Break-In

Why, in the name of all that makes even a sliver of sense, would this be here?

Asking myself such a thing was already out of question as the evening on darkened in front of me. The shape in the distance wasn't a a trick of my own, exhausted eyes, but a house.

An abandoned house, I hope.

I recognized it as soon as I was a few meters away. It seemed like it'd fall apart at any moment if you blew too hard on it, or the type of house that were haunted in in horror films.

No car, no lights... nothing. Only stained wood and peeling paint. How was this even here? Even more terrifying, how had no one thought to look over it?

My mind drifted to stories on the news of people dead for months. No one questioned where they were until their bodies began to reek. Those were close living spaces. Apartments. Now imagine an abandoned house in the woods?

A dead body would seemed like a decoration to a place like this.

The thought sent a chill down my spine, or maybe it was just a gust of wind. Whichever it was, I didn't like it.

I didn't have any choice, really. It was either I continue walking and sleep in the grass, or stay here one night and find my way tomorrow. I had enough snacks to last me awhile. Maybe they had a radio, or a phone... Wait, never mind. Anything from the this century would no longer work.

I started walking towards it, reaching the porch steps and pausing with my hand on the wooden railing.

This is insane. I thought, looking up at the looming structure. Perfectly timed, the cold creeped up my neck. It was this place, or whatever the harsh weather had for me.

My human instincts had already made the decision.

I headed up and knocked on the door. With the sudden pressure and an echoing groan, it opened. I peered in, looking for any sign of life. After a few moments, I stepped in, taking in a deep smell of old. The type of scent that books leave after years of being untouched, or a museum on a slow day.

There was dust everywhere. Closing the door behind me caused a cloud so big I had to choke down my coughs. I covered my lips with my hand, continuing to look around.

My eyes travelled the living room, wanting to touch almost every bit of furniture, pass my feet over every inch of the carpets, and every book in the shelf beside the fireplace. I only let myself touch the plastic flower sitting idly on a wooden table, putting the encyclopedia beside it so it'd have a friend.

It seemed to be the only thing that wasn't insanely dusted, or I was just imagining it.

I continued past door way, leading into a much more pleasant kitchen. It had a dining table, beside a large window, and to the left it had everything a kitchen needed. Stove, a clean counter, a large sink, wooden cabinets. I wondered why nothing smelled like it was rotting.

Maybe it was a bit of luck on my part, or... whoever lived here decide to leave for some reason.

My mind would have roamed further, but my thoughts were interrupted by a creak upstairs. It lasted a few seconds, before dying out.

I stood still, my breath catching in my throat. I waited silently for a few moments, trying to catch any other sounds before my shoulders fell. I sighed, almost like it was necessary,

"The house must be settling... or something. No one must've been here in awhile." I whispered to myself, my voice feeling strained from such a tiny comment.

I turned towards the kitchen, the doorway behind me as my eyes adjust to the dark. I pull my hand away from my face, sliding it across the counter and bringing it up. I rubbed my thumb with my forefinger, feeling an eery lack of dust

I look at the counter, a nausea creeping into my stomach. My eyes flicker to the sink, a sponge still drying off from being used. It feels as if my spine has been ripped out of my body. My feet feel heavier than the rest of my body, leaving me planted in one place.

Someone was here. I wasn't alone.

I hear a slight knock at the doorway, my heart dropping as I turned immediately. My eyes fell right where the figure was. Taller than me. Bigger. Quiet enough that I couldn't hear him approach.

I waited for anger. A yell. Some fuming accusation, or worse, something that would terrify me. Instead, he just stood there awkwardly, before coughing and shifting his weight onto the other side,

"Um, well... Hello." He managed, pulling something out of his pocket. I stepped back immediately, my lower back meeting counter.

I heard a few clicks and a flame appeared in his hands. I could feel his gaze, the light only illuminating up to his neck and jaw before he walked over to the table. He lit the candle carefully, before putting the lighter back in his pocket as he turned back to me.

He looked so incredibly unsure of the situation, I couldn't help but fell understand. Even from a few feet away, I could tell he completely towered over me, but that might have just been the shock. He wasn't too skinny, but he didn't fill out perfectly. Still, his body wasn't exactly what I focused on.

