Beyond The Night - Bronze

XVII-II. Caira

   He passed the long corridor and climbed the stairs, but he didn't realize he was standing outside until the cold wind slapped him on the face. The noise his boots made on the damp floorboards joined the wind whistling in his ear. The horizon was pitch black. It was impossible to say where the sky ended, and where the sea started. Caira didn't know how long he stood there, listening to the waves hitting the side of the ship. Time felt almost fluid, interlacing with the wind that blew through Caira's hair and flew away toward the night sky. When he heard footsteps coming from behind him, his relaxed muscles tensed again. The footsteps stopped a few steps away from him. When Caira turned his head to his right, he saw Aristide standing next to the railing with his arms crossed.
   "It's cold." He shivered as if to prove his words. "I should've stopped by my cabin for my coat."
   "You should've."
   Aristide chuckled. "What about you? Aren't you cold?"
   "No."
   Aristide looked him up and down. "Your coat and boots say something else."
   "I didn't bring anything else."
   "You could at least take your coat off. You even eat with it."
   "And?"
   "And?" Aristide asked incredulously. The corners of his lips curved with that same pathetic smile. "I'm starting to think you don't take it off even when you're in bed," Aristide joked.
   "Should I?" Caira asked. The question did what it was intended to do. It made Aristide shut up. But the silence didn't last long.
   "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
   Caira shrugged. "Whatever makes you feel better." The he went back to watching the horizon.
   "Can I ask you a question?"
   Caira heaved a sigh but he didn't decline. "Go on."
   "It's about Alvis."
   "I changed my mind. Don't go on."
   Caira heard Aristide move, but he didn't turn to look.
   When he spoke again Aristide's voice was closer. "Why do you act like you hate him?"
   "Because I hate him."
   "I don't believe you."
   "The only thing I want with Alvis is to choke him to death."
   "I don't believe that, either," Aristide said with insistence.
   "You'll believe it when you're looking down at his lifeless body."
   "Liar," said Aristide, his voice low as a whisper.
   Caira's head turned to Aristide so fast, his hair was still in the air when he spoke. "What?"
   Aristide took his eyes off of the horizon and fixed them to Caira's eyes. "I said, liar."
   After staying silent for a few seconds, Caira asked, "Why do you think I'm lying?"
   "You don't want Alvis dead."
   "You sound so sure."
   "That's because I am."
   "Why?"
   "Because I know you still need him."
   It was obvious Alvis had told Aristide something. Alvis couldn't keep his mouth shut once again, unsurprisingly.
   "I don't know what he told you," Caira said as he put his hands into his pockets. "But if I was you I wouldn't believe a word Alvis said."
   "Are you saying he's lying?"
   "I'm saying he's shifty."
   "Why?" Aristide asked as he cocked his head to the side.
   "Why?"
   "Why are you saying he's shifty? Did he do something to break your trust?"
   "You must be mad if you think I trusted him even for a second."
   "Why are you living with a person you don't trust?"
   "Alvis doesn't even stay in the house," Caira protested.
   "Still."
   Caira turned away to hide his smile. When he looked back Aristide was smiling too.
   "I'm starting to speak like your friends."
   Caira remembered his talk with Hugo. He had a sour taste in his mouth when he took his hands out of his pockets and turned around. He was just taking his third step when he stopped with Aristide's voice.
   "Good night."
   Caira didn't answer. When he started walking again his steps were faster, his fists were tighter. He was sure he woke up the whole crew when he slammed the door of his cabin, but he didn't care. He lied down on his bed without taking off his coat.