large hand tight around Eden’s little one.
“One of you…” she whispered before noticing their clasped hands. Her dark eyes widened, almost bulged out of her skull. Eden’s heart stopped in pure terror at the expression. “No! No! You can’t have -”
A huge gust of wind blew Eden’s hair forward, into her face, and she dropped Ruben’s hand to push it out of her eyes. Within a moment, Ruben was gone and her mother was wrapped around her, sobbing and telling her never to speak to strangers again.
Within a few weeks - every day stricken with some of the strangeness inherent in her life - Eden forgot the incident completely.
Ruben never forgot.
Thank you for reading! Concrit is appreciated!