soon that attitude may be your doom

Nadine’s question caused the girl to pause, a memory of an emergency room visit from when she was much younger coming to mind. Once, while Avery and Nora had been playing with the Ward sisters, she’d fallen from a tree and smacked her head rather hard on the ground. They’d taken her for an MRI, just to be sure there was nothing wrong, and the small girl had cried the entire time. Being in such a small space and told not to move had been difficult, terrifying really, and the fear had never truly gone away. 

“I  yes, but this was different. That wasn’t even the worst part. Nadine, I felt this odd wind and then my glass fell out of my hand. I tried to sweep it up, but I managed to step on a piece, and then  and then Avery appeared.” She could feel the hysterics trying to reemerge, so the girl took a pause to calm herself. “I know that it’s not possible, I know, but she was there. And she was so angry with me, so angry that she picked up a shard of glass  and,” here the girl didn’t bother to finish her sentence, instead gingerly reaching down to tug up her shirt. There was a bandage wrapped around her abdomen, but even with the gauze some blood had leaked through. “She stabbed me. And then she was just  gone.”

She nodded as Nora spoke, listening to her recount the attack. Nadine tried not to allow the disbelief in her mind appear on her face. But she couldn’t hide it in her voice, no matter how hard she tried. “Nora.... it’s obvious that what’s happened to you was horrible... and-- traumatizing,” she stumbled over her words, trying to find the words to validate her emotions without invalidating her story. Her eyes fell to the girl’s stomach, where blood was seeping through the edges of a bandage. “When was the last time you changed that? And how’s your foot?” 

A shaky breath fell from her chapped lips as she looked over the other, she could see the gears begin to grind as Nadine was slowly piecing the puzzle pieces together. Imogen never thought, in a thousand years, she’d have to ever stand above Isaac’s grave and explain to his step sister the events that lead to his untimely demise but then again, she never thought any of this would happen. Her lips pursed to one side at the other’s question, one hand lifting to brush against her cheek before letting her head rest in her hand. “It’s hard to explain,” she whispered, slowly shaking her head. 

It was hard to explain, how did you tell someone that you found their sibling with their throat slashed? “He went into the basement. Ida tried to warn us, she tried to tell us, avoid the basement. But you know Isaac.” Imogen’s voice was strained as she moved the hand that was on her cheek to her eye where she began to rub it. “I tried calling the police, tried applying pressure, tried everything but by the time I got to him… It was just too late.” Her words trembled as tears threatened to fall but she restrained herself. Using every ounce of energy she had, she was going to be strong for Nadine.

“Try.” The word cut through the hair harsher than Nadine intended as her emotions began to catch up with her. Her face softened, the tears that had filled her eyes finally starting to pour down her cheeks as she tried again. “Please.” 

Each detail that emerged furthered fueled the storm of emotions clouding her mind. She finally pulled her eyes from the pile of rocks-- his grave, long enough to meet Imogen’s face. “The basement-- what about the basement?” What could possibly be in the basement that could take someone so quickly? The effects of black mold would take prolonged exposure to actually kill someone. Any other type of chemicals couldn’t cause fatal damage so quickly. So what? What could possibly be lurking in the basement that could end someone’s life?

“I’m sorry  I’m sorry,” Nora managed to get out, trying to catch her breath. Nadine’s instructions to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth were all that she could focus on, eyes closed as she attempted to calm herself down. The girl had always been prone to hyperventilating, something which had once concerned her family and the many doctors she was familiar with greatly. It took a minute or so, soft sobs and hiccups interrupting the silence, before she was able to calm down enough to catch her breath. “I had a nightmare,” the girl began, voice hoarse but clear. “I wanted to get a glass of water, so I tried to go to the kitchen, but the  the hallway just kept going and going. And then, Nadine, I swear it got tighter. As if, somehow, the walls were  trapping me in.” Her tone was far-off, as if she wasn’t entirely there as she thought back to the night’s events. Stopping herself from continuing the story, Nora attempted to give the other girl time to process her already strange words.

“It’s okay,” Nadine assured her, her words having a double meaning. Nora had nothing to apologize for, and no matter what she was going through, it was going to be okay. “A nightmare....” she repeated. Images from her own nightmare flashed briefly through Nadine’s mind. She blinked quickly as if that could send them away. She had to stay focused on Nora. A theory was already forming. Maybe the trauma from her nightmare triggered some sort of episode. “Have you ever suffered from any sort of claustrophobia before?” 

The brunette was too worked up to truly register the hand on her arm, a gesture that would usually provide a great amount of comfort. She found herself shaking her head at the conclusion Nadine had seemed to come to, fear leaving her without a filter as she shakily replied, “It wasn’t someone in the house. It was  It was her. It was Avery, Nadine. Except  Except it couldn’t be, because she’s dead, and she would  she would never hurt me…at least, I  I don’t think she would.” Her voice still contained a quiver, and the tears were still present, but at least she was able to speak a bit more clearly. Wide blue eyes looked over at the other girl, begging for her to understand something that even she couldn’t quite put together, or maybe just begging for Nadine to believe her.

“Nora...” Nadine began, the word ‘concerned’ not even beginning to describe the expression she wore on her face. Nora wasn’t making any sense. “Just calm down for a second, okay? I’m sorry, I can’t-- I can’t understand what’s happening while you’re like this....” She struggled to analyze the situation. If the words leaving Nora’s mouth through broken sobs were being heard correctly it meant whatever had happened to Nora in the house was so traumatizing she genuinely believed her attacker to be her dead sister. That didn’t change the fact that there was real blood, actual blood, on her shirt. What if she was still bleeding? Was she okay? How long ago did this happen? She wasn’t going to get any answers with Nora in such a hysterical state.“Just breathe--” Nadine instructed. “In through the nose, out through the mouth.” 

