My crazy thought got back on track. Could it be possible? Could Tom really be the answer? According to what I had been requested from the shooting star, so ... is there any possibility that he is a vampire?
No.
I shook my head in silence. What I've been thinking was so amusing. A vampire is literally evil, whereas Tom seems like a nice guy. Even though he could run at an unbelievable super speed, endured the extremely cold, didn't eat nor drink after a long walk, and those things are not made in any senses, still, he is not. Tom is not a vampire. Besides, vampires don't exist. They're just a myth. And I was just so desperate when I asked for a vampire to be my forever love. It's highly unlikely that would happen. Of course, there are only zero possibilities available.
What a silly thought. I shook my head again.
I folded Tom's coat, put it neatly on the dresser, took off my jacket, then all my clothes, and put on my bathrobe. I know it's still too early for taking a bath, it's five anyway, but I feel like I need it. I like to take the me-time by soaking in the hot water and playing music on. That would be so relaxing.
The water doesn't get hot right away when I turn on the tap. Actually, it needs a quite long time to reach the perfect temperature for me to get soaked in. I squatted next to the bathtub and brought my hand under the tap, to wait and check the water temperature. I have no problem with that since I just want to get relax. Besides, I have so much time before running today's activities. Huh? Like I have lots to do when I really don't. So, I'll just wait for it.
Finally, I got the perfect temperature. I close the shower curtain then immediately took off my bathrobe and plunged myself into the tub. My left foot became the first one that got in, then slowly followed by my other body parts. Oh, this is so good! Looks like I could spend hours here. I plug my earphone on and turn the music on. Relaxing indie music is so perfect for this shooting moment. My head looked up and leaned against the edge of the tub, while these slightly sleepy eyes were closed, to enjoy this bath even more. I can feel my chest gently up and down, as the hot steam creeps through my nostrils, giving it more warmth and serenity to my brain and this whole body.
In a semi-conscious state with these heavy eyes still closed, I suddenly felt the cold come over me, especially around my neck. This tickling cold breath. This smell. I feel like I've felt this way before. Then a voice hissed my name, cutting through the music that is being played in my ears.
"Delilah ... ".
It's Tom!
It made me gasp and startle. Seems that not only my body reacts but also the hair on my nape. All of sudden. As my eyes opened, I found nothing. Unless for that swaying curtain that made me cringe. Through my curiosity and nervousness, I unplugged the earphone and stood up, planning to unveil the curtain to find out whether there was somebody or not. In one deep breath, I slowly pulled the curtain and peeked.
I was surprised by the scene at the moment. There was nothing but hot steam enveloping this bathroom. Wow. Like, how long I have been asleep in this tub? Even the mirror was blurry, with no reflection from it. Okay, there is clearly no one here but me, and I think I should end my bath time. These whole Tom things really stuck in my head and drove me crazy.
I unveil the curtain and then grabbed a white towel from the rack nearby to wrap up my body from chest to knees. Before I get out of the bathroom, I need to make sure that the drain stopper was pulled away. If it's not, Davis must be complaining about the grubby all day long. He's such a clean master which is troublesome sometimes.
When I pulled it away and was about to turn around, the creepy thing happened again. I feel like there was someone standing behind me. Beyond these everywhere hot steam, I can feel the cold. But I convinced myself that there must be no one here except me. It was the same as it had just happened. It's just my crazy feeling. So, I quickly turned around.
See? There is nothing. There's only my own blurry reflection in that mirror. Hey, wait. I squinted and slowly moved to the mirror. There's not only one reflection but two! Shoot! I can see it but not that clearly. I'm too afraid to look back, so I just want to make sure by wiping the steam from the mirror in front of me. My leg already went limp as I started to raise my hand and was about to run my plan.
"Delilah!" I jumped in surprised as that voice boomed, followed by my race's heartbeat. I looked down for seconds, controlling the breath that I'd been holding for a while. Then slowly glanced back at the mirror.
It's gone. Totally disappeared. All that's left is my blurry reflection only. Out of curiosity, I rubbed the mirror in front of me to get a clearer view. Still, all the same. There's nothing but me. The only difference is, that now I can see my terrified face more clearly.
Is this house haunted? Actually, I don't really care as long as they don't bother me. My shoulders slumped. I wash my face with the cold water from the sink faucet. I did it twice.
"Delilah! Are you alive in there??" I jumped in surprised for the second time. For a moment I had forgotten that Davis had been shouting behind the door, and now he's repeating. He also bangs the door at this time.
As I opened the door through one strong swing, I greeted him with a resentful face, "What?!"
"Geez! What have you done?! This is so ... steamy!" I looked at my surrounding after he said that. He's right. The steam is everywhere, and it spatter out as soon as I pulled this doorknob. I really didn't expect that the steam would be this much.
