Daybreak
The moment I awoke I felt as if something was missing. I realized soon after that Vincent must have left during the night for his shift. Denying the fact that, that bothered me I moved through my morning like any other. Well almost like any other. A groan escaped as I realized my "morning" was almost gone with the hour hand creeping towards noon. Another more troubling thought occured. I was unemployed, hungry and desperately wanting to be back home so I didn't have to pay rent in a few weeks. Sighing I popped open the fridge and let the depression continue. No real food. All that sat on the shelves was a gallon of milk and a lone bottle of jelly. My eyes shifted to the trash where the empty bread bag lay on top of the rubble. I sniffled at the lost opportunity of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and the need to visit the grocery store. I let my head fall back on my neck as I spoke to the ceiling.
"Damn you Vincent."
Snagging a piece of paper off the fridge door I scribbled a short list for myself before heading out.
Shopping List
Celery
Onion
Baby Carrots
Potatos
Extra Bread
Frozen Pizza
Chocolate - maybe
Sauntering into the produce section I began picking out my ingredients one by one. Deciding earlier potato soup sounded good and I could save some for leftovers. It would be a nice change of pace and wasn't too expensive to make. After grabbing all the vegetables and potatoes I stopped by the bread shelf. Yanking two loafs out I glared at the second one. I could practically see Vincent stuffing the bread into his mouth with a look of innocence and guilt. Maybe I'll just charge him for bread every time he comes over or something. I thought plopping the loaves into my basket, my feet already caring me to the frozen isle.
With all that I needed stuffed into bags I slipped out the store staring blankly ahead as my mind wandered. The store wasn't far so I usually walked although with my car still at work I didn't have much of a choice today. The plastic bag hanging on my fingers was light as it only held one item, separated from the rest to keep it safe. A small stuffed animal with two long ears and a cotton tail. I had bought it for Bo as a gift, his birthday would be coming up soon. Every year I got him something small to remember him by. Rabbits had been out of the question. They reminded me of the day I lost him. The sound of his voice the last time he spoke, the fear deep in his eyes. The sight of his terrified face behind that purple mask. The familiar uneasiness I normally felt didn't come today. While I stared at the simple stuffed creature I felt lonely of course but without the sinking pit of sadness. The only images of Bo I saw were happy. A smile, a laugh. A hug. I made a promise to myself that I would only remember him in the best of ways. Why the sudden change I wasn't sure. And it wasn't the only change. For once I felt whole again, like the clouds had receded and I was seeing daylight for the first time in years. The world seemed brighter and the people seemed friendlier. I shook my head as I stepped through my door telling myself that it could just be today. If that was the case I would savor it as much as possible and fight back the moment I felt it start to slip.
Throwing the vegetables on the counter I quickly put Bo's present in my closet next to my suitcase for later. Energy pumped through me as I ran to my bedroom to get into comfy clothes and turned on some music. The wordless electronic noise blared out of my stereo at the loudest it could without upsetting my neighbors. With it playing in the background I bounced back to the kitchen only to bottle a scream, my socks slipping on the tile as I avoided smacking right into the stranger standing in my way. My butt smacked the ground with a twack, pain shooting up my tail bone as I squeaked pitifully in surprise.
"Are we going to do this every time?"
"As long as you keep appearing out of thin air, then yes." I replied taking Vincent's outstretched hand so he could pull me off the floor.
"Well it is pretty funny" He laughed, I glared back. "In a cute way." He held his hands up in defense. I rolled my eyes one hand patting my rear checking for any real damage aside from embarrassment.
"Thanks for letting yourself in." I accused glancing at my door. I should really lock that.
"I'm not the one that left it open. You're practically inviting the crazies in."
"Mhmm, sure." He had a point, which of course I wasn't going to admit out loud.
I watched as Vincent's curiosity got the better of him as he started to snoop around in my grocery bags. After shuffling through them for a moment he turned back rather satisfied. I noticed to my dismay he had found the loaves of bread. He's a damn bloodhound for bread. Great.
