The International Case of Robert Thatch

The darkness of which kept Robert comfort began to subside slowly until he had fully opened his eyes from another lonely night and was forced now to face reality. He rubbed his left eye only as he did every morning and then got out on the left side of the bed. Robert's bed was a single and had no sheets and only one pillow with a small blanket. Robert looked at his bed as if to make it, but as every morning his eyes caught a glimpse of himself in the bathroom mirror across the room. The door was always open because Robert liked it this way. He then began to walk into the bathroom with his eyes only fixed on the mirror. When he got to it his eyes began to study his own appearance. Now Robert wasn't fat and wasn't that old and most would actually label him as handsome. After a short while the gaze of Robert's eyes fell to the sink. He let out a sigh and then said the same thing he would tell himself every morning, "I'll call him today, right after breakfast." He then brushed his teeth, but did nothing else to prepare for the day ahead. Robert felt a bit cold wearing only his underwear so he decided to get dressed. He but on his suit which was a dark blue color which most would call black. He then put on a black tie along with some black shoes. Robert wasn't putting on a suit for his job and not even because he wanted to feel important. No, Robert put a suit on because that was all he owned. Robert then started walking toward the kitchen not even taking time to straighten his tie. The wood floor echoed his steps as he made his way across the cold dark apartment. On his way to the kitchen Robert would always glance over toward the phone, but not so much the phone but the small light on the answering machine. If it were to light up it was to mean that he had a message and for him to have a message would mean a bill collector or sales person, but nothing else. He noticed the light, but kept walking to the kitchen where he made himself two eggs and a glass of orange juice. He ate the eggs and drank the juice while thinking about the light on his machine, he would always make up different people of which the message was from. One time around last summer he imagined it was from the President him self and got so into it he ran to the phone and without listening to the message called the person directly back. The person answered and with that Robert completely cut off the person and began having a conversation with the President of the United States. He laughed and told the person what he thought about his work and how he was proud of what he was doing with the country in its current state. Then finally Robert stopped and waited for the person to speak again. Now this person was no bill collector or salesperson. This person was a doctor, and because Robert carried on a full conversation with no one, the doctor decided he should come by Robert's place, Robert never asked why the Doctor called in the first place. From that day on the doctor would come over every day around six and just talk to Robert and then always leave around nine. The doctor which is what Robert called him was his only friend. Its not that the doctor never told Robert his name, but that Robert would not stop calling him doctor. As Robert ate his eggs he sniffled a little. The house was cold and it was getting closer to winter. He finished his breakfast and then headed to the phone. He arrived and just stared at the flashing red light and then the text on the machine that said,

"1 New Message, Received on Friday 11/5 at 10:08 A.M."

Robert smiled a little to himself as he then pressed the delete button and watched the text return to,

"No New Messages."

He then turned to walk out the door when then the phone rang. He stopped and his heart jumped while his eyes widened. The ring of the phone was very soft, but the more it rang Robert became more angry and then held his hands over his ears. Robert then removed his hands after what seemed to be an hour to him and as he did he still heard the sound of the phone ringing. Robert sighed and slowly picked up the phone and brought it up to his ear. He cleared his throat first and then said,

"H-Hello"

and then the voice on the other side responded,

"Hey is this Robbert?"

Robert then responded,

"What ever your selling I don't want it so please stop calling me."

The voice then came back with a laugh then said,

"No Robert its me, William"

Roberts heart jumped again and he didn't know what to say when the voice then said,

"You still there?"

and with that Robert quickly responded back,

"I was going to call you today!"

the voice then laughed again and said,

"Funny timing then huh?"

Robert became calm and then said,

"I suppose so. How are you?"

then William said,

"Fine fine, but listen I was wondering if maybe you could come by today? You know just to catch up and you could even meet my wife and kids!"

Robert smiled and his legs felt weak as he then said,

"I would love that William! When should I come? Do you still live in the same place? Should I bring some food or something? What should I wear?"

William laughed and then responded,

"You can come whenever you want and yes I live in the same place and all I want is for you to be here, you don't have to dress nice or bring anything, I just want to see my little brother you know?"

Robert felt over joyed as then said,

"Oh man I can't wait! We can play chess together just like old times!"

William chuckled a bit then said,

"yeah sure I've gotten a bit rusty, but I think I can still beat'cha. Oh and Robert I also have a surprise for you so hurry over OK?"

Robert then nodded and said

"Sure thing brother I'm on my way now!"

William then said,

"OK drive safe I'll see you when you get here."

