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The Mayor (Story Title)

The cold, damp wind whistled as the rain started its pathway near the town. It was another rainy season. The heavy weight of the damp clouds cleared the misty air in the town. The rain continued to pitter as the people made their way to the town hall. The bells rang heavily as if it were saying, “Here us people,we are ringing because.” But only those who listened carefully would understand.
The wind began to pick up as the town hall doors slammed shut. The people began sitting in the benches as the mayor started up front with his speech. His gruff voice ruffled through his beard as he tapped the microphone. The echoes of the microphone whispered in everyone’s ears as they settled in. Their eyes slowly landed on the mayor.
The mayor, like most people, was a tall man. His beard covered his mouth and chin. His hat covered his eyes. No one had seen his eyes or hair. Not a single soul. Rumors had spread about those who had seen his eyes and hair. Some say that he killed those who saw.
Some say he was a devil, hiding in the tall mayor. Others say he was actually the hangman. (As the hangman had been known to live around tiny villages, like theirs.) A few claimed that even his parents had never seen his eyes or hair. A few claimed he didn’t have eyes. Some claimed he didn’t have a mouth.
People were curious about it, but they didn’t dare search. They were afraid of him, despite his friendly nature. They were scared that they might die, get maimed, or killed. He was the kind of man who looked one way, but acted another. He was just that kind of man.
He was a gentle and kind man, as any mayor should be, but his mysterious aura pushed people away causing them to act differently. He was married, like he should be, but his wife never arrived with him. Only on special occasions would you see the two together. The townspeople never intervened with them, and only talked when he talked with them. They never spoke with him, like they did with others.
He had a family of his own. But he never talked about them much. His wife was the only “member” of the family that was seen by the townspeople. No one knew he had two children. Or that they were very young.
No one knew he had a wife until the middle of summer, only 8 months earlier. No one knew he lived with her until 7 weeks later. It was all so new to them, but they continued on. It was a normal process, that should be, normal.
It wasn’t unnatural for a man to live with his wife. It wasn’t unnatural for them to have kids. It wasn’t. It was a normal process of human nature. It was normal.
It was surprising to the townspeople because no one had seen his wife. Ever. Everyone assumed that the mayor didn’t have a wife, according to ‘mayor’s law’. They assumed that he was a single man, with his town to live off of. Nothing else.
He cleared his throat once again, as the people focused their attention on him. “My fellow people.” He began his speech. “We are gathered here today to go through our agenda for the year.” He said, his beard rustling like leaves on a bare tree as he spoke.
“This has been an extraordinary year. All the wonderful inventions, progress, and people. The progress has been extraordinary. Everything has been placed and built exquisitely.” He paused to drink water, the people continued to stare at him.
He finished the water, placing the glass with a light thud as the people winced. They covered their ears as everyone started speaking again. Again. He began speaking again, slowly the speaking stopped. The people’s attention went to the mayor once again.
The mayor continued, his voice echoing through everyone’s ears. He tapped the mic again as everyone started to act. Normal enough, meaning normal is enough. The townspeople started gathering around each other, talking normally. But is it normal?
“Did you see–?
“How’d you hea–?
“What’d he say–?”
Were the only pieces of conversation the mayor needed to hear as he put his papers together.
He looked around the room, intrigued as he placed the papers on the desk. He looked out the window, as the rain continued. The town hall doors opened again, but only a few people headed out. The rest stood near the door, waiting for their chances to head out, as the rest continued to talk with their so-called friends. The mayor made an attempt to make a way to the people. Talking is normal.
He wasn’t one to talk to people. He rarely acknowledged his fellow townspeople, but he wasn’t one to back down from talking. He was just really shy. Really shy. But he was determined to make at least one companion throughout his lifelong journey of being a mayor.
He walked up to the group of people standing closest to the window. Immediately, as if on cue, they stopped talking. Their conversations were long gone and all that stood before them was the mayor’s aura. They placed fake smiles, pretended to get along, and made quick talk as he started. He realized, but didn’t want to bother so he excused himself, feeling slightly lonely.
He headed back to his window. The cold glass vanished any traces of sadness he had as he looked around. Only a few people remaned, everyone else had gone to their homes. He sighed, very quietly, as the rest of the people made their way out. Soon it was just him and the town hall.
The doors were closed and the lights were dimmed. Slightly dimmed. He looked around, making sure no one was around. The rain continued to pitter as the lightning struck its course. He placed his hat against the tips of his chin.
His voice growling, softly but sternly. He was growing weaker. His voice was losing its grasp. The Mayor was done for. But not for long.
He knew what to do. He always knew. But he didn’t have much longer to do so. Pulling himself up, the voice continued to growl. Harsher with every move me made, and more ferocious than the last time.
He looked out the window before him. The lightning had stopped, but the dimmed light gave him enough to see who it would be. Who would be done for tonight? Who could finish the job for him? Who would be the one…..to make a sacrifice for the mayor.
—
The Mayor walked down his usual path. He studied the bar. He looked at the garden, and went to the salon. He continued to walk. Many changes were made after the previous year's progress.
They built more buildings, made train tracks to other towns. Bought and sold many places. Business was booming. Growth was funding, and education was on its tracks to victory. But the mayor seemed to notice.
Something about him just felt stranger than usual. Not the way he walked, or talked, or even moved. It was the way he felt. His aura had changed. His aura?
Indeed, he had transformed his mysterious aura into a more deadlier aura. A similar kind of aura you would feel when you walk alongside a dark alleyway. Yes, it seemed so. It seemed almost impossible to believe, but here it was. In front of their eyes. It was the Mayor alright.
But it wasn’t the mayor. Rumors spread once again. It spread rapidly, as usual. But faster than the previous times. This wasn’t the first time the Mayor’s aura had changed.
It wasn’t the last time either. The Mayor continued to walk as the townspeople continued their days. Everything seemed normal. Normal? But it wasn’t normal at all.
The townspeople were terrified. They were scared. They were surprised. All their shocked emotions seemed to flow alongside their reactions.
Something about them just seemed different, then normal. Compared to before, nothing was surprising or shocking. It wasn’t a bad change but other times it was terrifying. It was different in an unusual way. But it was still considered normal.
It was what they perceived as a ‘utopia’. The kind where no one intervenes with other’s businesses. But everyone knew everything about everyone. It was what they claimed as normal. Normal, once again.
But it was normal indeed. It was very normal. Normal. The Mayor continued to walk alongside the dusty roads. The townspeople passing by. No one dared say anything.
No one dared speak up. No one said anything. No one did. It wasn’t ‘right’ for them. It was unacceptable, and no one said anything.
They continued their lives as “regular” as they could. The Mayor continued to live his life as “regularly” as he could. None of them interfered with anyone else’s and that was the way it was. It wasn’t until the final fall did the Mayor finally live up to his expectations. He would only be the answer to the key.
—
The Mayor stepped into the bar. He looked around, his hat and beard on tightly as he walked around. The people minded their business, keeping clear of any rumors. He headed out as quickly as he stepped in. He went onto his next locations, checking in and out. The people seemed highly suspicious of him, but their fear kept them from going forwards to investigate.