7 comments/ 7191 views/ 16 favorites Requiem Ch. 02 By: TheAbsurd_student I want to remind everyone reading this story that it is a slow moving plot. No, not as slow as molasses, but definitely slow. The sex will build and become more carnal as the pages turn, but one must have patience. If this isn't the type of story you're looking for, you're free to look elsewhere! This chapter of the story Requiem will center on Veronica with an indirect point of view rather than how the first chapter began in the first person. Also, I do not own any copyright to names, companies, businesses mentioned here either. Other than that, majority of the places in this story are a figment of my imagination. Enjoy. The blade sliced through the vegetables at a gentle speed, the smells of fresh herbs and garlic accumulating in the air. First, let the flavors mix and sit for a few, and then... she thought as a swift flick of her kitchen knife sent the delicately cubed mushrooms, zucchini, and onions to a sizzling grave. Let it sit for a few more minutes and dinner is served. As if being eaten wouldn't be terrifying enough, Veronica mused to herself while watching the stove. I could do with some lip service right about now. Her gaze traveled across the sea of clean, neatly stacked dishes on the counter to Dylan who was seated in the living room with his fellow business partner and his wife that seemed glued to his side by an invisible force. Dylan had informed her several hours earlier that his business partner was to meet with him tonight over dinner. Apparently, his new partner Allen Frobisher had a few clever ideas to defeat the heavy competition of the company they're both employed with. It was all rubbish in her mind, though. The reason they had to move in the first place from Scotland was because of his career. The supervisors, CEOs, and banks he took loans from for the financing of his most recent failure had cost him dearly. The shelves of every electronic goods store within a twenty-mile radius of their hometown was stocked full of the company's most recent new product The Edge. The advanced handheld shaver promised clean, smooth skin without the possibility of irritating razor burns or cuts. Unfortunately, more than half the majority of the male community returned the gadgets with red sores and bumps all along their jaw lines and lower face. Not long afterwards, a mandatory recall of the product was issued when the sales dropped an exponential amount, and with it, Dylan. It was the conclusion of the lab technicians and engineers of the company to file for recall because of the material used as a chrome finish that caused irritants and allergic reactions. Veronica had come home that night six-and-a-half months ago to expect dinner prepared for her, a plate of hot food steaming in the soft light of their homey living room following a harrowing day from hell. Work, basically. Instead she had found Dylan in his study, silently reading the newspaper like he always did. The rain from outside had soaked into her shoes as she stepped along the wooden floor towards the study, squeaking along the panels making her presence known. She found light coming from the office, a shadow crossing the illuminated floorboards in a pacing way. The door was ajar when she knocked and looked inside. He didn't raise his head but spoke aloud already knowing who was rapping on the wooden frame. "We're going to have to take a trip, Vonni. There's been some bad feedback. with the new product, and..." He paused, letting the words weigh on her ears. "Dylan... what about the house? We just paid the mortgage not a month ago. We can't just up and leave for a bloody vacation! I can't take my leave just yet either, Stuller wants me back on the ward by Thur-" "Not a vacation. Moving." She didn't hear him correctly. Moving? She thought. Has he gone mad? "Are you mad?" The words left her mouth before she could zip them shut. "No, dear. Just... I'm just in a tight spot. I have a friend from Grindle & Barnes who said he'd give me a position on his staff and a fuck more time and freedom then these arses at my old job could ever muster given' me." He rubbed the stubble along his chin as he paced on the farther end of the office. "And, he lives in New York." Veronica's head turned. "He lives fucking where?!" "Aw, come' on, sweetums! I promise it'll be just fantastic! You always said you wanted to visit the empire state building. Ya told me so, I know that. It was on our anniversary, remember, darling?" He looked over at her with bizarre hope in his eyes. Veronica felt a ping in her heart. Darling... he's never called me that before. Almost out of reflex she turned her head out the window to the bright moon looming overhead. A voice as soft as silk whispered in her ear, palpable, "I love you, my darling." Veronica felt her heart lurch once again at the voice. It was such a soft murmur, like the ones she'd speak of with Sherron. Veronica turned her gaze to the moon again, a deep sadness in her eyes. Oh, sweetheart... I can't love you. I just can't... I don't deserve you. It's been so long since I've last spoken to you. Forgive me. "Von?" She turned her eyes back to him after finishing her silent prayer. His hair was unkempt, the red curls in a craze. His grey eyes swept back over to her, noticing the slight catch in her breath. The soles of his shoes echoed along the floor as he made his way to her, his shadow blocking the window of moonlight. "This is an important time for us. And, I want you to come with me." He reached for her hand and held it. Veronica noticed a slight tremor in his grip, which unnerved her. "But it's New York City you're talking about, Dyl. I can't... I don't know if I can make a commitment like the one you're asking of me. We've been together for just over four years and it has been great. Dylan, but I can't go with you to Ne-" And it was at that moment when Dylan dropped down to one knee in front of her. "Marry me." * * * * * * * * * * * Two words. Two simple words caused Veronica Sutherland's world to turn upside down yet again. She felt her memory being drawn backward into the cluster of thoughts her brain had become up to that precise moment. The first time this exact feeling came to her was over four years ago. She had been having another long, fulfilling talk with Sher. They were discussing their morning routines and describing the pet peeves that drove them to near insanity when Veronica chose the moment to finish the night's conversation she was dreading since Dylan had found out. She had just finished telling Sherron how wonderful she'd been for keeping her company on the ward shift that lasted from midnight to eight AM. And, she also told her how grateful she was for her chats, the good talks and the naughty ones. Veronica knew that she'd been bored if it weren't for Sherron staying online all night, even though she didn't entirely agree with herself there; she would've missed her. She knew she'd be unable to stay away from her for more than a week without getting an itch. And, it was mainly because she knew how much she loved Sherron too. Veronica craved her endearments and her eloquent words. The words of a poet. After Veronica had explained to Sher that her temporary leave was on for the next two weeks, it was at that time that Tracey, her ward supervisor knocked on the open door in the nurse's commons room. Veronica jolted her gaze from the computer to Tracey, a shocked expression over her features. "Hey, you okay? Your ride is just about ready, and the documentation on Phillip Marx needs evaluation. You had his rounds, didn't you? Or was it Terrance?" Tracey's ditzy demeanor usually aggravated Veronica on a daily note, but there was more pressing matters that currently occupied her