𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨 | 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟒 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚

𝐜𝐨𝐛𝐰𝐞𝐛

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| 2 7 |

1:25pm EST
New York City.

"Ma'am excuse me."  A gentle voice and light shake awoke Rose from the state of sleep she was in. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and covered her mouth and turned away to yawn. "Sorry for waking you, but we've landed—most of the passengers have gotten off.." the flight attendant reached up and gently handed the girl her bag. "Oh yes, I'm so sorry—thank you for waking me up." Rose smiled to hide how flustered she felt, bringing herself up she took her bag and stood up and began making her way out the small corridor. She was met by the buzzing of the busy airport, plugging up her headphones, she removed the SIM card off her phone and began to listen to her music while heading to pick up her bag. She stood quietly along the other passengers and watched as the bags began to appear on the circular spinning automatic machine. Eventually, hers came into sight— picking it up, she checked the tag and pulled it up, it was her luggage alright. Letting it fall onto the ground on its wheels. She grabbed the small handle and dragged it behind as she walked.

Following the exit signs, she was led to the main exit and looked up the address to her destination. It was a half an hour drive, but luckily— the landlord she had spoken to, was sweet enough to offer her a ride. Rose declined. She felt like she had to stop being a burden and get to her destination on her own. It would be scary and new— but she had to find her way.

Stepping outside, the wind swept over her cruelly. It sent shivers down her spine. The area was silent, the airport wasn't fairly close to the city at all. But it was busy and loud outside nonetheless. There was the occasionally yelling and honking. Smiling to herself, she flagged down a quick cab.

She knew it would charge her pretty heavily, but money was the least of her worries. An Italian looking man stepped out and greeter her, he had a thick accent. "Can I get that from you miss?" He gestured to the suitcase, Rose nodded and handed it to him. "Go ahead and hop inside, I'll be in there." Thanking him quietly, she took her seat inside and adjusted the seatbelt. Shortly enough and slamming the trunk closed, he pulled himself in the drivers seat. "Where ya off to?" Rose sat up, "Willow Eve Street..on fourth-first avenue." She brought up her phone, "to this apartment." He stared at the image of the building and nodded, "I have a niece that lives along there, let's get going then." He turned up the music on the radio and tapped his fingers against the steering wheel while pulling away from the airport and starting the drive.

Rose stared at the road and watched the horizon. The moon was tucked highly in the sky, it was far from the sun. Glancing at the bright star, she felt a sudden wave of bitter sweetness. Richard wasn't good to her, he was always so cold and distant— what could she possibly get from that? Icarus burned his wings off for flying too close to the sun, she was in a way— like him. Her wings had fallen apart by flying too close to something that hurt her. Moving her eyes down to her lap, she leaned against the window and breathed out. Her breath fogged up the surface of the glass pane. Lightly, she traced her fingertip over the fog and drew a small 'R' before smearing it with her sleeve.

Sitting up, she noticed they had moved pretty close to the city, it had slowly come into sight. The area had drastically changed as well, the streets were packed, Rose watched with big eyes while 'Rockin Robin' began to play, she felt safe. That song felt like a warm hug on a summer day, at home by the creek she'd spend a long time at. The driver in the front seat began to sing and sway along, she quietly watched with an amused grin and bit her thumb while shaking her head lightly.

The moment of happiness was overcome by the feeling of being watched, which was strange—considering the fact that she was in a moving vehicle.  She fidgeted with her sleeves while glancing around as the car came to a stop on a nice street. She was so stuck in the sudden paranoia that she didn't realize they had made it outside the building. "Well, here we are." He turned the volume down, Rose stared at the mile meter, which measured how much she'd be paying and quickly pulled some cash out along with a tip. "Thank you so much." He smiled back and received the cash, "let me hand you your luggage." She nodded and was about to open the door but he was quick and opened it for her, pulling herself out— she watched as he grabbed the suitcase and her other bag. "If you ever need a lift, here is my card— my name is Fernando." He smiled, giving her a simple white card with his information, she received it with a smile and nodded. "Thank you so much, it was great meeting you."

The man nodded and walked away, getting into the vehicle he put it into drive and disappeared around the corner. Once she was alone, she breathed out and walked toward the building. There was a woman in a moss green scarf and earthy looking outfit outside watering a few plants. "Excuse me..? Do you know if Evelyn lives here? I reached out to her about a room—" the woman turned around adjusted her glasses while eyeing the girl, "I'm her," she paused and placed her small rusty bucket down. "I'm so glad you flew in safely." She nodded, "Come inside, please—I'll show you the room." Rose smiled and followed after her once she stepped inside.

"There are three other tenants—the building is quite small but you'll find it very spacious—you have your own bathroom, kitchen and room, small living room area as well." She walked up the stairs onto the third floor, "Rent is due on the first every month, and you can choose your utility provider." The woman pulled out her keys and stopped in front of an ivory old wooden door, once it was unlocked she stepped inside the furnished space. It was absolutely perfect. "All your information came back and you did pay upfront so— the place is yours." She grinned and held up the key, handing it to her in the process. "Thank you so much, this is honestly perfect." Rose took the key and lightly placed it in her key chain. "The las the tenant just picked up her things and left all this behind—she was a girl around your age too, real sweet." She paused and stared around, "Well I'll let you get settled in, the mailbox is down stairs by the way—I almost forgot, here." She took another key and gave it to Rose. The woman began making her way toward the door, before turning and stopping.

"One last thing, the front door main entrance— locks automatically at midnight, if you happen to get locked out—the back door can easily be accessed from the side and you can unlock it with your key. Two of my tenants are elderly and feel safer that way." Evelyn brushed her hair to the side and narrowed her almond shape eyes before turning and walking off, closing the door behind herself in the process. Rose walked up to the door and locked it, turning around she breathed out and began to explore.

The place seemed as if it had been untouched for months—yet it seemed to have had maintaining, judging from the look of how lively the plants that cluttered the apartment looked. Rolling her suitcase into her room and plopping her bag down, she removed her coat and let out a heavy sigh. "Finally."

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Hello <3 I feel like such a deadbeat parent for avoiding my book and my precious readers. I'm back home, I'm very late on this but Merry Christmas and Happy New year <3 I'll update again tonight or tomorrow.

Kira.