「ABSENCE」 TMNT 2012

29; The Sleepover

    April bent at the waist, one arm behind her back, the other holding out a plate of pizza rolls. "Another pastry, madam?" She grinned at Elly with a playful twinkle in her blue eyes as she asked the question in a British accent.

Elly batted her eyelashes and picked one off the plate with a dramatic flick of her wrist. "Why, thank you, young maid, girl, lady . . . person," she replied, also in a sophisticated British accent. She popped the pizza roll into her mouth as April set the plate on the coffee table and crashed onto the couch, making the brunette bounce up and down.

"So." April grabbed a pizza roll and chomped down on it, the dough popping open on her tongue and releasing a small explosion of warm sauce and cheese. "What are we watching?" She asked, gesturing to the television where Netflix was already pulled up on the screen and ready for use.

Elly shrugged indecisively. "I don't even know what's out there," she admitted. She could say that honestly because she'd always thought movies to be a waste of time when she could be studying. Because of this, she'd never paid any attention to films and new releases.

"Well," April hummed as she scrolled through the movie options. "Have you ever seen . . . Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?" Elly shook her head, to which April gasped, insisting, "then we have to watch it. It's an oldie, but it's great." The screen reflected in her eyes while her thumb moved across the remote buttons.

"What's it about?"

"It's basically just what the title says. The oldest brother of seven others finds a wife and brings her home. Then all six of his younger brothers decide they want wives, too, so they head into the nearby town in the middle of the night and kidnap six girls."

Elly blinked a couple times in surprise. "Oh, wow. That's . . . I don't know how to react."

April chuckled. "It's cute," she assured. "You'll like it."

    Unbeknownst to the two girls, while they were turning up the volume on the TV, Karai was slinking around April's dark kitchen. Warm light from the living room fell across the kitchen floor through the doorway, allowing her to view her surroundings. The refrigerator hummed softly beside the stove, and the girls' voices and dialogue reached Karai's ears. She listened attentively as she snatched a tiny, hard plastic tube out of her belt.

"When was this filmed?" Elly was inquiring.

"Ummm . . . looks like 1954," replied April. Music drifted throughout the apartment a moment later, and Karai knew the movie had started.

After watching the girls through the kitchen window just ten minutes earlier, Karai had noted which cup belonged to Elly. It was sitting beside a carelessly left open bag of peanut M&M's. She picked up the glass, half filled with rippling water, and gently set it on the table in front of her. Twisting the small cap off the tube and holding it over the cup, Karai carefully tipped it and let a few drops of the formula fall into the water. The mixture was clear. As she sloshed it around in the glass so it mixed with the water, it was unnoticeable either by taste, smell, or sight.

Karai silently returned the cup to its place beside the M&M's and dropped the cure back into her belt, closing the flap on the little pouch it was carried in. Taking one last look around the dim kitchen, she spun around to leave.

    There was an electronic click in her ear and Jeff's voice came crackling through. "Is it done?" He asked.

    Karai rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Don't talk to me; I'm getting out," she responded in the smallest whisper possible.

    "What? I can't hear a thing you're say–"

    Click.

    Karai lowered her arm from her ear after blocking Jeff from reaching her hearing. She looked around, feeling that something wasn't right. She took in a steady breath, pushing her mental panic to settle down, willing her heartbeats to slow so she could focus. It was a skill that took years to perfect, but the calming of the mind was essential in boosting one's advantage over any situation.

    She stood dead still in front of the open kitchen window. The late night breeze rustled the curtains and her raven hair. The movie playing was quieter than before. Her back was turned to the kitchen entryway, and slowly, she turned her head to look over her shoulder. The kitchen was still empty.

Any small noise and April would know for sure someone was in her home. She must've heard Karai's whispering and suspected an intruder. She was searching the apartment that very minute, and a door creaked down the hall.

Karai had to act quickly if she wanted to get out before April made her way to the kitchen. She was just a few feet from the window, but the rusty emergency stairs outside would inevitably make a lot of noise when she jumped onto them, drawing unwanted attention to her exit. But it was either that or be found out, and option two was strictly ordered against by Shredder.

    Just as she took a step forward, the room flooded with light. Sharp pain strained her eyes. She spun around, a guilty glare hardening on her face.

"Karai," April hissed, hand still hovering over the light switch.

Karai nodded her head. "April."

"Elly," added Elly, stepping out from behind the doorway. She was completely calm as she watched Karai with disdain, unfazed by her presence. Perhaps she was just glad it wasn't Jeff this time.

    April's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here? You don't usually go sneaking around peoples' houses."

    "Tonight's a special occasion," replied Karai, lifting her shoulders. She cocked her head to one said, glancing toward the living room. "Is that Seven Brides for Seven Brothers I hear?"

Elly lifted an eyebrow. "You've seen it?"

"Oh yes." No. "I love the scene where they kidnap the girls."

"That's my favorite part, too," April related, still glaring.

In truth, Karai had never seen it, and never planned to. She had only overheard the earlier conversation.

    Karai gave Elly a pointed look and sent her a mischievous smile. "I don't think I've officially met you yet. I'm Karai."

    "Under better circumstances, I might say it's nice to meet you. But you have a very different lifestyle than I, and because of that, it's unfortunate that I even have to look at you," Elly retorted, lifting her chin. In spewing that remark, she felt powerful.

    Impressed by the girl's quick wit and fiery tongue, Karai's smile returned to a smirk. "Pity you feel that way. I was hoping the two of us would be able to get along."

"As long as you're using my brother for your twisted games, we won't ever get along," Elly spat.

    "Using your brother?"

    "I know what you're doing, and I won't let you get away with it," she vowed. "Stay away from Lucas."

    Suddenly Karai had heard enough. A nerve had been struck. Something about hearing that name made her lose control of her thoughts. It was like a flood was released inside her head; her mind was a mess. How much did Elly know about her? How much had she told Lucas? What would Lucas think of her now?

    Wait . . . why did she even care?

    She couldn't even think of something sarcastic to say as she reached for some powder and threw it at the girls' faces. They coughed and hacked while she made her escape, sliding out the window and down the metal stairs. Jeff met her in the alley, but she wasn't listening to his questions and comments. She was in her head, a place she'd avoided for years. It was a frightening place, with memories and thoughts she'd collected without realizing. Never once had she wanted to enter in, but here she was, dusting off the shelves and running her fingers along the rough pages of her life.

Back in April's apartment, the powder had cleared. Their eyes burned, as did their throats, and the frustration of not knowing why Karai had entered the home. But she was gone, and for that they could be grateful.

"I can't believe she had the nerve to come here," April sighed.

Elly rested her elbows on the table, wrapping her fingers around her water glass. "I hope I never see her again," she decided. And with that wish, she lifted the cup to her lips and welcomed the cool liquid that moistened her parched mouth.