head. She shook her head at Tracey, her eyes returning to Sher's continuous pings from the messenger window. SHER: Darling where'd you go? "...Alright then. Well, your ride's about ready, do you want me to phon-" Veronica held her hand up with her fingers outstretched. Five minutes. Tracey seemed to have caught the gist because she stopped talking and the room felt less constrictive as before. She just absolutely hated when her coworkers walked in on her whenever she spoke with Sher. Once, Tracey had walked into the commons in such a rush that Veronica barely had enough time to snatch her hand from her scrubs when she asked for the week's rotary shifts. She remembered how hard Sher said she laughed when Von revealed what had almost happened. Vonni shook her head again and gazed back at the glowing screen. VONNI: I'm right here shereeeee. SHER: Yes, but you have to go. You took a substantial amount of time to reply just now... Gosh, you're more right than you know. Veronica thought to herself. She bit her lip, not realizing that the words she'd say would be the last said to Sher. The words that would be her only reminder that she'd thrown away the one person that made her feel as if the world was made of magic and wonder. VONNI: Babygirl, it's that time again. You know I love you, don't you? In my own way? SHER: Well, ...yes, I do. I do know that you love me. VONNI: These past few weeks that you've been online more have really brought me out of the dark place I'd been in. You really cheered me up when I was only feeling resentment towards the world... SHER: lol for a sprained ankle? And, I took you for such a strong woman too. Veronica felt her cheeks itch like they always did whenever Sherron's humor would fire at random. It also made her sad, for she knew not how Sherron would feel about her in the future with what was about to unfold. Vonni knew she had to be away from her because of Dylan. He had found Vonni's chat sessions and demanded the truth of the matter. Once she had finished explaining to him that she was indeed bi-sexual and partially involved with a friend she had met online, he gave her an ultimatum: 'It's me you choose, or it's her you get.' Veronica felt tears in her eyes, her lip trembling slightly. She didn't want to say goodbye. VONNI: Oi, you. Don't get me started again. I can turn the tables just as quick as you, my little dove. My shereeeeeeee. My love. SHER: I love you more than you'll ever know. If you should ever feel lonely, just look towards the heavens and measure my love with the bright stars. And, don't forget the moon... A tear rolled down Veronica's cheek. She heard Tracey's voice again, but it sounded further and further away. VONNI: Oh, I'll never forget. The story of Selene and...Endy- SHER: Endymion. The first human to discover the phases of the moon, yes. Or at least, I've always believed it that way. Tell me the story before you go, so I know you'll always have it in your memory. So you'll never forget me. My God, does she know what I'm about to do? She's speaks to me in a manner as if she knows we wont continue contact. Ever. Veronica pushed the supernatural thought from her mind, blaming it on coincidence and for Sher's enigmatic way with words. Sherron loved mythology. Hindu, Greek, the list went on forever. She'd fill their discussions with magical lore, somehow incorporating it with conversation so... eloquently. Sher had a way with words that Veronica felt she could spend a lifetime with her and still feel as though she'd missed something. VONNI: Selene fell in love with Endymion, for the look on his face when he slept. She asked Zeus to put him in eternal sleep so that she may always look upon him. And, every night, Selene visited him where he slept. In the same cave he'd spent time looking at Selene, the Titan goddess of the moon. SHER: Whenever I sleep, I always feel your gaze. VONNI: Because I'll always be watching you as you drift off to sweet slumber. You're an angel. "Oi! Vonni! Your ride is leaving. NOW!" Tracey scolded from beyond the door. Veronica felt another tear roll down, wishing that she had more time. And, she also wished for Sher to find it in her heart to forgive her in the future. Somehow, for once, Veronica's luck failed her. Whenever she did anything, she always felt sure about it, or else she wouldn't do it. She didn't feel the same lighthearted, carefree feeling that usually followed after any decision making on her conscious. She felt as cold as the Grim Reaper wielding his scythe as she typed the words. VONNI: Hun? SHER: Go. Veronica looked at the screen again. She felt surreal in that moment. A part of her heart was tearing at the seams. VONNI: I love you. Never forget that. She hovered the mouse over the 'log out' tab and clicked. Her world flipped again to the moment of Dylan on one knee, his bristly face all bunched up in a confused look of dread. He had taken her silence as a no. The engagement ring was the first thing she noticed when her senses had finally returned to her. The diamonds along its edge glinting in the soft light, however the only thought to penetrate her mind was how heavy it looked, both in a material and figurative sense. Her green eyes followed Dylan's gray ones. She knew she loved him, but she wasn't sure how much she did. Remembering the words that had just been floating around in her head, the memory softly tugging at the walls lovingly... Until, suddenly, it faded into the recesses of her mind. The conclusion she came to as she took the ring from its soft confines and nestled it nice and firmly on her wedding finger, was that she had finally let go of Sher's influence on her. Ever since meeting her, she'd felt drawn to her. A certain thrum or vibration was always apparent whenever they spoke. And, it always followed her wherever she went. Now, after the four years of that sound beginning and lingering, it finally ended. The feeling of being one with something was lost to her after feeling its presence for so long. As Veronica lifted Dylan from the collar off the floor and into her arms, she kissed him. They were fumbling with buttons and zippers as they both knelt down on the carpet by the window, the moonlight causing their skin to glow. Veronica looked up at the mysterious bright ball of light, wondering if Sher knew she was looking at her now with Dylan's mouth on her neck, causing her to moan. She wasn't sure if she could make love with him under the light of the moon, for how strange it felt. Veronica knew he was too far-gone in his own desire for Dylan to heed anything she'd say other than "I'm coming". It was so strange though, as his hands traveled down to her thighs and spread them. Her green eyes caught a fleeting image of a star shooting by; it's light brighter than anything she'd ever seen in the night sky. She tried to strain her head in the direction it flew off to, but she felt him inside her. The shooting star and every thought she'd had before she saw it fly past open view left her as quick as it had come. * * * * * * * * * * * She shook the disorientation from the memories flooding her mind, rubbing her temples. The aroma wafting through her home had eventually brought her back to reality for fear of burning the vegetable medley. Veronica checked the roast in the oven and withdrew from the mouth-watering sight with a smile after turning off the stove. A friend recommended honey glazed pork tenderloin with vegetables and couscous a few weeks ago via email while Veronica was busy moving from Scotland to Manhattan, NY. Dinner is a success once again. Vonni took pride in her cooking often, especially when tackling a recipe foreign to her. Veronica began rummaging through the cupboards till her hand grasped the jar of honey from the local supermarket. She