Entwined Souls

6//A New Nuisance

17 year old Ellie Hudson sat on the floor of her large room in the Paranormal Research Institute. The paintbrush in her hand moved up and down without her even trying. She'd do the same thing every morning. Grab a paint brush, grab something to paint on, and let Zero do the rest of the work.

Blue. I need blue.

"I don't have anymore blue. You've used all of it."

Well get me some more.

Dr. Collins walked in with a boy his height. Zero quickly entered her so the blue glow reentered the eyes it escaped from.

Oh look, another one.

"Jack, Ellie. Jack, Zero. Ellie, Jack. Zero, Jack." Dr. Collins said, motioning to both of them back and forth.
"Pleasure tae meet ya!" the boy said. "He's my nephew. He's going to be here interning for a while." He had brown hair and wore a blue hoodie, and not to mention a terribly funny accent. Ellie only knew what she had read in magazines or watched on YouTube about the Irishmen. Deciding she didn't want to make a friend today, she went with a mocking response.

"Top o' the mornin', laddie," Ellie said straight-faced.
"El," Collins started. "Please, please, pa-leeeeaase try and get along," he said to them. The door slammed behind him, leaving the two in an awkward silence.

She stared at him.

"So, don't tings get boring around 'ere? I mean, why don't you hang out wit anybody?" He asked, his voice energetic and loud.

"I don't exactly have anyone to hang out with," she pointed out. Her voice was the exact opposite of his.

"Well, lucky for you, ya have me now," he smiled. "Name's Jacklin Maguinnes. 20 years old. Ireland." He looked at her, expecting a short description in return. She sat in silence. Ellie knew every trick in Dr. Collins' book.

"I know he's making you do this."

"Nope."

"Is he paying you?"

"Nope."

"Then why are you here?"

"Well maybe I wanted tae," he challenged.

"No, you don't. I almost killed someone my last social interaction."

No response.

"Besides, Zero scared away my last 'mentor" Ellie said, using finger quotations. He looked at her puzzled.
"I'm not a mentor."
"Well it doesn't matter," she said quickly, hoping he wouldn't ask questions.

He pulled up two chairs and sat down. The room was brightly lit, with dark grey walls and a wooden floor. The whole room looked like a museum. Old books lay everywhere, maps tacked to walls, countless old looking things on every shelf. What caught Jack's eye were the paintings. Beautiful depictions of Ellie's inner troubles on canvas, paper, and the walls."

"Stop looking at my stuff," Ellie said quietly.

"Sorry," he nodded. "Have a seat," Jack said. "You like ta paint?"

"I have a lot of spare time," she answered and sat back down on the floor facing away from Jack. She hated small talk. Jack did most of the talking, which Ellie was thankful for. He could tell she didn't like to speak about herself. She was too afraid she'd let something out that wasn't meant to be said.

She picked up her paintbrush. It was long and worn out. She twiddled it between her thumb and forefinger.

"Tey are truly beautiful paintings," he said. He moved to the floor and sat back-to-back with her.

Please, stop talking.

Tired. Ellie was tired of playing the tough girl. Letting all these scientists, doctors, and therapists poke, prod, and prevent her from experiencing life like every other 17 year-old. She envied Jack's freedom. She hadn't left the Institute in over 5 years.

Ellie, I don't like this guy.

"Me neither." She whispered.

He's creepy.

Ellie stared at the canvas, lost in painting with Zero. An hour later she forgot Jack was even there. The door slowly opened. Ellie shook her head at Collins behind the boy's back.

"Jack hasn't ran out screaming yet, so I thought maybe I'd come check if he's still alive."

"I'm alright!" He laughed. He stood up and gave a little wave to Ellie before leaving.

The two left Ellie's room. She stared at the painting. This one was green, unlike the others.

You could've let me scare him away.

She stopped and wondered what had gotten into her. Zero listens to Ellie, and Ellie listens to Zero. So why hadnt she asked Zero to get rid of the nuisance if she wasn't going to talk to him anyways?

"Not yet," Ellie said. "Not yet."