Once again alone Dust grit his teeths.
. After a short trip to the bathroom, he makes sure his weapon is under his belt, takes a last look at the lantern of Red placed on the bedside with reproach and leaves the room and his apartments.
The corridor is empty of course. His companion has really gone to "have fun".
The boy therefore goes down, perhaps more quickly than he would like to admit.
He reaches the ground floor, trying his best to not run down the stairs.
In front of the doors there is no one left but the corridor leading to the dining room lets the noisy echoes of the discussions reassure Dust.
When he enters the crowded room it is like discovering a parallel world for him.
Most of the newcomers and even some that Dust has never seen are gathered there. Many have smiles on their lips as if death does not weigh on their shoulders.
And in their hands some glasses of wine perfect the scene.
They laugh together and some of them already look drunk.
The plates filled with food have been removed and the table has been pushed back to the windows hidden by the velvet curtains to make more room. On it among the white lilies and the ivy the number of empty wine bottles has increased sharply and the crystal glasses are mostly filled to the brim.
Dust remains there blocking the entrance with his mouth open. He doesn't know how to react.
A few minutes pass and no one seems to faint. He concludes that the red liquid will not transport them into one of his nightmares.
He is jostled by someone brutally.
-Hey, could it be that dirty liar?
Pony's heavily alcoholic breath hits him full force.
Dust moves a little so that the woman can enter.
Out of habit he ignores her gaze and lowers his eyes.
As he doesn't react more than that Pony seems to be annoyed.
Clicking her tongue against her palate she grabs the man by the collar to pull him towards her.
Dust staggers and is forced to straighten his spine to keep his balance. The woman seizes the opportunity to let go and put her arm behind his neck.
Trapped between herelbow and her shoulder Dust can't ignore her and her words:
- I would probably have tried my luck swimming no matter what you say. But let's be clear between us this is the last time you lie to me understood?
Dust nods and Pony is all smiles.
She quickly hands him a glass of wine and the young man doesn't dare refuse.
It's like a token of forgiveness.
In the meantime Charismatic has joined them, compared to her friend she doesn't seem resentful. The trio stare at each other among the joyful din.
She changed into a much less extravagant outfit. A simple pair of jeans and a tank top completely changed her initial appearance.
To fill the void and to show good faith Dust murmurs a quick "Sorry" before quickly drinking the beverage he doesn't like.
The alcohol quickly goes to his head.
Charismatic taps him on the shoulder as if to tell him that it's not serious, Dust reflexively avoids physical contact.
To sum up the exchange is awkward.
Pony takes the boy's glass and fills it again before handing it to him, she insists:
-The old man could have died, and the other one there, the one bitten by the spider, didn't survive...
Dust drinks once more in one go. Charismatic almost seems embarassed. A second "Sorry" crosses his lips.
Pony finally seems satisfied.
The wine flows down his throat as if the liquid was some kind of burning fire. This drink should be well above normal degrees.
A man in the crowd takes out a guitar.
Dust doesn't recognize him but the confident one plays a catchy melody.
People applaud his initiative.
The two girls are no exception.
Dust takes drink again to chase away his guilt that weighs down his stomach.
The finely chiseled crystal sparkles under the flames of the countless candles gathered to light the room.
The orange light brightens his brown pupils to give them the color of amber.
He stares at the show.
Among all these people there is no fiery red hair.
Chatterbox quickly joins them when she sees him:
-Ah, there you are I was wondering where you were!
She is all smiles, and sits down next to him and the two other girls.
She greets the two womens with just a little more restraint although she quickly finds her marks.
The three womens get to know each other while Dust is a silent witness.
From time to time Chatterbox glances into the crowd.
The boy follows the direction of her gaze and falls on the black/white mane of the man that interest so much the girl.
Dust is now somewhat ignored and profit of this by taking another glass of wine.
The purple liquid has numbed his taste buds and the drink seems much more pleasant to him.
He can only note that Red is not there.
He thinks of leaving but to go where ?
With the noise all around and his thoughts he misses part of the discussion and does not know when the subject changed from simple greetings to this:
-He saved my life twice! I know it's hard to believe but with him we fear nothing...
at these words Chatterbox bats her eyelashes and slips another glance at the tattooed man at the other end of the room, she takes a deep breath a second later to continue her long tirade:
-Without him the two tests would have been horrific! If the rest of our team had followed him and listened to him they would have... But no, all that to be separated at the end, if we had known we would have waited for them to eat...
She lowers her head at these words her voice tinged with sadness.
Pony seems embarrassed and imitates Charismatic by tapping her shoulder to reassure the woman.
She also hands the young girl a glass of wine, as if drinking was the solution to all her problems.
The man mentioned is still among the crowd of people, little by little he approaches them.
Chatterbox seeing him arrive sketches a small smile more reserved than her previous one.
Unconsciously her hand feels her bun to check that no hair is sticking out.
Dust observes the scene while taking another sip of his wine.
The man greets everyone before approaching them.
He has the smile of a Colgate pub, his height exceeds them all and his broad shoulders rival those of Potatoes yet he seems slender.
he does not accommodate a cheerful preamble he goes straight to the point:
- Do you want to do a round? Just to set the mood.
Dust, Pony, Chatterbox and Charismatic exchange a surprised look.
It is no longer a parallel world for the boy it is downright a mirage.
Not so long ago he was fighting for his life and watching Red decapitate a teenager...
The man insists, his voice warm and hoarse:
-Come on, many are up for it, might as well enjoy the evening!