"Nothing. Just spa." That was my innocent answer while passing him, and heading to my room. Before I went upstairs, I glimpsed at Davis and giggled as I found he was swaying the door back and forth many times in order to 'help' the exhaust to make the steam go away. He really didn't like using the bathroom that someone else had just used, especially if it was fully steamy like that. "What are you doing with the door?! You'll break it off, dude!"
"Nothing! Just gym!" he shouted. I burst out laughing and walked up the stairs.
I have nothing to do today, just like as I usually do every day actually. So, I pull out the mustard sweatshirt and sweatpants from the drawer to be my comfy outfit of the day. I let my a bit wet hair stay still in a messy bun. Sometimes I feel too slothful only to comb my long wavy hair. Especially if it's my bad hair day, and I don't want to wash it either, but I still want to look good. What a complicated Delilah, huh? That's why a messy bun is truly my savior style.
After checking my appearance in the mirror, I took a glance at the dresser. A small smile played on my lips, knowing that Tom's coat still lying neatly on it. Will he come today to take it back? Or will he let me keep it? Only if I could choose one of that two options, I would love to prefer the second one. So that I could hug it through my sleep and get a better sleep later. Maybe it could be my bad dream catcher, though.
Well, it's my second day being an early bird. Although it accidentally happened, still, I am. Oddly, I always couldn't go back to sleep afterward. This condition forces me to seek out activities early in the morning, which is not my habit at all. Looks like my days started much earlier than usual since in Healy. Davis would be so glad about that, though. If only my parents are here right now, they definitely would feel as glad as Davis, especially my dad. Yeah, I have no idea why I became lazy after my mom passed away. Maybe it was because I had lost her figure so much that it made me want to do nothing. Because most of my daily activities, I always do with her. And at some point, that literally made my dad frustrated. He was very worried about my behavior at the time. I'm sorry, Dad. Oh, Crap! Remembering the moment, always delivered the emotional feeling. I miss you, Mom and Dad.
Anyway, waking up too early also made my tummy growl earlier. Now I need to go downstairs and scanned the fridge to find something I can cook. Can I? Of course, I can do simple cook. Okay, only if there is any ready-to-serve food inside, so all I need to do is just put it in the microwave and wait until it's cooked.
"Hungry already?" Davis accused me right as I approached the kitchen. He was busy underneath his brown apron. Whatever he is cooking right now, it smells really good.
I set my butt on the stool, "Thank goodness you're already working in the kitchen. I was about to check the fridge to feed myself." Since Davis let the large window that connected to the outdoors open, the morning breeze swept my face. Cool. I hope there are no moose popping out from the outside.
Davis smirked. "What did you expect available inside the fridge?"
"I don't know. I can eat everything, though."
"Sounds like you." He chuckled. "Hey D, actually I have a plan to make carbonara for dinner, but apparently we don't have any milk. So, shall we go shopping? Also, we can go anywhere else afterward."
"Wait, aren't you working today?" I asked while pouring the orange juice into our glasses.
"Nope. This is my day off actually."
"Okay then. No need to worry since I can lead the way!" I said arrogantly.
His eyebrows rose, "Wow, sounds very convincing!" and serves a plate of sunny-sides-up-eggs with sausages in front of me.
"In one condition," I raised my index finger as a sign to ask him to wait. Then I grabbed the fork and knife, "Only after I finish this," and ready to finish off my breakfast.
"Deal." With Davis sitting next to me, we both had our breakfast together. Apparently, this is the first time we have been able to chat in quite a while in the morning, since at Healy of course.
We spent about an hour for breakfast and chit chat at this morning. Really, we've got our brother-sister time as well. Seems like it will going to be a rare moment for us due to Davis's bustle. Sometimes he has to go to Fairbanks, which forces him for doing everything earlier than usual, like yesterday. Meanwhile, I need the bad dream to wake me up earlier. So, I won't ruin today's opportunity to hang out with Davis.
Since Davis has cooked for us, as a good sister, I'll do the dishes. This is not a café where we can just go right away whenever we finish eating. And as a woman, I'm not that lazy, though. Besides, it's a great collaboration between siblings, isn't it? Kind of mutualism, I guess. He cooks, and I clean up.
While I was washing half of the dishes, the doorbell rang. Davis was the one who was about to greet the visitor when out of a sudden his phone buzzed. The buzzes of Davis's phone mostly come from the hospital, where it could be an emergency. Moreover, on his day off like this. They definitely need him to be there. Well, I think I should just open the door. "I'll get it, the dishes can wait. Just pick up your phone, Dave."
"Okay." With a nod, he pressed the answer button on his phone, while I'm heading to the front door. Hopefully, I would meet somebody out there this time. Unlike yesterday.
"Good morning, Delilah!" It's Mr. Fulton. He greeted me with his kindest smile as I opened the door.
