Chapter Text

ECHOES OF ANOTHER

“Do you have everything?” Uncle Eli’s voice was crackling in chilly autumn air. He looked back over his shoulder, the edge of his scar barely visible from where I stood. Long and curved, it ran along the side of his cheek.

I nodded. Everything I needed was in my backpack and suitcase. Ten different pairs of clothes, a few hoodies, and my computer. My most important belongings, packed into two small bags. One on my back, the other dragged along the ground. I left not a shred of myself behind.

“Sorry it’s not much.” Uncle Eli shook his head, looking at the small house in front of us. It was a single story home, wooden logs coating its exterior. A small chimney rose through the ceiling, soon to be discharging blackened fumes. Frankly, the cabin was rather small. Just enough room for one person to live comfortably inside. I didn’t know why Uncle Eli invited me to live with him in the first place, it only seemed like more of a hassle than it was worth.

“I cleaned up the storage room a bit. Should be just enough room. Until we get you a bed, there’s a sleeping bag in there.” Uncle Eli paused for a moment, before resuming. “Take your stuff inside and unpack. The storage room is the second right, beyond the living room. I need to call someone real quick.” He turned to face me, tilting his head towards the entrance. 

Crunching leaves marked my steps . Frail and weak, a passing breeze could disintegrate them. My suitcase rolled forwards, bouncing over the fallen foliage and dirty ground. Approaching the door, I climbed up the rotting stairs. Each step shaking the decayed wood, a warning of their impending end. At the top, a lone door awaited me. A second chance I didn’t deserve. Gripping the handle, cold metal greeted my flesh. Twisting the handle, the door creaked open.

The living room was rather small. A tiny tv sat upon a stand near the left side of the wall, no bigger than 32 inches. Towards the other wall was a brown couch, fuzzy fabric shining in the sunlight. In the middle lay a rug and coffee stand covered in an assortment of items: a tv remote, an embroidery hoop, a bag Uncle Eli kept his embroidery supplies in. As I stepped inside, an odd scent filled the air. Like the ocean: salty and wet. Thankfully, not like low tide, which was rotting and musty. Making my way through the living room, a small photo was hung to the right of his tv. It was black and white, and as I squinted at it, I could almost make out the outlines of a teenage boy and little girl. They appeared quite similar: their skin, hair, and eyes all appeared to be the same shade. The young man had short hair, while the girl had braided locks over her left shoulder. Behind them, a small lake glimmered in the background. They both had grins from ear to ear, smiling as wide as they could. Barely visible, the teenager's coat had what appeared to be half of a cross on it. A cross.

My throat caught. That cross was identical to the one on Uncle Eli’s coat. I’d heard from mom that he made it with his sister when he was much younger.  He didn’t have a scar back then, only a gentle smile and hope in his eyes. If I had to guess, the girl was his sister. The only thing I knew about her is that she was his sister. Some freak accident occured when they were young, and she… didn’t make it. Uncle Eli never really talked about her, and I couldn’t blame him for that. 

Uncle Eli used to be a street urchin. For lack of a better term, he drifted from place to place aimlessly. No one quite knows how he made it to Macayi or where he came from before, likely it was just another town in Maine. When he first came here, he wore the same coat he did now: only it was full of holes and grime. He’d been living on the streets for far too long. Then, he got his job. That job changed him; he mended his coat, washed it clean of the muck and dirt, and cut his hair. He looked put together, like a professional. 

Walking towards what I could only guess was the storage room, I twisted the handle, a dusty room welcoming me. Boxes were stacked against the left wall, piling up almost towards the top of the ceiling. In the furthest corner to my right, a sleeping bag was folded neatly. A single window laid opposite of me, light shining through and illuminating where I stood. Cozy. And musty.

My mom met Uncle Eli when she was pregnant with me. She was out shopping with my dad when some stranger started freaking out at her. She was talking nonsense, saying her body was falling apart. My dad stepped in, but the lady only got worse. Uncle Eli stepped in, and forced the lady to leave them both alone. From there, my dad offered to have lunch with Uncle Eli as thanks. 

Funny how things work out like that.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

“My name’s one-... it’s…” the woman’s words caught in her mouth, ending her thought prematurely. Glancing to the side, she was staring ahead with a blank expression. =Almost like she’d been paused.

