Apartment 175
Abandon all hope, thee who entered here.
Don't sue us
Hilda was now at a new home, she just moved in late at night with her brother and well, and...the home wasn't theirs.
As any good senior in a downtown, she was sharing it with some friends. She woke up in the morning and was greeted by total silence.
Apparently everyone had a job.
Alfur was her main provider, he had a work at an office building and so Hilda had to thank him a lot.
She had slept on a couch in the middle of the living room since they arrived so late at night, plus there were only three rooms, four if you count Frida's office since she was at a dorm in her college.
On the couch, there was her brother, an 8 year-old in white pajamas.
Everyone called him "Twig" because of a weird story when he was a toddler, a story which no one really bothered to hear.
She tried her best to move to the kitchen without waking him up. But the boy quickly opened his eyes with a tired smile.
T- Uh…. What time is it?
H- No idea buddy, but you can go back to sleep if you want.
T- Didn't mom told you to put me in a school?
H- We can't afford anything yet.
She walked over to the kitchen counter and started opening and closing counters.
H- Now where is the cereal?
T- You're having cereal for breakfast? Didn't mom say those are bad for your health?
H- We can't afford much, plus we live….almost on our own. We tell ourselves now what to do.
T- Oh, I like that! Can I have some chocolate?
H- We don't have chocolate, sorry.
Hilda poured down the milk and the cereal and started eating, she should be looking for a job but it was her first day downtown, and she wanted some rest.
Twig joined in with Hilda and poured his own milk and cereal in his bowl, eating along with Hilda.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Hilda then broke out a question.
H- I heard there are some movies.
T- Can't we go out?
H- There is nothing to do outside…Twig
T- Well mom said that I should try to make friends….
H- We should probably just….stay home for a while….
T- You're really boring, Hilda.
H- Sometimes it has to be, Twig. Maybe when we finally got this place good.
Hilda then got up from the table and went over to the couch and started looking on the shelf below the TV for any good movies. There were none, the movies were a total lie.
After looking around the still empty house, Twig became a little impatient and went to Hilda to ask her again.
T- Can I go out now?
H- What are you even going to do there?
T- I want a friend.
H- Twig, who in this building are you go-
They were suddenly interrupted by the sound of luggage being carried upstairs, the stairs echoed the sound to a point it was almost unbearable.
Hilda opened the door to see a boy, not much taller then her brother carrying the stuff, with visible difficulty. He was wearing a black-grey outfit from the shoes to the jacket.
H- Oh hey there!
R- Do I….. Know you?
H- I believe not, we just moved in. Are you moving in as well?
R- Uh...no.
H- Then why the-
R- It's not mine.
He dragged the luggage at the last step and then proceeded to unlock the apartment on the opposite side of the one Hilda was in. it was dark and packed with all the kinds of stuff he stockpiled.
Twig heard Hilda talking to someone outside of the doorway and walked towards her to ask her who she was talking to.
T- Who are you talking to? The internet won't work around here.
Raven heard Twig's comment and responded back snarkly.
R- Bold of you to assume this place can afford internet.
H- How do you know?
R- I tried to steal it once,
H- Oh…...then I assume the luggage is also-
R- I like to put it as "permanently borrowed". Found it on the nearby airport.
H- Why would you go to an airport just to steal luggage?
R- To steal lost luggage.
H- Well you're not going to receive gifts this Christmas.
He looked at Hilda with the most unexpressive, yet annoyed face he could give.
H- How old are you?
R- I am fourteen, borderline fifteen.
H- Oh…sorry you looked like you're ten….
R- Blessed in skill, just cursed in appearance.
Twig then walked out of the apartment and walked up to Raven struggling to push in some thick luggage through the almost narrow doorway to his apartment.
T- Hi!
R- Hey, what kind of sewer pipe you crawled out of?
T- That...wasn't very kind….
R- Sorry, really not a kind person in general, what's your name anyways?
T- You can call me Twig,
R- And I thought 'Raven' was a bad nickname.
T- Can I go with him?
H- I said no. Remember? David is supposed to be back in the noon and it already is…….
Raven pulled a small clock with a golden outline out of his pocket.
R- It's 7 in the morning.
H- I never woke up this early…
T- See? I have time!
H- Not sure… This doesn't feel very safe….
T- But I'll be with Raven….. also why do people call you this? You have a weird story with birds?
R- No, its because I collect shiny stuff I don't own and store it in one place… also never ask me to sing.
H- Twig, just….wait until David is home-
T- But it will be quick!
H- Alright, just go. Come back before 12 noon.
T- Thanks Hilda.
Raven finally dragged the luggage in the apartment and closed the door while they discussed.
T- Please, I promise I won't get in trouble!
H- I promised the same thing when I was your age.
T- So I can?
Hilda rolled her eyes and went outside with Twig, she knocked on the door and waited, Raven answered moments after.
R- Oh, it's you.
H- Hey, kind of a weird question but, can he stay with you?
R- Does that mean you will stop knocking?
H- Yeah.
R- Alright, he can come.
