To Be Young And In Love In New York City

Chapter 17: "I Just Think You're Very Annoying"

Trigger Warning: Eating disorder.

A/N: Listen to the sound of the rain as you read this until the day changes, it adds effect.

***

The brooding atmosphere took charge of New York City that evening.

Dark clouds sprawled across the grey sky, the cold drawing every bit of warmth from the people. Rain poured down heavily, hail joining it and clattering loudly against the ground. Lightning flashed the sky, bringing the clouds into view for a couple of seconds, rumbling thunder following it.

The rain pattered against windows, cascading down the tall skyscrapers.

People fled to their homes-hail storms didn't come often. Every window was tightly shut, every door etched to its last lock, and every fireplace lit.

But one door was open.

The door to Apartment 21B.

River eyed it cautiously.

The door stood creepily ajar and through the gap, he saw no source of light.

Had somebody broken in? To his knowledge, Colette and Niki always made sure to lock the doors.

Warily, he approached it, taking small steps that made no sound. His fingers wrapped themselves around the door knob, and as silently as he could, he tried to open it. His plan backfired instantly, the door creaking with every inch he moved it. Cursing under his breath, he let go of the knob. The gap was enough for him to slip through, and that's what he did.

The flat was eerily silent. The only light the living room knew was from the huge glass windows; it wasn't as bright as it should've been outside, but it wasn't exactly pitch black. As he had expected, no one was around.

Then, he heard it.

It sounded like someone was quivering.

It was coming from the dining room.

River wasn't someone who was easily scared but the way Apartment 21B looked that evening sent his heart racing. He didn't want to call out whoever was inside; he had always deemed that as a senseless and stupid move. You should never alert the intruder of your presence.

911 on speed dial, he padded across the living room and towards the kitchen. On his way, he grabbed a tall vase; anything served as a weapon at that point and he didn't exactly carry pepper spray.

The dining room was empty. The couch was empty, the kitchen was empty, the dining tab-

A pang of fear shot through River.

On one of the chairs of the dining table, a person was seated. The little amount of light coming from the windows did nothing to help River figure out who it was.

The person was wearing a black jacket, that's all he could make out. Their face was hung forward, their neatly chopped shoulder-length hair covering most of their face.

Who could it possibly be?

His question was answered when lightning struck the sky, its glaring light flickering through the window for just a quick moment, casting light on their face.

"Niki?"

River inhaled a sharp breath. What was she doing? He moved to his left and flicked the light on.

The light pulled her out of her thoughts and she looked directly at him, her eyes boring into his. They looked weak, like the light in them had been sucked out, black circles encircling them and tears staining her cheeks. Her lips were chapped and her hair damp, remaining close to her face.