"No. Those are for sandwiches. For me." His expression dropped but he complied. Instead he dug around and pulled out my ingredients.
"So what are you trying to make here? Vincent asked weighing a potato in each hand.
"Potato soup actually." I watched with amusement as his eyebrows shot up.
"Oh? Mind if I help? I haven't had a chance to eat yet."
"Sure, uh...here." I quickly handed him the onion. "Just dice it."
"If I didn't know you I'd say you don't like onions very much." He laughed tossing it into the air briefly.
"I don't mind the taste, It's cutting them I hate."
"I think you just don't want to cry in front of me again." He teased.
"Mmhmm, you got me. Nothing to do with the searing pain in my eyes."I wiggled my fingers near my face while hissing out the sound for effect.
"Speaking of tears, you want to know a secret?" He said as I moved to the sink, slicing away the skin of each potato.
"And what would that be?" I smirked, it was easy to forget how much I enjoyed his company.
"I haven't cried since I was nine years old." He said with a hint of pride. I paused, the last potato still showing chunks of brown where I had missed with the peeler.
"Not even once?" I was surprised, I knew guys didn't get as emotion but still that was pushing it.
"Not even once." He repeated his usual grin never leaving his face.
"Why not? And how is that even possible?" Last time I checked people couldn't turn off their emotions.
"I don't know really, I just haven't had a reason to I suppose."
"Seriously?"
"Yup." He nodded his expression now unreadable.
"I guess that means you had a rough childhood huh." I said thoughtfully while setting the potatoes next to Vincent to be cut next.
"Something like that." Now I was sure he was holding something back, something painful by the looks of it. I didn't press the issue. Instead I focused on how he been hacking away at the poor onion this whole time.
"What are you doing?"
"What?" He proclaimed innocently.
"You're massacring that onion" I shrieked as he brought the knife down again and again.
"This is how I cut onions," He said flipping the knife with practiced accuracy around his hand.
"Give me that before you hurt someone" I snatched the blade away as soon as Vincent held it still. With it out of harm's way I pointed sternly at the large cooking pot.
"Go and boil some water or something."
"Awe. But I liked cutting the vegetables," He whimpered.
"You liked destroying vegetables, there's a difference." He huffed dramatically before sulking over to the stovetop.
"Fine, I'll heat the water." He looked like a kicked puppy as he slowly prepared the stew. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I started cutting the potatoes. He was kind of adorable when he did that. I chopped slowly relishing in the smooth rhythm that accompanied home cooking. With two ingredients diced and ready I pulled out the shaved carrots. Most people didn't add them but I thought they tasted good in it. Out of the corner of my eye I watched as Vincent started to slosh around in the sink. Cleaning what he could so we didn't have such a big mess afterwards. He looked preoccupied as if his mind was in a far off place. I smirked thinking to myself, no wonder he's so quiet right now. Discarding the carrot stumps and shoveling the rest into a bowl I moved onto the celery. Pulling three stocks apart I started mincing. I didn't really like celery, it was too stringy for my tastes but in potato soup well. It wouldn't be the same without it. The knife slipped smoothly through each cut, a light clicking sound as it met with the cutting board at the end of each stroke. As I cut I pretended not to notice Vincent's far off gaze was now pointed in my direction. He looked hesitate about something but quickly returned his attention back to the dishes. I brought the knife down to finish off the last of the veggie when sharp pain erupted from my finger.
"Ouch" I gasped, more surprised than hurt. My other hand clamped down on the oozing cut to stop the bleeding while my body rocked left to right trying to decided what to do next.
"What happened?" Vincent materialized at my side examining the situation.
"Oh I just cut myself" I grumbled, "I should have been paying more attention." Pain sizzled from my split skin as drops of blood dripped dangerously close to the celery.
"Can you clean that up before it touches the food," I asked nodding to the counter. Vincent ignored me promptly snatching my hurt hand away instead.