The phone call ended and Robert couldn't have been more happy in his entire life. He quickly ran to the bath room and took a five minute shower and even fixed his hair after. He slipped his suit back on and headed out the door to his bike. Robert didn't own a car and actually didn't own a bike either. He just saw a bike on the side of the apartment building and took it. He then peddled rapidly toward the side walk and down the road. Robert left around 12 P.M. and the time was now 1:32 P.M. according to his wrist watch. He was tired from peddling, but wanted to get to his brothers house as fast as he could. He began noticing small features of the area that he remembered, he new exactly where he was. He then noticed things around that were new. A bunch of houses and buildings looked run down and some looked like they weren't burnt down. The time was now 2:34 P.M. and Robert had made it to his brother's street which was "Central View St." He turned down the road and noticed that all the houses around looked abandoned. Robert felt slightly worried as he approached his brother's home. As the house came into view Robert let out a sigh of relief to see his brother's house looking as good as new. The strange thing was that all the houses around it were either burnt down or abandoned except for one across the street. Robert pulled up to the side of the house and put his bike against the white wooden fence. He looked around at the house and seemed a bit confused, but he soon shrugged it off and approached the door. He knocked three times and waited for an answer. Robert heard foot steps from inside then he heard his brother say,

"It could be Robby."

Robert smiled to himself as then the door opened and he had finally saw his brother for the first time in 12 years. Robert's eye began to water, but then was quickly to rub the tears away. William then said,

"Robby! Its so good to see you man!"

William gave Robert a hug and Robert was filled with so much emotion he couldn't hug back until a few seconds after. They parted and then Robert said,

"Sorry I'm late, the traffic was pretty bad."

William then shook his head and said,

"Its OK! Come in and I'll show you my house and family!"

Robert smiled and entered the house following William. The house was very bright with color. The lights seemed very bright to Robert, but not enough to squint. William lead him into the kitchen area where he then said,

"Robert this is my wife Caroline."

the thin woman standing in front of Robert had golden blond hair and was wearing a light tan dress with a white apron on as she then said,

"Its very nice to meet you Robert, William has told me so much about you! Oh, and I'm cooking a pork roast so I hope your hungry!"

Robert smiled and nodded at Caroline and then said,

"Yes mam It's very nice to meet you and I can't wait for dinner."

William laughed at Robert then whispered to him,

"Don't call her mam, she already thinks she getting old!"

they both laughed and then William said,

"Oh, and over in the room are my two wonderful kids Johnny and Amy."

Robert approached the room with William as then came into appearance a boy that seemed to be about that age of 10 and a small girl who looked no older than 6. William then said to the children,

"Kids this is your uncle Robert, and he has come by to meet you."

Robert felt even more emotion as the kids ran up to him and hugged his legs and said,

"Hello Uncle Robby!"

Robert looked down at them and smiled then said

"Its very nice to meet the both of you."

The kids then ran back into the room and began playing with their toys again. William patted Robert on the back then said,

"Lets go into the living room and talk a little OK?"

Robert nodded and followed him into the living room where as they got there he saw two chairs put up to a coffee table and a chess board in the middle. William laughed and looked at Robert then said,

"Why not over a game of chess just like old times right."

Robert laughed a little and sat down then said

"Hope your ready to lose!"

The two brothers began playing chess and started talking about what they have been doing for the past twelve years. Robert didn't lie to his brother but instead left out some details. After a while talking about the past Robert then brought up the question of the houses around Williams. William then sighed a little and said,

"Their was a riot a little while back and a bunch of people started burning the houses down in this area."

Robert's eyes widened then said,

"What!?! Why?"

William looked at Robert and sighed again then said,

"It was because we were labeled as the rich people and with so many homeless it was just a a matter of time."

William looked down and then back up looking confused as he then said,

"Why wasn't your house and the one across the street burned?"

William shook his head and said

"I honestly don't know, but because of that riot I realized I could have died so I wanted to see you as soon as I could little brother!"

Robert smiled a little at his brother and then said,

"thanks for inviting me brother."

William laughed a little to brighten the mood then said,

"Don't you want to know what my surprise for you was?"

Robert looked at the chess board and realized he couldn't win as he then looked back up and said,

"Sure what is it?"

William got up and said,

"Stay here and I'll go get it!"

Robert nodded and waited for his brother to return. Robert sill felt cold even though in the living room there was a fire place and he thought he even noticed his breath. He moved the chair a bit closer to the fire place when William returned into the room and then said

"Robert I would like you to meet our neighbor Samantha."

Roberts eyes went from William to the women standing next to him. Robert's eye lit up as she was the most beautiful women he had ever seen he then stood up and fixed his tie a little then said,

"H-Hello Samantha, its nice to meet you."

She smiled at him and then approached him slightly then said,

"The pleasures all mine Robert."

Robert felt numb and his vision seemed to blur everywhere but her. He smiled at her and seemed to be in a trance. She then blushed a little and said,

"Please don't stare your embarrassing me."

