Cruel Heart

PART 1

Mia's footsteps echoed along the narrowed hall of her apartment building. The lights above hummed and began to flicker, the artificial light casting a pale blue hue over the waterstained floor.

The stench of beer and mold filled her noes, but she paid no mind. Five years of living in this building had stripped her of her sense of smell entirely.

She shook the snow from her hair and brushed it off of her shoulders as she reached the door to her apartment. The metal nine hanging on the door jingled slightly as she wriggled her key inside the lock. The nine swung rampantly on its small nail as she opened the door.

Perhaps if Mia had not been listening to music she would have heard the moaning and banging of the headboard coming from her and Lake's room. But the earbuds lodged in her ears rang loudly with blasting music, the sound escaping her ears and buzzing in the air.

Mia slipped out of her coat and draped it over the couch. Her shoes landed with a thud as she chucked them off.

Mia halted mid step.

She saw it then: the discarded pants and woman's underwear scattered throughout the apartment, leaving a trail of clothes down the hall to their bedroom.

Every muscle in her body stiffened. She slowly removed her headphones, the music's impotant vibrations filling the suddenly heavy air.

Moaning filled the apartment. Pleas and "oh gods" escaped from the bedroom. So loud it sent the glass coffee table shuttering.

Mia followed the trail of clothing as the banging grew louder. Her breathing slowed and hand trembled as she reached up to turn the brass door handle.

No.

Inside their bedroom was Lake, his hips grinding into Gigi, Mia's sister. Gigi's head was thrown back, her hands tangled in his hair as Lake's hips drove into Gigi's.

Lake tore his mouth from Gigi's breast as she climaxed. Neither of them had even noticed Mia come in.

Loud gasps and moans fell from Gigi's parted lips.

"Oh fuck," Gigi gasped as she spied Mia. Lake looked up and saw her standing in the door frame, his lips part9ng as if to explain.

But how do you explain this?

I fell, butt naked, into your twin?

The two of them scrambled off the bed and Gigi wrapped the bedsheets around her chest.

Lake looked at her with an unreadable expression and Gigi's eyes grew glossy. "Mia, I'm so sorry," Gigi pleaded.

Mia didn't know what to expect, what to do. She ought to be throwing things, cursing and screaming bloody murder.

Instead, a small laugh escaped from her throat.

Gigi jerked back in surprise as if she'd been slapped, and Lake continued to stay silent.

Numbness spread out over her limbs and all she could do was smile. "You two deserve each other," was all Mia said before leaving.

Gigi called after her but Mia did not stop. She grabbed her coat from the couch and closed the door softly behind her.

Mia didn't know what to feel. She should be mad, should feel betrayed and angry. But she only felt numb. Like her brain was still processing the events of what she'd just walked in on.

She started down the hall and rushed down the steel steps of the spiraling staircase that lead to the lobby.

Throwing open the doors, Mia breathed in deep. Gulping down the icy air that stung her throat.