Runaway//Karlnap

Thunder

Aggressive water droplets collided with the window pane, loud rattling and gusts of wind echoed into the small bare room. A boy with sad eyes and a pouting mouth, light brown fluffy hair that covered the top half of his face, sat on a stained white sheeted mattress pushed firmly against the wall, watching the earth's raging war, protected from the anger by a thin pane of glass. He rested a hand against it, feeling sporadic hits against his hand, wincing at every bolt of lighting that cracked through the sky, waiting patiently for the thunder that would follow, feeling pleased when the auditable rumble arrived. Looking down at the ground far below him, shivering into the cold night, the room was dull, a deathly feeling of loneliness flowing around, blowing in through the still vents.

The room was dim, the sky being black outside and all lights seeming to be useless, a few lit candles rested on empty bookshelves and tables throughout the small apartment. An eerie mood filled the air, creating an unsettling silence, leaving an uneasy feeling at the bottom of his lungs, breathing in the damp scent creeping in through the thin walls.

"God, it's crazy out there." a familiar, yet, out of breath voice called from across the room, causing his hand to depart from the window, swinging his body around towards the direction from which the voice came, his entire body jumping at the unexpected visitor. A visible shock crossed his face, followed by confusion and concern, his eyebrows drawing together and jaw parting slightly. Looking at the boy in the door, his hair soaking wet pressed against his forehead, his grey shirt being turned black from the dampness, despite being covered by a black leather jacket, the clothing sticking to his body making each rapid breath he inhaled visible.

"What are you doing here?" He uncrossed his legs, standing up and crossing the room swiftly, pushing the damp hair back, away from the boy's face with shakey gentle fingers, revealing the dirt and blood that was streaked across his face, wincing at the sight of fresh wounds and pain. Random flashes of light from the window brushed across the face, unveiling deep black and blues on his drenched skin. His eyes wandered, looking down at the water dripping onto the hardwood floor below them. "What the hell happened?" His voice followed in a whisper.

"I ran here." The other boy replied, trying to catch his breath, still, his voice coming out raspy and broken up. "My dads going crazy again, he said, and I quote, "If the storm doesn't kill you, I will, get out." So coming here was kind of my only option." He scratched the back of his neck, looking slightly embarrassed and slightly fearful.

"Sap, I'm so sorry." His voice broke as he wrapped his arms around the boy, engulfing him in a warm embrace, not caring about his now wet clothing, the water transferring from the other body, drenching his yellow sweater. "I'll go get something for you to change into." He pulled away, creeping over to his bedside and retrieving a bag, bringing it back over to the doorway and placing it into the other hands. "I got some stuff in your size a few days ago, I figured I'd give it to you at a different time but now it seems relav-."

"Thank you, Karl.'' The other boy cut him off, which was something he often did, since Karl would ramble and didn't mind being cut off by this person in particular. The boy accepted the bag and made his way down the hall, stepping into the bathroom and flicking the switch upwards, the room continued to stay dim, no light bulbs being lit up.

"Hey Karl," He said sarcastically, making his voice bubbly as if speaking to a kid or puppy. "I think you may have forgotten to pay your electric bill."

"No, you idiot." Karl called back from the room, mimicking the voice, "Did you forget you just ran through a storm? What happens when we get storms?" he didn't respond, clearly being annoyed. He continued with the babying voice, as if he were talking to a toddler who was learning how to count. "Say it with me, the power goes out, good job Sapnap."