Silhouettes

Chapter 3: Two More In A Day

Armin looked at the window covered with blinds, he heard the aggressive thrashing from the wind.
'At this rate the power is gonna go out'
—
I looked down at my feet.
"In the mean time maybe we should try to lighten it up a bit?"
Eren looked at me green eyes glinting against the window light.
"Ok please explain how the heck you and Mikasa know each other"
I rolled my eyes a bit
"We share the same ELA and math classes"
I saw Mikasa pull out her phone again checking something.
"Mind me asking who you are texting?"
"Sasha, one of my friends"
Eren looked back at her.
"The one that's attached at the hip with Connie?"
She nodded simply.

"Hopefully this can all blow over," Eren mumbled. The lights flickered.
"The military are probably gonna have to get involved," I pointed out. Mikasa switched off the news reluctantly.
"And while it may be lower on our concern list right now, the weather picked up pretty quickly " She pointed out slowly. Mikasa went to texting another message to her friend.

I sighed ,
"Truth of the matter, if this doesn't blow over by tomorrow, we should get to somewhere more safe. If not because of whatever this is, because of people. Not everyone tries to play it cool"
Mikasa hesitated,
"Sasha, that one friend lives a bit far out in a forest. She had quite a bit of land; and she states if we need to we can stay over there for a bit if we want"
"Good to know"
"Leaving a shelter though is risky"
I looked at Eren, his phone was buzzing, he took it out,
"Is it your mum?"
He nodded ,
"She says traffic is being a pain"
"Oh gosh"
—

After a bit we all heard some harsh knocking on the door. All of us tensed, I slowly stood up and signaled for Eren and Mikasa to follow. I walked up to the door and looked through the peephole, and relaxed a little when I spotted the familiar figures.
"It's Connie, and someone else"
I carefully unlocked the door and opened it. Eren made a sigh of annoyance,
"Horse face"
" suicidal maniac" The stranger greeted. Eren didn't stop him though from coming in.
"What brings you here?" I asked.
"People started acting strange!" Exclaimed Connie in a more high-pitch voice, terror was weaved loosely unto his words. The ash haired kid glanced at his possible friend,
"Yeah, we where going to my place, then I spotted Eren's house "
Connie's eyes lit up with defiance,
"Wait who said you spotted it, likely story!"
"Both of you, quiet" Commanded the silky but affirmative voice. Both of them hushed obediently, Jean seemed less bothered by the argument and was glancing rapidly at Mikasa. Eren was staring at Jean and Connie.
"Ok well I guess there's not many places else" A light of triumph shone in his eyes, it was a nostalgia sight. We moved to the side to welcome the two in and they separately took seats, Jean on the couch and Connie leaning on it.
Soon enough everyone had settled in to ride out the storm.

—

The news had been turned back on and everyone was watching with ravenous worry. Power had been fluctuating and there was news on another crash, terrifyingly enough, it had resulted in the death of at least 3 with the collision of a semi-truck not being able to break in the heat of a turn.
One happening to be the unfortunate death of Mrs.Ackerman, Mikasa's mother. She had seemingly tried to swerve into another lane and was carried off the road into a drop of woods when the tires couldn't catch enough friction to break the fall.
-

My gaze landed on Mikasa who seemed oh so much smaller against the carpeted floor. Her shoulders where hunched with what seemed like unbearable amounts of grief and her head drooped at a slouching angle.
Eren, beside me, along with Jean and Connie all stared at Mikasa, some shocked, others sympathetically sad.
Her body trembled slightly with what I could presume was a swallow then slowly lifted her head to watch the tv.  Everyone seemed to be trying to find some words of a sort of comfort to say. Eren instead was surprisingly the first to get up and sit himself next to her. Of course he would. I slowly got up myself and planted on the other side of her. Even though we had met her recently, it felt as though we have known her much longer at that moment.
Soon enough all 4 of as all sat around her to support as we watched to see what other hell the news would bring. I glanced at Mikasa a last time, shadows danced under her dull eyes which no-longer held the same special emotions. They where utterly unreadable but at the same time shown with understandable fatigue . I tore my eyes away and glanced at Eren, then Connie. Even Connie looked chest fallen. As all of us didn't speak a word, afraid to break the silence of grief but at the same time terrified of what to come.
-

I heard the loud sirens go off as they blazed past my home. My head shot up from the spot it was in and listened, glancing around at everyone. Temperature had noticeably dropped, the main source of warmth now was the huddle that we had formed and the blankets that Armin had stretched around us an hour after the power failed to come back. I listened closely, mom hadn't come home yet.
I looked anxiously at my phone, mom had said for me just to wait and not call or text  her while she was driving, but it had been so long! Surely she wouldn't say she was almost home and then take over an hour in this situation...

I looked at each person individually to take my eyes off it, not wanting to stress now. The new comer, Mikasa was now practically cuddled closely between Armin and myself, Armin unconsciously leaning. I stifled a small huff of amusement as it seemed any noise would echo throughout the house. Either way I felt myself appreciating  the extra warmth to some extent. Jean breaking the line was laying on his side, head resting on Armins leg, and like the rest asleep. On the other hand Connie leaned firmly against my chest to someone's amusement.
It's going to be alright
Seemed much easier to say at the sight. But I could sense the overlaying dark cloud that filled the air above.
It was only 5:00, mom had time to get back home. The darkness from winter betrayed the time but I forced that away.
After a long moment of staring in silence,  I reluctantly rested my head on what I could guess was the girl's shoulder and kept Connie somewhat protectively close, deciding now was not the time to be salty.