Ell Sadem

NINE: THE DARK

Pt 1. Because it's a long chapter that I haven't figured out how to finish but feel the need to post part of it.

-Ella-

"So, I just need the questions on pages 300 and 312, right?" Opel's face squishes as she rests her head on her desk, her voice barely audible over the background noise in our video call.

"Yeah," I reach to turn my laptop's volume up before going back to look at the homework I have splayed over my bed. "And then you're going to need question C on page 309."

A garbled moan, then "I swear he's trying to vett us for some advanced program or something."

I watch her as she rubs her eyes, "I doubt it."

She freezes, giving her camera-me-a dull look. "The alternative is that he's trying to make life harder, and for my sanity, I don't wanna believe that." Her eyes turn back to the mess in front of her, a small scowl forming.

She isn't wrong. Every one of those are essay questions, and the Prof doesn't 'like' simple sentences. He'll mark them off. I don't even know how I'm supposed to turn these things in. Usually we have to write them all out at the beginning of class and he doesn't allow early submissions let alone pre-written ones. A pit settles in my stomach along with a dull throb in my head. Between a stalker and school, the stalker is supposed to be the more stressful, but he isn't.

A soft knock turns my attention to my door where Mom pokes her head in just a little. "Elli, do you wanna come watch a movie with me?"

I prop myself up a little more on my elbows; anything that gets my mind off this headache sounds really good. "Yeah, that sounds fun."

"What sounds fun?"

Mom lets herself the rest of the way in, "Hey, kiddo." She sits next to me and leans into the camera's view, close enough for me to smell the subtle hint of her perfume. "We're going to turn on a movie, if you want, we can turn it into a girl's night?"

Opel's face brightens and she reaches for her phone, carrying it with her as she starts to walk, "That sounds awesome! I can probably be over there in like, twenty minutes if you can let Auntie know."

"Sure, I'll do that." Mom's smile mostly hides her tiredness, but it's still there. "I'm going to send someone to pick you up, I don't want you walking alone with all that's been going on." She's already busy texting, a concentrated frown pulling her mouth down, not listening to Opel as she starts to protest.

"You'll be fine," I interrupt her and start to put away my stuff while Mom wanders out. "Besides, this way you'll get here faster and Auntie can't use the walk as an excuse to keep you in."

She pouts, but gives a resigned sigh and dramatically falls back into her bed. "Fine."

She never really was one to argue, a little too quick to cater to others. Especially the adults. Specifically Auntie. Not that I blame her, Auntie yells even when she's not all that angry. The woman is like... The only one who can consistently get on Mom's nerves without trying. I lost a bet because of that.

Neither of us have anything to say for a while, so we don't. We just leave the call open, me tying off the last loose bits of homework while she does whatever.

Finally, I look up, "Hey, don't forget an overnight bag." I move to stand, but a sharp pinch in my shoulder stops me and I can't hold in the grimace. That can't be good.

"It's already packed." The camera moves so I can see her instead of her ceiling. "So. Madrid. You'd think your dad would work it out with Uncle K."

"Yeah," I snort and shove the pile of homework onto the ottoman at the end of my bed. "That's what I've been thinking."