Day 13

Prompt: Watching a horror movie

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Moira's noticed a few things since she got back from that island. One of them is her immune system actually works pretty damn well. When her whole family is floored with a cold she doesn't even get a sniffle. Whatever that virus did to her seems to have actually helped her somehow. Another is how she now can't wear tights and shorts anymore. She finds herself shivering in disgust as the memories come back of how many times she'd snagged her tights while trying to fight for her life. The strangest thing she's noticed though is how no matter what sub genre, she can't watch horror movies anymore.

She'd mentioned it one day when Claire and Barry had sat her down so they could all have a 'I survived a zombie apocalypse and now need to talk about it' session. Barry had simply said that it was down to her nerves an anxiety and that it would fade eventually. Claire didn't say anything on the subject, just stared ahead as she often does.

So as Moira is browsing the horror section of Netflix she wonders if Claire actually likes horror movies. She's never said anything about it, not that it's anything that's come up in conversation. They're relationship is strange, they have a strong friendship and things seem to cross the line of friendship a lot but they both just go with it. Moira's pretty sure Claire's just terrified to speak out about it because then she'd have to admit to herself that what they have isn't simply just two friends who make out sometimes. That's how Moira feels anyway, too scared to fuck it all up so she leaves it. Not really caring if that they have has a label or not.

As she's thinking about all this Claire walks in the room her eyes, glancing at the TV before settling on Moira. "What's the plan for this evening then?" she asks leaning against the door frame.

Moira just shrugs, holding the remote in her lap as she looks back at Claire "Don't know, was thinking we could watch a movie. It's been a shitty day" she finishes with a sigh. Claire makes her way over the couch and carefully slides down into it, not too close to Moira but also close enough for them to touch.

"You really wanna watch a horror movie?" Claire asked with an amused tone in her voice.

"I don't know, maybe some senseless gore will make me forget all this shit" Moira replies quietly, speaking more to herself than Claire as she closes her eyes, trying to shake the memories from her mind. "We can watch a really shitty one and make fun of it"

"Sure" Claire answers softly, taking the remote from Moira and flicking through the selection.

Soon enough they've selected a movie and Moira is trying her hardest to poke fun at every stupid failed jump scare there is. Everything is fine, going great actually until the zombies show up in the movie. At first they make fun of how bad the make up and special effects are but soon they both find themselves growing silent as they watch the screen. Moira feels on edge watching this now but she's used to feeling like this most of the time. She doesn't realise there's a problem until she looks over at Claire and see's that Claire is actually fucking shaking with fear.

As fast as she can she pauses the movie and rushes into the comforting friend role, she knows she's acting exactly how Barry acts when she gets like this but at the moment doesn't really care.

"Claire" she says softly, not sure exactly what to do. The older woman looks lost in a memory, her eyes wide as she stares at the now paused screen. Moira's scared as hell, terrified actually, because she's never seen Claire like this. Even on that fucked up island Claire was so calm always knowing what to do. And now she's been reduced to a shaking mess due to some shitty zombie movie. Moira wants to hit herself for even suggesting they watch it.

"Claire" She says again, louder this time as she places a hand on Claire's shoulder trying to pull her friend out of whatever this is. Claire's eyes snap to her and before she knows what's going on Claire has her pinned to the couch, an arm against her throat as her eyes burn with anger and fear. She seems to snap out of it as Moira makes a strangled cry of surprise. Claire's left blink rapidly, looking horrified as she realises what's just happened. She immediately lets Moira go, retracting away as if her touch is poison.

"Moira I'm so sorry- I just- I didn't mean- I thought" she says in a hurry, stumbling over her words as that same terrified look still remains in her eyes.

"Hey, it's okay" Moira manages to say as she sits up, a hand on her neck where Claire was pressing. It doesn't hurt, she's just a little out of breath from the shock but Claire see's what she's doing and her face crumbles.

Moira feels really shit.

"I'm fine, was just a little taken aback, really" Moira says in her most convincing voice she has. Her heart is still beating about a million miles per second but that's because she so damned worked up with everything. Without really thinking she reaches for the remote and turns the TV off.

"No more horror movies for awhile"

"Yeah" Claire says letting out a shaky breath "agreed"