A few hours earlier, November 17th 2015…
Amanda was just distracting herself, Finn knew that too well as he lightly rubbed his right hand up and down Amanda's left thigh.
"This'll be better for us… time to unwind from everything." Finn said quietly, Amanda lightly wrapping her fingers on her left hand around the index and middle fingers on Finn's right hand… they were headed back for the NXT tapings that usually took place before Survivor Series, the recent tour having been chaotic.
It was a while before they were close to Florida, Amanda deciding to close her eyes and rest a bit.
Finn decided to do the same… but both were startled awake a half hour later by the plane shaking for a few seconds, Amanda gripping onto Finn's right arm in fright.
"It's okay, Mandy, it's okay." Finn whispered after pulling her into his arms as lightning flashed outside.
The plane reached the airport without further incident… but the weather turned from lightning strikes to a downpour as they reached the car after grabbing their things and getting in.
It was a half hour later when they got home.
"Damn, what the hell is with this state?! It's a downpour one day and too humid the next!" Amanda said as she and Finn ran into the apartment, both setting their things down and drying off.
"Yeah… glad to be off that plane though." Finn responded.
"Me too…" Amanda replied, peeling her soaked Balor Club hoodie off and setting it aside before grabbing her duffel bag.
"Be careful up there, showering in this storm…" Finn said, Amanda nodding as she headed upstairs. Finn pulled his own jacket off, the shirt after it and set them aside before he wandered into the kitchen to make some decaf coffee.
But he stopped once he saw that the coffee jars were empty.
"Damn it, Sami!" Finn muttered, closing the pantry.
The noise of the shower running was barely audible over the storm and Amanda found herself stood under the showerhead as she scrubbed her skin with black orchid scented soap, thinking about Finn.
A part of her felt like a teenaged schoolgirl at times when she looked at him… it took every bit of restraint to not kiss him when they were in the living room, both soaked from the rainstorm.
Maybe the weather was wicked in its own way, trying to push the two together… Amanda sometimes felt like kissing in the rain was too cliche for her.
The lights flickered slightly as Amanda finished rinsing the soap off and blackberry conditioner out of her hair… before they went out completely, making her go from startled to panicked.
"Mandy, you okay in there?" Finn asked after he had ran upstairs in the darkened apartment and knocked on the door.
"Yeah… just a bit freaked out…" Amanda managed to say, her voice raspy.
"Stay where you are, lass, I'll be right back." Finn said, going and finding some candles in the hallway cupboard and a lighter.
He opened the bathroom door and walked in, thankful that she didn't lock it during the storm. The candles set up and lit, he saw the curtain being pulled back a bit and Amanda's hazel eyes looking at him after she wrapped a towel around herself after drying off.
"Come here… don't want you to slip and fall." Finn replied, holding out his right hand which Amanda grabbed before stepping out of the shower.
"Hell of a storm, huh?" Amanda asked as she wrung the water out of her hair with the other towel.
"Yeah… once it lessens up a bit, I'll go check on the generator and get the backup power running…" Finn answered, the flames from the candles making an amber coloured glow in the room.
It was haunting but at the same time and in a weird way, calming… and both of them liked it, they relaxed for the first time in nearly two days.
But calm and relaxation couldn't last forever…
Present time, Amanda's perspective…
A darkened home with candles flickering… the storm raging outside and either uprooting trees or knocking them into other homes.
Some of the locals would say that it's typical late hurricane season weather… others would say that Mother Nature is pissed.
And any horror film fan would say that these are the perfect requisites for a horror movie… this and being in a hotel and unaware of a serial killer either running it or sleeping next door and the unsuspecting guests rushing into the hallway every time they hear a noise.
"It'll relent soon…" Finn whispered as we stayed on the couch, his right arm around my shoulders as we were both in pajamas and a blanket was over us to keep us from getting sick.
It's a while before the storm slacks up enough and the electricity comes back on, Finn lightly kissing me on my forehead before standing up and blowing out the candles as I turn the Tv on and flip it to Miami Vice. Finn joins me back on the couch and pulls part of the blanket over himself before I settle my head onto his right shoulder and his right arm settles back around my shoulders.
Finn's perspective…
It's clear that Mandy's still shaken from the violent storm that had been going on… something tells me this wasn't no ordinary storm either.
I look outside to see a hooded figure before it took off, Mandy looking at me.
"Finn, what's wrong?" She asked as I held her closer to me.
"There was someone outside… but they took off. It's okay, love." I say, Mandy looking back before looking at me and staying close to me.
Whoever it is, they're gonna have to get through me before they even get to her.