One? Her name is One? That can’t be right. I have to be missing something. Maybe she has a weird nickname, it just starts with one. She must just be shaken up is all. My hands clawed into my steering wheel, coarse leather grinding against my skin and fingernails. 

“Mia. That’s… my name.” She said, barely more than a whisper. The word was loud; her voice was silent. Looking over my shoulder, her face was obscured by wispy black locks. They were plastered all over her face, almost like a jagged mop. She was shivering, hands fidgeting with my coat. Perhaps she was cold after all? I reached over to turn up the dial on the heat, maybe she was just too afraid to ask-

Before I had time to finish my thought, something frozen and rigid pricked the top of my hand. Something like the tip of a needle, but just a tad duller. And much colder. I hissed out in pain, as my other hand trembled on the steering wheel. I jolted away, eyes falling from the road towards my hand. In the darkness, I couldn’t see anything particularly wrong. My dashboard’s light only illuminated so much; the artificial cyan dimly illuminated shadowy outlines. Still….what the hell was that? It didn’t feel like a normal jolt or spasm, it felt real. Like something bony piercing the top of my hand. All this helping has you overthinking things. Stop being a freak and just get her home. That’s what you wanted to do, right? Help her? Be a hero?

I heard the rustle from Mia sitting up in her seat, my coat ruffling about in her lap. Slowly, I could hear the zipper move up and down. Just barely audible through the sounds of my car and onslaught outside, it was a cheery reminder of simpler times. Times where I fiddled with my zipper in class instead of paying attention, making silly faces with Rick and Lexi. Nostalgia was a dangerous distraction, and one I wouldn’t let myself fall for.

“H-hey. If-f it’s okay, could I ask why you were driving out here?” Her words cut through my thoughts like scissors through cloth. To remind myself. To see the woman whose child I left to rot so I could finish some homework.

“Visiting an old friend. From high school. He was a nice guy, helped me with my homework a lot. He’s my best friend.” And I wasn’t there for him when he needed me most.

“That sounds nice…” From the corner of my eye, Mia twitched slightly. Slowly, her hand clenched against my coat, creases cascading shadows and pale blue everywhere. She ought to be careful, or you’ll abandon her next. She needs to run.

“I was trying to go home. That’s why I was on the side of the road.”  

Silence hung in the air. The only thing that kept me company was the rumble of my engine, and the dim light illuminating my way through the icy expanse. Snowflakes blew around, cascading onto my windshield. Within a few seconds, they were reduced to droplets and swept away. 

Peering down at my dash, the time read 5:15 PM. Shit. Was I really there that long? Maybe I should stop and check my phone… but I’d probably only waste even more time. If it’s important, Uncle Eli will call me. Then I’ll pull over. I trust him.

“I k-know you didn’t exactly ask me… I just wanted to tell you. S-sorry.” She mumbled, still zipping the zipper up and down; just a bit hastier.

“Where were you coming from? If you don’t mind me asking.” I squeaked out, anxiety writhing in my stomach. It wasn’t that I was just afraid to ask her: I was afraid of her answer. Walking alone in a horrific wintry mix, no shoes, no coat, only a shirt and pants. There isn’t a happy answer. 

Mia fidgeted for a moment, opening her mouth. Yet, no words came out. She looked down dejectedly. That’s enough of an answer. Forcing my eyes back towards the road, I could feel the wheel pull ever so slightly to the left. I guided it back towards the center of the road, inch my inch. Too fast, and I’d lose control.

“I-I… I don’t want to talk about it. I had to leave in a hurry. It… was...” She quavered, her visible eye squeezed tightly. She shook for a moment, gripping onto my coat with spindly fingers. For just a moment, it looked like the very bone of her knuckles had somehow pushed its way to the surface. 

“Miserable. And I’m not going back. Ever.” Gone were her awkward pauses and occasional stutter; her words teemed with eerie resolve. One that threatened to spill out into crashing waves of retribution. Sounds like she had it worse than you. Maybe she had her own “Lucas” to ruin her life. 

“S-s-sorry. I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to…” I hung my head in shame. You knew it was bad. You just couldn’t help it, could you? Feed your curiosity, no matter how much it hurts others. You really are some sort of sick freak, huh? Clawing at the steering wheel, I fought against my emotions more than the weather. I did it again. Hurt someone who needed my help. Peering over my shoulder, I watched Mia fumble with my coat for a moment, before unbuckling her seatbelt. I began to protest, before she cut me off.

