What Do You Suppose a Friend Is? (Witch's House Fanfic)

Chapter 5 - The Unexpected Visitor

        Ellen was lying on the forest green couch in the living room with her feet dangling over one of the arms. She had her nose stuck in The Lord of the Rings. Somehow, out of everything she'd read in four centuries, that book had escaped. Luckily, some of Viola's friends had read Tolkien's works, and when they found out that she hadn't they made damn sure that error was corrected. Oh boy, had she been missing out! Markus said I can't watch the movies until I read the books, Ellen laughed mentally as she flipped the page. Eh, I could live a thousand years and still not understand how some people come up with these ridiculous nuances. As if I'd consider watching the movies first. What does he think I am, some kind of a savage? She flipped the page and continued onwards with the adventure.  There had been a time when she could read entire volumes in a day. Now there were too many other distractions and other aspects in her life that got in the way. However, she was intent on finishing the chapter she was currently reading.

        She couldn't wait to see whether Sam would be able to actually beat Shelob with only a sword! That better be one HELL of a sword, she thought. In a fair fight, no mammal would have a chance against a spider that size.  It's armor would be too thick.  That was why she made the giant one in her house.  It was the ultimate assassin, nature's deadliest predator by a very wide margin. Even so, she still shuddered a bit when she thought of reading that note on the wall of her house that said: THE SPIDER HAS POOR EYES, HE CAN'T EVEN TELL COLORS APART. The thought that crossed her mind when she read that was: Oh dear. Well, I'm properly screwed right now. Her fondness for spiders had ended that day.

        She continued to flip through the pages as she read, admiring Sam's courage in the face of a genuine killing machine. He was a moron for risking himself to save Frodo, but she couldn't say he was lacking in the balls department though. She had no doubt he'd win despite the odds, after all he was one of the virtuous characters of the story. In fantasies like that, such characters always won in the end.  

        She kept getting more and more engaged, until a very obnoxious noise snapped her out of her reverie. It was that fucking doorbell. Oh, how she hated that noise! It seemed like one of those innovations that sounded good on paper, but was far less useful in reality, especially for a house this small. Why not just knock on the door? It buzzed again.  She rested the book on her stomach and frowned.  She didn't feel like answering the door right now. Besides, there was that warning the police had put out over the local news an hour ago. It advised people not to leave their homes, but she didn't remember why because she wasn't listening when it was on. She decided to ignore it either until the person went away, or until her father told her otherwise. It buzzed again, now coupled with the sound of a fist loudly knocking against the door. No way she would get back to her book with that racket. They hit the doorbell again and knocked even louder. No way this jackass was leaving until someone answered. Hm, she thought with a slight smirk. I think I know a way out of this.

        She hopped up from her spot on the couch and quietly slipped out of living room and went down the hall. She entered the first door on the right, the bathroom. She closed the door behind her, making as little sound as possible. Then the doorbell rang again.

        "Vi!" Came the muffled voice of her father. "Would you get that?"

        "I'm in the bathroom, Daddy!" Ellen shouted back.

        "Never mind then, I'm on my way."

        "Wait. Should we even answer it? I thought the cops said we should stay inside!"

        "Yeah, but it might be that new gun sight I ordered," he said as he walked past the bathroom. "It was supposed to come today. I have to sign for it."