His clothes looked old, as if he'd worn it dozens of times, but who was I to judge what someone slept in? He wore sweatpants, and a t-shirt that seemed rather big on him. It must've been a hand-me-down, or something.

But his face, that... I could see a little better now. It held a confused expression, but it wasn't quite right. He was looking right back at me, and our eyes met for a few seconds. I held his gaze, my hands tightening on the counter behind me.

Something flashed across his expression, and he looked away. Flustered, he tried for a laugh, managing just a small chuckle as he looked back at me,

"Well, you don't seem to speak much." He crossed his arms, waiting for a reply that he wasn't going to get. I clenched my jaw, just blinking silently. I wasn't ready to talk just yet. It must've been the shock, but I'd rather see if he was going to kill me or not.

You know, the usual of accidentally breaking into someone's home.

He pulled his chair out from behind him, sitting on it and putting his elbows on his knees. He waited a few more seconds, before running a hand through his hair,

"So... I should, uh, introduce myself. My name is James, and this is my home... which you probably already know." He added, looking down at his feet nervously, "This is also a surprise to me, since it's almost 8 o'clock, I was getting ready to sleep, and here you are."

"You can probably imagine the shock that I am dealing with, because there is a girl who broke into my house." I would have laughed, I really would. But my legs felt like absolute jello.

I took his sitting as a sign that we'd be here awhile, and decided to gracefully collapse onto the floor with my legs crossed.

This was clearly dumb, but I was in a weird thought process, emerged in both reality and dream. My mind didn't know what to make of this, so I just listened.

Anyway, he didn't look like he was in a rush,

"Oh you're sitting now, alright then..." He looked away, almost out of embarrassment it seemed, before looking back at me, "Judging by our lack of neighbors, your car probably broke down somewhere near here." He guessed, his voice raising a little at the end like he was asking a question. I took a second, before nodding, waiting for him to continue,

"I figured. We do have a spare room, with a lock, if you're thinking about staying the night." I glanced down at my hands as he waited for an answer, and I hesitated. Did he say we? Who else lives here?

I spent a few seconds thinking up a dozen answers, but instead I stared up at him with a blank expression. I nodded slightly, and he did the same.

"I could... take a look at your car tomorrow and point the directions towards the nearest town. It's two hours away, so if the car doesn't work, I could take you." He paused, trying to think of something else to stay.

He saw my stuff, not really thinking t over and touching the backpack with his hand before pulling away, "Your bag is frozen. God, you must have been out there awhile. Do you want some water?"

The phrase shoved me back into reality, finally noticing how exhausted I really felt. I nodded, watching him get up. Just to be sure, I stood up as well.

I made the mistake of getting up too fast, a sore pain rushing into my legs and making me stumble. I missed the counter, and found myself grabbing onto air to hold myself up. He was there in a second, his arms going around my shoulders and holding my arm carefully. He pulled me up slowly and steadied me,

"Hey, take it slow, take it slow," He repeated softly, before leading me to the chair he was sitting in. He helped me sit down carefully, before taking a step back and facing his back to me as he grabbed a glass.

I wanted to scream out of embarrassment, but part of me felt more grateful that he didn't let me fall on my face. I rubbed my leg, cursing under my breath with a croaky voice. I watched him fill it up half-way before returning and passing me the glass. I downed it in seconds, finally relaxing for the first time in minutes,

"Thank you... so much." I said breathlessly, putting the cup down on the table as he laughed. This time, with the light facing him, I couldn't help but see his face better. A little dimple formed as he smiled, and his nose wrinkled a little. He picked up the glass and filled it a little more, placing it on the table beside me.

Realizing I was suddenly open to conversation must've flicked a switch, because his expression seemed brighter and less embarrassed. If only for a second, I could feel a smile form on my face, until I heard a cough from behind me. His expression seemed to completely change, turning far more serious. He was stoic, his entire body becoming cold and harsh.

I turned, seeing a boy at the doorway. He looked like James, but was a lot younger. A little shorter, for sure, and lighter hair. It curled around his ears just as his brother did, and I couldn't help but see the resemblance. His face was much more guarded than James, which I realized rather quickly as his eyes swept over me coldly.