“It’s ok. I’m not mad. Y-you just wanted to know. I’m sure it was weird, finding me out there.” She paused, taking a moment before continuing.

“Lucas… that’s your name, right?” She questioned, her tone inquisitive. The sudden shift in focus wasn’t lost on me.

“Yeah. That’s me.” I mused. Nothin' less, and certainly nothing more.

“I like your coat. Is… is it okay if I wear it?” She asked, turning to look at me with a weak smile. Her bangs had parted just enough that I could make out both of her eyes, and I could faintly see bags underneath them. Go figure, she was walking in that frozen hellscape for God knows how long.

“Of course you can! That’s why I gave it to you. Personally, I would be freezing my ass off wearing your get up in this sort of weather.” I joked, the faint outline of a smile forming on my face. Despite all the shock of the evening, for just a moment, everything felt ok. Like maybe, Mia would get home safe. And I would too.

“I don’t really get cold. Even in weather like this.” She mused, as she began to put her arms through the sleeves of my coat. She didn’t bother to zip it up, opting to leave the coat split down the middle. Her damp clothes still clung tightly against her form, soaked with the water and muck. Her… d on’t check her out, weirdo. I jerked my vision back to the road, as I focused on the road before me.

Ice and sleet swirled into a chaotic storm before me, crystals and droplets mixed into a wintry tornado. Nails cut into my steering wheel, anxiety slithering into my fingertips. All this talking was causing my focus to drift from the road, and all it would take is one mistake. A moment’s hesitation, seconds of focus, and the two of us would be a pile of crushed up flesh and bone. Viscera strung up like floss, mixed together with glass and steel. Almost like we’d been crushed up and spewed over the remnants of the car. And you need to prevent that. Don’t get cocky. Remember what happens when you stop paying attention. I swallowed spit, my heart thumping in tune with my engine. If one gave out…-

“Does… does that make me weird?” Mia’s voice faltered, words cracking and squeaking out. My chest felt tight. Look what you did. Barely took you a handful of minutes to make things worse. For some reason, I felt paralyzed. An unknown force gripped me, forcing me still.

Lucas. It’s ok. Breathe in. Breathe out. Remember what I told you, bud? It’ll all be ok. Even if it don't feel that way. Even when you’re feeling like the whole world is crashing down around you, even when it feels like you're seconds away from death… keep goin’. Can you do that for me, bud? Bud?

Slowly, my heart slowed, strain melting away as I focused on a turn coming up. It’s funny, really. How much he cares. Even if I don’t deserve it. Tingling cold dripped from my cheeks. Icy droplets that had no right to exist. Emotions that hadn’t earned their right to life. Why are you crying? What’s there to cry about? She’ll be ok. And if she’s not… you’d never intervene anyway.

“I-I…I didn’t mean to… I was just…” In the corner of my vision, I saw Mia’s head slowly fall into her hands, fingers interlocking with her hair. Now you’ve done it. She’s worried over someone who doesn’t deserve concern.

“Don’t worry about it. Like I said. Rough day. You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m just stuck in old thoughts.” I turned to look at her as I finished, as her hands gradually began to fall from her face. Cyan light glittered from her eye’s, streaking down her cheeks. She…

“Why d-did you help me? L-look at me. I’m disgusting .” She croaked, her hands grabbing at the soaked clothes as she twisted about. In the dim glow, her body looked like it was writhing, almost like her very flesh was being pulled about. Faint sobs distorted the air around me, painful reminders.

“You’re not disgusting?! I… it just seemed like the right thing to do. What kind of person would I be if I abandoned someone in weather like this?” I gritted my teeth, as echoes of the past threatened to pull me back under. Stay composed. Just for now.

We sat in silence, barring the rumble of the engine and her occasional sobbing. I wanted to say something more, to pull over, and tell her it’d all be ok. That she’d be fine, and she’ll get through it. That whatever happened to cause her to end up here, that she would make it through to the end. All it would take is a smile, some good laughs, and the will to keep going. Even if we were only a step above strangers at this point, it was the least I could do. 

