𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐚 ➸ 𝐅.𝐇

𝟎𝟏. 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚.

"Oh, but thank God for hoods. Right?"

(Edited)

[KALOSPIA]

—"I LIKE being occasionally poetic."

—IN HER TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS on this earth, Donna Allard never imagined she'd find herself half-asleep, at the crack of dawn, listening to conspiracy theories on her neighbours couch.

     The clock hand hovered around six in the morning—a time when most people were either still deep in sleep or grudgingly starting their day. Donna, unfortunately, was stuck somewhere in between. The bitter aftertaste of her friend's coffee lingered on her lips as her eyes followed the rhythmic sway of a kit-cat clock on the wall, tracking Elliot's restless pacing around the living room. Every lap, he clutched a new object in his hands. Be

   "Elliot, breathe," Donna urged softly.

     He stopped abruptly, inhaling deeply as if snapping back to reality, eyes locking onto hers.

     "Listen to yourself. You've seen five people fall out of...a portal...in the sky." She gestured to the window beside them. "Right there, in that alley."

     Elliot nodded eagerly. "Yes! And I know they're connected. They're the enemy of the people!"

     Donna's brow arched. "Enemy of the people... Elliot, if things are getting worse again, maybe we should reconsider—"

   "I'm fine, Donna."

     She sighed, concern creasing her forehead as she set her mug down on the coffee table. "Elliot, sweetie, I know it's been tough lately with the shop. But trust me, a good night's sleep will do you wonders. Maybe hit up the café later, have a chat with Samuel about his latest obsession. You need a break."

    He hesitated, looking like he wanted to argue, but the look on Donna's face stopped him. With a sigh, he nodded.

   "I'm proud of you," she said, offering a gentle smile as she squeezed his forearm. "Call me if you need anything." She slipped out through the door, not even bothering to close it behind her.

     Back at her apartment across the street, Donna pushed open the door, greeted by the soft glow of the TV. Her work uniform lay crumpled over the couch, shoes scattered in opposite corners of the room. Cringing at the mess, she tiptoed down the hallway where only one of the three overhead lights worked, casting an eerie glow.

     Finances had been tight for a while now, her paycheck barely enough to cover bills and debts that she'd dug herself into.

     Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion heavier than anything she'd felt at Elliot's place crashed over her. "Everhart, you sneaky little bastard. Are you trying to get me fired?" she muttered, the old floorboards groaning beneath her feet.

     A soft chuckle echoed from behind her. "I reckon you'll doze off in someone's breakfast before you ever get fired," the familiar lilting Italian accent teased.

     Donna blinked, a younger boys form coming into focus, leaning casually against her doorframe with that innocent grin.

  "Just because you're paying for the room doesn't mean you can pull your emotional puppet strings on the owner," Donna sighed.

     Julien winced mockingly. "Ouch. My poor heart. You know, my mother used to say a woman's eyes are a man's downfall, every flutter of her lashes costs a man's heartbeat. But those bags under your eyes? Not sure they'll earn you any tips."

    "Oh, what a charmer. Real ladies' man." She crossed her arms, unamused.

      He hummed thoughtfully. "So, what's going on with Elliot's 'it's raining people' theory?"

     Donna let out a tired laugh. "Hell if I know. But I wouldn't be surprised. I mean, I did take in a weird kid without any explanation. Who's to say you didn't just drop out of the sky, part of some extraterrestrial clique?"

     Julien grinned. "Of course. Every alien rulebook has a clause about keeping your cosmic origins secret from someone who microwaves her gloves in the winter. By the way, technically, aren't I the older one here?"

    "Aren't I the one who got you back on your feet and secured you a job at fourteen?"

   "Eh, you're off by a few years."

   "Decades, more like."

     Julien gasped in mock offense. "Are you implying I'm ancient?"

     Donna smirked. "Maybe you should try manipulating your own emotions for a change."

     With a roll of his eyes, Julien bowed dramatically before retreating into his room. He paused before closing the door. "Oh, and one more thing. You might want to put something under the bed—it's been creaking. Say hi to Johnny Boy for me."

     Donna's eyes widened as she grabbed the nearest cloth and chucked it at him. He caught it easily, laughing.

   "Get some sleep, Allard," he called, shutting the door behind him.

     Julien leaned against the door for a moment, amused by the muffled grumbling from the other side. Strolling over to his window, he noticed a small rock sitting on the sill with a note tucked underneath it. He picked it up, unfolding the paper and reading the neatly penned cursive.

   His brows furrowed, a dry chuckle escaping his lips.

                       "Shit."

Prepares for a family gathering. There's been a change of plans.

I'm back, my darlings.

~ Love, Mummy.