"Hey..." He held it up to the light as another red blob dripped down my palm.
"Doesn't look too deep, we'll just clean it and put a bandaid on." He pulled the hand closer to his face, his mouth opening.
"W-wait!" I yanked back hard stumbling slightly.
"What?"
"Don't put it in your mouth to clean it!"
"That's what I do when I get a cut…"
"Your mouth and mine are two different things. What if it gets infected with...with Vincent germs!"
"Vincent germs?" He snarked freeing my hand finally. "Would you prefer Penelope germs?"
"I would prefer water, It's bleeding too much anyway. You know how gross that would taste."
"Suit yourself," He shrugged but smiled nonetheless. With that resolved I stepped to the sink where I submerged my fingers into the stream of water. Which of course, felt like a mistake.
"Ouch ouch sssch." I hissed as the pain intensified. Bouncing on my heels I dug my nails into my wrist forcing myself to keep rinsing my cut.
"See. If you had let me it wouldn't have hurt that bad."
"You're secretly a vampire aren't you." He hunched at the remark, bringing his hands up like claws.
"I vant to suck your blood." I pushed him half heartedly,
"Go get a bandaid dracula." He did as he was told, shuffling through an old tupperware container with my first aid supplies. Finally he found a puppy dog designed bandaid, the most useful kind. Ripping some paper towels off he rejoined me at the sink. Delicately he began by dabbed at the skin removing any blood and water that lingered. Finally the bandage was in place, Vincent stood back smiling at his handiwork.
"My hero."
"Absolutely, you know how long that would have taken you if I wasn't here?" I huffed not dignifying him with an answer as I examined the now covered wound. The puppy dog's ear started to darken as a small amount of blood soaked though. I'd have to change it in an hour or so. I felt stupid letting myself make such a mistake all because I was too busy watching him. Shaking my head I moved to grab the freshly cut celery. Before I could Vincent stepped in front of me his hands resting on my shoulders. Trying to ignore the way my skin tingled at the contact I stared up in confusion.
"I think you've shed enough blood for this soup. How 'bout I cook and you go pick out a movie for us to watch."
"Since when were we going to watch a movie?"
"Since now, doctor's orders now shoo" His grip tightened as he turned me around giving me a gentle shove towards the living room. I sighed but honestly didn't mind as I shuffled to my pitiful collection of movies. Most were dvd's with an occasional blu ray to break the pattern of black cases. Letting my body settle with my legs crossed under me I began sifting through the choices. Passing title after title I realized I had seen all of them so many times that few of them seemed interesting anymore. I had favorites of course, ones I could watch over and over but something told me Vincent wouldn't appreciate them the same way. Looking down at my lap I had picked out five that needed to be narrowed down to one. I shouted the choices to Vincent from my comfy spot on the carpet.
"Vincent?" I called again after I didn't receive a response. Silence. Guess I'll have to do this the hard way. Grunting I stood and arched my back. I really needed to exercise more, I felt like an old woman. Walking into the kitchen I saw it was empty save for the boiling pot on the stove. Where the hell is he? I peeked into the pot only to be met with a face full of steam. Reeling my head back I opted instead to check the timer which read six minutes. That's when I heard a muffled voice in the bathroom just across the hall. It sounded like Vincent. Slowly I crept up to the door.
"Hello, hello! Hey, you're doing great! Most people don't last this long. I mean you know the-they usually move onto other things by now...I'm not implying that they died. Tha-that-that's not what I meant…" I cracked open the door quietly thankful it didn't squeak like my bedroom door did. Through the creavis I saw Vincent's back turned towards me, his eyes on the small window while a phone was pressed to his ear.
"uh anyway, I better not take up too much of your time, uh things start getting real tonight." I pushed the door further wanting to see how far I could go before he noticed me.