“What makes you think you’re gross?” The question was somewhat rhetorical: it was the grime and slushy mix embedded into the fibers of her clothing. But, that probably wasn’t the whole story. No one would get that upset over wet clothes unless they’d had a horrible day already. And well… it was safe to assume she did. A different angle would be helpful.

“...Besides all the snow and stuff. I mean, it’s just how winters are. Nothing to get worked. And if you really think that, we are both disgusting then.” As I finished, a weak laugh mixed with her sobs. Shifting my gaze, I made out a feeble smile painted on her face. Keep going.

“Honestly, you’re kinda pretty. Kinda like a ghost. You ought to be more careful, y’know.” I bit my lip. She tilted her head, inky tendrils falling off her face. Stop.

A sudden bump interrupted our conversation, focus shifting towards the road once more. Don’t get ahead of yourself. This isn’t some game. She could die. Scanning the road, it seemed to be safe travels. At least for a bit.

“Sorry about that. Roads are quite bad.” I murmured, squinting at the icescape ahead of us. Yet, I could feel Mia’s gaze lingering on me. Before I could turn to look, she began:

“You think… I’m pretty? I’m not. I’m repugnant. Let me take off-” she reached over towards her right sleeve and began to tug it off, before I cut in.

“Mia, I don’t know much about you. Hell, I’ve only known you for what… “ peeking at my dash, the clock read 5:30 PM. “45 minutes?”

“But you aren’t some repulsive monster. You just seem like a regular person who had a shitty day. Well, ignoring the whole immune-to-the-cold thing.” I tried to feign a smile, but really, Mia’s demeanor… reminded me of myself. Except you do ruin everything you touch. She doesn’t. From the looks of it, at least.

“Th-hanks… even if you’re wrong.” She shook her head, but her hand slowly left the sleeve. Seems she decided against taking it off, at least for now. I wanted to say more, to tell her she wasn’t some beast. Really, she should be disgusted by me. I’m the monster. All I’ll do is make it worse for her.

5:30… I really ought to let Uncle Eli know I’m okay soon. He’ll probably start calling me any minute, after all, it’d been about an hour since I left Mrs. Briar’s. I didn’t want either of them to worry over me. Not that they even should to begin with.

“I should probably mention, we’re gonna go by my Uncle’s soon. I live with him. He’s out with work at the moment, probably something about the weather.” I stated. As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt the air shift. 

Mia went stiff. In less than a second, she had become rigid. Our conversation had come to a literal halt: almost as frozen as the world outside the thin metal of my car. Her bangs covered her eye once more, leaving only one sole eye to peer at me. Panic perforated my composure, spurring desperation.

“My Uncle’s a bit of a pushover, don’t worry about him. He act’s all mysterious and tough, but deep down, he’s kind of a softie. Hell, he even taught me how to sew.” Her posture slowly eased back into a more neutral stance. Though, one of her hands still twitched and scratched at the cuff of my jacket. Almost like she was burying her true feelings.

“Sounds cool.” She muttered, looking away towards the outside darkness. She pulled her knee’s up, wrapping her arms around them. Her soaking locks clung to the side of her neck, almost like tendrils spilling from the top of her head. My lips parted, but no sound came out. 

Just stop. She clearly hasn’t had a good time, no need to remind her of how much “better” you are. How much “better” your life is. Unless you revel in it, like some sort of sadistic beast. Ever so slightly, my foot sank just a bit lower on the gas.  Right? Doesn’t it make you feel so good, to put down someone already struggling. Someone already in pain. Doesn’t it make you feel strong? I swallowed nothing at all, mouth dry and empty. Because it’s someone else in pain. Someone else suffering. Someone else to bear the brunt of the pain. My fingers curled tight against the steering wheel. After all, who's to say she isn’t like you? That she isn’t a selfish bastard. Maybe she got kicked out of a car because she hurt someone. Maybe-

“L-Lucas?” Mia stuttered out, her face blank. Or maybe it was just the encroaching dark obscuring her face.

Snapping out of my trance, my fingers were deadlocked onto the wheel. No words could escape my lips; I just kept driving. Don’t waste your time. Get her there. Go home. Move on. Save everyone the trouble.

“Remember w-when I asked if you could take me home? I haven’t… been there in a while. I don’t… I don’t know if my sister will recognize me. If she doesn’t… can you promise me something?” Just barely, I could see her fingers coiling around the edges of my sleeves. Simultaneously, her lips curled ever so slightly into a grin.

