What Once Was

Chapter 16: Answer

-Charlie POV-

Al's shadow twirled around us both at a great speed. As if it was a ribbon that was twirling wildly in the wind, breaking loose. His smirk glowed red as he kept circling Al for a while and mumbling something inaudible to him. Al ignored him, as he simply brushed him off and the shadow unveiled us outside again and vanished into thin air.

"Hi Al! Seems like your shadow was very hyper." I comment as Al reaches out his hand so he could help me with the tea cups.

"He's just being a nuisance like always." He replied as we sat on the floor, behind the hotel's header, which its light's flickered slightly. I placed the canvas besides the side that wasn't between me and Al. I brought it because I wanted to show him. I feel like he would appreciate the piece of art

"He acts like a child, who's always up to mischief." I let out a chuckle, and take a sip of the hot black tea. Black tea wasn't really my first choice as a late drink, but it did help soothe me, and bring me some comfort. After all, that's what I needed in the very moment, specially since I was 'haunted', it was probably some joke.

"Yeah, he really does." He comments, but he seemed distant. He seemed to avoid looking at me. He didn't stare at me the way he usually did, with pure glee and curiosity as he normally did. Did I want him to look at me? no.. yeah no... It was just unusual for him. That's all.

And then I remember the highlight of me and Vaggie's conversation. He was here for his entertainment, not for the sake of helping others... including me. To him I was probably just the clown, no maybe the whole circus for his sole entertainment. I felt my stomach clench out of shame, but I wouldn't be surprised. Most of Hell saw me as that, so then why did I feel affected by his perception of me?

"My Dear, you still haven't answered why you're here, aren't you exhausted?" He asked, looking at me, somewhat forcefully. It seemed like my gut feeling was right.

"We made a promise..." I tell him, looking away, feeling like the back of my neck burnt as I felt his forceful lingering stare.

"My Dear, I thought you would forget about it! I hope you didn't cut your time short with Vagatha just to meet me." He responded as his eyebrows furrowed. His responses confirmed he was trying to keep distance. But that wouldn't stop me from asking what were his intentions with the hotel.

"I didn't! A promise is a promise!" I told him as we sat down behind the hotel header, our backs leaning against the cold wall.

"It really is, isn't it?" He questioned as he looked at me, softly smiling. His eyes relaxing, as he seemed to lean closer to me

"Yeah! Besides I have some questions I want to ask, hopefully you can give me the answers." He seemed to go stiff for a bit before relaxing once more and drinking from his cup.

"Ask away Darlin'!" He replied happily.

My heart grew excited as I was about to ask him the question that only he could answer, and  be ready to be given the answer I was dreading for the whole evening. But maybe it was too soon to bring up the topic since I had many more questions. I should just build up the moment.

I pressed my knees closer to my chest as I debated which question to ask first, then I remember the canvas that was leaning beside me. I clutched it with my hand as I was figuring out how to ask him.

"Soooo... I painted this, and I thought you would appreciate it... cause you might like art and I drew this and yea..." I started rambling on, making no sense as I gave him the canvas and he turned to look at me, chuckling. He was probably chuckling cause I made a fool of myself by not making sense.