couldn't resist sneaking a taste with her finger like she always did and relished the sweet flavor, humming to herself. Her tongue curled around her finger when an image of Sherron materialized in her mind, her fingers coated with honey. The goddess-like body she possessed sashayed towards Veronica in her daydream, touching herself with the honey-coated fingers. Veronica hushed out a breath, her voice husky. She was still hearing moans when another voice invaded her conscious. "Veronica!" She whirled around wide-eyed with her fingertip still nestled between her lips. Dylan's head emerged from the wall that closed off the view of the living room asking about dinner. Sucking the honey off, she feigned a smile. "Ten minutes, I just need to finish the glaze." Veronica, feeling the rush of endorphins in her bloodstream, turned back to her task at hand and fell silent. Once she heard his footsteps distancing from herself, she let out a sigh. Of relief? Of frustration? She didn't know. All she knew was that ever since she encountered Sherron at the gallery, the thrum and vibration she'd felt leave her during Dylan's proposal had suddenly manifested itself in her mind again. In her body. Her soul. She remembered sitting down in the bare living room of the three bedroom and two bathroom house fishing for her patient log out of a cardboard box marked with a sharpie that said, 'VON'S STUFF'. When she found it, she pulled it out along with a few fragile mugs stuffed with newspaper. The muffled clatter signaled her she had broken one of them. As she unwrapped the mug, the newspaper article caught her attention. The column read: "SMALL TOWN ARTIST RISES TO THE BIG LEAGUES." A smaller title beneath the headline of the column read, 'As Sherron Fischer's detailed oils become the new topic of discussion along Greenwich Village, We can expect to find her among the Society of Illustrators in no time with the upcoming event of her gallery showing, "The Baroque Modern" ' Veronica's eyes swam over the words again and again until she had memorized it. And, she read it again afterwards. The small picture to the left of the text was indeed small, but the woman adjacent to the complex oil painting was all Veronica was paying attention to. The heart shaped face had a wavy lion's mane that caped it, its brown tendrils resting on her strong shoulders. The arched eyebrows framed her almond-shaped eyes and the nose resting below was quaint, softly buttoned at the tip. Sherron's full lips were curled in a smile, albeit a little seductively. Her petite frame fell quite a few feet short of her painting's height, and it was then as Veronica burned the image in the back of her mind that she confirmed to herself that it was Sher staring back at her. Vonni shook her head physically this time. It's been two weeks since the showing. I'm not even sure if I'll ever see her again, even with the way things turned out after we parted ways. Veronica scolded herself. The way things turned out? I'm about to get married for Christ's sake. I shouldn't be thinking of fucking affairs before I've had the ring on for hot minute. Allen Frobisher's wife, Chloe, came in the kitchen five minutes before she was contemplating on serving everyone and offered to help. The random act of kindness took Vonni off guard, but she thanked her regardless. "You've been cooking up a storm in here and I thought you could use the extra pair of hands." Chloe said. "That's very kind of you. Yeah, if you could grab the plates, I'll serve it." "No problem. I was getting kind of bored with the constant talk of the stock market. If I hear the word sale one more time, I'll stuff those carrots in my ears." Chloe reached over and plucked a carrot from the plate Vonni handed to her and chewed it softly. Veronica laughed. "Sometimes I wonder why I settled for a man who takes more pride in his pockets than his own wife's cooking. Those two assets went hand in hand in the fifties." Vonni retorted while placing the silverware along the dinning room table. Requiem Ch. 02 "Finally, someone is speaking my own language! You're a God send, Vonni." Chloe hooted from across the table. Veronica smiled, joining in on her charades and laughing. They both congregated to the kitchen to retrieve the wine glasses and merlot, still laughing and whispering out of ear shot from the Office where the men were. "You've been married to Allen for long?" Veronica veered the conversation more to the point. "About three years to this upcoming Monday, that will be our anniversary." Chloe said amongst small bites of a piece of bread. "Well, congrats on that." "Mhm. What an accomplishment." Her voice was flat following the comment. Veronica peered over at her with a look of worry. She had a funny feeling that Chloe was packing more misery beneath those stunning features than she had herself. "Allen always likes having me by his side at all times. He thinks we look like a power couple so he loves to emphasize his love of power one of many ways by means of "flaunting". Those are his exact words for it." Veronica's jaw fell at the words and Chloe looked at her as if she had said she was a Satanist. Chloe's light voice complimented her soft features, as well as her impeccably straight, whitened teeth. The platinum blonde hair that fell in ringlets was masterly tended to and framed her long, elegant face. She was beauty in the eyes of both men and women, Vonni knew, but the glamour of it all was entirely overwhelming. The populace of New York City frightened her at first when she arrived fresh from Edinburgh with jetlag on an unmemorable snowy day. She figured to herself after meeting Chloe that her friend who had once said, "Manhattan is a city of wonder, mainly because of the people that live there. The other half that makes it such a curious wonder is the plethora of interesting people who stand out amongst the masses." Had just confirmed her theory. "Sorry, I just... you know, ...Is not marriage reserved for love?" Veronica said naively. "And I've read in a few sacred texts that love can move mountains. I do love him, he just is more in love with himself." She twisted her mouth in a half smile and turned the topic on its head. "So, how did you meet Dylan?" Veronica looked up from pouring the wine and directed her glance towards the study where Dylan and Allen's voices could be heard. "I met him during my years at university. We were boyfriend and girlfriend then. As the years passed we grew apart and I didn't hear back from him until he was further ahead in his career than my own." Veronica settled the wine bottle on the table and sipped from her glass. "So you guys were on and off?" "More or less. When he came back into my life I had no one special I was with, except..." She tucked her arm around her stomach as the other arm helped her down more wine. "Except...?" Chloe said, curiously. Veronica swallowed after the wine settled deliciously on her tongue. "Except a certain person I had met a few months before he came back. We would talk to each other over the first year I was with Dylan, and then he found out." Chloe gasped and chimed in with fervent curiosity now. "He found out? Did he catch you in the act?" Vonni looked at her and was about to continue until Dylan and Allen's voices became louder as their footsteps announced their arrival. Chloe looked at Vonni sympathetically and mouthed the words 'later'. * * * * * * * * * * * Veronica followed her into the dinning room where Chloe sat beside Allen, his arm curling around her. It would've appeared as a protective gesture to any other pair of eyes, but ever since Chloe let the cat out of the bag she knew the reason derived from greed. Dylan had already seated himself and was enjoying a bite of pork, shaking his head