The Girl of Shadows [COMPLETE]

Eighteen

["As she spoke, with her voice just above a whisper, she raised a glass to the darkness - Embracing her fate, 'To the ones who dream.'" - Elise]

As I watched the busy television channels, I really didn't bother to check the time. I'd been awake for hours, amount unknown at that point, bleakly displaying vulnerability. I didn't put much thought into that, however, and kept doing my thing of feeling nothing. Nothing but static, anyway.

Niko slept on the green pull out couch just in the corner. He had his beanie pulled over his face and snored loudly, over the obnoxious blaring of the tv. I found it amusing, though I tried to turn it up high enough to block his noises but low enough to not wake him. His kindness and concern was equal to not waking him for anything - no matter what. Only two exceptions. And those were highly unlikely.

I got up softly, feeling the sheets rise as my weight rose off of them, and pulled a hoodie on. It was Niko's, which was fairly large on me, and smelled like he had worn it recently. I grabbed the room key and slipped on some slippers for my icy feet and headed to the breakfast area for a cup of coffee to sooth my soul.

On the way there, I saw some lingering spirits. They followed housekeeping around, desperate for some fun. I guess that's why I'd hear faint screams from the ladies late into the night that terrorized everyone awake enough to hear them. I chuckled under my breath and stared down the ghost that had the guts to look me in the eye. He was surprised to acknowledge that I could see him, squinting to see if it was real. I mirrored his every action, flipping him off as I passed by. He didn't seem to take it personally, though, which was convenient for me.

I got lost a few times trying to find the breakfast place, knowing where I was because of the smell. Coffee, waffles, eggs. Everything significant to decipher from the average smells of the hotel hallways. A few people were chatting away and sipping mugs, chortling themselves awake. They were primarily elderly people, but some were younger than that. Yet I was younger than all of them combined.

The coffee station was across the room, shining for me to use it. My heart fluttered knowing that it was to receive some caffeine and patiently waited for it to brew. A younger man, looking around the age of thirty-five, approached me swiftly. I turned to him, puzzled because he wanted to converse with me. He stayed silent for a while.

"Hello." He greeted, tone creepy and predacious, grinning widely at my dark circles for eyes.

I froze for a second, but hesitantly replied, "..Hi?"

"You are stunning, my dear. And yet, you're familiar and I haven't the slightest clue to why." He said, fully enchanted by my looks. And I had been sleep deprived. Even still, he thought the opposite of what I had been for twenty-one years.

"Do I?" I questioned, grabbing the steaming brew that was calling my name.

"You a C?" He asked. I stiffened.

"What if I were?" I said, ready for any means of self defense.

"I have no prejudice. Just curious, darling." He said again, "Ahh. Now I know where you're from." Him calling me darling made me irritated.

"You're the girl who murdered the CEO in cold blood. Tristan Campos, am I correct?"

My face hadn't changed - at least I didn't think so - as my mind debated the fight or flight response. My breath became shaky as moments passed.

"... The Girl of Shadows..?" He whispered, "I know your name, Hannah Nicole Dalton.."

He was teasing me to get under my skin, but I had predicted that from the start. The more he creepily smiled, the more stares we got from the elders that were just trying to enjoy their morning. I did feel bad but this was purely out of my control.