Raven opened the door and Twig ran in quickly, so the boy then closed the door and Hilda heard he flipped the key to lock it.
After Raven finishes talking with Hilda, he then focuses on putting all of the stuff in his apartment, which he struggles to do so.
As he places most of the bulky stuff inside, he now has to put in the big luggages the passengers lost, which made the way in tighter and more restricted.
Thankfully Twig arrives to help, though he feels nervous about what to say or act.
T- Hey..uhhhh, what do I call you?
R- Twig, just call me Raven, I'm fine with the name.
T- Okay, Raven!
Twig does those finger guns thing at him, which he immediately rolls his eyes back up on before asking him if he can help.
R- Hey Twig,
T- Yeah, Rav?
R- Please don't call me that.
T- Okay, Rav!
R- Dude! Anyways, can you help me out here?
T- Sure.
R- Also if you shorten my name once more I will try to sing which will make both of us very uncomfortable, now take the other end and let me put this on the table.
T- What table
R- The box, its one of those things you have to assemble but I don't want to, don't have the effort.
T- Oh….
Twig grabbed the other end and they moved the thing to the "table", placing it there.
T- Now what?
R- We open it.
T- But it has a lock on i-
Raven then got a kitchen knife and started to cut the fabric on the zipper, then after a few minutes, the luggage finally opened with almost no effort.
T- I never thought of that.
Meanwhile, Hilda was at the apartment, on the couch while she stared at the TV with an extremely low quality.
H- Ahhh...to be an 8 year old, where everyone responsible for you is just too caring to say no for more than three times.
Hilda kept looking at the TV, she was considering going back to sleep as there was nothing to do.
Meanwhile Raven and Twig were now taking out all the stuff in the luggages, which wasn't particularly valuable but was still cool.
T- Do you have other friends?
R- No. Well, I have Kaisa.
T- Who is Kaisa?
R- The goth teenager who lives on the floor above. She is nice.
T- Can I meet her?
R- Perhaps….
Raven dug inside one of the luggages and reached inside the luggage to find a small perfume and examined it.
R- Yeah, she will like this. Wanna meet her now?
T- Sure!
Raven opened the door again and they both got out. He locked the apartment again and then they went up to the set of stairs leading to her room.
The next floor had two doors as all the others. But one was painted black and the other was stained and had a strong smell of something between vomit and beer.
T- So, which one is her ro-
Raven knocked on the black door.
K- Coming!
R- No rush.
Twig noticed the perfume in his hand and asked him about it, though the question in mind wasn't about the perfume.
T- You like her, don't you?
R- You could be more subtle.
Kaisa opened the door, she was wearing boots with low heels and a grey shirt, combined with a belt and jean pants.
R- Good morning.
K- Hey… It's you… two?
T- Hi.
R- Long story but appy birthday.
He then handed her the perfume, which made Kaisas blush a little.
K- It's not my birthday yet and this is the 10th time you mistaken it.
R- Trial and error!
While Raven was just stuttering to make a response, Twig can see him sweating profusely in his back and him seeing the blush appearing right on his face, he then told Kaisa that he liked her, loudly and blatantly in the open.
T- I think Raven likes you!
Twig immediately points to Raven and his blush at his cheek to prove it.
R- Twig! What did you just say?!
T- I...Im...I'm sorry Raven, I didn't...know?
R- Dude...just...learn to shut your mouth about it, okay?
T- Okay...
While they were just screaming at each other, Kaisa was just giggling uncontrollably and is trying to hide that real fast before both noticed her covering her mouth while giggling.
R- Why are you laughing?
K- Oh Raven, you can just tell me. I don't mind, just don't get any other thoughts.
As Kaisa said those words out loud, Raven felt an even bigger blush appearing on his cheeks, which got Twig laughing as well.
Then, a drop of blood fell out of Raven's nose.
T- Are you ok?
Twig said as he immediately stopped laughing.
T- Is he okay?
K- Yeah he is, he has something to do with his blood pressure… or his veins, can't remember.
R- To put it simply, I bleed when I am really, REALLY mad.
T- Oh….Uh…..S-Sorry.
K- Well uh…. Do you wanna come in?
R- Sure, it can't get more awkward than this.
They both now go in as Kaisa closed the door. The apartment was small, just like the others, with most the stuff being in shades of gray.
R- Can I have a tissue? This blood is really annoying.
Twig looked around and brought to him a box of tissues near the television.
R- Thanks pal.
Raven said as he leaned his head forward to stop the blood from going down his throat while he grabbed a few pieces of tissue to wipe the blood away.
T- No problem.
Kaisa then walked up to Twig and then asked him a question.
K- So….want to see the house?
T- Sure!
K- Alright.
Kaisa started to open the various rooms there were, nothing way too special. Like Hilda she shared the apartment with others, though the news came to him when Twig noticed there was a staircase leading to a second floor.
T- Hey, what's that?
K- So, in a terrible investment, my roommates made the floor above a part room, they use it regularly and it is expansive.
Twig looked inside and saw a bunch of party decorations, balloons, a buffet table and speakers.
