Basketcase

Artificial Thunder

Chapter Two

I fisted my eye, the other feeling as though it never left the bed side yet it floated in the air in front of me.  My fingers un-balled resting on my temple. My sights glaze downward at the line-shaped key-slot. Bowing forward, a soothing cool calmed the sprouted forehead wrinkles. My skin clumped down with the simple twist, the lock came into view and suddenly a hand with a key. The tip of the card closed in and tottered on the key slot. The anchoring weight of my arm fell on the handle, followed by a steady stream of air. The door pulled itself out from before me Peering ahead, a mattress laid only a few steps away. Slowly staring and walking, my hands reached forward and my head fell, colliding softly with the edge of the bed.

Click.

White blinded the darkness, "Guhh..." I slurred, the light slitting scars through my eyes, I scrunched my face, my head tucked deeper into the bedding.

"Ryan?" Guh... The darkness returned, my face rolling over to rest, "Ryan!" Mmm... White eloped, peering over the room, the bleached light killed the silence. My arms wrapped around my head, flattening to the bed, "Ryan!" she called again, steps closing in on the bed. "There you are!"

"Yes," I mumbled, clasping my head tightly, "here I am," I agreed, pressing my face further into the cushion.

"What are you... What's wrong," she observed.

"It's late," I breathed out, buffing the leftover air.

"What do you mean? It's early," she replied.

Stretching my arms away from my head, "What time is it?" I asked.

"About 3:30?" she explained

"It's late," I sighed.

"Okay, but are you still not feeling well? What's wrong?"Questions...

"Sick... tired..." I managed, "not sure," the consistent squinting beginning to irritate my forehead.

"Alright, alright, I leave you to sleep soon." he voice seeming cool and refreshing, "But first I have to know if anyone saw you... noticed anything..."

I inhaled weakly, "Uhh..." I began, exhaling and inhaling again, "I had a little trouble at the front door," I began breathing through my lips, "but other than that... no." I lightened the pressure on my eyelids.

"Alright, alright, good," she replied.

"Mm..."

"Can I ask one little favour?" she continued

"Mm..."

"Try to not draw too much attention to yourself," she requested, "maybe... try to stay in your room or hidden if you can."

"Mm..." Wait- "Wait- eh?" My eyed began the process of rebirth: pealing open bit by bit as I turned to the direction of her voice and unravelling my arms.

"Yeah," she went on, her arm sheepishly scratching the back of her head.

I gave a solid moment to blink, grasping the slightly blurred figure. Wait- "Wait- What?" I inquired, staring faintly, slowly fading in and out of blurred vision. "Excuse me?"

"Haha... yep..." she confirmed.

I raised an eyebrow, blinking, "What does that even mean?"

"Eh..." she extended, "we have somewhat of a situation or rather a single regulation to getting in here."

"Yeah, yeah. I briefly saw your work on the bellhop down at reception," I commented, closing my eyes again. "I'm probably gonna stay in bed anyway because of whatever this is."