When Things Turn Dark

Chapter 2

Nerezza quickly moved to the kitchen, going under the chandelier without hesitation, this made Nat immediately follow out of fear the rusty chain holding the chandelier to the ceiling would snap and the dusty brown floors would have a nice red stain of dead Nat. As they entered the kitchen, Nat's eyes drew to a red spot on the white wall, Nerezza however, looked at the windows which had ornately carved windowsills depicting a war between cat-like people and a woman surrounded with rings like Saturn. The kitchen was in better shape than the dining room, most of the appliances were where they should be, but broken and the door to the outside was completely intact. The door had an ameteur carving on it, saying "Leave before she makes you" with a small firework-like design tacked on the end, which struck Nerezza as odd and made Nat say "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Needless to say, Nat was eager to leave the kitchen.

Nat quickly yanked her friend's arm to pull her out of the room. There was no hiding her slight fear anymore, it was too great for even a smoke to cover. She ran up the cracking stairs to where she had left her bag. This was a fucking stupid idea. She might lose 20 bucks and a phone but it didn't matter, she could always replace that stuff. Then again it was her idea to come to the party that made her lose this bag in the first place. Really though, it was Cariline who actually made them go. Cariline had known Nerezza slightly longer than Nat had, meeting her in second grade or so. She was one of those friends you want to like, but they just did so much shit that made you hate their guts. Nat really never did like Cariline, she was much too happy about the wrong things, and would randomly sing off key like a goose trying to blossom into a swan. She really just wanted to be a Disney princess so bad.
The time that nailed the final straw into Nat's hatred was when Cariline had forced Nerezza to go to the gym with her. Now Nerezza was curvy, but really fit anyway so it seemed pointless, she could probably kick anyone's ass if she wanted to... but nevertheless, Cariline still did it, and she pushed Nerezza and Nat's patience a little too hard. They barely talked but she still somehow got them to come here for a stupid highschool party. In hindsight that party seemed to have caused more mayhem than what it was worth.

Nerezza grabbed Nat by the shoulder, stopping Nat from her bee-line to the door, and said "Chill, I just want to check out one more room if that's alright with you." Nat clearly disagreed but Nerezza zoomed off anyway leaving Nat no choice but to follow her. Nat found Nerezza into the Master bedroom looking sadly at the shattered bed. Nat never really understood Nerezza's allurement to furniture and architecture but she couldn't really judge, after all, she was Nerezza's friend. Nat, with lots of patience, was able to pull Nerezza away from the bed, when all of a sudden, the room got cold. It was only then that Nat realized the window was shattered, a beer bottle lay on the windowsill. Nat hated being jumpy and she had had enough. She dragged Nerezza out of the stupid house and prompted to flip it off as she left the property.

"But what about your phone?" Nerezza asked, flattening the ends of her hair, which seemed to have gotten shocked by static as they left. Nat groaned and pulled out a cigarette, hanging it in her mouth much more forceful than the first time. She was about to kick anyone's ass if they even got in the way of her getting home and crying to Nerezza about how awful that house made her feel in the pit of her stomach, but no, she couldn't cry yet. Well, until Cariline walked up to them, pink bag over her perfect shoulder. Her long bleached blonde hair was in a tight ponytail that hung over her right shoulder, Nerezza had liked her hair better when it was brown, and that smile was plastered on her face. You know, that smile when someone knows they've beat you. Nat saw a second of that stupid thing and snapped. She curled her hand, that wasn't grasping on to Nerezza like a lifeline, into a tight fist, with her middle finger's knuckle slightly popped out she punched Cariline in her stupid smug face. She learned that trick from her dad a few years ago.

Nerezza decided forgetting that happened was her smartest option and just whistled ominously. Cariline also found this her best option and started to walk away when she noticed something odd. The road had a creamy white splotch on it, Cariline, wanting to make conversation, decided to ask about it.
"What do you think that is?" Cariline asked while pointing a finger to the splotch.
"No one cares," Nerezza stated, slightly agitated at her poor excuse for conversation.
"Well I do!"

Nat sighed and threw an arm around her friend.
"Anyway you idiot, that's obviously hair bleach, you of all people should know... what with your stupid dyed blonde hair..."
"It is NOT dyed! I'm ALL NATURAL!"
"Yeah... sure..." Nerezza said rolling her eyes. Cariline was on the brink of foaming at the mouth.

"Anyway, we should be going, we have stuff to do like not be here at this moment," Nat said, tugging at Nerezza.
"Yeah, Alex said he wanted to talk to us about his school project and see what we think. I can't believe he was allowed to deviate from the standard procedure, but those teachers are much nicer than ours were. We'll see you when we see you," Nerezza answered, Cariline frowned but didn't stop the two from walking away.