4

It was as if Helen watched a narrow forest of carnivorous plants - breathing carbon, THC, greenish things. Slimy lianas and scaly algae swam back and forth and around the Neighbor and somehow it was as if Helen had never looked at him, as if he was never there, because there were no visual witnesses of his shameless behaviours until then. That would be the beginning. Of what, she couldn't quite imagine. The Neighbour was at the point of becoming real and made of flesh; and so the aversion she had towards him would also become real, made of flesh. In the middle of all that meat... dinner... meal... She shook her head.

The fridge was quiet, so was the television and the little aquarium with fish. She stepped forward. No sound. Wouldn't Logan be home at this time of night? He might have stayed later at work, as they were planning a trip to Whistler, to snowboard and take pictures in the beautiful village built at the bottom of the mountains. It was not expensive but she wanted to rent a room in a big hotel with breakfast which included croissants. Whistler was a very popular winter trip, most families living in the surrounds would go every year, sometimes they would even take dogs with them, it was a very enjoyable place... But Mr Brickwood could also be home right now, naked, waiting for her to find piece of evidence. She smiled.

The bedroom's door was shut and from there came no noise. She put her hand on the wood. Cold. She pulled. A gentle warmth surrounded her face in the moment the door was opened, as though a small heater had been turned on. The air inside felt curiously heavier against her eyelids and suddenly Helen felt troubled. Her mouth opened slightly.

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Without turning, Mr Brickwood knew she was there - pale, in the darkness. He wondered what kind of images and thoughts were being formed inside her mind, and if, there in the shadows, she could make out the contours of his legs. It was warm inside the bedroom, but under the blankets he was warmer. Shit, he thought, rag-breathed, and closed his eyes because that was the only thing left to do. How was he supposed to deduce the time? He had calculated wrong, he had always been bad at math. Drama was his thing, yes he was good at theatre; maybe if he focused on some improvisation... But how was he supposed to know?? The only previous announcement someone was coming was the low cracking of the door. After the cracking, they sank in absolute silence. All the three of them.

The window was opened, so the curtain sometimes made smooth waves which looked like the dancing of ghosts. Helen's heart beat faster. She could feel it underneath her clothes, underneath her tight bra. She had felt the smell. And her voice came, high pitched and tremulous:

"...Logan?"

She invisibly slapped herself. Calling his name somehow meant despair, and inferiority. She wasn't inferior, she wasn't afraid; afraid of what?

On the other side of the room the other woman pierced five long nails into Logan's skin. They were sharped, and he quite remembered them black. She didn't say a word because, exactly like him, there was nothing to be said - just to be seen. She disentangled their bodies with expertness, passing her leg above his waist and pushing his chest to the side. Her smooth movements were accompanied by his perceptive ears and the not so solid weight of his muscles. When the girl was done with the unscrewing he slowly released his breath; but the first part of it went as loud as he had scoffed. In the dark no one saw, but the girl was smiling broadly when she pushed the blanket aside and her bare feet appeared by the edge of the bed. She picked up her pieces of cloth that were lying mingled on the floor and walked towards the door, thus towards Helen.

Although she could not think of other things besides throwing up, Helen automatically went aside to let the other pass. She - or must be it? - smelled like grapes, and was almost like feeling the presence of hell. But she knew that the hell itself was not the grape smelling woman, but what she left on the bed.

Hey, dearest readers, leave a vote if you're excited to see what will come next.
Is Helen going to forgive Logan?