The Art of Deception

CHAPTER 4: Bearly Alive

Geneva looks over at Kairo

Geneva: Can you speak?

Kairo opens his mouth, in attempt to speak, air was the only thing that manages to come out

Vespers: I wouldn't try to talk or anything- you might hurt yourself.

Kairo nods.

Geneva: Do you want me to teach you some signs?

Geneva asks Kairo Hesitantly. Kairo Nods, Geneva motions for Kairo to sit by her. Kairo walked over to her and sat down. Vespers stood by them, still refusing to sit down.

____

Kian lights a lamp as he leads Lake and Marie out to the van.

Marie: So how many bears have you actually seen?

Marie asked Skeptically

Lake: There must be an awful lot of bears if you keep telling us to not go out because of them.

Kian: I see a couple a week, I often have tea with some of them.

Marie: Uh huh, and how does that go?

Kian: I lose a limb or two... No biggie though. I'm more concerned about my tea cup.

Lake looks at Kian's body in confusion, no scratches, no bruises, and most certainly no missing limbs.

____

Geneva: Okay, first thing I'll teach you is "Are you okay?" got it?

Geneva smiles as Kairo nods. Geneva signs it a couple of times, slow enough for Kairo to follow along.

Geneva: Now try and sign along with me

Kairo follows along Geneva nods and smiles.

Geneva: You got it! Okay, now practice that a few more times.

Kairo smiles widely and does as Geneva asked of him. Geneva thinks.

Geneva: Now, I think I'll teach you "sorry" Okay?

Kairo nodded as Geneva began to sign again, she repeated over and over slowly. Kairo was able to copy it.

Geneva:You seem to follow this one well.

Geneva smiles at Kairo, he lets out an airy laugh as he smiles back. Geneva began to teach Kiro more signs. Kairo was able to keep up with Geneva's pace, he learned a few basic phrases.

Geneva: Do you want to know how to say "shut up nerd"?

Geneva asked abruptly. Kairo nods after a minute of smiling.

Geneva: Okay! This is how you sign it.

Geneva puts her hand over her mouth and slides her pointer and middle finger up her nose, as if pushing up a pair of glasses.

The lights go out.

Everyone was tense thinking there was going to be another murder, but there wasn't. The lights came back on and nothing had changed. It was just a messed up light system. Geneva's hands began to shake a little. Kairo tries his best to confort Geneva by putting his hand on her shoulder. Geneva flinches a little, then calms down. Oscar had noticed Geneva trembling and walked over to comfort her. She greeted Oscar by rubbing his head and his face. Oscar licked the left over blood from her face, Geneva laughed and pushed Oscar off of her.

Geneva: No Oscar, you shouldn't be licking up blood.

Kairo smiles at the two of them, Oscar rolls over onto his back hoping for belly rubs, Geneva happily provides them.