The Cursed Road Between Them

02 | chaos

Hey Guys!!
So it's Monday, and I thought I could relieve your frustrations with wattpad and the fact that it's Monday by giving y'all a chapter.

Maybe we can be friends now? *winks*
...Or maybe not, all up to you. We'll give it a shot next chap.

I hope the chapter banner makes up for the shitty 'not sleeping tonight' writing. That's gonna be my excuse for this entire book by the way :P

So, enjoy! Vote, comment, spam with comment, it makes my day. And honestly I need a lot of day making.

Love,
ruth(more or less) x

p.s. #SOTC: Swingin Party by Lorde (just the vibe of it and the beat suits really well with this chapter, don't you think?)

THE REMAINS OF chaos begin appearing amongst the skid marks on the scarred driveway.

Stepping inside catastrophe is distributed in the shards of broken glass along the hallway with picture frames feet away from their original spots. Kitchen cupboards are opened with fragments of plates on the tiled ground while stools have been tipped over.

Dalileh steps through destruction, ignoring all the remains of chaos within the dimly lit rooms. She goes upstairs turning a blind eye to the drink dripping down the stairs despite her wavering ability to remain ignorant. Ignorance is not always bliss and her resolve dissipates the moment the sheets of her bed embrace her, softly engulfing her as she wraps herself in them.

She only sees the pale beige quilt beneath her as the sunset glows amongst the clearing sky. Its yellow and orange hues sends a surreal light into the room despite the uncomfortable feeling which has blanketed Dalileh the moment her day had gone south. She looks at the ceiling for a quick second as she tries to come to terms with the happenings but to no avail. Unwrapping the blankets around her she walks to the landline phone and dials in a number, waiting as the familiar static is soon replaced by rings. Three rings later and someone picks up the phone "Joe's Cleaning Services, Sally on the phone. How can I help you Dalileh?"

Then with a deep breath, "Hey Sally, I have a situation-"

"Parents again? Say nothing more I'll get someone to come clean the place right now for you"

"Thank you Sally"

"It's nothing dear. I'll also send a box of pizza your way. Take care of yourself Dalileh"

"You don't have-" Dalileh begins to say until she hears the phone hang up, "to." She sighs turning around and walking to the bathroom near her own room while praying that it hasn't been turned upside down. A spotless bathroom presents itself and relief festers itself inside her soul.

Then, Dalileh turns on the taps to fill up the bathtub sitting on the tiled floor and placing different types of soaps into the slowly rising water. Her fingers only skim over the water as she remembers him skipping rocks on the lake as she watched from a distance. Anxiousness had claimed her bones, an inability to face her past possessing her mind; it didn't matter that it was being constantly thrown at her. She never approached him although he noticed her presence towards the end. There had been a light breeze running through the park slightly lifting Dalileh's skirt.

His silver hair perfectly blended with the gloomy afternoon sky as he turned around and stared at her. The moment he began to step forward fear claimed Dalileh's heart and she moved backwards. Turning around she began to move faster unwilling to look behind her and see that he was approaching her; he wasn't running. Dalileh's arm is soaked in water and foam now as it reaches up to her school shirt gradually with Egon's lingering shouts ringing in her ears. "You can't keep running away Dali!"

Then, underneath her breath as she turned off the taps and unbuckled her school uniform she whispered "Doesn't mean I won't try." She climbed into the bathtub sinking into the foam, her head only above the water by an inch; its heaviness and warmth weighing down on her lungs. Her ears are deaf towards the outside world, ignorance filling her ears with water as her breaths become shallow while her eyes begin to flutter shut. And in one swift move she dips her head underneath the warm water and white bubbly foam.

The water fills her nose quickly and it's a minute later that she pokes her head above the surface taking large breaths of air as she rubs her eyes to open them. She grabs her shampoo, her hands shaking for the rest of the bath while small sniffles emit into the atmosphere of the bathroom.

Walking downstairs after an hour of sleeping Dalileh notices the lack of drink on the stairs as well as the overall absence of a mess in the house. She heads straight to the kitchen and notices Sally wiping the bench top before looking up at her. Then, "We couldn't replace the frames but we cleaned up the place. I'll heat you up a slice of pizza."

"Thank you, and you don't have to I can do-"

"Shush and sit child, let me take care of you. Your mom called by the way. Said she'd be back tomorrow morning", Sally spoke as she heat up the pizza, "I got your favourite." Dalileh perked her eyebrow upwards curiously as the plate got settled in front of her and gave a small smile to Sally as she looked at the barbecue sauce and chicken.

Folding the pizza she asks Sally, "Were you the person that put the extra flowers on his grave today?"

Looking at Dalileh confused, Sally responded "No I didn't. I always tell you before I go. Don't worry about it, I'm sure it's just someone in the neighbourhood."

She only hummed in response as Sally continued to clean the kitchen while Dalileh swung her legs on the stool and ate two slices of pizza remembering the light blue flowers that struck out against the rest that day. There was only one other person who hadn't placed flowers there yet and Dalileh's thoughts turned towards how much time she had left before she herself would have to face the remains of chaos within her life.

However, in that moment the night sky stared at the pair from the kitchen window with small conversation and pieces of laughter warming up the room. And for a split second in the hours that followed, the house's once homely spirit had returned.