In the Abandoned Building…
Kristen slowly approached the room where she had heard the strange noise.
The old wooden door stood slightly open.
Kristen (muttering 😑): "First, haunted books. Then mysterious voices. Now this place has secret rooms too? Wonderful. Just wonderful."
She pushed the door gently.
CREAAAAK…
Kristen: "Hello? Is anyone—"
BAM! 😱
Before she could finish, someone suddenly jumped out and grabbed her tightly.
Kristen: "WHAT THE—?!"
A young man in his twenties, with messy black hair and simple clothes, wrapped his arms around her as though she were the last surviving human on earth.
Man (panicking 😭): "SAVE ME! PLEASE SAVE ME!"
Kristen stood frozen.
Kristen (blinking 😑): "…"
Kristen: "Excuse me?"
Man (squeezing her tighter): "PLEASE! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!"
Kristen: "WHY ARE YOU HUGGING ME?!"
The man pointed desperately towards the wall, keeping his eyes squeezed shut.
Man: "THAT! THAT THING!"
Kristen immediately reached for her sword.
Kristen (seriously 😠): "From whom, Mr…?"
Man: "FROM THAT LIZARD!"
Kristen slowly turned her head.
A tiny lizard sat peacefully on the wall.
It blinked.
She blinked.
Kristen: "…"
Kristen (muttering 😑): "Man… why the hell are you even here? If you're scared of a lizard, why come to a cursed place in the first place?"
Man (still clinging to her like a koala 🐨): "FIRST, KILL IT! THEN I'LL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING!"
Kristen looked down.
The man had practically climbed onto her, with his legs wrapped around her waist.
Kristen: "…"
Kristen: "One more minute like this, and I'll need magic to remove you from my body."
Man: "PLEASE UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION!"
Kristen: "I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE AN IDIOT!"
She pulled out her sword and tapped its tip against the floor.
TAP!
Kristen (dramatically 😤): "Fine! Lizard, run away!"
The lizard immediately scuttled behind a pile of books.
Kristen: "It's gone, Mr. 😑"
Man (eyes still closed): "Really?"
Kristen: "Yep. Lizard promise."
Man: "God promise?"
Kristen (rolling her eyes 🙄): "Huh? LIZARD PROMISE! Now get down before I kill you instead!"
The man slowly opened one eye.
Then the other.
He looked towards the wall.
No lizard.
He finally relaxed.
Man: "Oh, thank goodness…"
He turned his head towards Kristen.
Then he froze.
He was hugging a girl.
A very annoyed girl.
Man (blushing furiously ☺️): "Oh…"
Kristen stared at him.
Man: "Thanks, dude."
SILENCE.
Kristen slowly raised one hand and covered her face.
Kristen: "Dude idiot… I'M A GIRL!"
Man: "…"
Man: "Girl… ohhh."
Kristen: "BRILLIANT DISCOVERY! SHOULD I GIVE YOU A MEDAL?" 😤
The man hurriedly released her and stood straight, smoothing his clothes as if nothing had happened.
Man (awkwardly smiling): "Thanks, miss."
Kristen crossed her arms.
Kristen: "Now, can you explain something to me?"
Man: "Of course!"
Kristen: "WHO ARE YOU?"
Man: "…"
Kristen: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"
Man: "…"
Kristen: "WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"
Man: "…"
Kristen: "AND HOW THE HELL DID YOU EVEN FIND THIS PLACE?!"
The man's smile slowly disappeared.
He looked towards the door.
Then the window.
Then the wall where the lizard had been.
Kristen followed his gaze.
Kristen: "Don't tell me you're looking for another lizard to save you."
Man: "NO!"
Kristen: "Then TALK!"
The young man swallowed nervously.
Man (stammering 😶): "I… I…"
Kristen narrowed her eyes.
Kristen: "You… you WHAT?"
Man: "I think…"
He took a deep breath.
Man: "I think someone is trying to kill me."
Kristen's expression changed.
Kristen: "…"
For the first time since entering the room, the man stopped trembling.
And somewhere behind them, a book quietly fell from the shelf.
THUD.
Both turned around.
Man: "AAAAAH! THE LIZARD IS BACK!"
Kristen: "IT'S A BOOK, YOU USELESS IDIOT!"
To be continued