Let Me In | Herophine Fic

It's Late

JOSEPHINE

For the first time in almost a week, my eyes flutter open from some description of a sound sleep. In the distance, three distinct banging noises ring through from the corridor outside. Bloody neighbours. They're usually nice and quiet but tonight they seem to be either having some fun in bed or are doing some late night DIY.

Rolling over, I sigh and re-close my eyes, trying to drown out the consistent banging coming from outside. As my eyes stay closed, the banging seems to get louder and louder. The noise is harsher and more firm against the surface. And a second noise starts to accompany the first one I heard. It's not as firm or as loud but it's there. I know I'm not dreaming, it's too loud and it would have woken me if this was in my mind.

Sitting up, I reach for my phone and look at the time, seeing it's almost 2am. What the fuck is happening? Thank God I'm off from work now, but I do have my family's FaceTime tomorrow morning that needs me up in a matter of hours. I reach to my bedside table and switch the light on, huffing as the light streams through my bedroom, illuminating everything in here.

The loud banging continues and since I've sat up, I realise it's not coming from next door. It sounds like it's closer, somehow. Wait, is someone knocking on my door? It certainly sounds that way. Who the fuck wants me at nearly 2am?  I turn my head, listening to the pounding outside and I quickly realise it's coming from my door. Someone's definitely knocking the shit out of my door. Jesus Christ, this better be worth it.

Sighing heavily, I pull the duvet off me and slide out of bed. I fix the jersey I'm wearing into place before opening the door to my bedroom. I trudge out into the corridor, slowly pace through the living area with flat, tired feet and towards the front door. The noise is deafening here to my tired body. I've no idea who the fuck it could be and my mind is too tired to even contemplate looking through the peephole, so I start to slide the locks across and out of their locked position before I slowly open the door, seeing two people on the other side. Holy hell...

I feel my eyes widen in surprise as I realise in seconds who is standing in front of me. It's him... And Mila. What the hell? I can't think straight. Why would they be here at almost 2am in the morning? I thought he was done with me. I've not heard from him in almost a week and he picks now to rock up and surprise me? I don't register how I'm feeling at all, I can't. I'm too surprised. A part of me thinks I'm dreaming but I know I'm not. I'm definitely not dreaming, this is all very real.

"What are you doing here?" My voice is flat and tired. I don't even sound surprised which is probably the first emotion I'm feeling right now. I'm not entirely sure what else there is... But there's a lot.

Before either of us can do anything, a sob breaks the deafening silence and Mila scrambles out of Hero's arms before throwing herself at me. Her arms wrap around my waist as her head buries itself against my hip. Sobs fill the air and automatically my hand places itself on the top of her back, smoothing soothing circles against her.

"What's wrong, sweet pea?" The name I always call her just rolls off my tongue automatically. The name I've missed out on for almost a week. Reaching down, I lift her into my arms and my heart melts when I see the small kangaroo teddy I bought for her birthday clutched tightly in her arms. Her legs curl around my waist as she plants her head firmly into the crook of my neck. My eyes cast over Hero. He looks... Tired. Exhausted even. And... Hollow.

"Da-daddy needs to t-talk to you, P-Princess Jo," Hero sighs heavily, his hand roughly wiping over his face before it pushes back into his brown locks. His eyes are desperate, silently pleading with me that what Mila has stuttered is the truth and he wants to talk... Couldn't we have talked in the morning? Like the actual morning. Not middle-of-the-night morning.