2 kids

Silent again.

Alex.

I needed to clear my mind. And there were only three places where the process could peacefully take place. The gym is sadly closed on a random Monday night at eleven thirty, and I've spent too much time in the studio there lately. Though being locked up alone in a small soundproof room surrounded by recording equipment and a recording booth is the only place where I can let all my walls and guards down. But it wasn't what I needed tonight; I wasn't looking for that kind of comfort.

So the only solution was taking my bike for a ride.

New York City streets at night time was the kind of scenery my heart longed for. The kind of calm in chaos, death in continuing life. For minutes I just drove around, exchanging loud and crowded streets for peaceful and silent ones.

It's a little over midnight when it starts to rain. Small raindrops start to fall from the sky. First only a few and for a while I think it's just my mind playing tricks on me. But then suddenly it's like someone has switched a switch on and it's pouring. They fall and fall and fall and fall. And I don't move at all.

It's been three days since River's birthday party. Three days since I haven't stopped thinking about Ashley. She's been occupying my mind more than before. All I can think about is our meeting. The way her body felt in my hands, and the lovely sounds she made.

I stop myself before my thoughts wander the wrong direction. It's my phone, the sudden ringing, that brings me back to reality. I assumed I had left it at home.

For a split second I consider not even picking up, but then I realise the possible consequences. I've learnt my lessons a long time ago.

I pick up, remaining silent and just waiting for Ace to speak up. Seconds pass by and there's only silence on the other line. I check the call, questioning if I haven't accidentally declined instead of accepting.

Eventually his voice reaches my ears. "You alive?"

"Yeah."

Silence. Long and deadly silence.

"Are you alright?"

It's unusual for Ace to not answer. He's the one to never shut up, always ramble on about everything. It has always been like this, a perfect balance – while I'm silent most of the time, he's making up for the silence.

"Ace."

Nothing. If silence could kill right now we'd both be dead. "Mate."

Instinctively I make my way back to my bike, fishing up the keys from my pocket on the way. His silence can only mean one thing.

"Can you come home?"

I nod before I answer him, "I'm on my way."

********

It's dark in the entire apartment. Dark and silent.

The kind of silent that wraps around you in a dark forest at night when you're all alone. The kind of silence that never brings good news.

There's not a single sign that anyone's home. All lights are switched off, not even a candle is lit. If I didn't know better I'd think the power had gone out, or that I'd just entered an abandoned apartment.

But I know he's home.

I halt as I place my hand on the door handle to our room. Very quietly I push it down, opening the door. For the sake of a false illusion of safety, I close it immediately after I enter. Like it can protect us from all the monsters.

He's sitting in complete darkness and silence. Two unusual things for Ace to have as his company. Curled in what resembled a protective pose of a ball, knees pulled to his chest, chin resting on top of them and back against the wall.