“We’ll take it slow tonight okay? If you need to leave, we’ll leave.” Their shoes slapped against the concrete  as Talvi and Erik leisurely beside each other.

Talvi was leaning in close as they spoke into Erik’s ear. Erik’s shoulder almost pressed into Talvi’s. Though they broke to side step around an incoming family with a stroller. Erik smiled at the child inside. They rattled a toy past the two of them.

Distant car horns wove themselves through the winding tree-brimmed streets. A few small cars were parked along the curb that they walked past in momentary silence.

Erik watched as another red leaf slipped through the open air before falling into a murky puddle. The water ran over the edges of the small leaf, trickling water into the middle before it sank further in and towards the pavement beneath. “Thank you.”

“It’s this one.” Pointing to the left and across Erik they began to turn into one of the houses set far back from the labyrinth like streets.

The Koskinen house, as Talvi had pointed out was crawling with vines that curled around the skinny brick exteriour. They passed a tall red motorboat stuck in the driveway as they walked up the stone steps towards the front door. Though, the motorboat was missing a motor to go with it, instead a gaping hole was left behind where the black machine should’ve been.

Talvi knocked twice on the thin and hollow door, their knuckles wrapping and reverberating on it.

“Hi!” Wrapping him in a warm hug, the lady at the door squeezed him twice before letting go. “Do you need a drink, a snack, anything? How’re you feeling? Did you go to see that doctor Talvi was talking about?” Inundating him with questions like heavy waves, Erik took a few moments before responding.

“I’m doing good, thanks.” He smiled awkwardly before looking over to Talvi beside him.

Talvi’s eyebrows straightened as they shot a point look towards the woman, “äiti.” This brought her gaze over to Talvi, “Remember what I said on the phone?”

“Right, sorry, I’m Maila. Talvi’s mom. ” She smiled afterwards like she’d accomplished a goal. “Dinner will be ready in a few.” The bottom of Maila’s dahlia-coloured dress slid against the floor as she disappeared into a nearby room.

Slipping off his mud splattered boots Erik ventured further into the house just behind Talvi. Beige walls accented the white statues and pictures of the pantheon. Paintings in such details the Gods almost stared back. All displayed proudly next to a wall of achievements at the end of the main hallway of the house.

Erik took a moment to inspect a bust of Lekthys, the goddess of death standing tall in the front foyer of the house. “Your dad works for the museum right? In the Mirasen pantheon program?”

Talvi smiled at him so wide it was like the sun was in their eyes. “Yeah, he does.”

Stopping them in the hallway a woman stepped out from what seemed like the kitchen. “Hi Erik, I’m Lisa. Talvi’s sibling.” The woman in red said, her blonde hair was tied back in a tight bun that accentuated her high cheekbones.

“So we just introduce ourselves again?” He leaned over towards his wife.

“Yes, Brad. He has amnesia.” She said forcefully and definitely not as quietly, as she has intended.

Huffing, “Okay..>Okay. It was just a question.” He stepped forward and shot out a hand towards Erik, “I’m Brad, Lisa’s husband.”

“Erik.” Immediately regretting his words, Erik’s face scrunched up with embarrassment.

However, Lisa butted in now, “And this is Kristiina and Anneli. They’re twins.” Two little children with matching flowing pigtails looked up at him.

“Cool.” Erik said as he waved, matching his slow nodding.

Talvi leaned past Erik, pressing a hand to his shoulder as they spoke to Lisa, “We’re just going to get some water.” Lisa nodded just as Talvi’s hand curled lightly around his wrist and led him into another room.

They stood in the kitchen as Talvi filled two glasses with water and ice. He could hear the rushing water despite looking out the window above the kitchen sink and not being able to see Talvi, “You never told me how Dr. Mah’s was, do you think she’ll be any help?”

Erik tottered his head side to side a few times before responding, “I think so. She’s very…peculiar but helpful nonetheless” He took the glass of water, feeling slight condensation roll down his wrist and past his sleeve.

“Hi isä.” Talvi walked over and wrapped a towering man in a tight hug. His blond hair was slicked and combed back which only accentuated the twinkles of grey locks woven through it. He was wearing a tight blue suit jacket.

Erik followed suit and greeted the man who was presumably Talvi’s dad. ”Hello sir.”

Shooting out a hand, the man held a tight grip as he shook Erik’s limp hand, “Linus Koskinen. Talvi told me about your accident, how…unfortunate.”

Sitting down at dinner was nothing short of nerve wracking for Erik. With sweaty palms he grasped the white napkin and placed it on his lap. The Koskinen’s dining room was

Everyone else, with merry and bright smiles sat at the table as if it was nothing. They kept their conversations going as they filled their plates with salad and salmon. Slowly, Erik did the same.

Erik did not talk much throughout dinner, instead opting to listen to the conversations shared between family as he gulped down glass after glass of water. Only stopping sometimes to share an awkward laugh because he wasn’t quite listening.

“Shit.” Talvi muttered as their knife clattered against the table, “I’m fine, just cut my finger.” Droplets of scarlet burst from their fingertip. It was a deep cut, at least a few layers of skin cut open from the slice of the steak knife.

“You okay?” Erik met their eyes as he held out a napkin for their gushing finger. Taking it from his fingertips delicately, Talvi pressed it to the cut.

Though before Talvi could respond, another voice interrupted them. “You really should be more careful.” Maila chastised as she took another bite of salmon. Erik couldn’t help but make a face at Maila’s words, though, trying to be civil he said nothing even as a headache of annoyance began to form.

Crashing like a thousand cymbals, thunder clapped in the sky beyond the house. Then, bright skittering light shot past the windows, catching the attention of everyone inside the dining room. “I checked the forecast, it isn’t supposed to be storming today. How peculiar.” Linus noted, barely looking up from his plate.

“Maybe they were wrong.” Brad interjected, finishing off his wine.

Drawing his gaze away from the window and the flashback of the night he saw Modarr, Erik turned to make eye contact with Linus. He hadn’t been staring

“I’m just going to get a band aid.” Talvi added as they spoke quietly before disappearing up the stairs nearby, still holding the napkin around their finger. Erik could hear each step they took.

Soon the night came to a close, but the rain still hadn’t stopped. “You sure you don’t want to stay over for just the night? We are.” Lisa said as she looked at the pouring rain beyond the door.

Talvi and Erik looked over to each other and without a word Talvi responded, “No thanks, I think we’re okay.

Erik added on, “And anyways, who doesn’t love a walk in the rain?”

Lisa tottered her head in agreement for a moment just as Linus cut in, “It’s really coming down out there. Take some umbrellas if you’re going to be so stubborn.” He handed two indigo umbrellas to the two of them.

“Thank you.” Erik vocalized.