"Charlotte? Who's at the door?" Drissel urged, her tone carrying a hint of worry as she and Andrew made their way to the door to see a lady. Her face ragged, her eyes darted all over the place and short of breath, as if she had just run a track. "Elara? What? How did you get here? Are you here?" Charlotte broke into a flurry of questions. The pair looked at the ruined girl, unamused.
"Come in." Charlotte urged, guiding Elara into the house where Drissel shortly after gave Elara a glass of water. "How have you been?" Charlotte asked once more. Elara still silent before her gaze drifted towards Andrew. "Elara?" Charlotte inquired, her gaze also landing on Andrew, who watched the two with his usual aloof temperament. Brittany, to the side, was now regaining her consciousness, her brows furrowed as she clutched her head. "URGH!"
Her eyes darted all over the room before they landed on Elara, who still had her focus on Andrew. "Can I help you?" Andrew finally asked, jolting Elara back to her senses as she realized she was glaring. "I was told to find you by some... guy. Blonde said that you would help me." Both Drissel and Andrew immediately knew who it was. "I didn't think he was still around; I thought he'd gone back," Drissel said, making her way next to Andrew, sitting on the sofa armrest.
"Looks like he's taking an interest in other toys as the act begins. Why would Margaret let him be this free?" Andrew murmured to Drissel, Charlotte now facing the two. "Is there something I'm missing?" Drissel, realizing that the girls did not know what they were talking about, flashed a casual smile. "It's…something that you'll realize later, Charlotte. As much as I would like to tell you, I'm obligated not to divulge until it is right."
Brittany finally pulled herself upright, her headache fading as she shot odd glances at Elara. "Who is this?" Charlotte turned to face Andrew, her face laced with concern. "Can she stay here? I don't think she'll be able to live out there," Andrew gave a small nod. Drissel shrugged it off. "I don't mind another person being here. Helps in filling the house." Drissel's focus went to Elara, who was fidgeting, her figure on edge with her tense shoulders.
"Elara, I'll show you your room, but I'm sure that you're starving. I'll get dinner ready." Her figure disappeared into the kitchen. Charlotte inched closer to Elara, her hands interlocking with hers. "You can relax, Elara, I was worried sick about you! However, now I'll make sure that you're safe." Elara, however, had her attention on Andrew, who was making his way to his room. "You said that some blonde guy told you to find Andrew; was his name Charles, by chance?"
Elara looked at Charlotte, a look of horror on her face. "He…killed them all. He just appeared and killed everyone in the apartment. After that, he…he told me to come here, to find Andrew." Her hands were fervently shaking; her breaths were shallow. "He tortured every one of them! It was awful, Charlotte!" Charlotte's interest increased, worry now replacing the small smile on her face. "What do you mean he tortured them? Who are they?" Elara fell silent, the memories surfacing something she didn't want to talk about.
"That's the one thing about Charles; he's rather…odd with his interactions. He could be simple or choose to kill everyone in sight. Though if he told her to come here, then it means that he has no ill will towards her. Well, not until he randomly kills her." Drissel chimed in, in her hands a tray with hot soup.
Charlotte's face morphed into one of disgust. "Sounds like a bastard!" Her words elicited a chuckle from Drissel. "Yeah, it wouldn't be a stretch to call him the literal devil. If Andrew's the darkness, then Charles is the beast that hides in the dark." She said, placing the tray on Elara's lap before her focus went to Brittany, who was still processing what was happening around her. "As for you, you've been sleeping in the entire day, so expect tomorrow for me to up the ante."
Her words brought a frown to Brittany's face. "My body's still sore after yesterday! Could we push it to the day after?" Drissel seemed displeased, her brows flat. "No! Your tub should be ready, Andrew's blood-" Drissel paused, her eyes landing on Elara. "You'll understand later."
*Thwack*
"Why are you still here? Go shower already!" Brittany let out a final groan before her figure disappeared into her room. Elara took a sip of the soup, her eyes lighting up as she took more greedy sips. "The soup's not going anywhere, Elara," Charlotte chuckled as she looked at her best friend. "I know that all of this may come across as disorienting at first, but you'll get used to their madness." Elara looked at the hand placed on her lap before looking at Charlotte.
Drissel had already left, giving the two some space to catch up. "Who are these people and how do you know them?" Her words elicited a raise in Charlotte's brow. "I'm sure you remember Andrew and Brittany, the only person you may not have met is Drissel but don't worry, she's pretty cool once you get to know her." Elara leaned further back into the sofa, as if taking in her surroundings. "You know that Andrew's a wanted criminal, right? He's wanted by the state and Brittany. I don't think that your company is one I want to get tangled with. I'll leave after I'm done!"