“I think so.” I stated. Truthfully, I couldn’t promise anything. Not to anyone. I’m too unreliable for that. She looked up for a moment, staring ahead at the snow swirling just in front of us.

“Please… just leave me there. Leave me near her house. Don’t tell anyone I was there. Forget I-I exist. L-like I… was n-nev-er… *hic* … born.” She stopped, voice breaking down. Tears began seeping from her eyes, emotion boiling over. Cyan light danced upon the liquid, crystalline and shining. 

I didn’t know what to say. Like you never… existed? Like you were never born? Like you never… made things worse… I frowned. Maybe Mia and I unfortunately had that in common. Or maybe, I’m just injecting myself into a conversation I wasn’t a part of.

Coming up ahead was a turn, and for the moment, I decided to focus on that. Just briefly. Long enough to decide what to do. What to say. Guiding the wheel along, the car skidded just slightly, interrupting my steady heartbeat. Mixed assortments of snow, sleet, and rain blew about, crashing against my windshield in thick globs. Yellow light highlighted the onslaught ahead of us, the journey yet traveled.

“Mia, I can do that under one condition.” I forced out, false bravado in my voice. At any moment… it’d shatter. She looked up, still hiccuping, and slowly nodded.

“If I leave you there, promise me you’ll take care of yourself. I don’t really know you… and you don’t really know me. But…I just can’t abandon you there. I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself. Abandoning someone who needs help. “ I paused, gathering my thoughts for just a moment.

 “I dunno what you’ve been through. But if I had to guess… it wasn’t pleasant. Even if you won’t always feel ok… just promise me you’ll reach out to someone. Anyone. Don’t hide away. Even if you have to call again and again… don’t stop trying. Not until someone answers. I promise you, there is someone out there who cares. Even if you don’t think so.” 

Her hiccuping slowed. Still, she kept quivering. Like she was freezing to death. Neither of us spoke. Perhaps it was because we both wanted the other to go first, or perhaps the silence was just comforting. Just the pitter patter of precipitation against cold metal, gentle and rhythmic.

I recognized the upcoming bend in the road; wouldn’t be long now. Accounting for the weather, we’d probably pass it within 10 minutes. Then we’d be a decent chunk of the way there. Of course, that didn’t mean I was done driving. Only that, I’d get a small breather. 

“I’ll t-try. Is that good enough? Will it be satisfactory? ” Her voice trailed into a mechanical rhythm. More like a pre-programmed response.

Will it be satisfactory? Why does she sound so… defeated? My teeth clenched. She shouldn’t worry about me. Not after everything. Not after I made that choice. So don’t. Leave that damn essay behind for good. Do something about it.

“Hey, it’s perfectly fine! Don’t worry about me, worry about yourself.” Shaking my head, I held out hope that this time, maybe something would be different .

Mia looked ahead, tears streaked and dry. Still, the glow of my dash illuminated her face. Etching a pale blue into her skin, strung up like an icicle glowing with moonlight. Inky black resting upon her face like cracks in ice; an alluring banshee. Get your head out of the gutter. She isn’t some siren, she’s just a girl. Get back on track.

“We’re close to my Uncle’s. Means we are about… 45% of the way there? Roughly. If you need anything, I can make a stop. He wouldn’t mind.” He would mind, but he’d only take it out on me. Not you . Or maybe he’d compliment me on finally “making a friend”.

She raised a hand to her side, clutching at it. Seemingly not in pain… something else entirely. Maybe she was hungry? Before I had time to truly ponder the thought, she opened her mouth:

“Can we stop? Just for a moment. I need a bit. I’m… tired.” As she finished, her eyes drifted away. She twisted to the side, slick hair flopping off the side of her shoulder. She sat gazing out into the monochrome abyss.

“That’s alright, I’ll probably run inside and go to the bathroom. If that’s okay with you. I can grab you something in there too, like a snack. Any favorite’s?” A crooked grin attempted to form on my face, held back by my own inhibitions. 

“Do you have… chips? I think I like those.” The tone of her voice suggested confusion, almost like she didn’t fully grasp the question. Guess she isn’t a huge fan of late night eating.