in wonder. "Vonni, sweetums, you've never ceased to impress me. This is absolutely fantastic." "It's the dog's bollocks, ya mean." Veronica smiled at the compliment and seated herself beside him. "So, Veronica..." Allen's voice permeated the cacophony of utensils slicing meat, the sound of plates clanking, chewing and swallowing both food and wine, "How does the city fare you?" Allen's steely voice took her aback. His tall frame and broad shoulders automatically gave him an intimidating aura, Veronica observed. His piercing green eyes seemed diluted with a darker color and the facial hair that adorned his jaw, upper lip and chin completed a picture of a man driven by the seven deadly sins. Veronica made another observance; his gut was as flat as a board. Perhaps just six deadly sins then. More than enough... Veronica thought. "Pardon?" She said after forking a few vegetables into her mouth. Chloe looked over at her and smiled, continuing on behalf of him. "He meant to say, 'How do you like the city?' " "It's a definite change, that's goes without saying. But, I have to say-" She paused, the memory of her and Sherron kissing beneath the street lamp bright as ever in her mind caused her throat to go dry. She washed the thought down with wine and continued, "It's been a real twist of events." "How so?" He challenged from across the sea of steaming food. Veronica felt her brow furrow. He certainly loves to test my boundaries. She pursed her lips, and said, "I'm from a rural town. So, you can imagine walking into a different world like New York if you originated from the town like I have." "So what town did you originate from?" He cracked his knuckles and rested the back of his head against the palms of his hands. Veronica looked over at Dylan on her left but his mind was solely interested with his plate of food. "Just a little ways outside of Glasgow." "I've never been there, but Chloe always manages to remind me we should visit more countries. She definitely has more wanderlust between the two of us." He grinned and stretched his arm around her again. Chloe patted him on the knee and continued eating. While still eying his wife, he continued, "But that's grand, though. I'm happy you're enjoying Manhattan. There are quite a few places around here that Chloe and I frequent. We were wondering if you'd like to come along." That seemed to pique Dylan's interest from his plate of food. "What about me? I don't want to stay home on a Friday night." Allen turned towards him. "Well, of course you'll come along. You wouldn't want any other man to steal her away now, would you?" His smile truly unnerved Veronica. She felt Dylan's arm envelope her instinctively. In any other instance she would have welcomed it lovingly, but she feared Allen's bad influence on him and shrugged it off. "Don't think I can fend for myself?" She retaliated with a bite of a potato. This amused Allen to no end it seemed, Veronica thought. He was constantly smiling as if he knew something that she didn't. She felt her skin crawl with his gaze trailing down her frame. "No, of course not. You're a psychiatrist. I'm sure protocol taught all their med students hold and restraint, am I wrong?" His smile curled further. "No." "Well, then. That settles that." He returned his attention to his food. Chloe moved her neck in a nonchalant way, feigning to scratch an imaginary itch, and whispered something in Allen's left ear. A scowl crossed his features making him look more like a prune than the stud muffin he portrayed as Veronica watched the two of them. Dylan was still packing away his food, oblivious to the couple's antics. Chloe leaned away from her husband and winked over at Veronica from across the table. And that settles that too, Veronica mused to herself with finishing her glass of the merlot. I could do with some more entertainment, anywho. She came to a final conclusion in her mind. "I think a night out would be beneficial for the lot of us, actually. Count me in." Chloe looked over at her with a look of shock while Allen's frown from before turned into a shit-eating grin. He cleared his throat while massaging Chloe's shoulders with one hand, apparently quite pleased with Vonni's recent decision. Veronica looked over at Chloe who gave her a reassuring smile. "Absolutely wonderful, then." Allen concluded the conversation. * * * * * * * * * * * Twenty minutes later all four of them were packed tight in a taxicab weaving in and out of traffic along Lexington Avenue. There was a slight thunderstorm on the way to their destination causing the rain to distort the passing buildings in view. Veronica was counting the beads of water running down the glass when Chloe leaned over and whispered in her ear. "So, you're sure you don't want to try another club? I've heard it gets impossible to get in the place past ten o'clock." Her lips touched the surface of her ear and Veronica gasped. Dylan and Allen were in a heated debate when they suddenly stopped at the sound. They looked over at her curiously for the mild interruption from their talk. Vonni smiled and thought of a quick lie, "Just a thought that popped in my mind. That's all." She could feel Chloe beside her giggling quietly to herself. Veronica wanted to lean over and twist her own ear but she refrained from the impulse. Both Dylan and Allen continued their discussion as if an interruption hadn't occurred. "So your ears are your erogenous zone, hm?" Chloe said smugly. "Bugger off. It's a flaw." Veronica could feel her cheeks itch as she fought the smile forcing its way over her lips. She could feel Chloe's eyes on her still. "Alright. One of the few I have, yes." Veronica folded her arms in a pout. Chloe laughed and nudged her in the ribs. "Aw, come on. I was only poking fun. Plus, it was kind of hot." Veronica felt her ears turning a shade of pink. "Oh, I know it was hot. I don't need reminding." She smiled to herself knowing and relishing her effects. She heard Chloe chuckling to herself. "What're you laughing at?" It actually began to annoy Veronica for a moment. Chloe waved her hands in an apologetic way while spitting out a few more laughs. Her chocolate brown eyes welling out tears while she desperately tried to fan them and dab with a cloth, still laughing. At this point even Dylan and Allen both turned to look at the spectacle. "Ha ha... Oh, God. Whew, mind us gentlemen. Just having a laugh is all." Chloe flashed one of her dazzling smiles. She folded her hands in her lap and directed her stare at Allen. He returned the stare and said with a cool air about him, "It's so nice to see you two have become the best of friends." Dylan looked over at Veronica and Chloe, back and forth until his gaze settled on Veronica. He arched his eyebrows and grinned. Veronica straightened her posture and gave him a stern look. He immediately found Dylan's previous topic of Wall Street's recent story on oil much more interesting. Chloe turned back to Veronica and smiled. "Please, forgive my little outburst earlier. I simply couldn't help it. You sounded so sure about yourself. You have a certain confidence about you that made me realize you must be a dominatrix." Veronica's eyes widened at hearing the words. "How'd you-" "What? Figure it out? Come on, you have it written all over you from head to toe." Veronica scoffed at her, directing her attention out the window. "So where are we going anyway? You and Allen were talking about this club as if it was revolutionary." The taxi began to slow around Park Avenue, the driver cursing at the congested traffic. "Yo, man?" A thick, Brooklyn accent emerged from the sliding glass. Dylan turned his head towards the driver. "That club off of Madison? Yeah, a few other cabbies are in that part of the city's grid and they said