"Um...hey listen I had an idea if you happen to get caught and want to avoid being stuffed into a Freddy suit, uh try playing dead. You know, go limp. Then there's a chance that uh, maybe they'll think you're an empty costume instead. Then again, if they think you're an empty costume they might try ta...stuff a metal skeleton into you. I wonder how that would work. Yeah nevermind scratch that, It's best just not to get caught." He faltered in surprise as he turned, his eyes meeting mine. "Umm well okay- I'll leave you to it. See you on the flip side." I smiled as he quickly ended the call. Jesus he's so awkward when he's on the phone.
"What was that all about?" I asked biting back a laugh at his preformance. His crooked grin appeared telling me that it wasn't something secretive.
"Oh just recording a message I'm the trainer for the night guard replacement. Boss thought it'd be cheaper to just leave messages so they can um... learn on the job"Vincent paused while twisting the phone in between his fingers.
"I pity whoever has to take your job." I laughed despite how serious I was.
"Who knows, maybe they'll get shut down again. Anything could happen."
"I hope you're right." At that an obnoxious beeping filled the house. Vincent's expression widened.
"Oh crap, the soup." Sprinting past me he booked it for the kitchen. I followed slower, arriving as he flicked off the stove and pulled the pan away from the heat.
"Bon appetit." He smiled setting the steam free. I breathed in the smell and felt my stomach twist in response. Suddenly it was as if I hadn't eaten in days. Without a second to waste I was pulling out bowls and hopping back to the stove.
"Someone's excited...It's just soup" Vincent joked as I nudged up next to him.
"Foooood," I groaned pushing the latel through the mix of vegetables and cream. I poured Vincent a bowl if just for the sake of appearing to be a good host. My mouth watered every second I wasted not eating the soup.
I quickly moved back to the living room only to disappoint myself. There, on the ground lay the small stack of movies. I bit my lip staring down into my steaming bowl.
"Our joining will have to wait." I mumbled to the potatoes. I heard Vincent moving behind me and prayed he didn't hear me talking to my food. Delicately placing the dish on the nightstand near the couch I hurried to the television.
"Alright here are the choices." I held them like giant lumpy cads for Vincent to see.
"Um..How about.." He scanned over them, "Chucky." My expression fell into utter confusion. I specifically left out Chucky. Flipping the disks around I was greeted with a set of completely undesirable movies.
"Oh.. I-I must have grabbed the wrong pile." I quickly switched said dvd's with five different ones. "Those were my 'no way in hell I'm watching those' choices…" I admitted slightly embarrassed.
"What's wrong with Chucky?"
"What's wrong with-" I huffed in disbelief. "Vincent don't you think creepy dolls coming to life is a little too similar to I don't know, crazy ass animatronics that try to kill people. Specifically me. Last night!?"
"Oh." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "If you say so." He shrugged. He really doesn't get it.
I refrained from sighing out loud.
"Well here's the real choices." I held up the movies once again.
"Hmm, is that James Bond?" I leaned forward to see which one he was referring to.
"Yup." Suddenly I felt the need to explain. "I-I don't know I just like those type of movies." I looked away for some reason. I suppose because it was a secret obsession of mine. No one but my family knew so now that Vincent did. Well what would he think? Was it cool? Lame. God why do I even care?!
"Let's watch that one." Was all he said with a grin. I studied him for a moment, only yielding when I didn't detect any mockery or sarcasm in his tone.
"Alright." I pretended not to care, popping the movie into the player. The screen flickered on, the previews beginning to play.
"I'll be right back," I shouted making my way down the hall. When I returned a few minutes later I could hear the opening credits playing while I dumped my load next to Vincent on the couch.
"What is all that for?" He asked already halfway through his soup. I noticed that three pieces of toast had magically appeared on a plate next to him. His fingers absentmindedly dipping the corner of one into the broth.
"We're watching a movie aren't we? Thus I have brought the necessary equipment. " My hands waved over the assorted pillows and blankets.