Charlotte shot up, stopping Elara. "What do you mean you're leaving! You just got here! Besides, where do you plan ongoing? It's not as if you can go back. Given your interaction with Charles and with you here, I can finally have someone I can confide in." Charlotte wore a smile Elara had seen one too many times. "I don't think it would be best for me to stay here, Charlotte! There's a military base close to here, and it's only a matter of time before they realize this place and arrest you all. You could go to jail for crying out loud because of these people!"
Elara's whispers dripped with rage and confusion. "Elara, there's something that you're missing! I'm sure you've seen the news about Andrew and what he is capable of. Besides, the old world is gone, and what took its place is a world of weaves." Charlotte, now on her knees, looked up at Elara, who looked at her with a dumbfounded expression. "You know they're telling you all of this just to keep you around. Charlotte, these people are killers! Had it not been for that Charles guy, I wouldn't even have bothered to come here!"
Charlotte let out a heavy sigh, her head sinking into Elara's lap. "Elara, nobody can get close to these people. They know what's going on in the world, and they've been helping me use my abilities. They could help you as well. Trust me, they won't kill you!" Charlotte's hands connected with Elara's, only for the latter to break away. "Charlotte, you must be delusional right now with your staying with these people." Elara placed the tray to the side, standing up.
"You can keep on playing this game with them where you think you're above death only for reality to fuck you over! I'm leaving right now. You can come with me, or I'll leave you here," Elara's face stern as she looked at Charlotte. "Hah! Elara, there is nothing for me to go back to. Where do you even plan on going? Tell me? At a refugee base? Have you seen the murder rate? People are dying left and right. How long do you think you'll be able to fend for yourself before you die?"
The air turned silent, the two locking with each other's eyes. "I don't mind your staying here, Elara." Andrew chimed in from the side, his figure heading for the dining table. Elara's figure tensed with his presence, her breathing lowering and becoming shallower as if hiding from Andrew, who was in plain sight. "However, should you want to leave, I won't stop you either."
Charlotte wore a smile. "See, you can stay here with me. You'll be safe here than some random camp." Her hands connecting with Elara, who broke off once more. "I've decided, Elara. I'll thank you for the soup; however, I won't be staying here any longer than I have to." Her figure making its way to the exit, Charlotte reached out; however, no words left her lips. "I can't believe that she could turn down an offer like that!" Charlotte sighed as she made her way to the dining table, seating herself opposite to Andrew, the two on each end of the table.
"She's still trapped in the old ways, but can you blame her? Not everyone can adapt on a dime like you." His focus landed on her figure. "Speaking of which, have you ever claimed a life? Given the coming days, you should be able to kill with no remorse or guilt." His words made Charlotte halt her movements and lock eyes with him.
His casual tone, as if asking her if she knew how to cook. "I'm not a killer, Andrew, not like you or Brittany." A nervous smile now perched on her lips as she went back to her meal. "I don't need you to go on a rampage; I just need you to kill when you have to." She didn't look up. "I won't need to kill Andrew; I should be able to solve every problem without bloodshed." Her confident tone earned her a narrowed gaze from Andrew. "You sound far too confident for your own good. I could almost confuse it for hubris."
The air turning taut, the two now still. "I'm not overconfident; I'm merely certain of my abilities." He tilted his head, as if entertaining her delusion. "You say that you can deal without bloodshed; however, so far you haven't actually faced a person who wishes to kill you." Charlotte didn't back down. "The one thing about killing is the screaming that I don't like! If not for that and the obvious consequences, then I wouldn't mind it as much. Not to mention, how is my killing bringing me closer to the melody of the abyss?"
Andrew dropped his cutlery, rising to his feet before making his way to Charlotte, who remained in her seat. Reaching for the knife, he slit his wrist and presented the bleeding arm to her. "Drink, we'll be going for an all-nighter. Let's see how you really can handle situations without killing." Accepting his dare, she drank his blood before the two dressed up and left the mansion.
. . .
'To think that she would tell me to stay at that madhouse! Is she insane?! Lara pondered, her figure walking down the road, clutching her coat before she entered the city. The sun had already set, and the fluorescent street lamps were her only means of light. 'Where the hell am I going to sleep now? Maybe I can find a place where I can crash; there was a group close to where I was. However, I won't be able to make it there; I'll have to crash somewhere for the night. Her eyes scoping apartment complexes, most of which she knew were majorly empty; however, the bodies were something she didn't want to deal with.
She looked around before settling for an apartment, one of many which, unlike the others she had looked into, reeked of blood. 'That means there should be other people nearby; however, I won't stay here for long. Just a couple of hours of sleep and I'll be gone.' Her eyes squinting, trying to peer into the darkness before finding the bedroom and taking a nap.