She was meant to stop after one chapter.
And maybe an Instagram reel, because she had been a good girl that day.
But no, she had to use up all of Vanessa's data, and to make matters worse, the phone battery was down to 1%, with no charging cable in sight.
Charlotte had never been so scared in her life. Wait… she had been scared before, but that day was just as bad.
It was two in the morning, and Vanessa was still not back from work. She was all alone in that unit, and it was pitch black. (Not her favorite colour)
She decided to switch on the lights, but as it turned out, there was no electricity, so she returned to the bed.
She could hear dogs barking in the distance, cats crying near the window, owls... or maybe bats, making strange noises.
And then there was her own head, making up creepy figures in the darkness.
As if she wasn't wound tight enough, there came a banging sound from the door. Only once.
She yelped in fear before covering her mouth and nose, hiding under the bed with her heart pounding in her neck, eyes darting everywhere.
She heard another bang. She whimpered her prayers but everything else went quiet.
Too quiet.
There was no wind, no trees swaying, no dogs barking, no cats, no owls, no bats and even her head was empty.
Then she heard a gasp outside, followed by Vanessa's curse.
"Ethan, you can't keep showing up at my door every time you're feeling down!"
Charlotte was already opening the door for her and went to hug her tightly.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…" Charlotte began frantically, catching Vanessa off guard. "You gave me the phone to call Mom, but then I chickened out somehow and went to read some novels, and then I started watching videos, and the last thing I knew it was late, and I finished your data, and your battery is only 1%, and there's no electricity!"
Vanessa and Ethan just looked at her as if she were crazy.
Charlotte squirmed. "Say something, please. I'm okay with any punishment, and if you think I should return home, then,"
"Charlotte, breathe, for God's sake!" Vanessa ordered before looking at her carefully.
"Are you scared of the dark?"
Charlotte shook her head.
Vanessa nodded before carrying Ethan inside and starting to undress him once more. Good thing this time it was dark.
Suddenly there was light from Ethan's phone, and Vanessa handed it to Charlotte.
She frowned when she saw the kitchen.
"Eat something." Vanessa ordered.
Charlotte nodded before she went to the kitchen while Vanessa took Ethan into the bathroom.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Charlotte heard Vanessa ask angrily, and she flinched, dropping her serving on the floor.
Silence engulfed before Ethan groaned.
"You alright, Charlotte?" Vanessa asked, concerned after she heard something falling down.
Charlotte didn't know how to reply in any way other than:
"I'm sorry."
Silence.
Ethan groaned again. "Godmother… my dad…" Then he sniffed. "…My mom went to my funeral!"
Silence.
"Okay…" Vanessa said slowly. "You're done. Wait for me on the bed."
"Thank you," Ethan breathed, and then he emerged from the bathroom.
He smiled sloppily when he saw Charlotte on the floor, dazed.
"You're very weird and awkward," he said, walking unsteadily to the bed. He had probably drunk too much that night.
Charlotte wasn't hungry anymore, so she wanted to do something with herself to be useful.
"Can I help you look for something to wear?"
Ethan shook his head with a stupid grin on his face. "I'm more beautiful naked. He said so."
"Are you talking about your asshole boyfriend or your one-hour stand?" Vanessa asked icily as she emerged from the bathroom.
Ethan shrugged and winked at her. "Matt, of course."
Vanessa rolled her eyes. "So, the asshole."
Ethan frowned at her, but Vanessa disregarded him entirely before taking out her cotton T-shirt and throwing it in his direction, along with a pair of briefs.
"Wear them and go to sleep. We'll talk about this tomorrow."
Ethan opened his lips, but Vanessa raised her arm.
"Uh-uh, baby. I'm tired, I'm angry, and I'm very disappointed in you at the moment. Let's leave this mess for tomorrow."
Then she added: "I'll be home anyway."
Ethan obeyed and silently, clumsily put on the clothes.
"Now you," Vanessa said, turning her full attention to Charlotte. "Why were you apologizing to me?"
Charlotte squirmed nervously. "I… I didn't call Mom as we agreed before you left."
"It wasn't an order. You had a choice," Vanessa countered dryly.
"I finished your data and your phone's charge…"
Vanessa sighed tiredly. "If I tell you that it's okay, will you eat now?"
Charlotte took a step back. "I… I…"
Vanessa walked to her purse before returning with two boxes and handing them to Charlotte.
"What are these?" Charlotte whispered.
For the first time that night, she could see a smile on Vanessa's face.
"Your new phone and laptop," Vanessa said excitedly. "You deserve them after all your… um… help around here."
Charlotte was terrified instead, returning them to Vanessa, who frowned at her and narrowed her eyes.
"Are you refusing my gifts? Why?"
"It's too much!" Charlotte cried out. "I'm just a stranger to you. A burden…"
Vanessa was speechless. Hurt.
"Is that how you see me? Just a stranger? I thought…"
Charlotte's heart sank.
What was she doing?
She took the gifts and started to unwrap them carefully.
Charlotte gasped when she saw the phone.
"It's too expensive!"
Vanessa chuckled. "I told the salesperson I wanted the newest and most efficient one, and she gave me that."
"And a laptop," Charlotte mumbled. "You didn't have to buy me this. I can't really use it."
Vanessa shrugged. "Then let's call that an investment in your future."
"My future…" Charlotte trailed off, tears burning her eyes.
Ethan shifted on the bed.
"My first guitar… Godmother was the one who bought it for me," he shared sleepily.
Charlotte chuckled wetly.
"Where is it now?"
"My dad smashed it in anger," Ethan said with a yawn. "I should have left him then, but I stayed."
Vanessa walked to him silently.
"I'm glad you stayed and wrote these amazing bitter songs that I religiously hate," Vanessa joked, and they all laughed.
"Yeah," Ethan mumbled before falling asleep, leaving the rest in comfortable silence.
"Thank you," Charlotte said softly, and Vanessa smiled at her.
"I'm glad you like them. And Charlotte?" Vanessa called for her.
Charlotte hummed.
"You're never a burden to me," Vanessa said with a yawn as she lay on the bed beside Ethan.
"But you're definitely a pain in my ass."
Charlotte chuckled.
"Goodnight, Auntie."
"Night, night, niece."