Forum Thread

Kaydi then said, "Well, I guess this is going to be a wait and see moment and soon we will see what will happen next", Kaydi said with honesty.

Greg continued to search for other patrons, then he sees a gentleman and Kaydi having a chat, "Mouse! You will never believe what I saw", Greg said in a state of shock.

---

Evan stared at Greg, his eyes flickering.

---

Fawna and Majoree exchanged wary glances as they were left alone. At last, Fawna spoke. "Uh... hello."

"Hi."

On second thought, I wouldn't mind her either. "You're with Greg?" Majoree narrowed her eyes.

"Don't say it like that," she said sharply. "And the answer's 'no'. Now shut your mouth before I shut it for you."

"No need to be rude." Fawna's hands twitched. Her throat was right there... "I'm not trying to hurt your feelings."

"Oh, sure. 'Just Fawna'," she mimicked. "Great job on that one."

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," they protested.

This girl- what was she going on about? Couldn't she just explain herself? Like... well, they didn't know, like she was supposed to? "I'm truly sorry if I offended you-" Or maybe not. "Mouse". Filthy pest you are. Suits you. An image ran through their head. A memory. They frowned. It wasn't coming to mind... someone wasn't coming to mind...

But who?

Majoree glared at them. After a moment had passed, her gaze softened a bit, and she only looked a little angry. "Fine. I'll believe that. But you're walking a thin line, buddy. Trust me."

"I trust you." That seemed to be the wrong (or possibly right?) thing to say, since she turned away with a scoff.

"Ugh- fine, guess I'll see you later. Better stay outta my way, though."

"I will," Fawna promised.

She gave another noise, even though is seemed to be more amused than derisive. "Good luck getting a room," she told them without looking back, then walked off.

Fawna exhaled. That actually... went better than expected. Emotions included and all. "Bye!" they waved to her and she nodded with acknowledgement before she disappeared into the stairway, after the boy they had talked to earlier. Well. Since that's out of the way...

Fawna glanced about themself, looking for a new person. Who could they try...? Surely two was enough. While they debated this internally, then their eyes caught on a woman. Oh. They blinked.

Was she looking for someone? Could it have something to do with her promise?

Slowly, an itch was starting, spreading up Fawna's hands. They could... sense something. Sense something amiss. There was something off about her... She wasn't looking for someone in particular... or perhaps she was. Not just anyone either.

In the blink of an eye Fawna started towards her, waving their hand slightly above their head. Hi, they mouthed as they approached.

As they drew closer, they saw someone near her, and stopped in their tracks.

---

Majoree reached the top of the stairs, ticking off the names in her head. Greg. Fawna. Kaydi. She felt a twinge of pleasure. That was... good. She'd managed to do well.

She made her way down the hall. Above her, the lights flickered. Perhaps the blackout was finally coming to a close?

She hummed a bit, closing her eyes. The bedrooms were close... at last she could get sleep. And if she played her cards right tomorrow, then maybe she could-

Her eyes snapped open and she whirled around.

"Who's there?" she demanded.

She'd sensed someone- perhaps she heard a footstep. The feel of a breath passing over her cheek. Or maybe even that strange sensation of someone watching you, a trait of the sixth sense.

She waited with baited breath.

But no one responded.

With a thrill running up her spine, she hurried down the hall and headed for the room. She was not that stupid character who got killed in a horror movie. She was the one who survived- she would not let herself be afraid here- she could just-

She reached the bedrooms down the hall. And relaxed. What a silly inclination... what was she thinking? If anyone had been watching her, they'd call her crazy. In any case, what kind of sane person goes running down the hall due to a mouse scuttling in the walls?

A mouse...

A flicker of blue. A person hovered in front of her. It's not them, she told herself. They're dead. They're not coming back.

"Mouse...?"

Chestnut hair. Toffee skin that she longed to touch. A smile as wide as a banana and eyes the colour of honey.

Every time she looked at them, she felt hungry for more of their soul food... the kindness, the care, the empathy... The one food that didn't make her feel empty inside. The one person's who's presence she could stand... The one person whom she trusted with her life...

And with a flicker, they were gone.

Majoree exhaled. She told herself, They are gone, stop deluding yourself. They always have been. Whatever you might feel, they're not coming back. She closed her eyes and twisted the brass knob. The decrepit wooden door creaked open and she stepped inside, closing it behind herself. You're safe... The only one who can hurt you now...

The person appeared before her eyes again.

Was dead.

---

Kaydi was stunned, "Hey Mouse! What was that about?!", then Kaydi said to Evan, "Pleasure meeting you Evan", then gave a wink at the gentleman", soon Kaydi ran upstairs and started to speak with Mouse, "Mouse, did you see me chatting with this new guy and whose idea was it that saw me and that guy named Evan? It better not me Greg", Kaydi said in a stunned voice.

