odd

Rose's point of view :

The next day,

On waking up, I was surprised to find myself alone in the bed.

It's 8 in the morning and he wasn't back yet.

As I walked out of the room, I heard some scrabbling noises from the kitchen. On Walking closer to an unfamiliar figure in my kitchen, I observed a blonde woman engulfed in scratching and rubbing something near the kitchen's sink.

"Hi, you must be Lucy, right? " I said standing behind her a few distance away. My voice made her stiff like a statue on her spot. She did not turn for a good few seconds. How can I not be suspicious then? Instead of acknowledging my presence, she is acting like a deer caught in the spotlight at the moment.

Finally turning her head a little towards me, not completely, just slightly, she replied " Um hi. Yes, I am Lucy"

of course i found it strange!

"I did the dishes last night. So, what are you doing there?" I asked, curious as i tried peeking a little but couldn't see anything. Her body was covering the sink as whole.

"Uh...I tried to make something new for breakfast but it turned out to be a complete flop, just cleaning the mess" she replied with a titter laugh.

"Okay. Do you need help?" I took a step towards her when she abruptly stopped me almost screaming a "No!"

To say i was astonished would be an understatement.

"I'd manage here. Don't worry! How about you go and get ready and I'll make the breakfast ready till then. Okay?" She added with a stiff fake smile.

She wants me gone. Clearly!

But why?

It looked as if she was cleaning the mess after a murder.

I snorted in my head at the mere thought

Though I found her behavior really odd but decided to let go of the topic and only nodded back in response.

AN HOUR LATER,

Walking out of the room, I did notice the breakfast already ready on the table.

Pulling out the chair to sit, I asked " Does Daniel often come so late? He was out for the whole night"

Lucy looked at me for a second before replying "Um, Yes. Never seen him in the house much. He is out for work most of the time and I just come to clean and then leave."

What a strange way to live one's life however i kept my opinion to myself widely.

The sound of the doorbell got me out of my thoughts.

Excusing herself, Lucy walked towards the door.

Lucy came back followed by Daniel behind her on his wheelchair.

Bowed shoulders and dark circles under his sleepy eyes clearly said how tired he was!

I was about to ask him to join for breakfast when my eyes fell on the red stains on the floor that followed behind Daniel. I immediately stood up exasperatingly, "Oh My God!'

Are those...

Blood drops?

"Is that blood? Are you hurt? " I asked while walking closer to him to look for any sign of injury.

I finally noticed the blood dripping down from his right injured hand.

He is hurt! Shit! He is hurt.

My heart rates paced up in panic.

"How did you get hurt that bad?" I asked being concerned.

He looked down at his hand and only swallowed hard.

"Get the first-aid, Lucy" I said as i waited for his answer.

Taking his good time,

He finally said with a sigh "Just got hurt in the laboratory. Its alright! I am fine."

"In the lab? They did not have a first-aid there for you? Really?" I asked back, finding the fact unsettling.

"It isn't that bad" he said lowering his hand down trying to hide it.

"Are you kidding me? I can easily see how nasty it is," I said sternly

As soon Lucy got the First-aid, I bent down to do his wound dressing.

It was indeed a deep cut that extended to some extent to his arm.

"What got you hurt so bad?" I asked again.

"Um, just a minor explosion," he replied softly.

"Oh God! Is everyone at work okay? " I asked back and he simply just nodded in response.

Just when I was almost done with the dressing, my eyes fell on the THING and my heart leaped to my mouth.

Is that a ...

No way!

Mustering all my courage, I glanced at it just one more time for the confirmation and almost fainted at the sight of it.

Why?