Robert quickly looked down a little then said,

"oh I'm so sorry I just.."

and with that William then said,

"Oh, I need to go help Caroline with dinner so please you two talk a little"

William then exited the room leaving Robert and Samantha awkwardly starring at each other. Robert then looked to the couch and said,

"Why don't we sit?"

Samantha smiled at him then said,

"Sure"

as they both sat down on the couch she was the one to sit closer to him. A small period of silence went by as she then said,

"I'm glad you and your brother finally started talking again."

Robert nodded then said,

"yeah me too, I can't even remember why we stopped."

Samantha took Robert's hand into hers and then looked him into the eyes then said,

"Its been a while Robert, I was worried"

Robert's stomach tightened as his eyes were locked to hers and he then spoke,

"I'm sorry Sam I.. I just... "

Samantha smiled a little and put her finger in front of her lips motioning him to stop talking as she lent in and softly pressed her lips to his. Roberts shoulders fell limp and his eyes closed as he felt very warm and relaxed now. The kiss lasted a while but didn't seem long enough to him and as she pulled away his eyes remained closed. Samantha laughed a little and then said,

"I've wanted to do that for three years.."

Robert's eyes finally opened as he then spoke softly back and said,

"I never wanted to leave you.. it was my damned father he was just so stubborn he wouldn't listen to reason."

Samantha smiled again and nodded in understanding as she then rested her head down onto his lap and closed her eyes then said,

"Just promise never to leave me again Robert... I was so lonely without you.. I didn't know what to do..I felt as if I couldn't go on.."

Robert's gaze fell onto her as he then said,

"I'm so sorry... when I found out you..you.."

Robert's eyes quickly shut and a piercing sound went through his head as he then let out a loud yell. His sight went blurry and he tried to find Samantha, but couldn't. He stood up and began yelling her name,

"Samantha! Sam! Where are you"

Robert then ran forward blindly and then tripped over something and fell onto his face and blacked out. A few hours later Robert woke up and sat up and tried to figure out what happened. He didn't know where he was. His surroundings were black and charred and it was really cold. Robert felt very confused as he then struggled to stand, but as he did the room began to spin and with that Robert fell towards the floor again but this time was caught. He shook his head and tried to focus on the person who was holding him up.

"Samantha!?"

The voice spoke but sounded muffled,

"Robert! Are you OK?"

Robert smiled and then said,

"Samantha I thought I lost you again."

the voice responded in a less muffled tone this time,

"Samantha? who is Samantha Robert?"

Robert's eyes widened and his heart felt as if it stopped completely. His sight came back into focus and realized the person holding him was male and it wasn't his brother. The person was wearing a helmet and some sort of suit resembling and astronaut's attire. Robert face was horrified as he pushed the person away and fell back as he then said,

"What the? What did you do to Samantha? Where is William? WHO ARE YOU!!?!?"

The person approached Robert again and said,

"Robert this is Doctor Henson, when I came to your house today you weren't there so I asked the neighbors and they said you took a bike and headed toward the infected zones. Its OK your going to be OK, Just come with us."

Roberts gaze went from left to right then back to the Doctor. His eyes closed and tears began to run down his cheeks and with that he stood up, but he felt very weak and was struggling very hard to remain in stance. Robert then closed his eyes and spoke,

"You're lying! Where are they Doctor? Where are they? I thought we were friends? I thought..."

Robert's vision went black and he fell again as he heard muffled voices saying,

"He's down! Hurry and get him to the Lab!"

"Sir he is infected! Shouldn't we contain this!?!"

"NO! You will not do such a thing! He is still alive after hours of exposure he is very valuable! Take him to the lab now!"

"yes sir!"

Hours passed and more hours passed. Robert felt as though he was dreaming and that he would wake up and be with Samantha back on the couch. Maybe they had fallen asleep together. Yeah that had to be true. Robert's eyes began to open slowly, but all he could see was a bright light which forced him to squint. But then a figure passed infront of the light and blocked the light, but this figure resembled a girl. Robert smiled big as his eyes closed and tears fell out the sides as he then said,

"Samantha.. Oh I had the worst nightmare, but I'm glad I'm back by you... I was so scared..."

The voice then looked to the right and then said,

"Doctor he's awake!"

Roberts eyes opened abruptly as he then said,

"What!?! NO! NO! NOOO!"

Robert began to frantically struggle but couldn't. He realised his feet and arms were bound tight. Robert looked to the right with tears running down his face at a rapid rate. He looked at the Doctor and then said,

"I just want to see Samantha.. please.. Please Doctor please.."

The Doctor looked at Robert and then sighed and looked down and then said,

"Sedate him a bit longer.. let Robert.. let my son rest a bit more before we start.."

Robert looked back up towards the blinding light as he then spoke to himself softly,

"If all this is real and what happened wasn't... then please... please... let me dream of her.."