Sylva found a wooden bench to wait at. Curling up with knees to chin, arms wrapped around her legs, tears came. A lot. She could cry as much as she wanted, no one would hear.

A grunt, and yelling startled her out of her crying. A man dressed in ragged clothes, shuffled by shouting, “The government’s taking over. I know. That’s why I’m like this. They want to silence me, but I won’t let them. Listen! They’re coming for you!”

He continued yelling, but no one paid him much attention. In fact they all looked at their rectangles. Some read books, a few had round pebbles in their ears. The man's shouting went ignored…like a ghost. Sylva would have tried to talk to him, but her gut told her not to. 

People could see this man, he was part of their world. A few in the distance glanced his way, but quickly occupied themselves with something else. He smelled too, like someone who hadn’t washed in ages. It was like the smell of garbage, sweat, and feces mixed together.

There was once someone like him back home. Mayor Barrett exiled him. This was the one time Da and Mayor Barrett agreed on something. That man was horrifyingly crazy and Da had told her to never talk to him; so she wouldn’t talk to this one either.

A different kind of machine raced by in the chasm between the standing places for people. It was faster than anything Sylva had ever seen! She walked to the edge of the standing space and took a look. Rats, they scurried among metal tracks. Was that some kind of train? Da told her the big cities had trains, but this wasn’t how he had described them. These were weird metal containers, not powered by steam. Maybe it’s a different kind of train?

While she waited, Sylva watched people get on and off the train. People argued, pushed, shoved. Some were patient. At times the trains were so full, people almost fell out the doors, but they squeezed themselves in and out regardless of the booming voice from no where telling them to wait for the next train.

She waited for hours, but when nothing happened, when Da didn't come, Sylva thought the train might take her somewhere familiar, what else could a ghost do? The next train that came, she got on. 

This one was rather empty and stinky. There were people, but there were still seats. Everyone seemed to avoid the person sprawled out across a few seats, and that’s where the smell came from too. Sylva took a seat near the door farthest from the sleeping man. She looked for a familiar name among the stops hoping that just maybe this really was a greater city in her world. The train rocked back and forth, the cold lights dim, and her nose adjusted to the smells. People preoccupied themselves with rectangles, books, or sleep. Soon Sylva felt her eyes drooping. She shook her head and opened her eyes wide a few times. Soon she lost the battle and fell asleep.

***

Sylva hadn’t woken up, but Dein had cleaned her up and put her in bed. He checked for fever. Body unharmed. No major cuts, bumps, or bruises. Was she in contact with the lacuna for so long that she could no longer move? Why wouldn’t she wake up?

Someone knocked on the door. With a huff and glare at the door, Dein got up grimacing. His whole body ached. At least the residual pain of lacuna didn’t hurt as intensely as other incidents he’d been through.

While opening the door he said, “I’m closed for business-”

“I want my ‘apestry. Ih was due this afternoon.” Gladys said holding out her hand. Huxley stood behind her.

Dein stared at them with his jaw slightly dropped, “No, I’m clo-“

“Now.” Huxley said.

“I’m closed.” Dein tried to close the door but Huxley stopped him with a boot in the door.

“You said by this af'ernoon. Hand ih over.”

With an impatient sigh Dein firmly pushed the man’s boot out of the way with his own, slammed the door shut before he could do it again, and locked up. Their indignant mutterings drifted through the door. Dein didn’t bother listening. Instead, he built a fire and tossed all the orders of weaving, and woodwork into it. The clay work he submerged in water, the finished ceramics he put in a bag and broke them into large shards. He couldn’t risk small shards falling out of the bag onto the floor. Sylva could hurt herself. He collected all the money paid to him in a pouch and tied it to his belt. The mutterings had stopped sometime ago. Likelier than not they’d be back in the morning.

Despite his last two dozen years here, this world never ceased to astound him. This town hadn’t known about him at first, so although reluctant to welcome people who looked different, they were willing because they needed a skilled man like him. They never hesitated to let him and Sylva know that they were tolerated, but they never crossed certain boundaries for fear of losing his sorely needed business. 

He’d cut off business with a man for slapping Sylva. Mayor Barrett excused the man and no punishment was issued; so Dein took back all that he made for the man, and returned his filthy money as well. That incident kept the town under control for a while.

