Fallen Rose

Hippie Gumbo - Part 2

Knock Knock

"Hiroshi?" a woman's voice called nervously. Anxious knocking filled the sleepy home as she tried to peak through a window. Snapping awake from his tired daze, Paradise brought himself up and made his way to the door.

"Ah! Hello!" He composed himself, attempting a grasp on Hiroshi's personality.

"Hiroshi!" she exclaimed, taking him in for a hug before he pushed her away.

"It's good to see you, too." He muttered, brushing off his coat. Madiha raised her brow, vaguely offended.

"I'm so glad to see that you're... okay!" Madiha paused a moment, scanning 'Hiroshi's' disheveled appearance. "I mean... I assume you're okay. Are you alright, dear?"

"Yea, yea I'm fine I'm just tired, is all. Well, we might as well be going n-" he stopped as he felt something wrap around his leg. Looking down, he found a small brunette girl, clad in a teal kitten overall dress and pigtails gripping onto him.

"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!! I missed you missed you missed yoooou!" She grinned, squeezing him for dear life. Paradise's eyes shot open at her excitement, a hint of nervousness coming over him.

"D-Dad?!" he whispered to himself, "O-oh! Uh..."

"Oh yes! I hope you don't mind I brought Minh along. I would've come alone, but she wouldn't let me leave without her! Don't worry, though, she's been completely safe, I've kept my eye on her." She laughed lightly, amused by the young girl's persistence.

"I see- It's all fine." he looked down at the girl again as she began to hold her arms up to him. The imposter smiled and patted her head, subtly pushing her away.

"Well, let's get going then." He started forward as Minh frowned in confusion. Her arms flopped down as she puffed her cheeks, walking along. Madiha looked over in surprise, unsettled by his sudden apathy.

"Are you sure you're ok, Hiroshi?" She questioned again, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Yea, yea, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be? I'm just tired, let's go already." He continued down the sidewalk.

"It's just that... the... oh..." She quieted down as he only moved farther away, the other two catching up after him. They walked for a while in uncomfortable silence, with Minh persisting to be picked up, or have her hand held, only to be crankily brushed off.

"So... Um... Hiroshi... Did he hurt you or anything?"

"What? Um... No! Everything's fine, let's hurry up, my legs are hurting and I want to get to sleep." He snapped, startling Madiha. Minh tried yet again to grab his hand, only for him to smack hers away, causing Minh to freeze and tear up a bit.

"What's wrooong?! What's wrong what's wrong!" She began to pester him, distraught at his violence.

"I'm just tired, now stop bugging me, ok?"

"Nooo! No! You're not tired like that!" She began to wave her arms around, "You're never mean to meeee! What'd I do!"

Oh no.

"Look, I'm sorry, um... Minh. I'm just really tired and, off today, y' know? I didn't mean to snap, yeah."

"Okay..." Minh pouted and crossed her arms, kicking the ground gently. Madiha continued to look over with suspicion, knowing something was wrong. What happened that he won't tell her about? Or... is this even him?

---

12 00 AM

Sitting up, Billy looked around the dark abode, a faint light illuminating from the room next to them. He rubbed his eyes as he analyzed the click, shaking his head.