---

Fawna paused, mid-step, and stared at Kaydi as she ran off. Seriously? they wailed internally. Why can't you all just stay stillll?

They cast a nervous look at the person she'd been chatting with. Should they try them...? They didn't look very friendly... and if Kaydi had ran off..

Fawna approched them regardless. "Hallo!" they called. New tactics. Excellent choice, Fawna. Why, thank you Fawna~ I WAS BEING SARCASTIC, SHUT UP SELF! They stopped in front of the person. "I'm Fawna Snows! Nice to meet you!"

---

Majoree was curled up on her bed, sound asleep. She hadn't even bothered to pull up the covers. She slept soundly, her head resting against the pillow. Her mouth moved as if trying to say something, but no word went past.

---

Luther pulled the door shut behind him. He sighed and slumped to the ground.

"Oh, great."

This all worked out so well, didn't it? Everything had worked out absolutely perfectly. Just as it always did.

He clenched his jaw and eyed the closed door, considering throwing something at it. But since nothing was in reach, instead he gave a frustrated huff and fell back against the bed. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around it, staring up at the ceiling.

Stupid Beatrice.

This was all her fault. All her grandiose ideas about making him into a respectable person. If he could blame anyone, it'd be her, her who looked at him, not as an ordinary person, but as someone special, whom she admired and loved and wanted the best for him-

He leapt to his feet suddenly and took his phone from his pocket and threw it against the door.

The screen shattered on contact. He cursed and ran up to it, crouching down beside it, where it was cradled in its own shattered glass, like some wounded creature that'd been bled of its life and now lay limply on the floor.

He reached for it-

What was left of the screen suddenly lit up with a face. It began buzzing. Someone stared back at him- someone's smiling face-

Luther got to his feet, ignoring the glass shards that were now imbedded in his palms. He made his way to his bed, leaving the phone to buzz by the door. He sat down, closed his eyes...

And his eyes shot open.

"Who was that?" he demanded to an empty room.

An echo reflected back at him. He looked warily about him.

The only thing seen in the faint light of his phone in the corner was the wall, and the wooden nighttable that lay at the other corner parallel to that one. He sighed.

My imagination, apparently.

He flopped backwards onto the bed. His hands hurt something awful.

Tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow...

His eyes slowly closed.

And yet, he knew that that repetitive lie would only circle back on him the next night. Promises only last until you break them.

---

Evan smiled at Fawna. "Well hello, Fawna." He said, just standing there. No emotion was on his face, and his eyes were filled with great sorrow as he stared at Fawna.

---

"Hi." An awkward pause. "Uh... what's your name?" they asked.

---

"Evan" He replied blankly.

---

"Evan. Beautiful name."

---

Evan didn't crack a smile. He knew Fawna would try something, maybe hold a knife to his neck, or something? After all, he did know everything about all the people who signed up. All the people.

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"Do you like my name?" Fawna prompted.

---

He raised an eyebrow at this question. Definitely not what he thought she would ask, but okay...
"Sure." He replied, still not cracking a smile.

---

"Good. Because I don't like people who don't like my name." Fawna quickly rushed to fill the silence. "So hey, what's your promise? If you're willing to say it, of course. If you do, I'll share mine, obviously. But I wouldn't without the knowledge..." they trailed off.

---

Title: Trigger warning: mentions of blood

Evan stared at Fawna. "I don't have a promise." He said. "I work here." He explained. His hand was bruised with something, and as the lights came on it was more clear. Blood. He quickly hid his hands behind his back and smiled at Fawna. "Enjoying your stay?"

---

"You work here?" Fawna's eyes went blank for a second, and then they smiled. "Oh, I see. That makes sense." They didn't go on further. "So I suppose you're in charge of watching us then?" they asked, without answering his question.

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"Not really, no." Evan said, looking down the hall to his room. "Just... Don't go into my room, alright?"

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"Is that a way of ensuring I go into your room?" Fawna asked with total seriousness. "Because I might really do that, and I don't want to run into any 'demons' or 'bloody murders' in there."

---

Kaydi returned to her room and started to relax but all she can think about is the new guy who came in, "I think Evan is nice, but I still need to get use to seeing him, I'm not sure if he is the person for me to call a love of a lifetime", Kaydi said. But her other thought was on the person with knife, "But, I'm worried about the other person with the knife and still it puts me in a vulerable position", Kaydi said in a worry tone.

Greg meanwhile was heading to his room and begun to relax as well, "Tomorrow is a new day, think positive thoughts and that's more important", Greg said.

---

Evan looked down at Fawna. "Don't. Go. In." He repeated.

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"You're really not convincing me. Give me a reason, please?" It was getting darker and darker by the minute. They peered closer at him- and their eyes landed on his hands. "Hey... what happened?" they asked, reaching for them-

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