Mary stood there, trembling from head to toe. She was too frightened to move nor make a sound. As she stood there stonily, Lucius's pupils deliberately moved from the door to Mary.
Mary flinched when Lucius's pupils landed on her. Lucius's eyes widened when he noticed Mary was there, trembling in fear. He instantly switched his menacing face to a shocked expression.
He bowed down, apologizing to her for scaring her. Then, he slithered back to the bed, wanting to get his notebook.
While he was writing in his notebook, Mary's legs went limp. She fell to the floor as her legs gave up on her. She kept on trembling, scared of Lucius's terrifying expression.
Lucius came back shortly after, holding his notebook. Mary glanced up and saw a message in the book.
Are you the one who opened the door? He wrote. And why?
Mary opened her mouth, wanting to speak and a shaky voice escaped from her mouth.
"Yes." She spoke. "I wanted to get some food. I was hungry."
Lucius looked at her and wrote. Why didn't you wake me up? You know it's dangerous.
"I know." Mary continued still in a shaky voice. "I thought it was going to be quick so I decided to go by myself. You were still sleeping and I didn't want to wake you up."
Lucius stared at her and shook his head, disapproving of her behaviour.
You could just wake me up.
"I didn't want to, alright? I just thought of going to the dining room myself and how did you know someone was opening the door? I did it as quietly as I could."
He indicated his hand to the tip of his tail, which was still at the door. Mary glanced at it and at Lucius.
"So...your tail is like an alarm?" Mary's voice stopped wavering as she spoke."Like you would know someone was breaking in even though you are sleeping?"
He nodded and then he wrote. Do you want to go get some food?
"No. I don't think so...Seeing your aggressive reaction made me lose my appetite."
Lucius's ears and tail were down, upset with himself for scaring Mary. Mary saw his sad expression and felt pity for him.
He was only trying to care for my safety and now he is upset because I was scared of him. I should make it up to him but how? Should I say I have my appetite now but what can that do? Can it really cheer him up? Should I try? Well...here goes nothing.
"Umm...Lucius."Mary spoke up, uncertain will it work. "I want some food. I'm hungry. Can we go to the dining room?"
Lucius's ears and tail stood up and the tip of his tail wagged slightly. He nodded and slithered to the door. He swung the door open and moved to the side, leaving a gap for Mary to leave.
Mary walked out of the door as he followed behind, he shut the door and both of them walked along the corridor to the staircase. After a while, they descended the stair and were walking to the dining room.
They moved along the corridor and were soon greeted by the same familiar double door.
Lucius pushed the double door. It swung open and both of them were greeted once again by the delicious aroma that filled the hall.
Mary sank onto a chair and began to gobble up some dishes, forgetting everything that happened just now.
While Lucius closed the door and slithered next to Mary. He took the seat next to her and took some meat with his hands.
Mary glanced at him and stopped shoving food into her mouth. She swallowed the food that she shoved into her mouth and slowly eat professionally for him to see.
Lucius gazed at her and ignored her actions. He continued to eat it with his hands, ignoring the utensils beside his plate.
Mary peeked at him and let out a sigh as she continued to eat without complaint. A few minutes passed and Mary was full. She laid back on her chair and rubbed her stomach, satisfied.
Lucius on the other hand was still eating, he took a glimpse at Mary and continued.
"So..." Mary asked. "What was life before you turn into an experiment?"
Lucius glanced at her, his eyes widened. He couldn't write nor hissed, his mouth was full and his hands were oily from the meat.
"Ah... never mind continued eating first. I was just asking something dumb. Don't mind me."
Lucius moved his oily hand to a glass cup filled with water. He grabbed it and drank. He swallowed the food and water. Then, he rushed to the sink to wash his hands.
He came back, wiping the water off his hands on his shirt. He sat down and began to write.