it's absolute hell trying to get in. They said the line stretches about half a block." "Half a block?!" Chloe and Veronica both said in unison. The cab driver looked startled by the two women whose voices rose from the back of the car. He slowed to a stop beneath a traffic light. Amongst a sea of yellow cabs and other civilian cars, Veronica spotted a few police cars that had a portion of the lane blocked off by signs that read, 'NO TRESSPASSING'. "It's because of the tattoo shop right along side it. The owner is throwing some auction party for some fundraisers and included a few custom tattoos on the side too. That news crew van parked in the alleyway over there just finished covering the story on it. And, the club Energy is always booked on the weekends." The cab driver pointed towards the buildings a few yards from Veronica's left. She followed his finger till it paused in the direction of the building covered in lights. The club Energy was wrought with neon lights and fixtures. The music was muffled by the sounds of the city but the beat of the current song blared its bass loudly. The street was flooded with on lookers and jaywalkers as the cabbie honked his horn, kindly echoing his response to a truck in front of him flipping him the bird. "Figlio di puttana!" The cabbie wailed out of his window, his arm rose with a fist. Chloe erupted in laughter as the cabbie continued to harass the truck in front of them. Several on lookers turned their gaze towards them, along with a few cops joining in on the new commotion. "He basically told the other guy that he's a son of a whore." Chloe giggled again unable to control herself. Veronica let out a whistle, followed by, "Shit. That's harsh." The truck driver yelled out to the driver, but it was too muffled inside the cab to catch anything clearly. The cab driver definitely heard it though... Veronica mused quietly. The driver huffed, his neck turning red. A cop shouted over to the cars to knock it off or else they'll be the reason traffic was held up tonight. Both the cabbie and the driver of the truck rolled up their windows and nodded towards the police officers. "Non mi rompere i coglioni, ya fuckin' pigs." The cabbie muttered under his breath as he nodded to the officers with a smile. Chloe, however, had overheard his hushed Italian and was smiling in a sarcastic way. "What'd he say now?" Veronica asked eagerly to Chloe who was immersed in the thick Italian flowing from the cabbie's mouth. She smiled at her in a playful way, returning her eyes back to their driver. "He said don't fuck with me. I'm completely doubtful of that though. That's why I was smiling." Chloe patted Veronica's knees excitedly, telling her how much she was looking forward to Veronica's first visit to Energy. "I didn't know you knew Italian." Veronica explained after the cops returned back to where they were stationed. Chloe turned to her. "I'm half Italian on my father's side. Everyone who knows me in New York refers to me by my mother's maiden name, Greene. But, everyone back home in Florence addresses my family and I by my father's last name, Ferrantino." Veronica nodded, looking back out the window towards the passersby. "What's so special about it?" Veronica exclaimed, even though her eyes felt compelled to pay another glance at the beautiful light streaming from the building. She saw a bouncer the size of grizzly bear on its hind legs blocking the door and an even bigger man standing next to the rope a few feet from the steps leading to the club. There were people on all sides of the building, only the line to gain access was more compact and filed alongside the west side. "I know the owner. And the owner's best friend of the tattoo shop as well." Chloe took out a pack of cigarettes and began to pack them with the back of her palm. "That's how we'll bypass all of this." She trailed her finger back and forth gesturing towards the civilians piled around them. "Oh..." Veronica nodded while turning her attention to the smaller building beside Energy. The cabbie waved at the police officers a last time and inched a few feet alongside of another car once some leeway was made from a green light. The cabbie pointed towards the sidewalk where the tattoo shop Love was nestled. * * * * * * * * * * * "I can let you all out over here so you aren't wracking up your dues, ya know?" He pointed with his thumb towards the fare, which read: $23.50. Allen pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and handed the cabbie a U. S. fifty dollar bill and told him to keep the change. The cabbie dipped his cap in Allen's direction. "Thanks kindly. Goodnight, signoras." He nodded his head in Vonni and Chloe's direction. They thanked him as they filed out of the cab and into the busy street, blending in among the masses. The night air was brisk and chilled, a wind ruffling past sending Veronica's bangs in her eyes. She buried her hands in the pockets of her jacket, whistling again. "It's fuckin' colder than a witch's tit out here." Chloe laughed loud and hard and told Veronica not to talk about Allen's mother in such a way. If Allen overheard, he either pretended not to care or didn't care at all. Veronica thought better of it and chose the latter. The blonde shook her curls in an tsk tsk sort of way, weaving one of her arms with Veronica's; interlocking the both of them. "I can guarantee that's the first time in a while he's been in public without me hanging on his arm. I married a man with no sense of humor. Someone fucking punch me." Veronica bumped her hips sideways and said, "There. That constitutes as one." Chloe eyed her from her peripheral as they weaved in and out amongst the crowd. The news van had already cleared out of the area but the sea of New Yorkers didn't seem any less dense than it was. "You'd think they would of cleared out of here by now." Vonni's eyes tried to carry distance over her five foot six frame, but it was just her luck that a group of insanely tall men blocked her view of the club's entrance. Chloe sensed her distress and signaled Allen with a quick, curt whistle. His head turned in her direction and she motioned her head towards the right. He nodded and tapped Dylan on the shoulder, directing him towards the new way of entering the club. Chloe grabbed Veronica by the waist, her hand clinging to her to make sure she stayed close. "Trust me, any of these guys would love to cop a feel if you look separate from a group. Now, you're my girlfriend. Kindly drape your arm around me, mi amore." Chloe's white teeth shined as her smile stretched ear to ear. Veronica couldn't help but laugh. She was truly enjoying herself. She joined in the game and trailed her fingers through Chloe's hair. "Mmmmm, keep that up and you're going to have to pay for it later." Chloe's seductive eyes moved over her up and down as she cleared a path through the thick fog of clubbers. Men of all sorts of shapes and sizes were staring down at them, a few whistles and a "hell yeah!" came from all directions and Veronica couldn't help but laugh when Dylan found it necessary to teach them all that I was his fiancé. Every man in the vicinity laughed, including the bouncer by the rope within earshot. "She looks a lot happier on her arm than your dick bro. You flaccid or something, man?" One of them called out. Laughter erupted again, along with Dylan fuming with rage. Allen patted him gently on the shoulder and said something out of earshot that somehow made Dylan smile and his complexion lightened. Even though a few veins were still pulsing on his temple, he appeared calmer. Veronica shook her head and turned to Chloe. She had the same look on her own face. Men. They both thought. Chloe lead Veronica to the entrance where a bouncer with a nametag that read "BUTCH" was leaning on the wall of the building, immediately straightening like an arrow upon their arrival. He cleared his throat and folded his massive arms over his chest. They look more like hams stuck together than muscles. Veronica felt her eyes widening as she realized he must've been at least six foot five. Jesus, he must tower over Dyl by at least five inches. Requiem Ch. 02 "You're going to have to get in the back of the line just like everyone else." A gruff voice barked at them. The clipboard nestled between his arms looked as though it would pierce his balloon-like muscles and pop them. "But I'm not everyone else. I'm Chloe Greene." "I don't care who the hell you are, lady. I'm just doing my job." The gruff voiced said, waving the clipboard as if it were confirmation. "Who the hell are you anyway? Where's Jacques?" Chloe said. Her tone was agitated. The bouncer raised a bushy eyebrow, curious as to how she knew the name. "Day off." The bouncer was becoming more and more increasingly difficult. The slightly smaller man out of the two of them walked away from the door and towards the two women and men outside the club. This bouncer though, Veronica observed, didn't have a permanent scowl over his features. He actually looked quite content to be where he was. "What seems to be the problem here?" A pleasant voice filled with peace and understanding said to Chloe. "Is Jacques here?" The blonde was tapping her foot impatiently. "You know, I've never been treated like this at Energy. Last time I was here, Meg Little personally welcomed me from the front Goddamn door!" She stomped her foot on the ground for emphasis. The happy bouncer looked Chloe over once or twice. A firm smile formed on his lips. "Chloe, right?" The bouncer questioned. "None other." The bouncer that more resembled an angry mass amount of hair rigidly stood there as he witnessed what was about to unfold. "If you let them walk in, everyone else is going to want the same special privilege." He huffed out, practically crushing the clipboard between his pectoral and bicep. The kinder man eyed the taller one, somehow sensing wisdom from his words. "He's not lying, that's why we have to enforce this. Maybe if I called the manag-" "That wont be necessary, Flint!" A familiar voice called out from above. Everyone's gaze within earshot of the conversation looked up at the woman whose face emerged from the window. It was none other than Sherron Fischer. Veronica felt as though she was going hyperventilate. Her mouth fell open as Sher's eyes locked onto her own. They stared at each other, but only Chloe was the one to notice the exchange. The vast majority of people along the strip watching the woman who was calling out from the window seemed equally more interested. Sher leaned out further, eying all of them until she held Flint's gaze. She nodded and said three words. "Let them in." And, then she was gone. Veronica felt as though she just swallowed her heart and felt it drop to the pit of her stomach. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. How the fuck did this happen? She felt overwhelmed. Dylan wasn't two feet from her left. Did he notice? She didn't want to appear absolutely terrified for no reason so she immediately corrected her posture. "So, you want to tell me what you've been hiding this whole night?" Chloe said after a moment's silence. The bouncers were apologizing to Dylan and Allen as they motioned them towards the doors and music began to pulse around them. "I wont be able to share too much with this." Veronica pointed towards the open door. The floor inside was lit with a pure white light to guide their way to the center of the club. The music from within echoing down the hall was deafening, a beautiful woman's voice permeated the chaotic bustle of the city. The heavenly sound was beckoning them in with every beautiful note. "It's okay. We'll just shout in each other's ears within close range." "Why are you so curious?" Veronica retorted. Chloe truly was a catch in the friend's zone but she seemed awfully intrigued with Veronica's personal life with the night's earlier conversation. Chloe smiled sweetly, holding her hand as their feet met the white light casting shadows along the walls. "Because, that woman that shouted? She owns the tattoo shop next door. Her best friend, Meg Little, opened up this club once her shop was established." Chloe helped Veronica cross the border of lights towards the double doors that two more bouncers were holding open for them. A woman's voice lifted along electronic sounds, her Opera voice coiled with heated emphasis and energy with her words. Chloe welcomed Veronica to Energy, adding, "I've been friends with the both of them since college." For the umpteenth time that night, Veronica's jaw fell once more. Requiem Ch. 03 This is the third installment of the Requiem series. Any persons, places or things that are present in this story is in no way affiliated with me, regarding copyright, owning of music material portrayed, or anything like that. Now, after getting that little tidbit out of the way, enjoy. "You're letting... all... cold... in! Close it! ... Now... before... window!" I turned my head abruptly in the direction of the double doors where the music downstairs was drifting from, along with Meg as she pointed her finger at me. I could feel the wind caress my face like a lover, the icy fingers leaving goose bumps in their wake. "What?" I strained to hear my close friend of ten years amongst the uproar of voices and music bellowing from the entrance to the lounge room. "Close... thing! The damn window, Sherron!" Meg called out as she shut the doors to the room closed. The latter words of her sentence echoed around the walls louder than they were intended with the welcoming silence. "Oh." Without sticking my head outside the window for a second time that night, I observed the crowd below before pulling the glass panel down. The rubber cushioning the frame sealed the room in its comforting heat. As I latched the lock on the sill of the frosted glass, my head began to immediately pound. I sighed out of annoyance and Meg overheard it from across the room. "You want to freeze then?" A pair of deep, blue eyes caught my gaze as she shot me a look over her shoulder. My lips thinned into a line as I rolled my eyes at her comment. "Reoccurring headache. I think the temperature was helping." I pointed my thumb towards the window behind me as I made my way over to the bar Meg was now occupying. Two inches shy of six feet without the high heels, Meg Little's presence was definitely one of delight. Her cocktail dress was form fitting, particularly around her bust line, which left little to the imagination. The crystal blue eyes that swept over the bar were filled with a playful aura that matched her wicked sense of humor as she handed me a scolding mug of coffee. I accepted it with a mild sense of joy. I heard a snort of laughter and caught Meg giggling at me within my peripheral vision. "Something funny?" "Well, it sure as shit isn't sad. You looked as though I gave you a lump of coal for Christmas." This time I snorted as I sipped the coffee, burning my lips and tongue in the process. I seethed a curse and covered my mouth with a free hand. "Figures. I was laughing because I began reminiscing about that Christmas I spent with you and Chloe during junior year." Meg cried out in astonishment as if she were experiencing a "Eureka!" moment. "Holy cow ...Wow, I have terrible spurts of loss of memory. I can't believe I forgot that! ...That... that was like eight years ago!" The chestnut brown hair that hung down to Meg's inner back swept back and forth with her persistent laughter. "Ha ha ha! Oh my God, that's right! I did give you a lump of coal for