Alex
My sopping wet combat boots step excitedly out of the raging storm and meet the shabby green doormat just inside the heavy hotel doors. I stop for just a moment to take everything in with a childish giddiness I simply can’t and won’t try to control. Gnawing at the skin of my lips, I peer down to see the word “Welcome” is just barely visible beneath the ages of gunk, grime, and bad weather.
The long red carpet rolled out before me is stained and worn, roughly tattered from centuries of disuse. I can tell it used to be a homey, more vibrant shade of red with thick, darker borders and a warm flannel pattern made up of different shades of browns. Now, however, the colors have faded and matted down to match the dark, dusty mud caked onto my boots from travel.
I smile as I slowly make my way along the edge of the room, my fingertips brushing against the jagged gashes in the torn red and coral checked wallpaper. There are large, angry patches of mold in the worn paper, mostly around the edges or areas where it peels from the warped and cracked wooden walls beneath.
I stop just before one of the many pillars that border the long room. This one, like several others, is collapsed into and with the floor, the weight of itself and the ceiling snapping it in half. Splinters stick out in every which way, ready to impale anyone unfortunate enough to not be paying attention.
My gaze travels upward as I step over a knocked over plant pot, the dead branches shattered and strewn about as dirt lays scattered across the floor. The ceiling hangs particularly low in what used to be a fairly high room, now cracked and rotted beyond repair, just as much as, and if not more so, than the walls and floorboards.
I follow the center beam of the long ceiling, noticing the hooks the chandeliers must’ve been attached to ages ago. As it stands, only the one right above the entrance is clinging to the ceiling for dear life. The others are either stolen, shattered beyond recognition, or reduced to lone chains swinging gently in this draftless room.
The bulbs in the lone survivor, along with roughly half of the lights lining the walls, all flicker weakly. Which is undoubtedly odd, considering this place has been run down for ages, there’s no way there’s still even an ounce of power here. I frown at the thought, more than a little perplexed.
Before I even have a chance to make sense of it, Sunny distracts me by snaking his hand into mine and lacing our fingers. I lean against his shoulder and give my short king a loving smile, being unable to hide the gleam in my eyes, or swallow the excited lump in my throat.
Our small moment is cut even shorter when Simon leaps out from behind me and shakes aggressively in our direction, getting our already wet masses even more soaked. I shout at him in surprise and shield myself from the spray with my free arm, my body instinctively turning towards my boyfriend.
“Okay, Simon, I know you’re wet for me, but, trust me, the feeling isn’t mutual,” Sunny smirks, squeezing my hand.
I blush lightly before Simon’s smug smile grows into a devilish grin and throws himself at my boyfriend, attempting to cover as much of his body with his own as he can while Sunny fights to wriggle free.
“Are you sure?” Simon purrs at Sunny as he locks onto him tightly. Sunny and I throw our heads back and laugh. His hand is wrenched from mine as he attempts to pry Simon off him, and I just try to dodge flailing limbs.
“You’re both so immature. . .”
Shocked, the three of us flinch in unison as we whip around to suddenly see a tall, surprisingly muscular Plague Doctor staring down at us with his arms crossed. His tone suggests playful judgment, but it’s always so hard to tell with him.
Especially since he always keeps his face covered with a bottomed out, worn, white plague mask and a black balaclava mask. His long white bangs messily drape over his goggle covered eyes beneath his black, wide brimmed hat with a 12-inch feather protruding from the side.
There’s sort of a deep energy about him. For the most part he’s a pure, blinding white, but every so often there’s a flicker of something more sinister. That’s what keeps me on edge around him, making it hard for me to trust him.
Though, I do try to make an effort. For Simon, mostly. Phoenix has been Simon’s best friend since childhood. . . Not only that but. . . Well, there’s how Simon feels.
Regardless of all that, though, it’s still a genuine struggle to trust someone who has a habit of silently sneaking up behind people. Such as now, when I’d genuinely forgotten he was with us.
“Oh, god! His clinical homosexuality was too much for him to bear! Give it to us straight, Doc, how long does he have to live?”
