fearless

Chapter 51: Theories

A (rough, not exactly) guess at what Ty looks like in my mind if he were a cartoon. You guys know what I mean.

Song: Cool For the Summer- Demi Lovato (Favorite song right now)

••••

After my mother left, I cared for Hannah, who is now better. I think she may have just had a little something stuck in her system that needed to get out. Her fever diminished after a couple of hours, and now she's back to normal.

I poke her nose as I pull her pants on her. She begins to get fussy, so I kiss her cheek, then blow on it. My mother always called those raspberries. She said that it always calmed me down.

I pull her legs up and down, then side to side. We have to give Hannah leg exercises to help her walk faster. She smiles, and I pick her up off of the changing table. "Ooh-ey!" I shout as I place her on my hip. She leans her head on my side, and grins.

"To Uncle Hunter's!" I say loudly. Ty called to tell me that we're going to have a date tonight, that Hannah couldn't be here, so she's going to Hunter's to play with her cousin, and my nephew, Lucas.

I pull on my jacket, and walk to the door, Hannah on my hip. She holds her favorite elephant, which she always nibbles on. I feel like she may be teething, but I don't know just yet. I'll know at we doctor's appointment, or when she grows a tooth.

I open the door, and we step out. "Let's go!" I bounce Hannah up and down, and she gurgles. "You're gonna get to see Lucas!" I smile down at her, seeing more of Ty than of myself. She giggles, and I kiss her head.

I stumble down the dimly lit hallways of the chasm, toward Hunter's apartment. He still lives by the net, but a floor up from his old apartment with Jordan.

I see a bright light in the distance, meaning that we are growing closer and closer to the net.

I pass the net and Hunter's old apartment, then I see a rusty staircase. I wonder why Hunter would live in a dump like this?

A neon sign hangs on the wall, flashing blue letters at me. STAIRS. I climb up the stairwell, still holding Hannah, but now cradling her close to me.

Hunter lives on the second floor up, so at least it's not that far of a climb. I arrive at a long hallway, doors on either sides.

Two-hundred-nine, I tell myself.

Lights glow over every doorway. Zero, the floor creaks beneath me as I tip-toe down deeper into the hall. Two, One of the lights over the room two-hundred-five flickers before going out completely.

Four, I think of my father as I pass the apartment. Six, my mother and her weird behavior pops into mind, causing my eyebrows to furrow.

Eight, one more until I see Hunter's. Then I see it. Hunter and Ariana's apartment mimics those around it, but I know it's theirs.

A red rubber ball rolls aimlessly through the hall, letting the foot of each person that's kicked it choose its path, carrying it further down the hall, into a pit of darkness.

I knock on the door, and Hannah, who had previously fallen into a slumber, stirs. She wakes up, crying. "Shh." I shush her as I rock her.

She eventually quiets down but stays awake, this time seeming more alert of her surroundings.

"Hunter, just shut up and change his diaper!" I hear Ariana's voice behind the wooden door, becoming louder as she comes closer. Hunter was probably slacking off again, just like he did his whole childhood.

The door creaks open, and a smiling Ariana appears. "Hey Maddie!" She smiles. She gasps. "Look at this gorgeous one!" She grins and pokes Hannah's nose.