Demon of the Night

Chapter Ten: Babou

I stayed with Alice for as long as I could. Our first kiss was brief, but it felt eternal. After weeks of having these dreams, I started to learn to anticipate when it was time for me to wake up. Alice learned to anticipate it to. She held my hand as she locked her eyes with mine.

"It's time for you to wake up", she told me softly, while she played with my hand.

"I don't want to", I replied.

"You don't really have much choice".

"What will you do while I'm gone?", I asked her.

She shrugged her shoulders quickly.

"What I always do", she replied, "wait for you to get back".

"All alone?".

"Mhmm".

"I don't like the idea of leaving you all alone", I told her.

"It's fine", she replied glancing away, "I'm used to it...".

I didn't like the idea of leaving her alone. Mostly because I often found myself all alone with noone to talk to. Without anyone to keep me company. It pained me to know that Alice went through the same thing too.

"What do you do when you're all alone?", I asked her.

She glanced back at me.

"I just wait around", she replied, "dance in the old art room if the sea is calm enough. Read a book from the library. Watch a movie in the home theatre. Keep this boat in working order. Stuff like that. Mostly, I just sit on the bed watching the fireplace, alone with my thoughts".

"I see. Do you really enjoy that solitude?", I asked her.

"Not really", she replied, "I do enjoy the silence of course, but I don't like being all alone for the most part. I'd rather have you here with me".

I smiled at her and held on her hand more tightly.

"I prefer being in here with you than anyone out there".

Her eyes brightened up even more as her smile widened.

"I like your smile", I told her, "I can have the worst day imaginable, and seeing you smile at the end will make it all better".

She glanced away for a bit as she squeezed my hand and looked back at me.

"Thank you", she replied, barely able to get the words out, "I'll try to do it some more".

I smiled at her.

"Don't force a smile either, just be happy. I like seeing you happy. I also like making you happy too".

"Alright", she told me, "then I'll be sitting here happily until you return...".

I smiled at her.

Not long afterwards, I woke up and found myself lying in my bed staring at the ceiling. My night with Alice still felt like it happened just moments ago.

I wasted no time to get ready for the day. Apparently, my biology class was taking a day off, so i signed up to go on a tour of the Gladys Porter Zoo later that day.