Coniferous | dreamnotnap

4. Storms, Suspicions

"GEORGE I LITERALLY JUST BOILED THAT!" Sapnap roared, gaping at his finally-cool water rushing out of the fallen pot, down the rock and right into the river.

"I-I'm sorry," George took a break to laugh, "it was unexpectedly heavy!"

George wanted to help Sapnap pour the water into his water carrier. He failed miserably.

"Now I have to boil more. Ugh." Sapnap groaned.

"You can-" the witch giggled, "you can have some of mine. It's at home."

Sapnap sighed, rubbing his face. "I don't trust you to lug water over here after this."

George gingerly tapped his fingers to together and slowly turned his head away. He looked incredibly suspicious. "You could come to my house and get it, if you want."

Sapnap narrowed his eyes.

"Are you trying to kill me?"

He vigorously shook his head. "Just want to help."

"Should I stay the night, too?" Sapnap joked.

"Would you?"

If Sapnap could see his eyes, he knew they'd be gleaming with hope.

"You dumped my water on purpose."

"Preposterous."

—

Sapnap sourly packed up all his strewn about items while George packed his little basket. Both prepared for what Sapnap was told was only about a 10 minute walk. He'd walked much further before, and would have done so again if George weren't there. It wasn't a problem.

As they walked, clouds began to roll in from the west, grey being dragged across the blue sky like a blanket. Although, the blanket was anything but warm and comforting. Those were storm clouds. It was best for Sapnap to not be sleeping outdoors during a storm.

George truly came along at the best time.

"We're not far, now." He said.

The sound of the rushing water had ceased long ago, leaving crunchy footfalls and chirping birds to fill the silence. Sapnap followed behind George, staring at the bottom of his cloak. It swayed very elegantly, just barely brushing the ground. Though it nearly hit Sapnap in the face when the wind picked up. He flinched and stumbled, but kept upright.

"It may be hard to see through the foliage, but it's right down this path we're on."

Sapnap looked down at his feet, seeing a lightly packed down dirt trail. He didn't even notice they were on one.

"I'm excited to see what a witches house looks like."

"You could say it's like a cottage. It's next to the river, as well."

Sapnap frowned. "Didn't we walk away from the river?"

George laughed, turning to glance at him. "It curves around. If we followed the river, we would have found it. This way is just much quicker."

Sapnap stared at him. The way he turned, the way the picnic basket swayed and the cloak fanned outward; it reminded him of some girl in a summer dress, carrying a basket of flowers. The image was quite specific, but he couldn't place from where he saw it. Maybe it was a memory from a past life. He brushed it off; both the mental picture and the cherry colour his ears turned. He tugged on his backpack straps.

Sapnap snapped to attention when he ran into a low fence post. It banged against his hip bone. He cursed under his breath and stepped around it, then looked up and noticed the structure in front of him.

A cottage was an accurate description of George's home. Brown wooden walls covered with green plants and vines that crawled all the way up to the low hipped roof. Sapnap could see the river to the left with a large willow relaxing above it, almost brushing the surface. It looked like a painting.

"Here it is, I guess. My garden is on the other side but I'll show you that later." George opened a door Sapnap hadn't noticed. "Come in."

Sapnap found himself hesitating.

A large gust of wind came suddenly, pushing him toward the open door. He stumbled forward. George held out an arm to keep him steady with, but Sapnap declined.

"The rain will start soon." George said quietly.

Sapnap sighed, and budged. He crossed the threshold.

George entered behind him, closing the door and locking it. Sapnap gave him an anxious look, silently asking why he did that.

"The wind pushes the door open sometimes, even when it's latched. It doesn't do it when it's locked."

Sapnap nodded and slowly pulled off his backpack. He set it down by the door. The inside was quite warm, he noticed, in temperature and in appearance. He looked to his right to see a small cream coloured couch with a coffee table in front of it, filled with books, blank papers, pens, and a large mug. He sat on the couch and pulled off his boots.

A large flash suddenly lit the entire room up white.

"Made it just in time." George mused, his voice being followed by a ground-shaking rumble. He wandered over to the window on the opposite wall of the door and pulled a black curtain over it, then did the same with the others, reaching over Sapnap to get the one behind him.

"Why do you have to close the curtains?" Sapnap questioned.

George paused his movements, towering over Sapnap. He wouldn't meet eyes.

"Don't look outside."

"What? Why not?"

George backed off and wandered over to the kitchen area, by a small round dining table with two chairs. He removed his cloak and hung it over the back of one of them. An orange, flickering glow suddenly illuminated Georges stark figure. Sapnap watched as a bunch of candles around the room caught without a spark. Sapnap swallowed painfully.

"George?"

"I told him to leave you alone."

The sudden change in demeanor gave Sapnap a stomachache.

"What? George, what are you-"

"He didn't listen." George removed his glasses, turning only his head to look dead into Sapnaps eyes. "Last night. What happened last night, Sapnap? Do you remember? It probably feels like a dream, now."

A hazy images flashes in front of his eyes. He touches his cheek, where a faint scratch mark lies.

"It wasn't a dream?"

"It was."

"What? You just-" He cut himself off.

George constantly held his dead stare, "Capital D."

Sapnap felt all the blood drain from his face.