"Ah. My mistake I should have known." He laughed as I pushed half the pile towards him. Within minutes we were cocooned into the sheets, and I was happily scooping soup into my mouth.
I paid half attention to the movie having seen it several times. Vincent was more focused. He had mentioned at one point that he didn't watch movies very often. Every once in awhile I'd hear him mumble to himself about the acting or a certain scene. I tuned back in when Bond struggled with the bad guy for the first time. A helpless woman screamed in the background. The villain's goonies started swinging blows at him providing enough time for their boss to escape. One man attacked him but Bond used his own knife against him, plunging it into his stomach. The man screamed bloody murder and I was suddenly grateful it was an older movie. All that blood would gross me out in modern cinema.
"That's not how it works." I heard Vincent laugh quietly in the back of my mind. My attention faltered. Everything felt warm and comfortable. I snuggled deeper into the covers, pleased with how dark the world had gone.
The halls were long and void of light. Gunfire and shouting rumbled through the walls yet everything was still. Before me a figure emerged. It was hazy, Its limbs wobbling in and out of focus. All I could make out was buttons and stripes. Everything else was black. Part of me realized I wasn't scarred, which of course was odd instead I felt warm and safe. The noises outside died down to whispers and shuffles. Suddenly a face appeared out of the darkness. Two pits for eyes and a wide empty smile. Still its face was stained with tears that cut through its mask in a deep shade of purple. Staring at it made me sad, as if I had lost something profound. Something I didn't even know the name of. I stepped forward as if the figure pulled me to them. Still I felt no fear. Silently we moved forward and side to side in and shapeless maze. Silence turned to noise as the hallways erupted in chaos. The creature didn't seem to notice. Something told me it was used to it. I could make out some of the cries I heard, each word sinking into my heart.
I'm scared
Let me go.
Mom! Mommy help me!
A scream rang out, I wanted to cover my ears and block out the agony. Something mixed in with the others caught my attention suddenly. I stopped following the thing. It immediately turned its body as if to question me. I heard it again. A soft cry. A cry I recognized. My baby brother. I ran down the nearest hall plunging myself further and further as the sobs grew. I knew he was here. I could feel it in my gut. Light broke out around me suddenly. At first I covered my eyes but soon I realized it was only one bulb, flickering in and out of life. Grey cement covered the empty room, the soft sound of water plipped on it's surface in a slow rhythm. It would have been hard to miss the small boy cowering in the corner.
Bo, I tried to speak but nothing sounded. I reached forward wanting him to know I was here. That I could protect him. A snake like arm shot out engulfing my arm before I could. It was the stranger. I wanted to be angry. To scream and shout. How dare you! But one look at his face stopped me. It's features were scrunched as if in pain. Its movements urged me to follow once again.
But my brother…
It shook its head violently the purple streaks on it's face beginning to move, flowing out of its eyes like real tears.
I can't leave him. He pulled at my arm, I could hear his cries in my head.
Please. Please help them! Help me. Please! His speech was a gumbel. Several voices in one all of them sounding young.
I...I hesitated looking back at the lump of a form in the corner. His wails sounding farther away every second.
"Penelope"
What?
"Penelope." I was engulfed in darkness. Alone. Where are you? Something poke my cheek as I blinked awake. Vincents grin hovered over me as I took in my surroundings.
"You were really conked out. If I had known It's be that difficult to wake you I'd have let you sleep." He spoke softly as I sat up. The images of my dream still lingering vividly.
"No. I'm glad you woke me up. I was having a really weird dream." I mumbled tiredly rubbing my eyes.
"What was it about?" He scooted closer, our legs touching under the mess of blankets. The more I tried to recall the dream the less sense it made.
"I don't really know. There was this guy. This thing. It was leading me somewhere…"I trailed off thinking of the creature.
"Thing?" Vincent questioned.
"Well. It was tall or maybe just skinny. Both I guess, and it had theses weird stick arms with stripes." Vincent tensed slightly at that although at the moment I didn't think much of it.
