Everyone was whispering to themselves.
Do-yun and Wim were at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, snacking on a chocolate cake their mom had sent them, while grinning and laughing at whatever they were talking about. The Flowerhest couple, who were shivering in the corner of the second, smaller living room, were huddling closer and closer together as they talked, hysterically, about who they thought was going to kill them. Durchdenwald was busy talking to the female cop, Rickila, and Basil was alone in the main living room, watching the news.
The constant anxiety was starting to annoy me and how people were partnering up felt cowardly.
But, I didn’t care. I was going to do the same, because it was safe. And, the person I was walking up the stairs to meet up with, was one of the most emotionally unstable in the house, second only to the Flowerhest couple.
I knocked on Gila’s bedroom door, and she opened it almost immediately. She smiled, shyly, at me, and fixed her glasses that were sloping down her nose. Her hair was in the usual double plaits, and she was decked out in baggy, black clothing.
An hour later, I closed her door behind me as I stepped out into the hallway. I felt refreshed after having a quick nap in her bed. It felt safe there, and she seemed to enjoy my silent company. The only person I trusted even if it was slightly, was her.Her shy attitide said a lot about her, but, of course, actors know how to play their parts.
The whole week, I hadn’t explored the basement area yet, and after sleeping, the timing felt perfect.. Everyone was huddled together, talking worriedly or just plain gossiping and laughing (the Lee-Park siblings). The tension was making me lose brain cells, and one way to help me clear my head, and my favourite way, was to work out.
When I had asked Rickila the day before if the basement was available to us, she had said yes. She’d told me about the gym, the art room and the arcade room. Man, the cops had put too much money into this house.
I strolled down the carpeted staircase, feeling ever so slightly unhinged by the dimly lit corridor. Could someone be hiding in wait for me? I shrugged the thought off of me and opened the first door.
The gym was huge, well-spaced and organised. There were two treadmills and an exercise bike; perfect for leg work. There was a yoga section in the far corner. But the more I looked around at the mini basketball court, table tennis tables, the yoga mats, the punching bag, the beautiful leg work equipment and the vending machine, the more I couldn’t see any weights.
I groaned, flexing my arms. I’d really been looking forward to them especially, but the cops didn’t seem to want anyone whacking someone else on the head with a dumbbell.
I looked around the room again. The mini basketball court, table tennis tables, the yoga mats, the punching bag, the beautiful leg work equipment… My eyes settled on the punching bag. The tension was pent up inside me, I could feel it, strangling my heart and growling like the monster it was.
I pulled my hoodie over and off my head and let it fall to the ground. I tied my hair up in a neat ponytail and let my hands fall to my sides. My fists clenched, and the small, athletic build I’d been working on for almost a year flexed underneath my tight white sports bra.
My first fist collided with the firm, red leather, and the energy spread through my arm. Bang, bang. Another and another. The bag moved and I moved with it, it swung around, helplessly, but I didn’t let it touch me, only if I was the one to do so.
I heard the clip-clop of high heels walk into the room, but I carried on. I already knew who it was. Ava Flowerhest.. I punched the leather harder, as she just stood there watching. When I’d finally had enough, and was drenched in sweat, I grabbed the bag mid-swing and looked at her.
“What?”
She had a self-righteous smirk on her face. “So this is what your kind do, hm?”
I looked at her questioningly, “My kind?”
“The woman who don’t have any love for their body,” she looked pointedly at my bleeding knuckles.
I rolled my eyes internally and gave her a glare.
“I think you should take your opinion somewhere else,” I sighed, resting my head on the leather. She was annoying me, and the tension she brought with her was beginning to try to eat at me again.
“Why on earth would I listen to you?” she laughed.
Without thinking, I rolled back my shoulders and started walking towards her with quick strides. casually snagging and putting on one of the boxing gloves I’d failed to see earlier. I felt my arm pull back, my fist clench and I smashed the wall above her pretty little head. “Leave,” I growled and she did, her tail between her legs as she ran, terrified.
I sighed, looking at the wall. I’d dented it.
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