Ｈｏｕｓｅ Ｏｆ Ａｌｔｅｒａ || 【ᴀᴏʙᴀ ᴥ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ】

XII. Resolve

After Clear and I had woken up, and readied ourselves, we slowly and cautiously opened the door. It was quiet, the only sound was the deep breathing deep beneath the House's surface. The corridor was completely mangled; furniture was thrown in almost every section of the hallway. Legs of chairs, and metal door supports jammed through the daisy print wallpaper. It was honestly terrifying, with that, Clear naturally took the lead. We trudged on, unaware of anything that could still be lurking after the night before. But the House had fallen back into slumber, so we were left with a hollow container tattered with debris.

Arriving at the main hall, I was shocked at how much of the room was damaged. Tree roots had impaled through the floor, and curled relentlessly around support pillars and curtain rods. Clear skillfully severed their bonds and adjusted as much as he could, but the House only blemished it's interior further. He seemed offended at the House's actions, almost upset. He must have formerly shared a positive relationship with the House, but since I had arrived it felt discarded. Clear was someone who didn't have anyone to rely on when he was younger, he relied on his Grandfather and the House for attention alone.

I clung onto his arm sympathetically, and his tense body loosened.

"Aoba-san.."

"It's fine.."

His face showed minor resolve, but it was enough to settle him. A creak in the woodwork sent my vision ablur, as I turned to meet the cold stare of Noiz. He was visibly unphased by my presence, and turned to leave.

"Noi—"

I was about to call out to him, when I noticed blood trickling from his fingers. His finger nails were completely gone, his fingertips ground down to the visible bone. I felt sick, and held onto Clear to keep myself up. Noiz must have been scratching at the door for hours on end, trying to get in the room. He wasn't Noiz. Only another ghost to the House, nothing more. The House lures the most emotionally traumatic people, seeing Noiz in that perspective sent my mind aflutter with possibilities.

Stepping over collapsed pillars, we continued to venture forth to our room. Since after all, we had been stranded in Clear's parent's bedchamber. Passing through the hallway, Koujaku's door was unhinged and lodged between the left wall and pierced through the ceiling. We had to duck to avoid hitting our heads, and we stepped into the room. It was untouched, everything seemed in place at first view. That was until we entered the room completely, the right side of the floor had caved in. Wood aiming downwards, and splintering the cluttered space beneath. It was the cellar. I could see the broken frame and interior from the darkness, the shimmering rusted candelabras crushed under the impact of the ceiling. It seemed unreal to see these sights again, when I had met Clear. The sinister hum from the bellowing space sent my pulse racing, and I instinctively took a step back.

"Aoba-san, please be careful." Clear's careful, caressing voice reached my ears. He softly steadied my shoulders with his gloved hands, and adjusted the scarf around my neck so it lifted right above my lips. Brushing a strand of blue from my vision, he smiled wittily. His smile wrapped gently around my heart, and I felt a burning pressure against my cheeks. Averting my gaze, I took him into my arms and closed my eyes. He shuttered, and eventually returned my shallow action.

Through all of this trauma, and horrid happenings. Even If this House was slowly gaining in, and our time was shallow. The thoughts in my mind whirled together, and I pursed my lips, unsure.

It almost feels too early.. But..

I feel as if I am in love with Clear.