The Strange Suite: The Meteor

Chapter 2: Neighbours

The only thing breaking through the silence of the apartment was the scribbling of pencils and rubbing of erasers. Daniel looked up and knocked on the table to get Karla's attention before signing, "What's you get for number 7?"

"Ah..." Karla starts as she flips her paper over to look, "I think it's X=17m... I might be wrong though."

"Maybe not. I got the same. Thank you." Daniel smiles as he sets down his pencil finally and stretches, glancing over at Danna, "Need any help?"

"No. I think I got this. I just gotta bend this right." Danna shakes her head as she holds a piece of aluminium in her hand, twisting it into shape.

"Already working on your next project?" Karla tilts her head as she watches the duo.

"Yes." She answered simply as she pulled out another thin sheet of aluminium to add, a small smile growing on her face, "I'm gonna make the bar this time... Mr. Daniels said I should try to expand what I can do since I can do small things really well so far."

"Neat." Karla smiled, watching the girl as her brother stood to go open the door, revealing Sam mid-reach for the handle. There was a look on their guardian's face, one neither of the two older teens could place. Karla lightly patted Danna's arm as she got up, moving quickly to follow Sam into the kitchen, her hands moving quickly for the silence.

"What is it? Did someone do something stupid downstairs? Did you have to call the cops?" Her eyes held a seriousness as she watched Sam carefully for her answer, the older just shaking their head.

"No need for worry... just finished giving some new tenants a tour. Thinking I may need to keep an eye on them." Sam shook their head, setting down their apron and an envelope on the kitchen island.

"Keep an eye on them?" Karla frowns as she pulls down a cup and fills it with water to offer Sam, "What warrants that?"

"They paid in full... with cash." Sam lightly smacked the envelope on the counter, "Even took the rooms closest to the catwalk." They shook their head as they pulled over the cup, taking a slow sip, "I don't know. They seem like they need the room, but I'm just worried they may be... I don't know."

"Trouble?" Karla offered, raising a brow, "Do you need me to go-"

"No." Sam cut Karla off, giving her a stern look through their tired gaze, wagging a finger at Karla with their free hand, "No. Do not bother them. Let them have their privacy. I do not want to hear about you snooping. Got it?"

"But I-"

"No buts. Do you understand?"

"I... yeah. I understand." Karla relented, huffing softly to herself, "I won't snoop. But I'm gonna keep an eye on them. You know that right?"

"Yeah... I wouldn't expect anything else." Sam shook their head as they set down their glass, stretching, "I'm going to go rest before reopening tonight. Behave." They smiled as they ruffled Karla's hair, walking past her to their room.

It had hardly been 10 minutes when Karla pulled on her shoes to leave, an excited twinkle in her eyes as she waves to the siblings.

"I'll be back in a bit. There's something I wanna check out." Not waiting for a response, she quickly slipped through the door and started to make her way through the halls. With a mission in mind, she did not stop until she was in front of a specific door, giving a light, rhythmic knock as she waited for it to be answered.

"No Conner, I don't know who it is. We always have people come and knock on our door at... 6 in the afternoon. Who else would it be?" A voice was shouting behind the door as Karla could hear the knob turning, the face of one of her best friends smiling at her, "Hey."