Sunny’s teasing voice lifts me from my thoughts to immediately take note of Simon, who is doubled over in a coughing fit as Nick rubs his back soothingly. The pigeon’s jump scare must’ve caught in Simon’s throat, I deduce. . . Not as if it’s the first time ;)
I glance at my phone before joining in on the charade, gripping Sunny’s shoulder as I look into his covered eyes with mock sorrow and empathy.
“I’m sorry to tell you this. . . But, I’m afraid he’s only got 69 minutes left.” I bow my head in faux shame as my fragile masculinity slips through my fingers. “I’ve tried everything in my power, but there’s nothing I can do with his level of gay. . . I’m so sorry, but. . . I would say your goodbyes now.”
I give a heart-wrenching sniffle as I clutch my chest, watching as Sunny wipes his face of tears beneath the soft mess of curly black hair that covers his eyes.
Simon glares at us in horror with wide eyes and a brilliantly flustered face as his lungs finally settle, and he’s able to straighten. Suddenly, he turns to Nick with exaggeration as Sunny and I subtly fist bump, proud of our work.
“Honestly, Nick, you scared the soul right out of my chest!” Is what I tune in to. “I swear I saw it leave my body!!”
Phoenix’s hand, which still rests in the center of Simon’s back, falters a bit at the mention of a soul. I watch as Simon’s shoulders stiffen slightly, noticing a sudden change Sunny and I didn’t catch.
“Have you ever seen a soul?” Phoenix asks the Zombie boy quizzically. His voice is suddenly soft and somber, almost sad, rather than his earlier tone of amusement. Simon chuckles nervously, confused about the sudden shift and desperately trying not to upset the albino before him.
“O-Of course not! It’s impossible to. . . S-see souls. . .” Something about the answer seemed to be the opposite of what Nick was hoping to hear, reacting before Simon even finished the sentence despite the truth of it. It really is impossible to see souls with the naked eye. He of all people should know that. Right?
Nick’s head tilts absently as his gaze drifts slightly, his hand slipping from Simon’s back. After a silent, dragging moment, Phoenix’s broad shoulders drop slowly, and he turns to walk away just as silently as he’d arrived, tipping his hat to farther cover his eyes.
Simon’s hand raises desperately after him. “Nick, I-” but he was gone, seeming to disappear into the darkness at the other end of the room.
My head spins with dizziness from the sudden shift in mood as I share a confused look with my boyfriend. We look at Simon as he slowly turns toward us, running a hand through his messy hair, expecting him to be just as confused as Sunny and me.
But. . . He doesn’t. Instead, he looks a little defeated, even a little understanding. I lift an eyebrow, expecting him to enlighten us with an explanation. When he doesn’t, I try to dig.
“I wonder what that was all about.”
Instead of a response, he just nods distractedly, chewing on his lip and rubbing his arm. Sunny and I share a frown before Simon suddenly brightens with a smile so genuine and full of energy. I have to blink and question if I’d actually seen the gleam of tears in his eyes flickering against the dim lights a moment ago. Or simply imagined it.
“I bet I can search every room before both of you!” Simon challenges.
Sunny and I exchange one last questioning glance before deciding it’s best to let it go and bite the bait Simon has so obviously set out before us.
“You’re on!” we exclaim in sync, accepting Simon’s proposal.
I’m leaning from side to side in front of a completely voidlike, boarded up room, trying to get a better look in from around the barrier. I have no way to explain it, but I’m almost absolutely positive there are millions of eyes watching me from inside. Sunny once again succeeds to distract me as he approaches with something in his hands, presenting the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.
Though, I may be biased, as every necklace Sunny gives me is the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen, however, this one truly is a gorgeous piece.
This one is a deep, endlessly black crystal wrapped in silver and hung with an extremely long, worn chain. It rests against my ribs as my certified simp king clasps it around my neck.
“What’s this?” I ask him in awe, holding the charm closer to my face to see all the tiny, swirls just barely seen in its darkness. It almost looks like it’s moving in a slow, graceful way.
Sunny shrugs as he moves to stand in front of me, taking my hands into his as he gives an adorably shy smile, revealing pointed teeth like mine. “I found it on the fireplace and thought it would look gorgeous around your neck ;)”
I flush deeply as he pulls me in closer to him.
“And?” I say teasingly.
“I was right,” He breathes as he guides my face towards his. I laugh as my lips press appreciatively against his, to which he eagerly reciprocates.
