Chapter 14: Chapter 14
If before the ground was uncomfortable to walk, now with the rain falling on it it is double, turning everything into an accumulation of mud under our shoes, which is difficult to detach from its surface when trying to run to avoid getting wet. Although it is not of much use anyway, since when we get to the entrance we are totally soaked.
I am surprised when, with just a little push, one of those old wooden doors opens, producing an unpleasant high-pitched crack that bursts my eardrums. From the strained expression on Samuel's face, I guess it must be too heavy. We enter through a tiny gap that forms between the two doors and he pushes again, this time from behind, releasing an exhausted sigh and eliminating the only light that entered that place.
Samuel: Hello? (He screams in the middle of the dark).
May: There is no one.
He ignores me and shouts the same thing again, adding applause, which echoes in the air, repeating itself a couple more times until it is invaded by silence.
Samuel: There must be a switch or something here (he says and I hear the sound of his footsteps somewhere).
May: Don't you have a lighter?
Samuel: No, I don't smoke.
I hear a noise, similar to some metallic artifact hitting the ground and bouncing several times.
May: What was that?
I ask altered, turning in my place, seeing absolutely nothing.
May: Samuel?
He doesn't answer, which alarms me even more.
- Hey.
Says someone behind me and I turn, expecting to see darkness again, but I am surprised by the fact that as I do so I hear a "click" and Samuel's face lights up in front of me.
May: Oh, you scared me, you idiot.
Laugh
May: Wasn't it that you didn't smoke?
He asked after looking down and noticing a steel lighter glowing inside his fingers.
Samuel: I found it from here. There are shelves and a lot of crap. Everything but a switch. This is sure to be abandoned.
May (bufo): Today is definitely not my day.
He shrugs and takes my hand, forcing me to walk over his steps to a few feet beyond, where mountains of dry grass almost reach the high wooden ceiling. Minutes later, I find myself sitting on my backpack, in front of the small fire made by him.
Already being illuminated, the barn is not as big as it seemed and to my luck there is no type of animal around. The shelves are filled with stocks of food and objects that seem to have been unused for a long time. I think it is not what always appears to be a barn, but rather a kind of warehouse.
After spending several minutes checking every corner, Samuel sits down next to me. His shirt is completely unbuttoned and his tie just seems to have disappeared from his body. His wet jacket hangs from the wooden sailor ladder that leads to the loft, as does my plaid shirt, so I'm only wearing the muscular black one underneath. We are both barefoot.
I hug myself.
Samuel: Are you cold?
He asks looking at me and I shake my head, without taking my eyes off the flames of the fire that is in front of my eyes. A chill floods my body when I feel the movement of his hand on my arm.
Samuel: You're shaking.
May: I'm fine Sam...
The last word is in my mouth when a cloth covers my shoulders and I look down, seeing his light blue shirt on me. He settles back into place, bare-chested and a thin chain that falls across his chest.
May: Why are you like this?
I ask watching him, while he touches the fire with a poker.
Samuel: So how?
May: So ... how are you (looks at me). Others like you don't even care how I feel.
Samuel: Your dad told me you never had bodyguards before.
May: Well yes, but ... your job is to protect me and accompany me, not to take care of me ... (I look at the shirt that covers me) or to do these things.
Samuel: If it bothers you, take it out. I thought you were cold.
May: No, it's not that. It's just (squints) ... I don't understand. You are different.
Samuel (laughs): May, I don't do it for work.
May: And why do you do it then?
The smile fades from his face and he swallows, letting his nerves take over and he regrets having said what he just said.