Christmas. That was so funny! Well, Chloe thought it was a terrific comeback after you called her and I cheapskates the night previously. You didn't speak to us for the whole duration of the gift exchange! Don't look at me like that, you sourpuss. Holy shit, I remember now! When everyone in the commons was huddled around Jim Price throwing boxes with bows in all directions, one of them hit its mark on Allen's nose and broke it." Looking around herself in astonishment, she covered her mouth with a spare hand and hushed, "That was when Chloe hopped on Allen's dick and played nurse with him the rest of the evening." "Low and behold they're still together by some miracle." I quipped as the music downstairs blared once again, the bass vibrating the building. "By some miracle? That is no miracle at all. Jim was a terrible Santa." The tall brunette said as she cradled her head in her hands out of embarrassment. "I've heard he was terrible in bed, too." I said with a smirk. Meg swatted me with the back of her hand and a stern look in her eyes until, finally, she relented with an exasperated sigh. "So what, he was a Fine Arts major. What did you expect? He was tall, incredibly handsome and... he had the unfortunate characteristic of some men who don't study female anatomy at a young age." Meg leaned against the bar while cradling her glass of Rum and Coke to her lips. "Yes, it is indeed unfortunate to not know where the clitoris is. And, to not possess intelligence, of course." I cleared my throat and added more insult to injury, "... And, to also not have had a girlfriend until the tender age of twenty-one." Meg Little's eyes closed in frustration with an audible sigh. She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head. "I can literally still remember him saying, 'Give me another thirty minutes and I'll have you hollering in no time.' Can you believe that?" Her hands fell from her face to her lap. "I said, 'You lost me within the first ten, what makes you think I'll be on board for another twenty minutes added to it?' At least now we finally all know why one of the most attractive men at our school never had a single woman by his side for more than a few weeks. What a waste of a beautiful body..." "Sex addict." I said over the cup of coffee. Meg smiled at me with a mischievous twitch of her eyebrows. "You can be a real cunt sometimes for someone who hasn't been laid in a few years." Meg countered with a challenging air. "Ouch... However, I am what I eat." I shrugged with a half smile. My grin fell as I thought more on her words, though. "Or used to eat. I wouldn't be surprised if someone thought I've switched teams by now." "Alright, I'm not listening to another word. I'm too sober for this." She poured more rum into her glass as the ice cubes clinked in their imprisonment. "Easy for you to say. I can't indulge in a glass till after the performance." I glanced at the watch on my wrist immediately wishing that I had not. "Which will begin in the next twenty minutes. Fuck me." After having seen Veronica at the entrance of Energy moments ago, I was feeling less and less prepared as the minutes passed. Meg snatched her purse from the floor and began rummaging through its contents as several grooming items spilled onto the carpet. I saw an object hurtling towards me from Meg's direction as my hand shot upwards and caught it in midair. The phial nestled in the palm of my hand was packed to the brim with a green mass. I had barely finished uncorking the glass tube when the potent aroma of marijuana wafted through the air. Curiously, I flipped the phial 180° and my eyes followed the text along the edge of the label: Requiem Ch. 03 "So, I'm basically reliving your memory as a kid? I enjoy the story. It's... cool." "Cool? I suppose that's adequate. Has this word 'cool' transitioned its meaning from the word 'interesting' overnight?" An odd expression crossed his face. "How queer. Oh well, it wouldn't be the first time a word's meaning has been altered over a short span of time." The soft gray eyes swept over my face, observing. "Now then, why do you think I gave you this book? You and her look a quite alike, you know. The real Alice never had golden locks like she's so often portrayed. She was a brunette, just like you." He pointed his fingers at the thick, honey-colored mane of hair that covered my head. "However, you're different. Your hair is golden like honey. It's an obvious mixture of both colors. You look just as your father did at his age." I smiled as I braided a strand of hair that fell loose from my bangs. I took a random guess at his question. "Because we relate to one another. Me and Alice..." "Uh, uh... Alice and I." A single finger was waving left to right in front of my face. "Alice and I relate to one another. That's the reason you gave me the book." Paul Fischer nodded his approval. "Yes, ...and no. It's a tad bit complicated. Think of this as an initiation of granting you knowledge that no one else can have made available to them." Aside from my grandfather's serious tone, his calm demeanor outweighed his original plan of asserting sternness. "But, I... I'm not sure I understand. That book has been in print for over a century. So, how could I be..." "...Considered special amongst millions and billions of others who have read the same material as you have?" He intertwined his fingers, which blocked his mouth from my view, yet his words carried volume nonetheless. "Well... yes." "It is more often than not that our eyes fly past certain symbols, images, and signs without giving a second thought as to where they came from. Why are they here and there? What do they mean? It's called hiding in plain sight and there are other formal names like subliminal messaging. It simply means that certain messages are hidden in plain view so that others cannot understand, or they chose to not understand by keeping a blind eye as perspective." Scratching my head, I came to the conclusion that it was difficult to wrap my head around the idea, yet I understood the gist of my grandfather's words; most of the children at school, if not all of them could barely pronounce English vocabulary words correctly... And, I knew that reading and recognizing symbols did not fall under that category either. "What kind of knowledge?" "The greatest ever known. And, it was known. Once... long, long ago. My introduction sounds like a fairytale, does it not? How is it not apt to say that through the eyes of children can we fully understand our potential? It's preposterous to say no. In my eyes, we are all a perfect image of God, or this so-called great being in the sky, which I do not believe holds a specific gender, but is in fact genderless! However, I am not here to discuss controversial topics with you, yet sometimes they're inevitable. I know I must sound loony to you, dear, but I promise it'll make sense one day. One day you'll open your eyes to find the air feels different then it did before and the process of the repetition of 'living life' will mean nothing. Life is not a mere final thing, Sherron. Life is eternal. We are all actually sleeping." "Sleeping?" I felt my attention wane with hearing the words. Sleeping? I thought. That's so not true that it's difficult to believe. "Yes. Sleeping. When we dream, we live to our fullest potential. In the spirit world lies reality. This... you and I sitting here in this room is nothing but a frame from a film negative, which encompasses a gargantuan reel of film always turning like a windmill. We are brought here to this planet to live out these moments along the cracked surface of time to learn from our mistakes. And, we are marked from birth till death with other people who we love forever. I believe in something like that." "So... There