"Oh. Hi! Good morning, Mr. Fulton. How you're doing?" I smiled back at the first Healy person that I met. Today, he's wearing a brown square-patterned shirt covered in a brown jacket, and a brown hat. His pants and shoes are brown also. What a well-suited.
"Great!" he opened his arms then says, "Here, I brought you halibut. Hope you and Davis like it."
"Whoa! Thank you. It's very nice of you, Mr. Fulton." I took over the fish from him and looked at that for a moment, "Did you get it by yourself?" I can't help but I was amazed by the size of the fish now in my hand. I've never seen this kind of big fish before.
"Yeah. Yesterday, with some friends."
"Ah, I see. That must be so much exciting, right?"
"Definitely! You know, a recreation would have a positive impact for an old man like me." Then he cracked a laugh through his granddad-type voice. Made me laugh. "So, how's your day in Healy? Have you met anyone around this neighborhood, Delilah?"
"Oh, yeah. Of course. I've walked around and met some people." I nodded and start mentioning, "I've met Gloria,"
Mr. Fulton then cut off me, "That beautiful lady. She's a very nice woman, and so is her daughter."
"Really? Unfortunately, I haven't met her daughter yet. But I will do it someday." I nodded again, then continue, "Um, I also met a woman in the grocery store nearby. Well, actually we just met, and I don't know her name yet. But seemed like she's a nice woman either. Do you know her, Mr. Fulton?"
The old man in front of me frowned before saying, "That's Claris. She owned that store. And yes, she's literally a nice woman also. Her store provides everything you need."
That was exactly what I had been thinking when I stepped into the store, "Exactly! Everything is available." Mr. Fulton nodded in agreement as I said that. "You know what, I feel like everyone here is such a nice fellow. Even with a newcomer like me. They are very welcome. Just like you, Mr. Fulton."
The wrinkles around his eyes became more apparent when he smiled, "It's great to hear you think of us that way, Delilah. Cause yes, we're like family to each other here. So, feel free to ask us whenever you need something."
"See? Once again, you make me feel blessed for being here. Thank you."
"Don't mention it, Delilah."
"Umm, about the house next door ..."
I haven't finished my sentence yet, but again, this man interrupts it, "Oh, yeah—the Blyton family. Probably, you will find their house always deserted. But they really live in. It's just that the couple works in Denali and will only be home at night. They usually leave early in the morning, like so early." He explained.
"Oh, okay. Now I know why." I chuckled. Suddenly, I remember about Tom. Should I ask him about Tom? Maybe Mr. Fulton knows something about him. So, I took the chance of his moment break to ask, "Mr. Fulton, do you know about Tom? I mean, Tom Hoult. Because he literally knows well about you." I hope I'm not making a mistake by asking this.
Again, he frowned. But this time he did it a little longer. He even lowered his head, seemingly trying hard to remember. "Tom Hoult?" he reassures.
"Yes. Tom Hoult. Do you ... know? Anything?" Now I'm not sure that this man has any information about Tom.
Still frowning, but then he shook his head. "I don't think we have that name in this neighborhood. Are you sure that's the right name? And where does he live?"
"Yeah, I couldn't be wrong with the name since we're kind of ... friends." Maybe I should drop off my question about Tom. Mr. Fulton is an old man, he must have forgotten about it. Besides, Tom said that he doesn't live in this neighborhood. So, this landlord might really don't know anything about Tom. "It's okay. Just forget about it. It's not that important, though. I'm just ... asking."
When I gave up on gaining information about Tom, suddenly Mr. Fulton said, "Wait. I think I've heard the Hoult name." He squinted, then continued, "Yeah, I remember now. There was a Hoult name in Healy, but it's been a long ago. Even years. And I only heard that name through the story from my grandparents, because I was a kid at that time. I've never met them. So, it's been a very long time since that name disappeared. No one knows where they moved."
His explanation raises a question for me. "A story?" I mean, what story was that about?
"Yeah," his lips turned into a straight line, "You know, sort of scary old story. But as I grew up, I supposed that was just a bullshit joke."
I am relieved to hear that. It means that nothing serious, "You mean, the bullshit joke just like a bogeyman, alien, monster under the bed, and kind of that?"
"You are right, Delilah! Just as bullshit as yeti, loch-ness, and someone with the fangs which people usually called vampire." We laughed at the end of his sentence. Yeah, those all are jokes. But why on earth my heart kind of stopped for a while, and there was like something tickling on my stomach at the same time he mentioned the vampire. Weird. "Well, I have to go now, Delilah. I need to freshen up and do some work."
"Okay then. Thank you again for the halibut." This fish is so heavy by the way.
"You're welcome. You and Davis should come to my place, and I'll tell you about the scary story." He giggled.
"Sure. I'd love to hear that, though."
"Great! See you, then." With that, he left and disappeared with his old roaring truck. Leaving me with the huge halibut hanging in my hand. I don't know how to handle this fish. I better hand this over to Davis, immediately.