It seems Amanda wasn't the only one more than slightly perturbed by the sudden downpour growing heavier by the second… as the minutes ticked on by, it was becoming more, and more of a common practice for to montarily stop using my phone as a searchlight and actually use it as a phone for once after feeling it buzz in my hand.
First, it was Ash, a great concern obvious in her soft voice… I could almost picture her in her room pacing back and forth with circular steps wreath with worry.
Second ca Sammy chiming in with a text so short and concise I could read it from the lock screen itself. Just a single sentence, a single question,
To them both, I told them the sa thing; that I'll be weathering the storm here over at Amanda's, and that I'll be back ho first thing in the morning. As for Alia and Adalia? Well, according to Ash, they send their well-wishes, warm regards - which I really think was more Adalia than Alia, but still, it's the thought that counts I guess.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn't just Amanda's apartnt that was experiencing so technical difficulties. Just one look out the window would reveal a fogged sullen city void of its light that spanned for quite a distance.
If I had to take a guess, I think the whole block was out of commission… maybe a tree fell sowhere and got jumbled on wires, I don't know. What I do know, however, was that this whole power outage business might last for quite a while.
I made so space on the coffee table to put up a scented candle, 'cause apparently, that was all Amanda had at the mont. Placed it right beside the Eshwlyn figurine, and trust when I say that the dim candlelight ominously illuminating the wicked expression on her face, does not a comforting sight make.
Why does Amanda even have this?
"Again, I said it already, but… really, thank you for not leaving," Amanda spoke out from nearby, her outline faintly shuffling through the darkness, lighting another scented candle on the kitchen countertop. "The dark doesn't frighten , neither does the thunder, it's just - you know?"
"I know," I said, settling down on the couch, wiping the sweat from my brow. "We'll just say I'm deathly afraid of both, save you the embarrassnt, huh?"
I could hear her curling smile through the puff of air that left her. "Well, aren't you sweet?"
She was starting to loosen up, if only slightly… slow and steady she was beginning to unwind again. Though a part of still felt a little bad, a normal girl like her shouldn't have to worry about impending end-of-the-world catastrophes anyti anything remotely foreboding happens… no one should have to, frankly.
"Oh, by the way," Amanda's phone light blindingly lood over in my direction. "About you staying the night… did-did anyone have anything to say about it on your end?"
"Ash wished us a gentle night's slumber and assured she will keep a close eye on Sammy."
"Speaking of Samantha," She walked over to . "She?"
I looked down at my phone, swiping over to the latest of her ssages. "She told not to do anything funny to you while I'm here, said Mom and Dad didn't raise that way."
"Anything funny, she says?" Her shadow moved, disappeared from my sight, and before I knew it, Amanda had appeared beside , the couch giving a slight creak under our combined weight. "Curious… just what does she think you plan on doing with ?"
I offered up a half-hearted shrug. "Hell if I know what anything ans in that head of hers."
"Is she right though?" I heard her say, sohow her voice having this extra 'oomph' in the total darkness. "Do you have any plans for us tonight in particular?"
"I guess that depends," I replied, watching the soft glow of the candlelight flickering in her creeping, drifting, hazel eyes. "Do you?"
And manifesting beneath it, her pale lips slowly spreading wide. "Always gotta throw the question back… never a straight answer with you."
It was then that I was made too aware of how everything seemingly, inadvertently, fell into place. The rain pouring, the night cold, lukewarm candlelight our only comfort, just the two of us alone together tonight.
Except, the mont wasn't right, not yet… not when her hands were still trembling by her side.
By an inch, she drew away… staying close, resting her head on my shoulders, but still keeping distant.
"Anybody else said anything about this?" She asked, glancing up at from the corner of her eyes. "How about Irene?"
Irene. Oh, Irene… I turn to my phone again, and that'll make twenty the tis I've checked for any signs of you.
My missed calls stared back at , my unread ssages a reflection in my gaze… my questions continuing to go unanswered.