"And it's face...It was so sad. Always crying." I recalled the type of sadness that had washed over me in the dream. A hollow longing feeling. Like I was homesick. "I was following it but then-" My fingers played with the sheets, my teeth digging into my lip. Vincent's hand passed across my sight, his fingers delicately brushing my hair behind my ear.
"Then what?" He met my gaze, urging me on.
"I saw Bo. He was crying and didn't know I was there. I couldn't help him. I-I should have helped him. That...That puppet thing didn't let me." I stuttered trying to hold back any unwanted emotions. Glancing back up at Vincent his face was consorting with mixed emotions. Surprise, disdain. Fear. None of which I expected.
"Vincent, Is everything alright?" I asked when he didn't say anything. He shook his head as if tuneing back into reality.
"Oh um. I...I have to go Penelope." He rose suddenly quickly untangling himself from the sheets.
"What? Why. What's happening?" Was it something I said? He didn't answer. Fully focused instead on gathering his things. Why did it suddenly feel like he didn't even know I was there. He was almost out the door when I finally got through to him.
"Vincent! What is going on? Why are you running out the door." Confusion and anger bubbled inside me as he finally met my stern gaze. He seemed caught off guard by my outburst.
"What did I do?" My voice cracked. Between the nightmare and this I felt my emotions start to tighten my stomach, cut my breath short.
"Penelope, calm down. It's not you. It isn't your fault. Nothing's wrong...I just. Your dream reminded me to do something important that's all." His hands held my face as he spoke, reassuring me. "It's okay. Don't worry. Please." he pressed his forehead to mine, warm breath brushed across my skin.
"I'll visit you tomorrow okay? I don't have to work tonight so i'll be able to come over early. We could have breakfast together...I-If you want of course." I nodded softly a small smile lightening my features.
"Great." He sighed pulling away. Taking his warmth and reassurance with him. I grabbed his shirt on impulse.
"Promise?"
"Of course." He grinned like he always did. Any real emotion was safely tucked away behind his wall. One day. One day I'll get to know the real Vincent. I watched his ponytail disappear down the hall feeling a little better about him running out on my like that. See you tomorrow.
I spent longer than I'd like to admit sulking around my apartment after that. I wasn't very tired and felt oddly hollow now. Lucky for me I had found one of my old diaries while cleaning the living room. My fingers flipped through all the previous entries spending at least half an hour reading over the more interesting ones. Finally settling on an empty page. I was quite a writer when I was younger I suppose. Having filled most of the pages with ramblings and rants. The last thing I had wrote had been right before that day. Reading it hurt. I had been so carefree and generally happy. Then just nothing. I hadn't bothered to keep record of anything I felt for the next few years. It was time to change that, I had a lot to tell after all. Uncapping my pen I pressed it to the page already knowing how I wanted to start this entree. That was the moment my phone erupted to life next to me. The screen brightened and unknown number calling. I let it ring. No way was I going to talk to a stranger this late at night. If it was important they'd leave a message. The ringing stopped and the phone buzzed twice more. Crap. They left a message. I put away the diary. My pen leaving a blob of ink on the empty page. Dialing my own number I let the message play out
"Hello this is the federal towing company hoping to reach the owner of a Toyota Avalon color white license plate number ABM-727. Your vehicle has been sitting unattended in Freddy Fazbear's entertainment's private parking lot. As per request of property owners you have six hours to move your vehicle otherwise it will be towed to the nearest Government facility until payment or court order is obtained for its release. Any questions or comments please dial 680-523-1816."
The message ended, automatically saving to my voicemail as I hit the power button. Dammit. I didn't think they would have it towed so soon. I scowled out my window. Guess I'll have to get it tonight. Take the last bus or something. This sucks. If only I'd got this message sooner. Vincent could have given me a ride. With disdain I got ready throwing on jeans and a light sweater and ran out the door. I only had a few minutes to get to the station before I could kiss my car goodbye.