Influenced

Chapter 4 -- Chinese Take Out

"I'm telling you, it was gruesome!" Jenner's tone was full of dreadful excitement as he emptied the bags of Chinese take out.

"Sounds like it, I bet your pervy fans are going to love it!" Duchess sat at the table, as scantily clad as ever, her knees pulled up under her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs.

"They're really not all pervs Duch, some of them genuinely just want an alternate source for their news." Jenner sniffed the wonton soup with a barely perceptible grin. "Where's Matilda? I told her we'd get to know each other over dinner."

"I think she's in bed, she's been sleeping like, all day!" Duchess picked up a sweet and sour chicken ball and popped the whole thing in her mouth.

"You're one to talk Duchie, you and I both know you don't get out of bed unless you're eating, smoking or going on a date, not that the latter has happened anytime recently."

"We can't all be budding Casanovas I guess."

Jenner chuckled to himself as he went down the hall to Matilda's room. He knocked and there was no answer so he creaked the door open just a little and poked his head in, "Hello?"

There was nothing but silence and darkness in Matilda's room. Jenner could smell her flowery perfume mixed with a familiar metallic scent he knew all to well. While concern for his new roommate's well being bubbled inside of him, Jenner ventured into the darkness of her bedroom. She had set up her bed in the far corner and Jenner could see the shapeless blob of a person under the blankets. Was she sleeping? The smell of blood in the air made Jenner wonder if she may be hurt so he stepped closer and poked her with a trembling hand.

There was a sudden rush of dark movement, the shadows in the room seemed to spin around and Jenner heard familiar malevolent whispers as Matilda shot straight up in bed with a jolt.

"Matilda, is everything okay?" Jenner asked, trying to shake off his paranoia. He told himself it was simply his mind creating these dark visions.

"Oh God Jenner you scared me!" Matilda pulled her blankets up over her chest. "Yes, of course everything is okay, why wouldn't it be?"

"I just...it smells like blood in here."

"Ew, Jenner that's disgusting! Oh my God get out of my room!" Matilda threw herself down onto the mattress and pulled her comforter over her head.

"Well, I'm just used to it I guess. When you've seen as many crime scenes and dead bodies as I have you start to recognize that smell."

"Well trust me, everything is fine! I just cut myself, moving and stuff." Matilda still didn't come out from under her blankets as she spoke, which made the drawn out silence between the two of them that much more awkward for Jenner. "Um...is there something I can help you with?"

Jenner seemed to snap back to reality, pushing aside the ominous odour as he tried to relax. "Yeah, I brought dinner! Remember, we're going to get to know each other."

"Right..." Matilda said from under her quilt. "I...I'll be right out, just leave me alone okay?"

"Are you naked under there?" Jenner smiled.

"I'm NOT naked."

"Oh come on, I'll look away okay," Jenner said as he covered his eyes.

"Just leave me alone Jenner!" The forcefulness in Matilda's voice was unexpected and Jenner didn't quite know how to respond to the sudden shift from meek to aggressive.

"Okay, we can wait for dinner, it's fine." Jenner turned to leave the room, and there was a quiet whimper from Matilda.

"I'm sorry Jenner...I just need to clean up you know?"