“I think we have some plain ones. I can grab you some on my way out. It’ll probably take me less like 5 minutes.” I exclaimed, before snapping back to reality. Don’t get all amped up. You’re not her friend. She wouldn’t want that. Just get her a snack and move on.

“T-thanks…” She mumbled, shifting in her seat. In the light, the numbers “170” became visible once more. It looked embroidered on, in some kind of blocky font. Kinda like what you see on tanks and weapons. Must be some weird fashion she’s into.

“By the way… what's with the numbers? Is it some brand? If you know, that is.” 

She shuffled about, curling up slightly. She’s tired. Don’t bother her. I turned my focus back towards the road ahead of us, attention back on the slippery snowscape ahead of us. I couldn’t get overconfident, even now: it’d mean death. Winter was the worst time to drive for a reason.  Thank god for Uncle Eli making me drive in it while mom and dad were too busy. I’d have crashed a long time ago otherwise.

Glancing back towards the clock, it read 5:50 PM. If my guess was right, we were getting rather close. I need to let him know I’m ok. Can’t wait to respond much longer. Another 5 minutes and we’d make the stop. As I began to focus on signs that we were getting closer, I felt eyes burrowing into me. Peering out the corner of my vision, Mia was still turned on her side. Odd.

“It’s part of the reason why I ran away. It’s my clothes. I don’t like them.” She mumbled, curling up just a tad more. 

“I see”. 

I didn’t see. How the number 170 on her shirt equated to a valid reason for running away was all a mystery to me. Though, I didn’t dare inquire beyond that. Not when she had just sobbed only minutes earlier. Keep her smiling. 

“We’re about 5 minutes off. I’ll let you know when we are close, ok?” I nodded at her, looking for some sign of acknowledgment. She made a small noise, something between “mhm” and “ok”. Good enough for me.

As the road began to turn and twist, we came ever closer to Uncle Eli’s. A lone bastion of safety in the endless abyss of white. Just a small respite in the eternal storm. Tracing along the edge of the road, I made out a small gap on my right. Once I took this turn, I’d be on the final stretch. Nearing the edge, instinct kicked in, and I flicked my turn signal up, as I slowly began to turn to the right. Gently and gradually, I turned onto the path.

Compared to the road, the path towards Uncle Eli’s house was messy and covered in a thick blanket of snow. Braking just a bit, I took care to stay around 15 mph. If I went faster than that, I’d likely end up crashing right into one of the many pine trees dotting the roads edge. Evergreen needles, poised to pierce through whatever threatened their existence. Stitched onto branches, coated with slush and ice, hanging heavy and wet. They waved in uneven circles, billowing precipitation slashing and slapping into the thin green lines. Yet, they survived.

I squinted, eyes barely catching onto the faint outline of Uncle Eli’s. My room was just a storage room hastily converted into a bedroom. In fact, my “bed” was just a sleeping bag. Almost like a slumber party that never ends. 

“Hey, Mia. We are just about here. Are you sure you don’t need anything else?” I questioned, noticing her form rustle around for a moment. My engine hummed, and my wipers swayed, but she didn’t reply. Guess not.

Pulling into the driveway, I felt my heart gradually rest. After that, I would have been perfectly content rolling into bed and just sleeping off the rest of the day. I wasn’t that fortunate. Still, it was a milestone I should at least let myself revel in a small amount. Unbuckling myself, I pulled the car door release, and slid outside into the white snowscape. Quickly, I learned how good I had it inside my car, droplets of icy rain and snow-slush plopping onto my face and around my shirt. Shit, I probably should have asked for my coat back… no, she needs it more. I’ll be fine. Trudging my way through up the steps, I grasped the handle, as I opened the door into Uncle Eli’s house.

Warmth. For the first time in what felt like ages, I was warm. Safe. Content. Cozy. Free from the white nightmare blazing outside. Still, I had work to do. I scraped my boots against the rug in the entrance, doing my best to get out as much muck and grime as I could. Still gonna have to clean it up. Moving through the living room and towards the back, I opened the door to the bathroom, and shut it. I… did my business, then washed my hands. Tired eyes, and soaked brown locks laid upon my head. I looked like I hadn’t seen a barber in a year or two, which wasn’t too far off. I hadn’t not since I moved here with Uncle Eli. Work was unavoidable, but at least I could bear it knowing I had no real choice in the matter. Maybe I should try and cut it myself. Maybe Uncle Eli could? It can’t be THAT much different from cutting fabric, can it? Besides, he’s a pro at that kinda stuff…

I reached for my phone in my right pants pocket, but found nothing. Damnit, left it in the car. I’ll need to make this quick. Don’t want him to think I forgot.

