Chapter 20: The Shadow People
1235 Words
Camilla was calmly reading a philosophical book about human psychology before her phone rang in a familiar tone.
She sighed and quickly picked up the call.
“Hello?” The blonde said in a childlike tone.
“Sup, kiddo?” The familiar voice answered.
“Ah,” Camilla cooed, “Been laying low?”
“As you’ve said.” The voice remarked.
“So,” The blonde asked, “Tomorrow night?”
“You promise it’ll be over soon, right?” The voice asked back, dodging the question.
“I just have to wait until tomorrow night, and then I’ll get my part, right?” The voice reiterated.
“Yes yes yes, you’ll get your part soon,” Camilla replied dismissively. “Just lay low and don’t f**k up my plan.” She said before closing the call and return to her book.
The splendid thing
about falling apart
silently...
is that
you can start over
as many times
as you like.
And that was exactly what Olive is doing. Well, that’s exactly what everyone else around her was doing, too.
Olive dragged herself out of the ragged couch, which she recognized to well as Anna’s couch.
Her head felt much heavier as she slowly pried herself from her sleep stated mind. All she wanted was to just want to lay her head down back on the couch pillow, but judging by the current state her head was in, not even that seemed to help. The pain throbs and pulses in her numb skull, not quite th typical sharp pain dagger-inflicted wound, but it resembled more of a dull pounding with a hammer over...and over...and over again.
Her worn-out brain felt like it was on hyper-drive, but at the same time, it couldn't seem to process anything properly. Images and ideas and potential scenario of what might’ve happened that lead her to Anna’s house ran through her troubled mind, but all these scattered thoughts just seemed to be chasing each other round and round. Her mind couldn’t catch a single one, but it got pounded with all of them at the same time as they ricochet and slam into the walls of her head.
She took a deep breath, then let go.
She then closed her eyes and tried her best to focus the scattered voices in her head into a singular thought. Starting from the basics, of course.
“Where am I?”
“Anna’s house.”
“What happened before then?”
“I think I passed out.”
“Why did I pass out?”
“Lack of sleep, obviously.”
Olive paused for a second.
“No. No, that wasn’t it.”
“Or was it?”
“It was part of it. One of the factors.”
“So, why did I pass out?”
Just as she was thinking, she realized that there had been a mumbling sound coming from across the room. More specifically from Anna’s room.
And just as she began to wonder what Anna was doing, Anna suddenly exited the room, catching Olive off guard. Olive quickly scrambled on to her feet and made herself somewhat presentable in front of Anna.
“No no no, It’s okay,” Anna quickly said, halting Olive’s movement, “I won’t bother you, just go back to sleep.”
“No, I’m fine.” Olive stammered as she attempted to walk to the door. Only to become light headed and lose her balance, and quickly dropped back to the couch. Anna couldn’t help but chuckle as she saw Olive’s face slowly heat up from embarrassment.
“Rest.” Anna calmly said to Olive. And with that, Olive went back to laying comfortably on the couch.
“What were you doing back in your room anyway?” Olive suddenly asked as Anna slowly sat on the side of the couch, positioning Olive’s legs to rest on top of her thighs to give her some room.
“Reporting my daughter’s death.” Anna simply stated. As if it was a normal, everyday thing to say.
“Oh.” Was all Olive could say. What else is there to say? If it should be even said.
“It’s okay though,” Anna quickly said, knowing that she most likely have just made Olive uncomfortable, “At least I got it done now.”
“Better late than never, I guess.” Olive said with a dry chuckle. “Anyways, where’s your sister?”
“Gone.” Anna stated simply.
“Dead, or just hiding?” Olive asked once more, trying to get Anna to elaborate.
“Don’t know, don’t care.”
“It’s kinda important though.” Olive said, making hand gestures in the air.
“Just rest, Olive.” Anna sighed.
“No! You have to answer me!” Olive blurted, her voice louder than she’s like.
“She’s gone, as in hiding.” Anna quickly said. “Why does it matter anyway? She has nothing left to look for now.”
“You’re wrong,” Olive stated with a stern face. And with that, she slowly dozed off to sleep, leaving Anna wondering of what she meant.
Joseph stood silently before the wooden door, leading to his daughter’s room. His only daughter.
He knocked on the door a few more times.
“Mei? Are you awake?”
He hears a low grunt from the other side of the door. “Yeah, I’m awake.” Mei replied softly.
“Do you want to come out? Anytime soon?” Joseph inquired once more, he could feel the warm plate of eggs and bacon cooling down in his hands. He sighs.
He was about to leave, until he heard the door creak open.
It was Mei, smiling weakly as she fixes her glasses back to the frame of her face.
“Lunch?” He quickly offers as he held out the plate of eggs and bacon to Mei. Mei slowly reached for the plate and took it, settling on the couch with her father to eat.
They both sat quietly as Mei eats her fill. Joseph watches happily as his daughter’s face began to return its colors.
Joseph coughed a few times to somewhat break the awkward silence before finally addressing the elephant in the room.
“So, what do you know so far?”
Mei paused, then sighed.
“I feel like Ivory’s dragging me to the underworld with her.” Mei retorted.
“Well, it can’t be that bad,” Joseph shrugged off, “She’s your friend, isn’t she?”
“...Yeah.” Mei trailed off.
“So, what exactly happened before she died?” He puzzled once more, though he feels bad for pestering his daughter. She’s been through enough already.
Mei went silent. Joseph was about to say sorry, and that she didn’t have to answer. Until Mei finally answered.
“I think she killed someone.” She replied. Her voice low and shaky.
- Writer
