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┏━━━━ CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ━━━━┓ ★゜・。。・゜゜・the calm before the storm ──── Mallory Thompson
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WHEN MALLORY HAD COMPOSED HERSELF SHE MIGRATED BACK OVER TOWARDS THE OTHERS. Rosie followed close behind, the need to protect the young girl almost a primary instinct at this point. Mallory wasn't surprised to find a small group gathering at the couches, Louis already producing the deck of cards within his jacket pocket. Everyone else stared at the ground, obviously not enjoying being sucked into playing whatever the game was tonight, but they didn't protest at the same time.
Mallory's weathered boots pounded against the gravel, causing a few heads to glance up at her. She crossed her arms over her chest. "You guys got room for one more," her voice was weak and she flinched slightly.
Louis smiled up at her, "The more the merrier," he stated. Mallory nodded, taking a seat on the ground in front of Violet and Tenn. Her back hunched, the position uncomfortable slightly yet she did not know how to correct it. Rosie lay down next to her, putting her head in her lap, closing her eyes in contentment as Mallory scratched her behind the ear.
Mallory cleared her throat, uncomfortable with the momentary silence that lingered in the air. "What's the game?" She asked.
"I'm so glad you asked. We are playing Truth or Dare, my friends," Louis explained.
"I regret coming over here," Mallory remarked.
"Have some spirit, Mal," Louis scolded. "This will be super fun!"
Violet observed the cards in Louis' hand with an unamused look. "You don't use cards in Truth or Dare," she pointed out.
"You do in this version," Louis replied. "Everyone draws. Highest card gets to ask. Lowest card has to answer.
Mallory sighed, wondering if a game was really what they all needed right now. While she didn't witness it firsthand, Mallory had heard a fight break out between Aasim and Willy earlier. It just proved that the kids were on thin ice waiting for the arrival of the people who were merely ghosts to them right now. She couldn't help but dwell on the nagging thought that something bad was going to happen tonight. If her suspicions were confirmed she wasn't keen on the thought of being caught right in the middle of them playing a game designed for ages way younger than them. They were probably the only kids in existence anymore that occupied their time with such a thing, but to be fair people like Louis were hard to come by these days.
With that, Louis took a card and passed it down the line. One-by-one each participant took their own and looked at the number on the other side. Mallory scanned each face before her, just to gauge their reactions, and so far she only saw a couple of disappointed frowns. Violet handed her the deck, and she picked her card, revealing a seven of hearts on the other side.
