Rose Blumen ~ Exogignesthai 1

(Rose)

Bleue and I are making our way toward the coast of the Channel.

The shore is a little more random than it is on the Atlantic side. Here we can see buildings sunken in the distance, as if underwater cities had been built in the Channel, with roads leading to them, diving.

And not far from there we can find endless plateaux of dry arid dirt and dead sea creatures, as if the sea had left the land for a mile or so.

I don't see any consistency in the landscape anymore.

Bleue is beaming at everything we discover, imagining wild or fantastic theories about them.

Today, we found a crawling flower.

Bleue called me, clearly excited about something unique. I'm so hungry, I'm not sharing her energy right now.

We only ate half a dead fish found on the road where the water receded.

I stand up and join her. She's looking at a plucked flower lying there in the middle of the damp grass.

It looks like a magenta dandelion.

A single flower, in full bloom already. I admit it's cute and unusual for the season, but that's about it. I'm about to leave when Bleue tugs at my sleeve, ripping it a little even.

B - Look closer!

The flower with its stem, a few leaves and green roots, is lying there, uprooted. Then I see the roots curling like worms, and moving. They stretch then, and the flower crawls a few centimetres ahead in the grass. And slowly, as slow as a snail, it moves.

Hum... Okay, that's not common. I saw trees running away from the red mist, so it's not that uncommon to see plants now able to move, but it's still quite rare, and a first for Bleue.

B - Do you think it comes from a tragic wedding bouquet?

R - Hm, I wouldn't know. It's unlikely. But maybe there is a garden nearby it comes from, or wants to reach instead.

B - How was our garden when you returned home? I bet the roses had overgrown and swamped the garden.

R - Something like that yes. I mostly remember the pain when I realised how much I lost you.

Her big eyes are looking through me, lost in thought.

B - It took some time for my wish to come true... But now look! We have crawling flowers! Wasn't it worth the wait?

I scratch my elbow, looking at the flower. I'm a little embarrassed. Was it? Or does it even make sense?

R - I'm puzzled.

B - Should we go and have a look ahead, toward where it likely comes from?

We were following the shore in the research of a functioning boat. But I guess we can digress for a little while.

R - Alright. Let's go look for the rest of the bouquet.

~

Besides ruins and caves, we don't find much until we reach a stream I have no recollection of.

A few run down houses. Cars. A park. All in a rather good state. Some of the doors have rotten and fallen in mush, leaving some plastic, the lock and handles lying there in their puddles or stains.

We saw a few other flowers just like the first.

Bleue is looking around cautiously for any sort of clue. I'm looking around for anything edible, and I'm not picky. My stomach hurts and I still feel anaemic.

I see a small tree running across the street while Bleue isn't looking. I stand there, gawking a little for a moment, until Bleue comes back to me.

B - I think we're close. Let's see if there is a greenhouse nearby.

We find a small farm with damaged greenhouses. A door lies open, and flowers crawl through. That's kind of cute.

As we walk by them and set foot it, we scare many other species of plants and other things. They attempt to run away like critters would in panic.

We see small trees and bushes rushing out. One breaks a window and is getting stuck, wailing around in panic like a bird would.

Bleue gets it free and let it run away. Only the flowers remain, either too slow or unconcerned by our presence.

I see Bleue is sucking the tip of one of her fingers, where she just got cut on a thorn.

B - Some of them had fruits.

R - I saw. But I don't want to eat vampire fruits ever again. I can still feel that pain in my throat.

B - What about revenge?

R - ...

B - Just teasing you Rose.

She grins. I don't believe she would be one for revenge either.

The pink flowers come from the next area of the greenhouse. We head in to see.

As soon as we step in the next greenhouse, we almost vomit because of the putrid smell lingering.

Some giant flowers lie here and there. Some slowly move.

Some are laying fruits like animals would lay eggs.

And a vine has the pink flowers detaching themselves from it like falling fruits.

It's an impressive living jungle in here. It blurs the lines between flora and fauna. We have to hold our breath still.

I point at a white rock in the pile of mud that makes the flower bed. Bleue scratches it with the tip of a nearby stick.

It looks like a piece of a pale curvy chunk of clay.

She understands rapidly that it's a piece of skull.

I then notice hooves protruding from the ground not far behind the main flowery growths.

We get out by the next door we can find, before we end up joining them all.

Behind the greenhouse is a deep and large hole, with a swamp covered with vines, roots and other flowers.

Tadpoles swim inside.

Bleue gets a closer look and giggles.

B - They're not tadpoles, they're small flowers too.

R - It would seem they have everything they need here... Let's look around for something we could eat too.

And remain careful that we don't end up being the lunch for other plants instead. Bleue agrees heartily to both.

If every greenhouse on Earth has become such a jungle... How weird will nature be in another hundred years?

~

We find turnips in the field behind. I think they are normal at least.

We crop what we can eat and carry away at the end of the day.

We watch other flowers on their slow migration from the roof of the nearby house at dusk.

The sunset makes them gleam slightly.

Our tummy finally full, we watch that silent show with delight.

Bleue leans against me after a slight burp that makes me chuckle in silence. She was hungry as well.

The sunset is nice. The air is already warmer around here.

B - I like this moment.

R - I do too.

Bleue plays with her fingers that turned a little red from all the work.

B - I regret nothing.

I manage to reply only a few minutes later, after night catches on us, sipping slowly over the sky.

R - Some past mistakes still pain me... But nothing that concerns you, rest assured.

She presses herself against me as if I were her pillow now.

B - Thank you Rose... You know, I'm starting to get used to this new world of yours. I like it.

Her belief that her wish had come true was only her best way to cope with a difficult reality. I kiss her forehead as I would have when she was still a child, and hold her hand. I can reassure her.

R - It was the wish from both of us...

~

I wake up with something tickling my nose. I open my eyes to a blur of pink and sneeze. A flower flies away in stupor.

The bed is invaded by the flowers. At first I think they wanted something and came in to grab it.

Then I see Bleue gathering them by hand, and arranging them over the old bed.

B - Oh you're awake? How do you like it princess?

R - I don't like being called princess more than you do...

B - Oh Mary, aren't you happy?

The flowers are all slowly trying to run away from this place, it's a little funny to watch. Bleue is still holding a wriggling bouquet of those near my face. It's ridiculous but funny.

She gives it to me, shyly. Is she blushing or teasing me?

B - I wanted to thank you Rose. Thank you for me... For us to be...

I can feel her genuine feeling behind these unusual gestures. I'm a little touched, and I accept the bouquet.

They don't smell anything but I can feel them moving, which is slightly gross.

R - Shall we release them together?

Bleue smiles, a flower in her hair.

~