𝑯𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 (𝑩𝒆𝒚𝑴𝒂𝒏𝒊)

𝟑𝟗✍

~

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒏 𝑰𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏...

~

Listen while you read: "The Dark Place" by MimiQ
(until you get to second chapter break)

~

January 1, 2024
New Year's Day
12:30 AM

Chloe kept Normani in her arms for what felt like an eternity, but in reality, was only a half hour.

Her sobs stopped a while ago, but her tears seemed to never want to stop flowing. Her body was at the point of getting numb.

She couldn't feel anything – not a single emotion, none of the staggered breaths she took, not even the gentle touch of the paramedic's hand when he carefully brought her out of the others' way.

Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as she watched the police secure the area, the detectives assessing the cause of death, and the paramedics putting her lover's lifeless body in a body bag.

She had immediately fell mute as the numbness grew. Her eyes were glued to the spot on the bathroom floor where her girlfriend died.

Though her limbs fell as useless as a ragdoll, they still shivered with grief. Her mocha eyes were now dull as they continued to release tears that would never stop.

"Ma'am..." one of the paramedics said, kneeling down with worry and sympathy in his eyes, "...is there someone we can contact for you? We have a lot going on and we wanna make sure that you're taken care of..."

Chloe remained silent, still looking to the bathroom floor as she sat on a seat that was brought for her.

The paramedic's eyes continued to scan her before getting one of his partners to locate a phone. They brought Chloe's cellphone to him, and the first contact he saw was Dinah's.

"Hey Jordin," he called out to his other partner, "can you call this number? Let them know to get here immediately. I'll stay with her and make sure she's okay."

"Got it," Jordin said, her braids swaying in the ponytail she created as she walked over. "How's she doin'?"

"Hasn't said a word since we got through the door. Poor thing must still be in shock."

"I'll grab one of our blankets for her after I make the call."

As the two paramedics got to work, Dinah was cleaning up the kitchen after a wonderful dinner with Victoria.

As the blonde wiped down the counter, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She had been feeling it all night, even while her and Victoria were out celebrating the last day of the year.

The brunette knew why Dinah had felt on edge, but chose to leave well enough alone.

It wasn't until the blonde received a call right as Victoria made her way back into the kitchen that reality came crashing down.

Dinah picked up her phone and saw that it was Chloe calling her. Her and Victoria locked eyes before she answered the call.

"...Butterfly?" she asked.

"Ms. Hansen?" she heard a woman say on the other line.

"Y-yes, this is she. Is everything okay?"