Dein went into the kitchen to cook a vegetable soup for Sylva. Ruminating as he watched the broth simmer.

I should’ve travelled longer-searched harder for a decent home. I promised to take care of Sylva, but I raised her in a town like this. Now look what mess you led her into. Aren't there places that haven’t heard of me, or wouldn’t care? Somewhere she could be safe– if she wakes up. She’ll wake up. She will...

That night, pounding on the door woke Dein with a start. Bleary eyed he fumbled for his scarf and coat. Opening the door brought in a cold wind, and the angry stares from a crowd of townsfolk. Sighing Dein met Mayor Barrett’s disdaining eyes.

“What do you all want at this hour?” Dein asked sparing no politeness for this unwelcome midnight visit.

“Where is she?”

“What do you want?” Dein repeated face settling in a hard stare.

“Your daugh'er tried to throw the other children into a lacuna, and we heard you threatened to harm Huxley and his family.” Barrett let an unpleasant smile settle on his face, “I declare you will be put through scarring and your daugh'er–well she’ll be exiled.”

Dein breathed deeply, gritting his teeth, taking a second to close his eyes, “I did threaten to break Huxley’s arm if the kids didn’t tell me where my daughter was; but what proof do you have that Sylva tried to harm the other children? If that’s true, then why was she the one tossed in the lacuna? WHY-” Dein pulled a hand over his face breathing deeply again as he turned away from the crowd. Getting angry would do no good. 

In a calm lower voice he continued, “Why did I find her body abandoned in the Lacuna without so much as a word from anyone? Why did no child tell their parent the truth? Were they scared of the punishment that might follow? Are they still scared because of how this town is run? There are lies here, and until I hear my daughter’s side of the story, we aren’t leaving. I’ll accept my punishment, but every single of one of you will stay away from Sylva.”

Barrett laughed manically, “Who are you? I am the mayor. ME. Noh you. I say wha’ will and will not happen. Righ’ now you’re due ah the hall where you will receive fif’y cu’s for every child and paren’ who suffered from these events.”

“Give me the punishment right here.” Dein rolled up his right sleeve.

“The HALL!” Barrett snarled, nostrils flaring. He brought his face right up to Dein. An impressive feat considering his short stature. He could barely maintain balance on his tip toes. Dein used a single finger to give the mayor a gentle nudge back. The mayor had to fall back to his heels before he toppled.

  Calmly, Dein said,“And I said here. You honestly think I’d leave my daughter alone with the state she’s in? Even if she were awake, I wouldn’t trust any of you to try and steal her away.”

A gasp went through the crowd, some more indignant than others. A few called out to the mayor to put Dein in his place. No one dared step up against Dein directly just yet, because they couldn’t risk the chance that’d he’d still be around for business next week.

Rolling his eyes, Dein held out his arm, “Hurry up and leave.”

Mayor Barrett drew his eyebrows farther down than one might think possible and hissed, “A madman like you should be silen'!”

Dein faltered unsure what to make of the statement. When he offered no response, the crowd murmured amongst themselves. A door creaking open behind him silenced everyone.

“Da?”Sylva came limping out of the bedroom staring wide eyed, tears pooling in her eyes, limbs shaking from the effort to move, “What’s going on?”

Dein rushed over to her, and knelt down. “Don’t move anymore.” 

        His head suddenly throbbed as tension released throughout his body, and with it the full intensity of the pain he’d been ignoring. He grimaced trying hard to hold back any expression. Sylva would worry if she saw his pain. She’s awake. That’s all that matters—

 “Da,” Sylva's face scrunched up to cry, “ It was scary! They pushed me! The other kids pushed me- and- the lacuna hurt- it was eating me-and the other world- I didn’t know how to come home!”

Dein put a hand over her mouth to silence her.

Townsfolk yelled over each other to defend their children from Sylva’s story, at least the parts they heard. Dein held a finger to his lips to keep Sylva quiet. If we’re lucky they didn’t hear her mention another world.

Sylva, startled from being silenced, stared back and forth from Dein, to the townsfolk, and to the mayor, "But-" She started.

      Dein pulled her into the gentlest hug whispering, “Whatever you do, don’t mention the other world.”

“Your intuition never led us wrong before.”

-Love Long Gone