"Hey, Alex," James said, an obvious tension in his voice, "I guess we didn't have to worry about someone breaking in. Her car broke down." I felt him step closer, and I couldn't help but shrink under Alex's gaze. I grabbed the glass, taking another sip to keep from talking. James filled in for me,

"She's staying with us for the night. In the morning, I'm taking a look at her car, sound good?" There was a sharpness in how he said it, almost like a warning. I wanted to glance back and see if it was the same boy I had spoken to moments before. Alex did nothing but glare, giving a short nod before he turned and headed upstairs.

I heard him all the way until there was a final slam, making me jump in my seat. James sighed, the room finally returning to how it was as he shook his head. I turned fully to look at him, watching him carefully,

"I am... so sorry for that. That was my little brother, Alex. He's 16 and... well..." I could see the words trying to form themselves as his eyebrows furrowed. I shook my head, interrupting him,

"It's okay, I get it."

I managed a small grin, seeing him relax and putting my glass down. He ran a hand through his hair, looking at me uncertainly for a second before grabbing my bag, and walking into the doorway backwards,

"Well, I should be helping you set up for the night... As the innkeeper that I clearly am," He pointed behind him, watching me get up slowly as I held onto a the table. His expression shifted, taking a step back to me, "Do you want some help?"

I shook my head, grinning and taking a few steps as I rubbed my legs,

"I think I'll be fine for a trip up some stairs." I walked over to him and leaned against the doorway, "Lead the way."

He didn't argue, turning and heading up the stairs. He made it look so silent, carefully going up. Meanwhile I created a chorus of creaks below me. I felt heavy and loud, like I was intruding the silence of the house. Still, he didn't say anything as we reached a large hallway.

He turned to look back at me, and I think I saw a smile. That didn't help, but I was glad I entertained more than annoyed.

The second floor lead the way to multiple rooms. We went down the hall, and I watched him open a door that lead to a rather large room.

It really was a guest room, considering how absolutely empty it was. He put my things down, resting his hand on the bag of his neck as he looked at me. He raised an eyebrow, glancing at me and then the door, "Oh, the bathroom and across from you. The hot water works, and we'll probably be shut up in our rooms all night, so you don't need to worry about noise."

I rested my hand against the lock, a calmer warmth filling me. It didn't seem like I needed it, but the thought of Alex made my fingers clutch it carefully. I couldn't trust these guys just yet. A locked door would be for the best.

I pursed my lips, nodding and opening the door for him. He took the sign as his cue to leave, and began to head out. He paused, turning towards the drawer. He pulled out a towel, tossing it onto the bed and made his way out.

He was passing me when he stopped, gazing at me carefully in the darkness. I stared right back, focusing at his eyes and raising an eyebrow curiously. He reached into his pocket, holding out his lighter,

"Here, to light some candles. They're... well, everywhere," I laughed at that, letting my head rest on the door and taking the lighter, "Oh and I'll be in the room beside you. If you need anything, just knock on the wall." He added, before waving slightly and walking away. I closed the door slowly,  hearing him head down stairs, the sound disappeared once he was down the second floor. It was probably to turn off the light or something.

I admired the lighter in my hand silently, shaking my head at it. The flame flickered awake, and I looked around the room. I found two candle on the bedside table, lighting them and moving to my bag. I had enough clothes to last me a couple days, and enough money to repay James for fixing the car and letting me stay here.

If I was lucky, there'd be somewhere in town for me to do laundry. And a motel. I'd hate to bother them for any longer than I already have, and Alex... I couldn't help but feel like he didn't want me here.

It was silly, I know, but something worried me about him. As if he was the reason James gave me a locked room.

It could just be my imagination, but my gut feeling told me otherwise as I picked up what I needed. Opening the door, I headed right into the bathroom, closing it behind me and lighting the candles inside.

Outside, I heard loud footsteps in the hallway. It couldn't be James, I couldn't hear him so well even when he walked in front of me.

A door opened, a soft sigh leaving one of them as they began to talk in hushed whispers. My curiosity got the best of me and I leaned against the door, only hearing a bit of the conversation,

"I'll talk to him... It's only one night... She's safe..."

I leaned forward to hear a bit more, the floorboard's creak echoing through the second floor.

And, as suddenly as it had began, their hushed conversation just... ended.