The Lonely Hearts Club

Chapter 71: Healing (Bree)

Coco's attic is a haven.

Located at the top of the Malice building, it's miles away from anything dirty or dangerous.

Fairy lights are strung across the wooden eaves and there are pretty candles and nice smelling incense all around the room.

Despite the window being open letting in a cool breeze, I can't smell the terrible stink outside. Coco and I sit on the fluffy red rug in the middle of the floor.

She holds my hands, brown cheekbones sharp as she watches me with a kind, but careful expression.

"I want you to close your eyes and listen." She instructs.

I close my eyes and pay attention to the rainforest ambiance she's playing. Tropical birds are cawing, I can hear the steady rushing of a waterfall, cicadas, and other insects.

"Imagine you're in the very rainforest you're hearing right now." She says, voice quieter.

I imagine I'm floating on the cool water underneath the waterfall, staring up at the sky through the leafy trees, watching the colorful birds fly across branches. I trail my hand in the water and imagine everything smells fresh and lovely.

"How do you feel at this moment?" She asks, but her voice is miles away.

"Peaceful," I whisper.

I want to stay here forever.

Suddenly, there's a loud thump and a fluttering noise as something propels itself through the open attic window.

I open my eyes abruptly to see a crow now in the room, a big crow with shiny black feathers.

It bashes its wings around the room, knocking over Coco's carefully placed crystals. We both scream when the crow charges itself at us, flapping its wings in our faces.

"Get out!" Coco yells at it.

It does not get out.

If things couldn't get any worse, the crow's wing lands in a candle flame and the wing sets on fire.

The crow squeals in horror and Coco picks up a pillow, bashing it in an attempt to put the flame out, but it doesn't work, all it does is give the bird a concussion.

There's a glass of water on the ground that Coco set out for me, but I think the crow needs it more, so I pick it up at aim the water at it.

Finally, the wing is doused and now it looks like a drowned rat. It looks at me, beady eyes terrifying, but before it can ascend on me, the attic door opens.

"Is everyone okay?"

It's Angelo.

He's the only one at Malice aside from Coco and me, the others are on...business. The crow, now soggy with a burnt wing, still attempts to fly and charges at Angelo.

He screams.

"Do something!" Coco yells at him.

"I don't know what to do!" He yells back as the crow starts pecking at his leg.

I know it's bad, but I can't stop laughing. This is so ridiculous.

"Pick it up!" I yell, laughing hysterically. If I keep thinking this is funny, I won't think about how Rowan has a thing for crows.

Angelo does what I say.

"Ow!" He huffs as it pecks his hand. Angelo runs down the stairs and Coco starts laughing.

We both run after him, I open the front door for him and Angelo throws the bird outside. It lands with a slap on the ground before standing up, dazed, turning around to look at us and attempting to run back inside.