Imogen could see that Nadine wasn’t exactly picking up what she was throwing down, but she didn’t know how else to say it. In today’s day and age everything was a joke, it was almost impossible to see through the vale of practical jokes and horrible pranks. Cold hard facts were really the only thing that spoke the truth anymore. “You’re… He’s here.” Imogen said unsure what was the best way to explain it. Slowly she walked toward the other, her gaze focused on the small pile of rocks that marked the head of his grave. Tears began to well up in her eyes but her face remained stoic, knowing all too well this wasn’t her time to cry. Reluctantly, she looked to Nadine once more and pressed her lips into a fine line. “It was never a joke. There was no blackmail… Isaac’s dead, Nadine. Him and Dante both.” She paused, turning to the final grave just beside Dante’s. “We haven’t found Liam yet, but when we do that’s his grave.” Her tone flat and morbid as she pointed.

This could all be another piece in a grand and masterful plan to freak her out. It could be a sick and twisted joke with a punchline she didn’t quite understand. But looking at the rocks and the freshly misplaced dirt surrounding them, she knew. She felt it. It was the same feeling she felt when she was just a little girl, and she was swinging a bit too hard on the tire swing in the backyard, and Sienna had already gone to the beach without her so she was going to have to go get a bandage all by herself. But instead of finding a box full of bandaids she found her mother wailing in her father's arms. One look at their faces and her heart was dropping into her stomach, and Nadine just knew. Just like she did now.

Her hands were shaking. Not because she was cold. The sweater-- his sweater, should have shielded her from any shifts in temperature. There was, however, ice in her voice, as Nadine coldly asked, “What happened?”

△ Name one thing from their past that they regret.

Spending the first seven years of her life assuming she hated pickles before actually trying them and realizing they fantastic. Oh, and not going with her sister to the beach the day she died. 

♱ What do they think awaits them after death? 

There’s really no telling because nobody’s ever died and lived to talk about it. 

☠ Do they fear death?

✂ If they had to choose one weapon to carry forever, what would it be?

A knife doesn’t have to be replenished like bullets or arrows, and can be used practically in survival situations. So. A knife.

☢ Would they survive an apocalyptic situation?

Yeah. Even though it will never happen, she would survive. She has done enough research to survive anything and everything, yeah, she likes to think she’d make it. 

☹ Name one person they would kill for.

She wouldn’t really want to kill anyone. She talks a big game, threatening anyone who threatens her friends, but on the inside she’s a huge softie who knows life is a precious thing we’ve been given and should make the most of. She wouldn’t want to rob anyone of that. She hardly ever touches meat for this very reason. (But man.... chicken nuggets.... her kryptonite.) 

☼ If they had the choice to be immortal with one other person, who would they choose? 

♒ If they could choose how to die, how would they want to go?

Instantly.

¿ Are they easily frightened?

No. There’s an explanation for everything, so she’s not really threatened by things that go bump in the night. 

☣ Would they kill someone close to them if they had to?

Absolutely not. She cares very deeply for the people in her inner circle and would never want to harm them in any way, shape, or form.

✿ Would they ever trust dark or wicked magic?

No, it’s bullshit.

╳ How would they react to seeing a loved one become possessed?

Laughter. Snatching pics for snapchat. Drugs and alcohol can fuck people uuuuuupppppppp. They’re gonna love watching her story in the morning. 

◯ Do they believe in ghosts?

HA. No.

웃 Do they believe in aliens?

❣ If someone had the power to bring them back after death, would they want them to?

ϟ Have they ever gotten pleasure from causing others pain?

Causing others pain, no. And she doesn’t believe in karma. But she does get a kick out of watching bad things happen to bad people.

♣ Do they believe the world is made up of good and evil?

 Nadine doesn’t necessarily believe the world is as black and white as ‘good’ and ‘evil’. Everyone’s human. Everyone’s faced with tough decisions. Everyone has to make a choice. 

™ Are they possessive? 

         ❛❛ gee , ease off the heroin for a second . ❜❜      bom didn’t know the stranger sitting on the couch , but her cutting tone and annoyed eyes didn’t indicate that . the brunette could be a church-going , jesus loving virgin for all she cared , she’d still accuse her of shooting heroin . she’d accuse anyone of shooting heroin who was in her way of locating her lighter . she was already in a pissy mood after waking up , being unable to shake off her itch for a cigarette was making her a nightmare to be around . she felt like she was in a nightmare , anyway . everyone around her might as well share the feeling .      ❛❛ i said , you’re in the way .❜❜       she said , not happy about having to repeat herself at all . she asked nicely the fist time      (    as nicely as she could grit through her teeth    )      , she wouldn’t do it again .     ❛❛ i’m trying to find my goddamn lighter , so get your dopey ass off the cushion for a sec . ❜❜

Nadine’s eyebrows shot up, blinking wildly in the direction of the stranger before her. She wasn’t sure who this girl was but Nadine was not in the mood to deal with her and whatever issues she clearly had. “You need me to move in order to find the lighter you lost.” She overly emphasized each word so that there was no confusion. Her point was crystal clear. “So when you’re ready to talk to me with an ounce of basic human decency, you’ll know where to find me. Until then, my dopey ass will stay right here, thanks.”