N E O N

Chapter I - Marks

The cold surface felt relaxing against my forehead. I could feel the rain beating down on the window pane. Bang, Bang, Bang Bang.

The view out of the window was odd, looking like one of those priceless 'expressionist' pieces of art. This was of course because of the rain, it trickled it's way down the glass. Making everything wiggly and broken up. It was a dark October night, with people hurrying with umbrellas, to where ever they were meant to be. No one was lingering around. What made the view especially beautiful was the light. Living in a small apartment in Shinjuku had it's up sides. Once the sun came down, all the neon signs came out.  Like Japan's very own version of Las Vegas. Their bright lights jumped out at you, advertising restaurants, casinos, shops, brands, all sorts. Through my window it looked like a dark canvas, with the rainbow thrown over it, some of the lights even flashing, forming intriguing shapes behind the blurred pane.

I gentley blew on the window, my breath leaving shadows of mist behind. Reaching out with a finger until it touched the glass I pulled it into a half circle to the right and then down at an angle, I did the same mirrored on the other side. When I looked back at my masterpiece, what was there was a slightly wonky heart. Pulling my mouth into a half smile I snorted and rubbed it out and slipped off the ledge. My feet made a soft pad as they hit the floor.

What time was it? My eyes wandered over to the wall where the little clock hung. It read 7:43. Huh, I should get tea ready soon. I fumbled slightly while looking for the light switch, stretching my arms out in search for it. Once I had found the little plastic square my fingers walked over to the switch and flipped it. The room was flooded with light.

"eurgh" sighing I looked around the room, maybe I should have just left the light off?

Food packets, dirty clothing and lots of various objects were scattered all over the place. I wrinkled my nose as I cautiously picked up a pair of boxers, to then throw it behind the sofa. It of course missed and caught on the corner of a painting, left there swinging slightly. This wasn't mine to clean up, but getting Aoi to do it would be impossible. We would argue for about a week on whose job it is, for me to give in and end up cleaning it myself.

Leaving the horrors of the living room I entered the kitchen, which was a little better. Aoi of course didn't spend as much time in here, not knowing what most of the appliances were for. I shoved the odd instant ramen packet which I found into the bin, and started cooking.

40 minutes later, with the food in the oven I was sat on the counter, chewing a pen and waiting for it. Hearing something I let the pen drop out of my mouth, hitting the counter at an angle and then fell to the floor. I sat there in silence, waiting for that noise again. Nothing came.

"Aoi? Is that you?" Again nothing replied. I thudded off the counter, my foot landing on the pen. 

"Aurghh" That hurt. I limped into the living room where the door was, but noone was there.

"huh, weird" I padded back into the kitchen. But as I did so, I felt something. It was soft and cold, stroaking past my bare back. Whipping round I pressed myself against the fridge. My eyes darted around the room, searching. But found nothing. There was something here, hiding though. My body was both hot and cold at the same time. I felt my face drain of blood, yet my heart was beating double time, evoking a slight stream of sweat. I hated this, I felt hopeless and in my own home too.

I stayed there, cowering against the fridge for a while, gripping a knife I had found on the edge. I felt utterly stupid yet there was something here. Right there in that room. With me. My skin prickled as I imagined how close it could be, even a centremetre away and I wouldn't notice, not with these human eyes. Though these were only moments it felt like hours. The sound of a key turning the in the lock brought a wave of relief.