The silence in the room was heavy, broken only by the rustle of sheets and Alina's muffled voice into the pillow.
"Listen, Gracie."
She bit down on the pillowcase, the fabric straining between her teeth. Her eyes, wide and unfocused, stared at the wall.
"That girl… Hm…" She released the pillow with a sigh. "What was her name again?"
"A–Akeno," Gracie supplied softly, her hands twisting in her lap.
Alina snapped her fingers, the sound sharp in the quiet room. "Yeah. Akeno. That girl." She rolled onto her back, one arm flung over her eyes. "She's not from here. Same as you… I think."
"How so?" Gracie asked, her voice cautious.
"...Don't know." Alina's answer was a low murmur. "Just instinct."
"Ah, Miss Alina, you can't just—" Gracie began, a familiar thread of exasperation in her tone.
"Yeah, yeah," Alina cut her off, her voice rising as she sat up abruptly. The sudden movement made Gracie flinch. "Declarations need proof, I got it. Whatever! Trust me, would you?"
Gracie frantically nodded, her hand flying up to cup the side of her neck.
Alina's gaze zeroed in on the gesture. Her expression, which had been one of frantic energy, collapsed into something pained and raw.
"Don't do that," she said, her voice dropping, a finger pointing accusingly at Gracie's hand. Then, she drove the heel of her own palm hard into her own forehead. "Damn it!"
"W–wait, Miss Alina!" Gracie lunged forward, grabbing Alina's wrist before she could hit herself again. She could feel the tremors running through Alina's arm.
"You see what it does to me!? Huh?" Alina's voice was a raw, strained whisper, her eyes glistening as she stared at their joined hands.
"Yet you want to use it…? Gracie, I know it's your own nature to learn, but not everything is meant to be learnt."
Downstairs…
Akeno just finished eating. Yet she didn't get up and scraped on the plate with the spoon, over and over again.
Collect the oil and gather it all in the center of the plate. And after a glance around the room to see if anyone's watching she licks the spoon.
THUD
Akeno flinched at the noise from the above. She looked up, gripping the edge of the table while the spoon shook in her grip.
What was that? Something's going on up there.
Thud
Another. This one wasn't as loud as the first one. Yet it was present. Akeno looked at the spoon and gave it one last lick. She looked up at the ceiling, her body tense.
Should I go up? Check on it?
The thought sent a cold jolt through her.
Nah. I don't want to be involved in this.
With that in her mind she got up and took the plate with her.
Where do I wash this?
She noticed the dish of salt again and placed back her plate and picked up the salt dish.
Sigh. First, I should keep it where I took it from.
Walked back to the kitchen and placed the salt dish from where she had taken it. Before she left, Akeno noticed the window waving due to the wind.
Without getting closer the dark clouds were visible through it. She got closer and the wind rushed through her, hair flowing to it.
She got on her toes, hands on the counter and tried to look further out to the clouds… Just then the sash of the window hit the back of her head.
"Ow!"
She rubs the back of her head where the sash had hit her. And ruffle her hair, while she pouts fixing her bangs with one hand she reached for the sash with her other.
Another wind came, this time the sash was about to hit her face forward but she caught it first.
"Aha" in a low voice as if whispering to herself. Another wind blew and the other side hit the wall hard.
"Oh no!"
Akeno hurried and closed both the windows. Looking through it the coming storm was clear.
Oh yeah, the plate.
Akeno once looked back at her bandaged foot, and walked back to the dining table. There was no pain present on her foot. And felt the bandage wrapped around it.
As she was about to pick up her plate Gracie came down from the stairs. Scratching her neck, or stretching it. And grinding her teeth.
Seeing Akeno she exhales. She breaks eye contact, licks her lip and looks back at Akeno.
"So, A-Akeno. Did you like it? I–I hope so…"
Akeno nods, politely smiles and picks up her plate. "It was good. Thanks."
"W–wait, I–I'll handle it." Gracie walks up to Akeno and extends both her hands, "I'll handle it, give it to me." While saying it her gaze was lower than usual.
"No, thanks I can do it on my own."
"No! I insist." Bites her lip, and chest rises. Akeno could clearly listen to her breathing.
Is something wrong with her? Why is she acting like this?
"Hey, you hear me? I'll handle this. Come on." Her hand was shaking. No. Her whole body was shaking.