K- What did you see?
T- It looks like a party.
K- Well...it is.
T- I have never been to a party.
K- Don't you celebrate your own birthday?
T- We didn't had many friends around.
He went upstairs to see the room further.
The room was mostly black, it had a speaker system and a disco set with a couple discs nearby for obvious reasons, together with a visibly old couch and table with some plastic cups on it.
He then felt a strong grip on his shirt as he got pulled away.
R- We will be leaving… Sorry for…. You know what I am sorry for.
T- But-
R- We leavin'!
They arrived at the front door, which Kaisa opened with a smile and a trace of confusion.
Twig then pulled himself out of Raven's grip and confronted him about it.
T- Why did you drag me down like that?!
R- Because that room isn't for you!
T- But why?!
R- Because! They don't usually throw parties, but when they do, horrible things happen and I don't think your mom will forgive me for crushing your innocence.
T- Wait, you know my mom?
R- Isn't she the blue hair girl?
T- She's just my sister.
R- Oh, I found my counterpart. Anyways, don't go up there!
T- What happens at their parties?
R- uh…. How do I say it…. Witchcraft.
T- W-w-what?
Raven was surprised that he fell for it, and continued on to lie.
R- Yeah, why do you think the room is dark?
T- I thought-
R- They are masters of deception. Promise me you WON'T go there without me, ok?
T- But there were cups-
R- used to collect the blood for the rituals.
T- And the sound….
R- They…got tired of chanting the chorus.
T- And what about that door?
R- Oh, the other one? We don't go there.
T- Who lives there?
R- We call em the marras, because they are a nightmare. No, they literally prevent everyone to sleep peacefully.
T- But I though that the witches had "parties"…
R- Have you ever been with a group of goths? They are dead silent!
T- Weren't they witches?
R- Yeah, same thing!
As they were arguing, they both went back down to the apartment and Raven grabbed some stuff and put them in a backpack.
R- You stay here, I'll get some stuff.
T- Oh….sure…...I guess.
Raven was then gone for most of the day, so Twig entertained himself with some of the stuff laying around, mostly around the luggages, where he opened the luggages successfully on his own.
Raven then came back later with a bag of chips and a bottle of water in his hands.
T- Finally, I was thirsty!
R- I assumed you would leave to drink some water….God you are loyal. But why are you wearing thirty shirts?
T- I got bored, alright.
He took the water bottle and chugged half of it in one go.
R- Well…uh…...here….
Raven handed Twig a 20$ bill and placed it calmly in his palm.
T- How did you got this?
R- I sold the stuff we "borrowed".
T- But that's a crime!
R- Honestly I think the police has bigger problems.
T- But it's still not right…. Anyways!
R- It's a crime with no victims! The person lost the luggage, the airport never gives it back, at least someone is getting benefited, win-win!
T- That's not how it works!
R- Look, you put me in a very awkward moment today, you should be happy you are still allowed near me. Take the damm money and go buy some candy.
T- Well….
R- Hey, 20$ never hurts anyone… I mean, at least I never used 20$ to hurt anyone.
T- I suppose…
He then reluctantly grabbed the bill, feeling the sting of crime on his head as he held it tight.
R- Now take all of these shirts off, we gonna buy something for ourselves.
They both left the apartment with a smile on Raven's face and remorse for Twig's, and with Twig trying to go downstairs to steps at a time.
That was until they heard his name being called. Loudly.
R- Wait, I think Into hearing something.
T- What is it?
R- It sounds like someone is calling out for you.
T- Wait, David!
R- You know the voice?
T- Yeah, I think we better check.
They both ran back upstairs, and found a very tired looking Hilda and a man on her side.
H- See? I told ya….he was with someone…
D- Oh thank God, where were you bud?
T- With Raven.
D- Oh, you two look very cute together.
R- I'm 14, punk. Stop talking to me like I am retarded.
D- Oh…. And a very salty one…. Anyways, let's go home.
As David lead them inside, he then went to his room to change his clothes from his work clothes to his usual home clothes.
Hilda asks them what did they do all day to see if Raven is a trustworthy friend for Twig.
H- So, what did you two did all day?
T- We-
R- Played videogames.
After Raven responded to them what did they do, David finally came out and then say down on the couch with Hilda.
D- Umm, Raven. Can you go now? I have to close the door.
R- Sure.
T- Well, this is for later then.
R- I guess.
Twig went inside and waved Raven a goodbye while the door closed, leaving him on the dark space in between the doors.
R- Well, made a friend today…. Should prob apologize to Kaisa
Music now started blasting from the floor above. Raven knew what that music means.
R- Or not, damn the marras.
He simply went back to his apartment, locked the door and went to sleep.
Meanwhile David was taking a shower while Hilda was making food. "Food", meaning she had some instant ramen on the shelves and it was impossible for her to mess that up.
H- Huh, never thought our first day would be brighter.
T- Well I like it.
She looked out of the window above the sink, thinking of tomorrow.
H- Then there is also the fact I was sleeping so yeah… let's say it was good and call it a day.