Shaking my head, I wiped off my hands and made my way back out into the living room. A half cup of tea sat upon the stand next to the couch, alongside a sandwich with a few bites taken out of it. His favorite. Must have been something real serious, huh?

Walking over towards the cupboard, I opened it and began scanning for some chips. All we had were those large bags, the “family size” ones. Looks like I’ll need a plastic baggie. I turned and opened a drawer, rifling around with its contents until I found a plastic bag. After shutting it, I swiveled back around and put some chips into the baggie. It wasn’t a ton, but it should be enough. Hopefully. 

Guess I gotta go already. Instinctively I turned around to say goodbye, only to be met with an empty house. With a sigh, I spun back and made my way back to the door. Back into the frozen wasteland. 

Squinting, I faintly made out the outline of my car. It seemed to have… shut off. Without my phone, that meant I’d either have to leave the door open to Uncle Eli’s and let out all the heat, or feel my way around. One would make my life easier and Uncle Eli’s harder… the other would do the opposite. There’s only one right choice here. Biting my lip, I carefully reached out into the dark, grabbing at the railing. Slowly, I meandered down the steps. Each step was a leap of faith, and all it would take is one bad move to go tumbling down. Still, I trudged on. Finally, slushy snow splashed against my boot, and I’d made it halfway. I continued on, keeping my right arm outstretched in front of me, until I felt frigid metal brush against my fingertips. There we go. Feeling my way around the side of my car, I made my way to the driver’s side entrance, and opened it.

Bright yellow illuminated my surroundings, allowing me a glimpse into the gloomy night. Snowflakes whisked around me, the sudden motion of the car door swirling them in the quiet night. Mia shot up from her chair, eyes wide and fierce. She clutched the middle console, staring daggers at me. 

“Sorry to jump you, my car must have shut off.” I sheepishly stated. Good going, you scared her. 

“It’s ok. I was just sleeping.” She mumbled, gradually sinking back into the chair. Her bangs rested upon one of her eye’s, the other remained glued to my being. 

Climbing back inside, I shut the door and buckled myself in. I reached my arm over, handing her the bag of chips, hands gingerly grabbing the top of the bag before dropping them to her lap. Putting my foot on the brake, I twisted the key in the ignition…

Nothing but the desperate whine of my engine squealing. I tried again, only to hear it squeal once more. Goddamnit. Desperately, I removed my key and foot from the brake, and repeated once more. Again, only a squeal. Of all the times. Of all the GODDAMN TIMES. I closed my eyes, and tried to keep my breathing steady. Just… calm down. Call her a taxi. That’s the only way.

“Well… seems like my car’s not gonna cooperate.” I grumbled, shaking my head. I clawed at the steering wheel, knuckles pale and tight. Such a failure.

“S-sorry.” Mia squeaked, her voice unsteady. 

“Don’t apologize… look, I can call you a taxi. Might take a half hour or so, but they can take you-”

“No!” She cut in. Before I could respond, she looked away. Her entire body was slightly quivering. Not shivering, shaking , like she was in fight-or-flight.

“I-I…” I tried to find words, some meaningful expression to show I was trying to communicate, but everything failed me. “ You haven’t changed one bit. You’re still the same old Lucas, aren’t you?” Rick’s voice mocked me, trailing off into wild giggles. I felt my arm twitch, as I stared blankly into my dashboard.

“Lucas? Could… could I stay here? If… if that’s ok with your Uncle. I… I need some time. Before I see my sister. I-I… don’t think I’m ready to see her just yet. Maybe your car will be better tomorrow?” A lone blue globe peered into me, scratching at my soul. Pleading. Hoping. Praying. Biting my tongue, I knew I didn’t really have much options. If I say no she’ll try to leave. God knows what's wrong with my car, so fixing it is out of the question. She won’t want me to call my Uncle, but he’d be pissed if I had a girl here without mentioning it. Though… maybe he’d also cut me some slack. After all, he wants me to “make friends” and “get out more”. This is exactly what he wants.

