I lay on the bottom bunk bed, flat on my back, when I heard the sound of crying from down the hall. Out from the main room. My emotions began to quiver, but I knew who it was.
Hesitantly, I rose to my feet and slowly put on my white, now stained sneakers.
The windows were shut tight, but the entire room had a cold aura to it, my skin shivered beneath the single layer I had.
I followed the sound of tears through the hall into the observatory's telescope room, and I saw Twee sitting in a grey office chair by the computers, holding back sobs.
She didn’t see me yet, so I just stood still and watched, awkwardly unsure of if I should walk away or comfort her.
“What is it, Quincy?” she mumbled bitterly, palms over her eyes. She looked up at me, her hair frazzled and her facepaint completely shed away, revealing her normal brownish skin beneath.
“I just heard you crying.” I tried to whisper, but I don’t think she heard it.
“Fuck off and go back to sleep.” she frowned, throwing me a dismissive look.
“It’s… not…” I muttered, my words trailed off when I saw what she was trying to hide.
Her jacket had two protrusions on the back, like something was under there, threatening to rip out.
“Oh… w-...” I tried to speak, I was still tired, and my timidness was trying to keep me from offending her.
Twee got up and bolted toward me in an instant, I backpedalled, but she grabbed me by the collar of my jacket. “I’m growing fucking wings…” she said angrily, through barred teeth. “If you tell anybody… I swear to god.”
“W-why…?”
“Does it look like I fucking know, Whistlewood?” Twee flashed a grin of sarcasm my way, still strangling me.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“I’m sorry, Twee…” I whimpered, praying she wouldn’t lash out further.
She sighed, calming down it seemed. A wave of silence washed over us, numbing, and longing. The sadness of our great loss of our lives truly was realized now.
It seemed for a moment that we thought the same exact thing. Avernus was gone, and while it hurt me a lot, I knew it hurt Twee so much more. It was her home after her parents died.
“I… I have fucking terrible luck.” she finally said.
“Me too.”
“You do not understand, Quincy. You have never experienced the level of loss I am right now. Fuck off.” Twee sneered. I just stared into her black irises, her retina bloodshot from sleep deprivation. It had been like that all day. She’d obviously not slept the night before either.
“I… think I’ll just go.” I whispered back to her softly, my voice like the wind. I snapped my fingers and reality snapped with them. I was on the other side of the room, looking at Twee now.
She held a long stare at me.
I turned around.
“Wait, Quincy…” she stuttered, holding back tears, her voice shaky.
“Hmm?” I smiled mischievously, out of her vision, before turning around with a forlorn face. It worked every time. I am just that cute.
“I just really want to find Stocklord.” Twee said insecurely. I’d never seen her like this, I felt... unnerved...
“We can try, Twee.” I smiled reassuringly. I knew we never could get him back, I wasn’t hopeful at all, but honestly, I just really wanted to help Twee.
Her face lit up like sunshine through this cold, dark, abandoned building. Immediately I was rushed and hugged by her.
I did a good thing… for once.