Hanami – Chapter 38
'I really thought there'd be more to it than that.' Sterling shifted on her mattress. 'Master Splinter could've been really mean about it -- I guess dawn sucks, but "Go Run" is hardly punishment.' YAWN 'Ouchouchouch!' Her eyes watered involuntarily. 'Shit, it's no use. I'm awake. It's four am. Dawn is what 2, 3 hours away? Guess I'll leave a note on the kitchen table and find something to do…'
Shima heard a door open and was awake instantly. She huddled under the blankets. 'Keep still. The humans will go away.' Her dreams still twined through her sleepy thoughts, she held her breath, desperately willing the humans to leave her alone. 'Please no. Please no. Not again.' It wasn't prayer – prayer implies belief. Her silent pleading was just a comforting phrase. Though even in her mind, those words were only a paper screen between her and her nightmares. As she slipped back into fitful sleep, her mind's eye warping her memories, Shima dreamt of pain…
Sterling was headed down to the basement when she noticed Shima. She was clearly having a nightmare. Tears ran down her cheeks and her quiet murmuring held a panicked edge. Sterling moved to her sister's side, hoping that she wouldn't wake anyone. She took her sister's clenched fist, and gently, ran her fingers down Shima's wrist. Shima's fear seemed to lessen as her body gradually relaxed. Sterling continued to trace her fingers down the inside of her sister's wrist, slowly so as to lull her into deeper sleep.
Sterling felt grateful for the many signs and habits she and her sisters had adopted for the sake of avoiding the humans' anger. As children, the prohibition against noise after 'lights-out' was strict and the nightmares were frequent. They'd learned to comfort one another without speech: private, soundless codes for "Your sister is right by your side." 'Just as well, because I really can't say much right now.'
Despite Sterling's best efforts, Shima awoke, though thankfully her night terror had passed. Still very relieved to see her sister, Shima hugged her until Sterling thought her shell would crack. Shima had no intention of going back to sleep, and Sterling couldn't explain her plans for the hours before dawn. The living room was too dark for her to use her notebook. So rather than wake anyone else, Shima just followed Sterling without question into the basement.
Sterling could hear her sister quoting something or other behind her. "…but a dry sandy Hobbit-hole…" She looked back at Shima who shugged, "We might find hobbitses down here." Sterling nodded vaguely. 'At least she's not dwelling on the nightmare.' She flipped the switch at the bottom of the stairs and illuminated the basement.
Shima knew she was rambling, but didn't care. Sterling never minded. "…Turtles of Middle Earth. Well, turtles of the concrete slab and its many ugly carpets anyways. Hey I found the secret stores of marshmallow fluff, whatever that is. They've certainly got enough of it. Washer. Dryer. Hot water heater. Ooo, toys! Ugh! They're dolls. I hate dolls. Did you know that the Japanese have legends about dolls that are possessed by evil spirits? They could swap souls with humans, trapping the human in the doll and possessing the human's body, but only long enough to exact vengeance for the wrong done to them. Which I always thought was strange. How do you incur the wrath of a doll? And would that be all dolls, or just the ones designed to look human? Cause I've never heard of 'Teddy Bear's Rampage' or 'Pat the Bunny Goes Postal.' Wow, check out these books…."
Sterling chuckled to herself; at the word "books" she knew she'd lost her sister for hours, maybe days. Sterling was much more interested in the ancient TV and the box of electronics sitting on top of it. She cleared away several old computer monitors and some fishing tackle before she found an outlet. Plugging the TV in, she twisted the on/off/volume knob. No picture, but the sound worked, "Odor is just one of the weapons in my overall program of dominance and intimidation." 'Weird.' She turned it off, and almost succeeded in walking away from it. 'Sweet! There's another work bench down here!'
"Yup! Just like the note said; She's in the basement!"
"Morning Mikey!" Shima was lying on her stomach, feet crossed at the ankles with an ancient throw pillow under her elbows. She was also surrounded on three sides with stacks of books.
"Mornin' Dudette! Have you seen Sterling?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, she's over there." Shima pointed to the jumble of electronics across the way.
Shima stood up and dusted off her hands. She saw Mike and waved him over. She handed him a Sega controller, and hit the power on the four computer monitors stacked in a square. She powered up the TV and the game consol. 'Street Fighter 2' was displayed across the four monitors, while the tinny music sounded from the speakers on the TV.
"WHOA! This stuff's been busted for FOREVER! I'll play ya!"
"Mike, I thought you said she was down there, you coming or what?"
"Shit! Yeah, coming Leo!" Sterling blinked as Mike hugged her fiercely. "You rock dudette! When you're done running, ~WE SHALL SEE WHO WILL BE CHAMPION!~" Sterling rolled her eyes at his funny voice, shook her head. She then pointed to her chest to indicate that it would be no contest. He snorted, "Yeah whatever! I'm the reigning KING of 'Street Fighter.' Shima listened to them leave the basement, with a happy smile on her face.