I felt eyes on me constantly. When I walked down the street, worked or even when I slept I felt eyes on me. They were cold and piercing, but comforting at the same time. I was walking home from the shift I had picked up from Tiffany, the bitter wind lashing at me as I hobbled along. That was when I felt the eyes really laying into my spine, coiling a ball of nerves into my stomach as I was watching people milling about me but it wasn't any of them. I felt like I was a rabbit being stalked by a hungry wolf, and I was too weak to run away. I craned my head around in curiosity, blue LED car lights almost blinding me as they whizzed past. Other than the heads of people walking away and the figures of people looking at their phones in my directions there was no one. My mouth went dry, and I tried to trudge forward as a thick wind curled under my skin and hair. To a normal person it would be a minor inconvenience, but the wind causes my vision to blur for a second as I became increasingly dizzy. It hurt my fragile lungs, causing my chest to crackle with a dry cough. I was almost made it of paper, and one strong gust would have been enough to rip through me. I was determined though, pushing through with stinging eyes and freezing flesh, getting to my door. I fumbled with my keys, my shaking fingers were stiff as well making it a herculean task to find the keys to unlock my front door. I cursed under my breath as another gust of wind made me shake uncontrollably. I suddenly felt a dark and looming presence over me, but before I could turn around the door was wretched open. Kevin stood there with worry in his eyes, reaching out and pulling me into the warmer lobby.
"Your lips are blue sweetheart! Come upstairs, Holt made some soup." He shut the door with a rattle, and I craned my head to see only cars passing by. The darkness was gone, and Kevin was trying to usher me upstairs.
"I need to go make dinner for Conner." My teeth chattered, sending shockwaves of shivers down my spine. Kevin stiffened and looked to the ceiling as we reached the staircase.
"I saw Conner go out earlier and he hasn't come back." I was taken aback, unaware he was leaving at all.
"Oh." I was despondent, a little disappointed. Kevin noticed this and patted me on the back as he helped me up the rickety stairs.
"Don't worry honey. Holt made your favorite, roasted red pepper." I perked up at his reassurance and the thought of the soup. My stomach growled and Kevin roared with laughter, both sounds bouncing off the old yellow plaster walls.
"Sounds like someone is hungry!" He teased as we climbed higher. I was still trembling, but used all my might to climb. I was out of breath halfway there and Kevin squeezed my arm. I grit my teeth and pushed myself up the final flights and we finally scurried over to the familiar old door down the dusty hallway. They yellow hallway light was flickering, casting eerie shadows over the faded walls. We were about to get to the door when it swung open, Holt peeking his head out to see us coming down. Her perked up, but it was hard to tell under his thick red-grey beard. He left the door open and disappeared. We rounded into the the old style apartment and he rushed out from the bedroom to the right, carrying a thick grey fleece blanket and a red and gold duvet in his burly hands.
"Sit!" He rushed us over the carpet and onto the dusty pink couch. I was shoved onto it gently, and then wrapped in the blankets but a surprisingly gently bear of a man until it looked like I was a cocoon. My head was sticking out of the soft materiel and I could wiggled my hands out. Kevin pushed the old magazines and papers cover the intricate mahogany coffee table in front of me. Holt ran to the yellow light pouring from the room to the right of me now, and I heard the clicking and clattering if dishes. The small loving room was covered in old bookshelves, old crinkled books and bleached papers hanging from the haphazardly. The old oak drawers were a little crooked, but tightly shut. Kevin was humming about, fidgeting with the only piece of technology in the entire place-- a old time brown and black radio that crackled to life. Immediately there was the soft sound of classical music pouring from the machine. I was confused on how he found that station but it played classical and opera music all the time. Holt came from the door, holding a steaming porcelain bowl adorned with flowers, a silver spoon sticking out of it.
"Here you go." He waddled over to me and placed the bright red thick soup in front of me, the spice and sweetness from the peppers wafting in my nose.
"Its super hot so just be careful." Holt grabbed my shoulder and squeezed lightly before plopping on the dark brown lazy boy next to the pink couch. Kevin joined me on the couch as I reached out and took the spoon. The spoon was warm to the touch from the heat of the soup. The steam was curling off of it like a ghostly hand coiling into the air as if to reach out and touch something. I brought the scalding spoon to my lips and blew. Once it was on my tongue, it was sweet from the peppers and spicy from the cayenne. It was lovely and instantly warmed my cold and stiff body. I sighed happily and began eating a little faster, hunger clawing at my stomach. I was almost ravounos as I ate, Holt and Kevin smiling at me as I shovelled soup in my mouth like a heathen.
"Its really good Holt!" He beamed when I spoke between bite, still eating like I was starved for months. In reality I hadn't eaten for only a few hours.
"You need to eat more! Do you want us to start bringing food to you at work?" I faltered for a moment at their kind gesture and shook my head softly.
"No that's so far out of your way. Thank you though." They both looked at each other, worry etched into their older faces. Holt was squirming in his chair, watching me as I was eating.
"We really don't mind at all." Kevin was pushing, but I felt very bad about almost abusing their kindness.
"Its okay! I would hate to inconvenience you." Holt scoffed and waved his hairy and burly arm.
"No trouble at all!" I was unconvinced. I squirmed under their gaze, faltering on my food.
"We can talk about it later! Just eat for now!" Kevin laughed as if trying to wave off some joke, but there was some tension between him and Holt. I was wondering if I had interrupted a fight, but it didn't seem like that kind of tension.
It was anxiety. Almost fearful. It was if like they were two children who had broken a vase and were trying to hide it from their mother. I tried to brush it off, but it wouldn't leave my bones. The feeling was sticking to me like glue and I avoided eye contact. Their seriousness faded, but the tension in the room remained ever sharp. It reminded me of the sharp and cold gaze that man always gave me and I was taken aback at that thought.
Why on earth was he coming to mind at this moment? I pursed my lips into a sour pout which went largely unnoticed and I softened my expression.
"Did you want to play a game of chess?" I broke the uncomfortable silence. They blinked as if coming out of a trance, and at the same time the hint of lavender and frankensence intensifying for a brief second.
"Sure! I'll go grab the board!" Kevin was cheery but there was a shadow over him. For a moment it was like his form flickered in front of my eyes. It was a dark shadow, like despair and worry was cast over him. I wanted to pretend I didn't see it, but game after game of the lighthearted challenge only solidified my anxiety. As the night went on, the cold gaze I felt me earlier lingered and I shivered. These eyes would be watching me for a long time, and they were comforting, protecting and fierce.