Foot to hoof

"Tick."

This was the one sound that echoed constantly in Blake Manlan's mind. In the small room in which he sat it was the most interesting sound he could pick up on, not to mention it did serve a very vital purpose.

His eyes were locked onto the longest arm of the clock which hung on the wall above a chalkboard, with each second that past the arm would shift slightly and which each movement it got closer and closer to what Blake wanted.

Just forty seconds stood between Blake and his Christmas vacation.

Whilst other students talked and conversed about their plans, Blake sat quietly admiring each swift movement of the clock's arms.

   "30", He whispered under his breath.

At this point other students began packing away their things, something Blake had done minutes ago.

   "20", He whispered this with a hint of excitement in his voice.

By now his teacher had began giving directions about leaving in an orderly fashion, of this Blake was completely oblivious, his concentration still focusing on the clock.

  "10", Blake's arms twitched as he was ready to spring from his chair.

With one swift movement the arm struck 12, and right on cue the school bell rang, Blake jumped from his seat and dashed for the door just as others had.

Among the frenzy and commotion of everything Blake stepped outside into the lashing rain.

It bucketed down from the heavens, clashing against the pavements, roofs and any person below.

Blake stood in the rain, his back leaning against the school building watching other students run to find shelter while they waited for some one to arrive and pick them up.

Blake did not mind the rain, infact he liked it, he thought differently than most students about things. Stuff he liked were things that were frowned upon by others as they were considered, out of the norm, or just plain weird.

Blake himself looked like any seventeen year old with a few exceptions.

He was slightly underweight, had a shade of purple under his eyes from insomnia and he was quite tall, taller than most seventeen year old's.

His mind worked in quite a different way than most teenagers.

He questioned everything in his mind and looked deeply into it before making a judgement.

To him, unless proven by logic or science, it was impossible. To him a life solitude and peace was one of his taste.

Blake could have a relationship with people for years and then break all physical or emotional ties with that person and not be affected, he preferred to be on his own and often dreamed of a place where he could just forget about the world, and everyone in it.

Blake was soaked to the skin in a matter of minutes, but he did not care. He leaned against the wall staring at a willow tree that was having it's branches whipped around in the midst of the heavy wind and rain.

It was not long until a small red Ford pulled up on the kerb beside Blake. He stepped towards the car and got in.

A quick glance was exchanged between Blake and his father who sat in the driver's seat.

They rarely spoke to each other unless it was necessary, Blake hated his father for the fact that he was always more involved with his career than his own son.

This was the case since Blake was a small child and has been embedded ever since.

     "How was school?"

Blake's father spoke in a dull tone.

    "Meh. Same as always I guess."

Blake responded not really caring much for his father's interest.

Just like everyday the journey home was mostly quiet with the occasional road-rage fuelled comment from Blake's father about traffic.

Blake lived in a mostly wooded area and his house was obscured from view by the dense amount of trees.

As they approached the small cobbled bridge into the woods they saw people dressed in high visibility clothing directing people away from the woods.

The car came to a halt and a man who looked like he was in his thirties or forties wearing a ushanka hat, gloves and a high visibility jacket approached the car.

Blake's father rolled the window down, letting alot of rain water come into the car onto his lap.

     "We are sorry sir but we highly recommend not entering the woods."

     "I need to though, my house is on the west route that goes through here and this is the only entrance."

     "We are not going to stop you sir, but many trees have fallen and the risk is still very high for more to fall."

      "Well unless you are actually going to stop me, I am going to head home."

     "Stay safe!"

Those last two words were muffled a sudden sound of thunder as Blake's father rolled the window back up, his lap now saturated in rain water.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, Blake's father was still complaining about how useless those people were if they were not even enforcing anything, and about he got wet and he just wants to get home.

Blake dealt with his father's complaining quite alot, but today he seemed a bit more agitated and more easily annoyed.

He knew he could not put up with much more of his father's constant whining.

With his father seemingly more on edge he was going at a some speed as they were in the woods, Blake took no notice once again lost in his thoughts after his father finally calmed down verbally, but his aggression was showing more in his actions.

He rounded a turn at a generous speed as lightning struck down nearby in the woods, this made Blake jump with fear, but before the hairs on the back of his neck had time to stand up a second bolt hit nearby, it was so close.

Suddenly a large brown silhouette began collapsing mere metres in-front of the car.