Hunter

XXV

Jade frowned, looking around Aric's head.
They had left the building earlier, wanting to avoid any late night traffic. According to Jade's now-dying phone, it was sometime after midnight. Aric had called dibs on driving the motorcycle, so here they were, meandering through the backstreets of the city.
"Are you sure we're going the right way?"
Aric sighed, exasperated. "Yes, I'm sure. She said to follow the backstreets, remember? The house is supposed to be on the sidelines."
Jade rolled her eyes. "Fine. No need to get testy, hunterboy. Just trying to make sure we don't get lost."
Aric snorted. "No need for me to get testy? It's like you don't hear yourself talk sometimes."
Jade elbowed him. "Just drive."
"Yes ma'am."
Finally, they made it, stopping in front of an inn. The streetlights illuminated the sign in that front. Aric could just make out the letters, and he read them aloud. " 'A Friend's House.' "
He heard Jade mutter behind me. "You've got to be freaking kidding me."
He snickered, pushing the door open to a large lobby.
A round woman sat behind the desk, glaring at them down her glasses. Her gray hair was pulled back in a tight bun, making her horn-rimmed glasses look sharp as knives.
Aric cleared his throat, but Jade interrupted. "Hello miss, my friend and I would like a room please." Her voice was soft and honeyed, completely different from the rough way Jade usually spoke.
The woman's gaze softened. "Yes, of course. Room 368 is available. Will you pay up front or when you leave?"
"When we leave, if that is alright with you."
Aric blinked, trying to hide his surprise. Jade's voice was so..... Smooth. It had none of its usual rough sarcasm. It was unnerving.
The woman smiled tightly. "Of course. Now here is your key. Go up the stairs and the room is to your right."
As they headed up, Aric said,"What was that?"
Jade looked at him, confused. "What?"
"You sounded all different."
She cracked a grin, shrugging. "Old people like kids who are polite. I gave her what she wanted."
Aric nodded slowly. "Oh. Interesting."
She rolled her eyes, unlocking the door to their room.
Aric walked in after her, and they both groaned.
"They gave us one bed!" Aric smacked his forehead with his palm.
Jade muttered under her breath. "Watch those pervs have some cameras in here to watch us sleep together."
Aric rolled his eyes. "Isn't that a little unlikely?"
Jade shrugged. "This is the city, hunterboy. Another layer of it or not, there are always some perverts sneaking around."
She yawned, pulling some clothes out of her bag. "I'm gonna take a shower."
Aric nodded, lying back down on the bed. "Make it quick. I gotta take a shower too."
She bent down, kissing his cheek. "Sure."
She hurried in, locking the door behind her.
The bathroom was small and cramped, and Jade sighed.
She stripped out of her clothes, pulling her hair out of its ponytail.
Cold water ran from the faucet, and she shrieked and jumped out as it touched her skin.
She tentatively reached a hand back into the shower, trying to turn the heat up.
Finally, it was warm enough and she washed her dark hair, trying not to curse as her shoulder pained.
After a few minutes, she stepped out of the tub, wrapping a towel around herself. She pulled some of her clothes on, tying the towel around her waist.
She dried her hair, humming to herself, when she spotted a dash of white racing across the floor and into the wall.
She screamed,"OMI-FREAKING-GOD!!! THERE'S A GOD DAMN MOUSE!!!"
She jumped on to the toilet seat, which thankfully had the cover on it, and clutched the clothes to her chest.
Aric snapped awake, shaking the cobwebs of the nightmare from his head.
Who was screaming?
He yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, when he remembered Jade.
Oh shi-
Another shriek came from the bathroom, and Aric hurried over, shaking the door handle.
It broke off in his hands as the door swung open.
Jade was standing on the toilet, only wearing her undershirt and leggings. A towel was wrapped around her head, another tied loosely around her hips.
"There's a mouse!"
Aric titled his head, looking at the floor. "Where?"
She pointed towards the wall. "It ran into it."
Aric walked up to it carefully, sticking a finger into it.
Shocks of cold went through his finger as it passed through the plaster, and he quickly pulled it back out.
He backed up, pulling a band off his wrist. "Gimme-"
Jade cursed behind him. "A freaking mouse trap!"
Aric sighed. "Gimme something that'll help."
A ghostly ax formed in his hands, and he swung at the wall on instinct.
It easily dissolved, and Jade stepped carefully on the floor.
"What is that?"
She gestured at the metal rope swing hanging in the wall, and Aric rubbed his chin. "I'm not completely sure...."
Jade slipped her tunic over her head, holding up a finger. "Hold on...."
She walked out of the bathroom, coming back in a few minutes, holding a dagger.
Aric's eyes widened. "Where'd you even get that?"
She shrugged, twisting the hilt in her hands. You couldn't even tell that she had freaking out over a mouse a few minutes ago.
"Snatched it from that gypsy lady earlier."
Aric rolled his eyes. Of course.
He turned back to the wall, his eyes scanning it, pinpointing details.
He reached his arm back, gripping Jade's free hand, and they stepped through.