Bloody Paintbrush

Chapter 14

A knock sounded at the door. "Eri? May I come in?" Asked Jennet.

"Sure," Eri replied, bluntly.

Jennet walked in and sat on Eri's bed.

"What you doing, homework?" She asked. "Yeah. I haven't been able to come up with anything lately though," Eri said, downheartedly.

"Hey, is everything alright? You've been off lately," Jennet asked. "Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing too serious," Eri said, in a wearied voice.

"Okay," Jennet said, quietly. She got up from Eri's bed and made her way to the door.

Just when her hang landed on the doorknob, she stopped. Jennet turned, twirling her hands. "Eri, please talk to me," she said, persistently.

Eri stared holding in her laughter. In Eri's eyes, Jennet's efforts were futile and pathetic. She knew what Jennet was trying to do.

"I'm fine," Eri chuckled. "Now, please leave; I have stuff to do," she finished.

"Alright," Jennet said, placing her head down.

A knock sounded at Eri's window. With relflex, she grabbed the closest thing to a weapon and jumped inside her closet.

"Eri!" The voice yelled. Eri squinted her eyes as the voice sounded familiar. "Eri!" The voice yelled, once more.

Eri cautiously opened her closet door, and slowly made her way to her window. As she arrived at the edge of the window, she looked out, ready.

Shock colored her eyes when she saw who was outside at this hour.

"Silas?!", she quietly yelled, with a stunned expression on her face.

"Open up, please?" Silas asked.

Eri opened her window, and helped him in.

Once he was in her room, She settled him in. Crossing her arms with confusion, Eri asks, "Why are you here?"

He sits there gazing at Eri, analyzing her. He takes a moment and begins, "Well, honestly, I don't know," He looks away and fidgets his fingers. He then continues, "I don't know you," He stated.

Eri raises an eyebrow and drops her hands, placing them on her hips. She tilts her head and opens her mouth; but nothing escapes her mouth. Nothing, but air.

"What happened with Maddie?"

Hearing that name unleashed a wave of vexation throughout Eri's body.

Her expression turned dark and murderous, her eyes left a cold and icy aura.

Silas noticed this, It was hard to not. It was frightened.—-And that alone gave Silas his answer.

A gulp filled his throat.

"Eri? Is that even you?" He asked. Eri stood there in silence playing with her necklace.

"Get out. Please, it's late, and we have class tomorrow." Eri finished.

"Oh, I see." Silas said, simply. He got up from her bed making his way to the window. He looked back and she looked disturbed. He had no idea what was going on in Eri's head, and he didn't know if he wanted to.

He opened the window and jumped out.

On his way home, he noticed an alley.

I need a smoke, He thought.

He encountered a man standing around. He looked like he was searching for something. Silas decided to mind his business.—But he couldn't help notice the man on the phone, and hear what he was saying.

"Yes, I've found her. She can't run away this time," He stated, on the phone.

"Yes, I'm sure it's Eri."

Eri?