𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 : 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬

𝟎𝟎𝟐 ════ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭.

MORNINGS. Oh, how Estella hated them. As light slipped in through her windows, and created a golden layer on her closed eyelids, how as a result of the luminescence she couldn't help but scrunch her eyes a little, eyebrows furrowing like a rabbit and how the comfortable sleep - the darkness - that existed behind her closed eyes slowly evaporated into thin air.

A low groan escaped her lips, just like every morning, the sunlight greeted her with cheer. Oh, how she hated them. With much difficulty she fluttered her eyes open, almost recoiling at the brightness of her room. Another groan escaped her lips as she turned to her side, the comforter effectively trapping her into a burrito.

The sharp alert of her alarm screeched through her ears like a banshee.

That certainly was perfect timing.

Estella untangled herself from her comforter and sat up, rubbing the beloved sleep away from her eyes. Her consciousness greeted her, rapidly entering new thoughts into her mind. Yesterday night's memories entered her mind.

The attack on Vicki Donovan, the weird thing with Bonnie, and---She stopped herself midway between her thoughts as her gaze rested on something. Sitting on the window sill was a crow. Staring intently at her, it tilted its head to the side. 

The sight of it made her cringe remembering the night's events, Bonnie's eerie words passing through her mind.

"I saw a crow."

Estella shuddered, goosebumps appearing on her arm. Chiding herself for being ridiculous she finally got out of bed and stretched her lanky limbs, a few bones cranking in response that made her sign with pleasure. 

Even though summer vacation had ended, the unrelenting heat, unfortunately, hadn't, the light scorching her skin unpleasantly. As perspiration appeared on her brow, she quickly tied her mind in a messy ponytail, slipping on her pink bunny slippers gifted by Caroline.

Her gaze swept towards her room; fairy lights hung on the walls, and when they turned on, they glowed a luminescent yellow. On the center of the wall, her bed was pushed against her name in elegant cursive glowed white, a nice contrast against the lavender-colored walls of her room. Her bed was nothing special, plain white sheets and comforter greeted her unwelcomingly as the balmy rays of sunlight made them glow irritatedly.

All of these decorations were once again, due to the courtesy of Caroline who had claimed her room was too 'plane Jane' before with its baby blue walls and only some wooden furniture.

Just before she could sweep her gaze off her shelves of books, the glinting eyes of the crow commanded her attention. The crow intently watched her actions, like she was some interesting specimen. The crow didn't move at all, just tilted its head. 

She could only stare at it.

The brunette could feel the heat rising to her cheeks once she realized the absurdity of her actions. She was having an intense stare-off with an animal - a crow - standing in her pink pineapple pj-clad glory. Before she could stop it, a snort left her lips as she shook her head at herself.

Her warm fingertips opened the window, the coolness of the metal a nice welcome to her. A breeze drifted into her room that ruffled the strands of her hair that were loose, framing her face. 

"Shoo!"

The brunette attempted to scare off the crow with a wave of her fingers. Expecting the bird to scurry away from her, she couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion when it only made the bird step closer.