Beyond the Veil

Chapter 13

The clouds that hooded the moon parted momentarily allowing my vision full access to the street below.  I watched with distracted interest as a homeless man walked up the street pushing his grocery cart of tin cans and ratty clothes.

This is a nice change of scenery; I regarded the man and his efforts for a moment longer before leaving the window, allowing a quick glance back at Al’s door. It was just after two and loud snores could be heard from his room, making me smiled.

He had just gone to bed about two hours ago, they had been sitting up talking, well, I amended, I talked while he ate that disgusting take-out food he’s so fond of. And for all the talking they had not been able to come to a consensus on what to do. He insisted on leaving Cole and whatever his intentions were alone, I was completely against this and told him so.

Suffice it to say he didn’t much care for that.

A loud snore issued from the bedroom, even louder than the last, and I traced the lines in the wood grain patterned door with my eyes, thinking. Cole had seemed quite the gentleman, and had offered help, why in the world would Alphonse reject it?

Tip-tap. I froze and turned towards the kitchen, was that the sink? I walked over to the kitchen, found the water spigot was in a firmly off position, and frowned, what could it be?

Tip-tap-tip-tap. A small tremor went through me at the innocent sounds. Clasping my arms I moved towards the window to see that the clouds that had covered the moon had been withholding a bounty of rain that they now saw fit to deluge on the waiting earth.

I felt my nails dig into the soft flesh of my arms of their own accord. I did not care for rain storms, they brought back memories I didn’t care to remember.

The force behind the rain increased and I retreated to the far side of the room. I toyed briefly with the idea of watching TV, Al had said it would be alright if I kept the volume low, but didn’t. For all he talked Al was exhausted, he needed his rest and I didn’t need to risk waking him just to alleviate my discomfort.

Instead I sat on the couch and drew my knees up under my chin, pulling my hair down to shield my face from the sight of the rain.

I don’t know why I get like this sometimes; it’s so…so…stupid. Why this spell of fearfulness had to hit now I don’t know, I hadn’t had one for a while, it had been nearly fifteen years since the last.

I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts I didn’t hear the soft click of the door, or the sound of shuffling feet. It was a large hand that touched my bowed head hesitantly that roused me. I looked up into emerald eyes filled with concern, “Lacy are you okay?”

Tip-tap-tip-tap, the rapid staccato of the rain on the glass seemed to resonate through my mind, deafening all other sound. Dimly I felt someone shake me, “Lacy! Lacy, what is wrong?” I blinked, free of the sound of the rain, Al knelt in front me, eyes frantic.

A breath of relief issued from his lips when he saw the awareness in my eyes, “What was that?”

“The rain,” Why am I telling him this? “It was raining like this the night I…was killed.”

Al frowned lightly, stood with a grunt, only to sit down beside me on the couch. He pulled an overlarge shirt from its tomb beneath a stack of books and draped it over my shoulders, before pulling me into his arms. He rested his chin against the top of my head.

I tensed for a moment before relaxing; his heartbeat drove out all other sounds. The rain forgotten I felt the fear and tension drain away as the rain slackened and eventually ceased.

By that time Al had fallen back asleep, the notion of being selfish and not exiting his embrace so he could sleep peacefully had entered my head and left. No man, no one, had ever held me like this, made me feel safe. I decided I was going to be selfish and remain where I was, my head resting against his chest, the steady rise and fall that lulled me.

If only I could sleep.