The Kiss Of Midnight

Chapter Eight;

{Warning; explicit sexual content is within this chapter. It can always be skipped}

The time passes by and I clean the bathrooms and have another call from my mother, letting me know the containers will be there shortly. Right she was as they pulled in roughly thirty minutes later, placing them side by side on the side of the house. They leave as quick as they came after giving me directions on how to use them, lock them and which was which. I walk throughout the house trying to decide which room to start on first, not really knowing where to begin. Making my way upstairs I see my grandmothers bedroom door open just slightly, as if someone didn't close the door all the way.

I walk over to her door and push it open gently, seeing it the same as it's been. Flipping on the light, I take a step inside and look around more thoroughly, maybe hoping to see trash in the waste basket or clothes in the hamper. Instead I see her top dresser drawer open just a bit. My mind scrunches over why it would be open as I walk over to it, pulling it open. The essentials are present, a hair brush, set of keys, lose jewelry and a little black box.

Picking up the box, I set it on the dresser to look it over. A small symbol of two circles overlapping is carved on the top, the wood dark black as a little handle sticks out the front. I open it slowly and see a piece of paper, two rings, and an old photograph, these items having the look of time settled upon them. A knock on the front door startles me and I place it back in the drawer and close it shut. I flip the light off and swing the door close behind me as I walk to the stairs and down the steps.

I make my way through the kitchen and to the living room, opening the front door as I get to it; seeing Theo through the screen door.

"Hey." Theo smiles softly as I unlatch the screen door and push it open for him.

"Hey." I step back as he walks over the threshold and slides off his shoes.

"I see the containers arrived." He says before closing the door.

"Uh, yeah. Not too long ago actually." I offer a soft smile. "Wanna smoke?" I ask as he steps towards me.

"Yeah." Theo says after a second, and I begin to walk to the stairs and up to my room; Theo following behind me. As I reach my bedroom I open the door and walk over to my bed side table, pulling out a pre rolled blunt and my lighter. I see Theo make his way over to my french doors and open them, the cool air now seeping through.

"Thank you." I tell him as I walk over to the open doors, lighting the end of the blunt and catching it aflame before taking a puff, and then another. The tainted smoke enters and settles into my lungs before I pass it to Theo. I watch as he brings it to his lips, inhaling once, then twice, the same as I did. I finally exhale the smoke and watch it rise and float outside, a bird passes by over head as I am looking at the blue sky above us. I feel a soft nudge on my arm and see Theo passing it to me, so I take it and inhale, doing it again before ashing it in the nearby ashtray.

"So Leksa," Theo starts as he leans against the doorway of the balcony. "Where are we starting?" He asks as I pass it to him.

"Uhm, I was thinking the attic." I say before looking out and into the yard. "Top to bottom is the best way."

Theo nods as he takes a puff and then another before passing it right back. I ash it and inhale a long drag, letting the smoke settle in my lungs as I hold my breath. I let it out and pass it back to him. It goes on this way for a few more minutes as we smoke it down to a small nub, putting it out in the ashtray soon after. We make our way out of my room and into the hallway, stopping just before the guest bedroom. I look up and see the entry way to the attic, a thin string hanging a few feet above me. I reach up for it but can't seem it get it in my grasp, even as on the tips of my tips.