“...Sure. Would you be ok if I told him you were over? I’ll just say I am having a friend over for the night, nothing specific. If not, well, better to ask for forgiveness than permission.” I chuckled, trailing off. She looked down, and closed her eye. Taking a deep breath, she sat motionless for a moment.

“Just… don’t tell him how you found me. Please.” She looked back up to me, a feeble smile on her face. I nodded, before grabbing my phone and stuffing it into my pocket. Then, I unbuckled myself, and started to open my door.

Wait. She doesn’t have shoes. How will she make it inside? Halting my movements, my face scrunched up. I could run back inside and look for some of my old shoes, but that could take a couple of minutes. Looking down, I decided what I was going to do.

“I forgot about your whole no-boots situation.” I turned over at her, eyebrows creased.

“I’ll be fine. I can just walk-”

“Do you wanna wear my boots? I’ll run inside quickly.” Interrupting her, I turned away, embarrassment flooding my face. Great.

“If you really want me too.” She sighed, discontent. Don’t worry about me. I’m not worth it. Just…

“What if I carried you in? I’m not too strong, so I’d have to hold you in a bridal carry.” Just shut your stupid mouth! What the hell are you saying? You’re such a perverted frea-

“I’d like that.” She whispered, looking to the side. Oh.

“Gimme a sec.” 

I fidgeted with the door, rolling out of the seat and back out into the wasteland. The quicker, the better. Fastwalking, I made my way around the front of the car, just in front of the passenger door. Gathering what minimal composure I had left, I peeled open the door. Mia simply held the bag of chips in her lap, looking away from me. Guess neither of us have the guts, huh?  

“Could you unbuckle for me?” I asked, causing her to suddenly fumble with the buckle before a quiet click rang out. Hunching over, I put one hand under her knees, and the other around her back, pulling her close.

Jesus Christ . How she managed to be even colder than the air around me was a complete and utter mystery. Aside from the dampness of her clothing, she was frigid and frosty. Biting the inside of my cheek, I scooped her up into my arms, and turned around. My balance was off, but I was able to maintain just barely enough to remain upright. Stumbling along, I made my way to the door, and extended my right arm just far enough out to twist the doorknob. I practically jumped inside, ambling my way back to the couch, before plopping her down. Without a word, I spun around, and jogged over to the door, slamming it shut. That’s over with.

“Sorry about all that.” I mused, still looking at the door. Anxiety gnashed in my stomach, angry and twisting. I wanted to run outside and hide. I needed to run outside and hide.

“I liked it.” 

Embarrassment spread like roots across my face, melting away the cold from my limbs. She’s just lying. Ignore it. You made her uncomfortable. She’s in a stranger's house, and she doesn’t want to upset you. That’s it. So just… breathe. Wordlessly, I turned to face her.

“T-thanks?” Awkwardly, I smiled. Crooked and uneven, a facade of a true smile was woven into my face. Mia was hunched over, bag of chips already open. She must have been real hungry, huh?

“Gimme a s-sec. I’ll go grab you a towel to dry off with.” She looked up, a chip dangling in her mouth, before she nodded.

I hurried to the bathroom door, opening and shutting it within the same second. My heart raced, as I struggled to keep my composure. Calm down Lucas. It’s been a while since you’ve talked with someone other than Eli or Mrs.Briar, you’ve just gotten rusty is all. Speaking of…  

I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone, my hands still a bit wet from Mia’s clothes. As I pressed the power button, I froze. There were two text messages on my phone. 

Did you get home safe? Please reply once you are home dear! - Mrs.Briar.

That wasn’t what I was concerned about. Mrs.Briar just wanted to know if I was safe. She was just worried about me. She always has been, despite everything. She’s just a kind person. A concerned mother.

Uncle Eli was concerned about me as well.  More than Mrs. Briar. And maybe, I should have checked my phone an hour ago. If I had, I’d have known the colossal mistake I’d just made. My phone slipped from my hands, tumbling onto the floor below. 

If you see anyone on the road, pretend like you didn’t see them and speed up. Lock the door when you get home. Turn off the lights, and stay quiet. Avoid moving around too much, only to eat and go to the bathroom. Call the cops if ANYTHING tries to get inside. I’ll explain everything when I get back. I love you so much. Stay safe. - Eli