Crimson Kisses | ENGLOT

Chapter 1: Do bats have rabies?

(A/N: I added a link of what bats sound like, coz I've never heard it before so I'm sharing it 😆)

...

Eliza's POV:

I had always been drawn to the darker side of life. Growing up, horror movies and paranormal tales were my favorite pastimes. Little did I know that I would eventually become part of one.

It started when I moved to the city with my roommate, Noah. I was an artist, struggling to make it in the big city while Noah worked as a bartender. Our apartment was small, but it was the perfect space for two struggling twenty-somethings.

But lately, I've been feeling restless, like I'm waiting for something to happen. Little did I know that my life was about to take a sharp turn, all thanks to a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger who swept me off my feet and into a world of darkness and desire.

...

"C'mon, Noah. Tell me what you really think" I asked, eagerly holding up my latest painting for her to see. The canvas was filled with vibrant shades of red and purple, depicting a hauntingly beautiful night sky and a solitary figure standing under a moonbeam. I had been working on this for weeks and I need somebody else's opinion.

Noah leaned in, scrutinizing the canvas with a mock-serious expression. "Okay, Eliza. Let's see what we've got here," she said, rubbing her chin. "Hmm, I think it's...sick. Like, seriously sick."

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "Thanks, Noah. I knew I could count on your honest appraisal," I said, a hint of sarcasm in my voice.

"No, but seriously, Eliza. This is amazing," she said with genuine awe in her voice. "There's something so mysterious and ethereal about it. It's like you've captured a whole story within this frame."

A surge of pride and relief washed over me. "Thanks, Noah," I replied, a smile spreading across my face. "I've been busting my ass for this piece. I wanted to convey the feeling of longing, of yearning for something more."

Noah nodded, her fingers absentmindedly tapping against her glass. "Well, you've definitely succeeded, El. I can almost feel the emotion jumping off the canvas. It's like the figure is searching for something elusive, something beyond human comprehension."

"Yeah, I wanted to capture the feeling of being alone in the world, but still reaching for something greater." I replied, "it sounds dark and depressing but I don't know that's what I wanted for this piece." I added, shrugging my shoulders in nonchalance.

Noah leaned in a bit closer, trying to soak up every detail of the painting. "Girl, you have definitely achieved that," she said, nodding her head.

I lowered the painting, my gaze fixed on Noah. "You know, sometimes I feel like my paintings hold secrets, like they're gateways to another world," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Whoa, you're blowing my mind right now," she said, laughing a little. Then Noah's expression turned thoughtful, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. "But seriously," she said slowly, her tone filled with an almost cautious curiosity, "Have you ever thought about if it's possible that other universe is real? Like, there's more beyond what we can see?"

My heart skipped a beat. It was a question that had been lingering in the back of my mind for years, one that I could never fully articulate. "I mean, who knows?" I mused, my voice barely audible. "Sometimes, I can't help but wonder."

Noah grinned mischievously. "Well, in that case, we better start preparing for our inter-dimensional travels. I'll pack the snacks, you bring the paintbrushes."