is no God?" I was intrigued by the conversation but I felt as though I were moving through quicksand; religion and the belief in God is such a taboo topic. Grandpa Paul sighed and waved his hands in front of him as if to say, Wait a minute, it'll make sense. "Now, I don't want your mother breathing down my neck like the last time I told you something that was supposed to stay between us." A smile crept over his thin lips after resting his chin on his hands. "But, that wasn't my fault! Mom literally just asked me what we talked about before I headed to school, and she just guessed! I only said you taught me about dinosaurs and the Cretaceous period. I swear!" "Uh huh, and somehow your mother put those two together and told me to stop filling your head with stories of aliens, UFOs, extraterrestrial life, etc. Well, I am happy she tolerates me because I am related to her wonderful daughters and husband, but I don't think forgiveness is in it for me." The half smile he wore didn't fool me; I knew my grandfather was behind every prank performed in the household. All of which were directed towards my mother. "Perhaps, grandpa, she wouldn't be so cruel towards you if had not have said that we live in a Police State-" "Actually, I directed that comment about this household." Paul's cheeks turned a shade of pink as small giggles left his lips. I was so astounded that such a silly sound could have come from my grandfather that his words flew past my head. "Oh my God, you're giggling!" He looked at me incredulously. "Well, of course I am! Men giggle, too. Men and women are one in the same. We are just alike. I would divulge in more, but I digress." "Why cant you?" My curiosity piqued suddenly, although I had no idea why. "It's a little complicated explaining things of maturity to children, especially if it concerns the human anatomy. I would love to tell you more, but I..." His words trailed off as his eyes caught hold of something to his right. The soft, gray eyes skidded to a halt on a shelf packed with paperbacks and historical texts. "Perhaps, it wont be so difficult if I have Plato to help me." His eyebrows were raised as if he were looking at an angel or a ghost, but all I could see were the shelves. Having minds of their own, his feet led him towards the book of his choosing; a slim black book with an engraved face of a man with hallowed eyes. "Now, let's see here..." Paul began to flip the pages, skimming and flipping through to find the specific chapter. "What's that?" I asked. "This?" He closed the book and presented the cover so I could inspect it fully. "This is The Symposium. These are the dialogues of Plato, which are incredibly extensive because there are several other volumes within this series you are holding. It contains speeches from a group of Greek philosophers who discuss among their fellow man the meaning and nature of love." He clasped his hands together as if in praise. I trailed my fingers over the engraved face of Plato on the cover, knowing that the words held within were actually spoken thousands of years ago. I felt the sensation of wonder and awe fill my bones as they never had before, which startled me; before this day I had never contemplated anything more than my wants and needs. I returned the book to him and he began flipping through, further and further until he proclaimed his discovery with, "Aha!" "You found it?" I asked with genuine curiosity. He smiled, licked his lips, cleared his throat and began the speech in a soft tone. Requiem Ch. 03 No words left my lips as the pressure continued to strangle me, sinking me further into nothingness. It consumed my grandfather in a puff of smoke, as I knew it would do so to me. Hyperventilating, I thrashed about, only to realize I made no movement at all. Like a sinking stone, I sunk further and further as the dark presence kneeled over me, breathing down my neck like an animal. Squeezing, choking, gasping, there was nothing I could do. I felt a sudden jerk, as parts of my brain lit up like a Christmas tree when I felt all the breath knocked out of me. My lungs were screaming in protest. Endorphins and adrenaline cycled in my bloodstream within a fraction of a second, as my eyes shot open with a piercing gasp from my lips. Feeling alarmed, I jolted awake with a shaky breath, only to realize Meg was on top of me, shaking me by the shoulders and shouting at me. "SHERRON! Oh, Jesus, thank God. She's awake!" Meg leaned away from me as I caught my breath, while several other people were crowded around the room, peering down with equal concern. I felt disoriented as I attempted to take in my surroundings. All the faces were blurred, the lights incredibly blinding in the room. I assumed I had passed out after taking that puff or two from Meg's stash, not realizing the outcome could be so drastic. I felt a nagging thought that my tolerance had been low for quite awhile after not smoking for a good five years since college. And, knowing of my history with sleep paralysis, albeit rarely, I could only assume this was what that was – I was experiencing another episode. I could already feel the dull thud of the tension headache arising again. Wincing, I rubbed my temples to ease the throbbing as I felt another pair of hands holding the sides of my face, asking me to turn towards her. "Sherron, sweetheart, turn towards me. That's right, just like that..." Turning my head, I saw a silhouette of a woman as a blinding light was shined in my eyes. I winced again, but the softly padded fingers calmed my tremors as they brushed my cheek. The light switched back and forth from one eye to the other. "Now look towards the wall, babygirl." A sweet voice said softly. I felt as though I were in a dream. I couldn't see Veronica but I knew she was there, touching my face, redirecting the path of light to shine in different places around my eyes. "She's responding well, I think she was experiencing some sort of disturbance neurologically connected. Do you know if she has any history of seizures or tremors?" Vonni said beside me as she rubbed my temples, soothing me into a relaxed state. I leaned back and closed my eyes and corrected her. "Paralysis..." I whispered, feeling the cooled fingers releasing the pressure build up. "What's that?" She said, leaning her ear towards my mouth. I felt her hair brush my jaw as I tried to control my breathing for an entirely different reason. I licked my lips and swallowed, realizing my tongue grazed her ear as I did so. Vonni jolted to stillness when I whispered again, more clearly as strength returned to my voice. "Sleep paralysis. Rarely do I... have episodes. They're usually induced... somehow." I moved my face into her neck out of exhaustion, again not thinking of the ramifications of doing so. I felt her move her cheek to my forehead and she gasped as my breath rained down her neck in a steady rhythm, or so I thought. "Jesus! She's quite hot. Does anyone have a cold washcloth? Good, perfect. Run it under a faucet, Chloe. And ice!" She shouted as I seethed and cringed. "Shite, I'm sorry, babygirl. Shhh... I didn't mean to shout." Veronica eased her cheek on my head again, trying to keep it cool and shielding me from the light above with her hair. Light-headed still, I relented and allowed my senses to take over. I vied to not fight it for I only felt weaker when I tried. "The light." I croaked. There were mumbling voices sayings things I could not decipher in my weakened state. Somewhere near, a light switch was turned off as the shadows filled the space. I felt the blackness swallow me again as I drifted away, feeling faint murmurs and touches. Hands parted my jacket from my body as I felt cool air blowing around me from above. I remembered smelling lavender before I blacked out.