Midnight, In the Storm [on temporary hiatus]

Two-faced Truths

Audree let the clanking of drained mugs and the hoarse whisper of a starting coffee machine blissfully distract her as she polished every surface of the wooden tables spotlessly clean. The past night's events seemed unreal, and deducing reality from illusion still proved itself a mind-bending task since then.

From time to time, she'd catch a glimpse of a familiar, long-lost face or a pair of ice-blue eyes that reminded her of a cloudless winter sky in a stranger's face. Features that were never even there.

It seemed nearly... unreal. Like she'd crossed through the threshold within a parallel universe, every normal thing, every human customer who entered the cafe, all of them felt so foreign. Ironically, she'd grown up leaning on the belief in such magics, the thrill of the unknown, the undiscovered reality fiction often shed light on.

But she'd never let anyone get away with calling her a bookworm, the commonly-used term was always a backhanded understatement - one that both underestimated and belittled her.

Though, unaware opponents that misjudged her proficiency never failed to prove as open advantages.

But there was one thought that never stopped shadowing her... was her every decision that led up to this sudden twist a mistake? Or was this the result of a time-old feud...? None of it scared her, not at all, in the supposed terror's rightful place, a smog of numbness strangely plagued her chest.

A tray laden with varying assortments of pastries and beverages plunked onto the table Audree was in the midst of clearing

Her eyes met a pair already returning her questioning look. Scrutinizing Audree with knitted brows and her moon-white hands planted adamantly on her hips was Rin, her stormy grey eyes matching those of the color of the sky beyond the cafe's wall-to-wall stretch of windows. Audree wouldn't be surprised if she'd looked into them and found miniature blizzards or thunderclouds gazing right back.

Audree fought back the millionth yawn that day and glanced up. A strand of hair fell free of its loose braid to dangle in her face, "Hello, pleasant morning today."

"Audree, the shop is on its afternoon break already and we've been patiently witnessing you polish that same spot for five minutes now." Rin smiled, her hands shifting to clasp behind her as she shot Audree a puzzled look, concern plain and evident in her bright eyes.

Audree returned the sentiment with the best smile she could muster at the moment, "Yeah, I kno-". She blinked, the words not yet comprehending. Oh. She flinched, holding back the accompanying wave of shivers, but the slight jolt didn't pass undetected.

Audree made an effort to cover the slip up by raising a hand to her forehead and tipping her head back in a fit of giggles she barely held back the urge to cringe at. She carried on despite the sketchy look Rin shot her. "Ah! I'm terribly sorry, I must've drifted off once more," Another dry laugh she could only hope they bought, "Anyways, something came up those two nights ago when Minnie had to call you right? Are things better now?."

A sharp, dry cough that sounded more like a strangled yelp sounded from behind the counter. Kean Min glared at the ash-haired girl from where he stood, drying his hands with an oatmeal colored rag, a jumble of fury and worry swam in his wide hazel eyes. Rin returned his gaze, and shrugged apologetically, her lips forming a thin line.

"I arrived just in time to save the project-", Rin halted, half frowning at Audree. "But, hey, don't change the subject!" Though she seemed to soften at the tired, guilty smile Audree didn't realize had crept its way onto her face, "Audree, if there's anything we can be of help with, don't hesitate to ask."

That snapped Audree out of her blurred nerves. It was out of question, she could and would never, never, never involve an innocent. Not for love or money, on no account would she ever put another at risk, worthy or not.