I could look at this another way… if she wasn't saying anything about this thunderstorm, then that just ans she doesn't think it was anything worth getting concerned about, right?
Still, I only wish there was an easier way to get in touch with her 'cause clearly this whole phone thing wasn't working out too good.
"Nope," I replied, flicking off and placing my phone atop the table. "Probably asleep by now anyway."
Maybe tomorrow. She'll definitely call tomorrow.
"Mmn," She murmured, snuggling to a more comfortable position, lifting her feet up the couch.
"Resting nice?" I asked, and in turn, she curled herself up on even more.
"The best," She whispered breathlessly, exhaling bliss. "Nothing better."
"Feeling better?"
"If I say yes, must I stop? If so, then no."
"I'll take that as a yes."
If I had a dollar for every ti I ended up being used as a pillow of so sort, then I'd have a handful of dollars… which admittedly wasn't much, but hey… who's complaining about free money?
For a long, long while, we just sat there, huddled close on the couch, not speaking a word, simply watching the makeshift fireplace flicker and sway on her coffee table.
It was a short while after that while that I realized Amanda had beco unusually still, and that her breathing had sowhat lessened slightly.
I think I was alone now in admiring the bright glow of the candle.
Slowly, gently, I shook her awake, and with a soft moan, I heard her rouse once more.
"Hey," I said, quiet as a mouse. "I think you should call it a night now."
Consciousness teetering between the line of dreamland and reality, she muttered sleepily. "You're saying…?"
"Go to bed."
Just barely, I could feel her hair grazing my neck, as she feebly shook her head. "But... how about you?
"Comfy couch you got here," I simply said. "I'll be just fine here."
"No," She imdiately said, shaking her head even harder. "I can't… I can't let you do that."
"Really, Amanda… I don't mind, you don't have to worry about ."
"No, no," Amanda insisted, slurring every order word. "That - I'll feel bad. How can I sleep like that?"
I'm starting to think there wasn't any winning this argunt here. Not when she was whining so cute like that anyway…
"Alright, fine," I said, conceding. "What do you suggest then?"
In hindsight, should have probably known better to ask a barely conscious person for sleeping recomndations.
But I had a feeling, fully awake or otherwise, her answer would have remained the sa either way.
"Sleep with ."
"Knew you'd say that," I said, heaving a breath.
"It's not anything more," She sluggishly clarified. "We'll just sleep. Nothing else."
Thing was, the last ti I was in bed with soone…
"And how are you sure that nothing else will happen?"
"I trust you, and besides, if sothing else does happen…" She sighed here, breathing her words out that I barely heard it. "I wouldn't mind that either."
Suddenly, before I could say anymore, before I could think anymore - there was a knock on her door.
The distinct rapping of wood sounded, resounded, jolting Amanda back to consciousness, eyes wide in full alertness, and averting my gaze towards the front door, just as startled.
It sounded again, firr this ti, so conveniently ti with the lightning flashing from the outside.
Y'know how so horror movies have that 'based on a true story' tag in the beginning? Well, guess they weren't all bullshit after all.
"By any chance, were you expecting any late-night deliveries?" I asked.
To my dismay, Amanda vehently shook her head and that's when I pretty much resigned myself to my fate.
Like foolish victim number one, I got up from the couch and stupidly proclaid, "I'll go check it out."
The knocking persisted all throughout my wary walk towards the closed door.
Thinking wise, I tried to ask, "Who's there?" only to have more incessant knocking to be my answer back.
Typical.
Breathing deep, my hand around the knob, I twisted it, and slowly, I pulled it open.
No scary monster gargling, lashing its claws, no psycho slasher with a machete ca to greet , and montarily, I felt relief rushing through .
Then, as if plunged into the coldest sea, I felt that relief freeze. All this ti, I thought Amanda might have had a visitor.
There was a visitor, but as it turns out, it wasn't one for her… it was for .
Clad in the deepest hue of violet head to toe, glinting a yellow almost blinding to my stare, dripping, soaking, staining the rugged carpet of the apartnt corridor… Sera stood silently before .
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