CHAPTER 12

"YOU'RE ACTING LIKE AN ACTUAL HUMAN BEING"

Everything had gone completely dark. Abigail could barely breathe. All she could hear was the sound of the storm outside, shaking the walls with thunder. The rain slapping the windows hard, and the occasional lightning outside the room filled her with terror.

Luke sat still for a moment, his eyes adjusting to the sudden blackness.

“Abigail?” He called.

No response.

“Abigail.” He repeated, a bit louder. “Come on, don’t start with this shit.”

Still nothing from her.

His hand dropped from his side and he moved slowly towards where she had been standing last. There was no source of light to see.

He reached out in the dark and finally brushed her arm.

“Oh.” He muttered.

She was shaking. Not just a little. Full body, bone-deep trembling.

“Abigail?” He said again, his voice a bit softer this time.

Still nothing from her. He slid his hand down to her wrist and gently pulled her forward. Her body followed his, limp but tense, like she didn’t even know where she was anymore.

Luke didn’t speak. He couldn’t even mock her or call her dramatic again. He just pulled her closer until she was against him, her arms still trembling by her sides.

Then slowly, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around his waist.

Luke’s eyes softened. He hesitated for half a second, then hugged her back tightly, resting one hand on the back of her head and the other on her lower back. He felt a sudden wetness on his chest.

She was crying.

He didn’t say anything about it, just let it happen. The skin on her face was damp from her tears and the cold sweat. She smelled like sweet perfume but her hair had a citrusy scent on it.

He couldn’t believe he was thinking about her shampoo.

He led her backwards carefully until the back of her knees hit the couch beside them. She sank down wordlessly, still holding on to him. He sat with her.

“I’m sorry, I’m just not used to this.” She whispered finally.

Luke nodded, still saying nothing.

“This much darkness… this much noise. It just—” Her voice cracked, then she broke into tears again. “It reminds me of when I was little.”

He loosened his grip just enough to look at her face.

“I used to stay up alone when it stormed like this. The first one I ever remember was when I was five. The lights went out and I lost it. My dad came home, soaking wet, carrying a bag of sweet buns and chocolate.”

She sniffed. Luke said nothing.

“He sat with me.” She whispered. “Held me through it. Told me stories about lions that weren’t scary and how thunder was just the sky having a tantrum and it would all go away.”

She let out a sad laugh. Luke smiled a little at that.

“When the storm passed.” She added. “She took me outside, barefoot, and let me jump in puddles.”

Luke nodded slowly.

“He sounds like a good dad.”

“He was the best dad. I don’t know how he got into this...”

Luke looked at her, knowing exactly what she was referring to. She didn’t say anything more, so they just sat there, her hands slowly relaxing around his shirt.

After a while, he cleared his throat.

“I fell once.” He said. “Busted my knee open on the curb, stupidest thing ever.”

Abigail gave him a surprised look.

“You?”

“Yeah.” He looked down. “I was ten. Ran out of the damn car because I was pissed that my mom made me wear a bowtie.”

She chuckled lightly.

“I didn’t know where the hell I was going. A man, who complete stranger, saw me fall, helped me up. Cleaned the wound with bottled water and gave me this weird candy bar I’d never seen before.”

“What did it taste like?” She asked.

“Like dust.” He said with a straight face. “But I ate the whole thing anyway. Guess I just needed someone to be kind that day.”

She leaned her head on his shoulder, sighing. She wasn’t as terrified as she was anymore, even though it was still dark. Luke looked down at her but didn’t move.

“You’re warm.” She murmured.

“And you’re freezing.”

He reached behind them and grabbed one of the blankets draped on the back of the couch. It was soft and thick. He unfolded it, pulled it over her shoulders, and wrapped it around both of them.

They sat like that for a long moment, breathing in the same air.

“I didn’t think you could be like this, ever.” She said quietly, her eyes getting used to the darkness.

“Like what?”

“Gentle. You’re acting like an actual human being.”

He didn’t respond. Her face was close to his now, so close that they could feel each other’s breaths. They both realised it at the same time.

She could feel him staring at her intensely. His hand brushed against hers and it felt like touching an exposed barb.

“Luke, we—”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

“Security!”

The loud rap on the door made them both jump. Abigail jerked away from him instantly, pulling the cover to herself and turning away. Luke stood up, his expression changing like a mask snapping back into place.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

A hotel security staff member entered inside, holding a flashlight that lit up part of the room.

“Mr and Mrs Vandell.” He said. “Our sincere apologies for the delay. There was some damage to the generator, a freak accident. The team says power should be restored shortly.”

Luke nodded once.

“Fine.”

The man gave them a quick smile, clearly uncomfortable, and then he disappeared back into the hall.

Abigail stayed frozen on the couch. Luke buttoned up his shirt and ran a hand through his hair.

“Luke, you know that…”

He turned to her, not letting her finish.

“I don’t, get yourself together.” He said.

And with that, he walked out of the room, leaving her surprised.