alters

10

ʻʻSO, um, you live in a...cave?ʼʼ I ask meekly when I observe the large circular space around us. The stone that makes up the house is damp from the outside waterfall misting in through the cracks, and vines grow in profusion against the sleek black rock.

Harry smirks proudly. ʻʻYou say that like itʼs a bad thing.ʼʼ

ʻʻItʼs not?ʼʼ

ʻʻNah, caves are cool.ʼʼ He smiles and steps further into the decorated cavern. A worn, ancient couch rests towards the left wall, with tears and holes littering all over it. A flimsy rug lays in the center with some tribal print sketched into itʼs material, and a cracked mirror balances on a rock jutting out of the vertical cave surface.

ʻʻVery...homey.ʼʼ I lie and travel forward a few steps, before pausing.

Harry notices. ʻʻSomething wrong?ʼʼ

ʻʻTell me.ʼʼ I command in a breath. ʻʻTell me everything. Please.ʼʼ

He groans dramatically, taking a hand and slowly sliding it down his frowning face. ʻʻAlice...ʼʼ

ʻʻHow did you look like Luke? And why, why would you have any reason to k...ki...k...ʼʼ

ʻʻk-k-kill? Itʼs not a hard word Alice.ʼʼ He strolls over to the rotting couch, jumping down into itʼs fabric. ʻʻKill is probably the easiest four letter word there is.ʼʼ He reaches under the couch and extracts a clump of clothes.

ʻʻWell, itʼs easier said than done,ʼʼ I comment quietly, folding my arms tightly over the stretch of my chest.

He shrugs. ʻʻNot really.ʼʼ He glances at me, releases a catastrophic sigh. ʻʻLetʼs go get cleaned up first, and then head out. My car engine is still running.ʼʼ

ʻʻI told you to turn it off,ʼʼ I remind him somewhat proudly.

ʻʻWell, if you hadnʼt ran off like a freaking psycho, this would have taken less time.ʼʼ He grouches and hops off the cushion.

ʻʻReally? Psycho? Couldnʼt think of a better word?ʼʼ I gawk as he strides to the cave exit.

He gazes back at me with a smile. ʻʻIronic humor,ʼʼ He sings.

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ʻʻNeed help?ʼʼ Harry asks me with an outstretched hand. I shake my head and warily slide down the moist rock with bent legs. I land on the smooth rocks below, not with much grace as Harry did prior. He steadies me with a soft touch against my shoulder. Despite the circumstance, I grant him a single, grateful smile; small and unnoticeable.

Before I can fully balance myself, Harry starts unhooking the buttons of his black shirt. ʻʻUm, what are you doing?ʼʼ I audibly object.

ʻʻWhen I stabbed Puke all his blood and shit sprayed through my shirt.ʼʼ He carelessly explains and splits open his attire, exposing his flawless, smooth chest. Though, I wince at his words, I realize thereʼs nothing I can do to dull his graphicness.

He lays his stained shirt on a rock and bends down. He scoops a handful of cold water into his palm from the river we are stationed near, and splashes it against his skin. Water drips down in sleek rivulets against the pale tone of his flesh, and something about the whole situation makes me feel dazed.

He glances at me. ʻʻIʼm guessing your not planning on undressing in front of me.ʼʼ

ʻʻNot really, no.ʼʼ I confirm and he sighs.

ʻʻThen just put this on really quick and wipe the blood off your face.ʼʼ He instructs, tossing a bunched up sweater at me. I catch it and nod as he continues working on scrubbing his body.

I turn my back to him, and suddenly Iʼm dowsed in a flood of insecurities. What if he looks? Alice, cʼmon stop it. It doesnʼt matter what he thinks.

I slowly start slipping off my crimson tainted shirt, pulling over my head. I hastily replace it with the new, too-large sweater, trying desperately to ignore the scent of blood wafting from my old attire.

Once fully dressed I rotate around, sighing. Harry stands, once his chest is cleansed. Then, he starts unbuttoning his pants.

ʻʻUm, Harry...ʼʼ

ʻʻI need to change my pants. You can look if you want to, I really donʼt care.ʼʼ He shrugs and starts tugging down his black, skinny jeans.

ʻʻI...um...uh...ʼʼ

ʻʻAnd, letʼs face it; Iʼm an absurdly attractive man who is about to take his pants off.ʼʼ He smirks. ʻʻMake good choices, Alice.ʼʼ

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Yay for updates.

Please vote and comment bc it is very encouraging and keeps me writing this story.

Thanks.

Ya dingus.
ali.