Before You Go | A Prequel

3.7 | The Accident

THE DECADENT AROMA OF PIZZA cooking lingered in the kitchen long after dinner was over. Dishes clinked as they were dropped into the sink, mere background noise to the laughter and chatting that hadn't faltered for even one moment.

It had been a good night.

After Mama left, they'd even sat to eat in the dining room, as requested by Gus. Nico had been apprehensive. He knew the space was off-limits, that was the rule. Mama didn't like to get water stains on the fine china, nor was she willing to risk soiling the picture-perfect set up on any regular day. But as Ellie had been quick to point out, Mama wasn't home. 

"Can you put more sprinkles?" The six-year old rose on her tiptoes to peer over the kitchen island. A scrutinizing frown formed on her face as she eyed the sundae before squinting up at her brother. "Can you put more-,"

"I heard you," he admonished lightly, chuckling as he shook his head. "Kiddo, I don't think you need any more sugar. You're not gonna be able to sleep."

"That's okay! I don't wanna go to sleep. I wanna stay up forever and ever! That way, the girl from the movie can't get me!"

Nico's brows drew together as he started scooping up another bowl, but for Leena, who was sat silently at the other end of the counter, opposite from Ellie.

"What girl from what movie?" he asked.

"The movie Claudi showed us! She said that tonight, when I go to sleep, the girl from the well is gonna crawl out the TV like she did in the movie, and she's gonna take me back to live with her forever in the bottom of her well! Forever!"

Nico deflated with a scoff. His eyes darted to the dining room, where Claudia was busy belting out show-tunes over the loud hum of the vacuum. He rolled his eyes as they fell back on Ellie.

"Don't worry," he assured her, "Claudi's just messing with you. I would never let anyone take you away."

"You prooomise?"

"Yes, I promise."

"Nobody, not ever?"

He laughed, "That's right. Nobody, not ever."

"So that means I can have more sprinkles?"

Nico couldn't help his grin as much as he couldn't argue with her logic. "Fine," he said, relenting as he took the colorful container and shook just two- three- four more sprinkles onto the mounds of chocolate and strawberry ice cream, and he slid the dish to his sister. "There. And no more. Okay?"

She squealed off a "Thank you!" before seizing the tiny bowl with both hands, and she hurried to join Gus at the breakfast nook, the boy already nose deep into his own dessert.

"Hey?" He gestured at Leena, "Do you want sprinkles on yours too?"

She shook her head. She looked distracted. Had been fidgety all through dinner- a stark switch from her typical disengaged attitude. Nico had tried not to acknowledge it, he'd talked to her as normal as ever, and tried multiple times to her rope her into the conversation, but she wasn't having it. 

"Alright. Well, here you go," he shrugged as he slid the bowl over to her, only for her to promptly push it back.

"No thanks."

He frowned, "I thought you liked vanilla?"

"I don't want ice cream."

Nico pressed his lips together, brows raising as he nodded slowly, "Okay."

Outside, the weather was headed for a turn. The siblings had heard the first clap of thunder when it was but anything more than a low rumble in the distance, and it hadn't been until they saw the light flicker for the first time, the good vibes began to dissipate, although not by very much. Still, they had hurried to clean up. Claudia volunteered to vacuum any potential evidence left on the carpet, Cas was on dish duty, and Nico divvied up the ice cream for the twins, as promised. And since they'd come back in the kitchen, Leena could not take her eyes off the clock.