For the last hour or so of his sleep, Rilon was restless. At some point, he had woken up — he figured around mid-afternoon — and hadn’t been able to get back into a deep sleep since.

Eventually, after more tossing and turning, he rose from the bed. A brief feeling of giddiness made him race to the door to make his escape.

Out in the hallway, he felt exposed. Long, expansive, and growing dark with the approach of evening… it made him shiver.

Yet, he heard breaths, sleeping breaths, telling him that he was not alone.

A man was passed out in a chair across from the door.

Asiah? The name was faint in his mind, but it quickly matched to the images running through his mind.

Cautious, he approached him, reaching out a hand as if to ruffle his hair, but refrained from doing so. He might wake him with the action.

He had a long week, didn’t he? I may as well leave him be.

Lowering his hand, he flashed the sleeping man a brief smile, then began his trek down the long hallway.

Though haunting, he found the hallway strangely peaceful. Everything seemed to be painted in shades of black and white, the doors a succession of haunting gray, counting down by 2s — 1212, 1210,1208.

At the end, he found a sign he couldn’t read, but one he could vaguely understand after repeating it to himself several times over.

“Balcony?”

He glanced to his left. Nothing. Right, then.

He headed right after a glance at the sign to show that he was heading in the right direction. The halls didn't seem as frightening once he had gotten at least a vague idea of where he was headed. He leaned against the walls as he walked, brushing his hands against the door when he came upon one.

Tap.

Tap.

He paused, and so did the tapping.

Someone was following him. He wasn't alone.

It fell silent, so he started walking again.

Again, the footsteps started up again.

Tap tap.

Tap.

Once again, he paused, backing up and turning around. Frightened and wary, he started backing up to the door quickly. He fumbled for the handle once he reached it, only to his dismay to find that it was out of reach.

He froze.

“Afraid of a little girl?” A silhouette stepped before him, and he flinched. “Wow, you’re just as dense as the last one.”

Out of fear, he didn’t reply. The female stepped closer into the dimming sunlight., revealing herself.

It’s her. The woman from earlier. In vain, he attempted to keep himself from shivering.

“Did you come here to watch the sun set?” She twirled a lock of blonde hair, which appeared golden in the sunlight. To her question, he nodded hesitantly.

He moved away from the door as she approached him.

“What’s so scary about the sunset?” She took his hand, but this time, he didn’t flinch away.

“Oh,” She said, staring straight into his eyes in realization. “It’s me, isn’t it?”

Once again, he nodded, smiling nervously.

“I can tell you a secret.” She lowered her voice. “You were a bit frightening as well.”

She opened the door, dragging him along onto the large balcony. He felt the cement scrape his bare feet as she did so, to which he nearly protested against.

She only let go once they reached the very edge, using both of her hands to grab onto the railing tightly.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” She stared out at the sun, setting below the mountains. He nodded, but it was an absent-minded one. Instead, he gazed down at the large drop below them. It didn’t take scientific knowledge to know that if he were to jump, he wouldn’t survive the fall.

He nodded, a yes.

After several moments of staring down at the drop, he moved his gaze to stare at her. She now had her chin resting in her hands, engrossed in the sunset. She somehow looked peaceful, her eyes nearly closed and a wide smile on her face. The tinge of fading sunlight made her appear almost golden, more so than she had been before.

It took him a few moments to realize that she wasn’t staring at the sunset — she was lost in thought.

He felt rude to break her peacefulness, but instead she did before he could.

“What’s your name?”

He responded in almost a panicked quickness, his voice shaking. “Hyde. Um, I’m Edward Hyde.”

“Edward Hyde… Edward.” She appeared to be going over the name in her head. “I had a grandfather named Edward. We all just called him Eddie. Would you mind if I called you Eddie?”

“ I couldn't care less.” Hyde relaxed as she did, staring back out at the mountains. There he remained quiet until the first stars appeared and the sky gradually dimmed to a dark shade of blue.

Then he nearly jumped. “Um, what’s your name?”

“Ottawa. Ottawa Elliott. In my opinion, it sounds weird to be named after a place that’s been dead for centuries.” She sniffed in indignation, and stared at the railing.

“I like it.” Hyde said suddenly, startling her to look at him.

“You do? A complete stranger, liking my name. What an oddity.” She sniffed in indignation, shrugging. “Nobody’s ever liked my name.”

“I’m assuring you that there is always a first person.”

“Miss Elliott.” The voice of a nurse interrupted their brief, comfortable silence. “I believe you should get some rest.”

Ottawa growled under her breath, letting out a childish gripe. “But I’m not tired. I slept all day today.”

“Miss Elliott.” The nurse cleared her throat. “It’s time to rest now.”

Ottawa, groaning again, offered Hyde a sympathetic smile. “See you soon, Eddie.” she murmured. “Try to find me?”

Hyde nodded, but she had already gone to the nurse. She had not seen him.

Sadly, Hyde sighed, dangling his arms over the railing. His first talk with a normal person, a person who liked him, and it had been so brief that it may have been lost in history.

At least he had experienced it. He would allow himself to have that thought.