Night rolled around, it was wonderful having a bed to sleep in. even if it was in a county jail and the mattress was uncomfortable.
Everything was just about fine, Angelica and Carla had been sleeping in the same cell, while Liam and I slept in different ones to avoid arguing about who may or may not sleep on the top bunk for the night. It was peaceful, though a little cold, it'd been a day of stress and chaos. The faint scent of night-blooming jasmine spread through the room, outside, the rhythmic chirping of crickets added a backdrop to my thoughts. I couldn't pin down what had been going on. I lay in bed, my eyes fixated on the ceiling.
Through the window, a starry night stretched above, it made me wonder a little about this god. Was it evil? it couldn't have been, it had been helping me out up until now. I doubt I would've been able to win against that hoard without it. Then....what was its goal?
I was planning on thinking a little more, to try and truly grasp what in the world this...thing...was, but I was quickly snapped out of it by Liam suddenly calling out to me.
"Hey, Higa, You up?" Liam called out to me, his voice made it seem like he was also deep in thought, though not about the same thing I was. The darkness was so dense, it felt like a velvet curtain had been drawn across the world, swallowing everything in its deep folds, It made it nearly impossible to see his movements or actions, but it probably didn't matter much anyway.
I sat up a little, facing, my body to his cell, taking a small breath before nodding. "Yeah, I'm awake...what's up?" I called back to him, attempting to make my voice as quiet as possible to make sure the people who were already asleep stayed asleep. It wouldn't be fair if I woke everyone up right?
He seemed to be audibly hesitant to say what he wanted, seemingly thinking for a while before taking a sharp inhale through his teeth. "Higa....do you hate your dad..? for you know..causing all of this?" I could hear the blanket rustle as he whispered gently. "If your theory turned out to be true that is!" He quickly fixed his words, He probably didn't want the idea of my dad being the cause of the entire mess we're in to crush me but...I wasn't sure if I hated the man or not. On one hand, I no longer have an opportunity because of all of this, the zombies, the flowers, all of it. But on the other...the man raised me and my sister alone, with sleepless nights, stressful mornings, and moments when he would spoil us knowing we didn't have it like most people. It was difficult to ignore all of that and look over the fight that he wasn't the only one in his department. So I wasn't even sure it was him that did all of this. I'd be wrong to assume and put the blame on someone without knowing anything.
I know one thing for sure though..."I couldn't possibly hate that man, I may sound a little biased but...he's still my dad you know?" I crossed my arms and legs tilting my head to get a better view in the dark. The room was immersed in the soft glow of moonlight seeping through the bars of the window, creating a nice display of shadows that waltzed across the textured surface above.
I could hear Liam chuckle, the rustle of the blanket became a bit louder as he seemingly touched himself into bed and laid down. "Good, even after all of the badass killing you're still the same Higa..." He laughed a little more, his voice echoing through the halls as I resisted the urge to laugh along with him. "Good night, we should do this again sometime yeah? Talking with you has always been fun.." He settled into bed, seeming to fall asleep as quickly as he could.
It had effectively been by myself. It was easy to let my mind wander off at that point. I could imagine a plethora of things, from analyzing the reason the zombies died so quickly when they made contact with the silver on the glove, to the simplicity of just how much of a boost the zombies could've possibly gotten. Unfortunately, my spiraling had come to a halt after I started hearing footsteps approach my cell, they were slow and yet they sounded as if they were in a hurry.
"cold...coldcoldcold!" a slightly raspy voice repeated with panic in its tone, I had already gotten the gist of who it was but I wanted to wait a little before just to make sure. I was sure the zombies couldn't talk, so it had been human. A head peaked around the door of the cell, bright hair the gentle shade of delphiniums had fallen to the side of her head as she blinked a little. It was Carla, I didn't know why she was there but I knew it was her from the raspiness of her voice, it was contrary to her usual gentle one. "I-I can...Come in right...?" she asked, pointing over at me with a curious look in her eye.
I nodded, beckoning her in. I wasn't one to reject anyone, especially when I was in an open cell at a prison. She walked inside, her footsteps a bit graceful but still in a hurry as she stood next to the bunk. The moon's light intensified, her eyes were bathed in the silvered brilliance of the moon, and her eyes became a reflection, mimicking the gentle sight of the moon itself. The moon turned her eyes into reflective pools, mirrors that captured and echoed the silvery glow, honestly, calling them beautiful would be an understatement. I crossed my legs and looked down at her, watching her stare into my eyes somewhat inquisitively.
After a few minutes of purely staring, she pointed at me with a gaze of penetrating insight, she seemed to have gotten the gist of the situation effortlessly, her eyes sharp but not pushy or upset. "Ca-can I....sleep up there...like we used to do back then..? I had a bad dream s-so....yeah.." She was fiddling with the lining of the mattress, she looked almost like an occupated cat keeping itself busy as she waited for an answer.
I can't say it was expected, but I also couldn't say I was surprised. Carla, as far as I'm concerned, was a vulnerable girl. Since I've known her she's always needed at least a little bit of comfort, who knew what she might've been feeling after a close encounter like that?
I took a relieved sigh, patting the bed and taking out my phone from my pocket, it looked like the internet went out once the wave passed, and throwing it off the bed, I heard a rough crunch as it connected with the floor. I pat the thin mattress, letting her climb up as she lay on her side, not turning to look me in the eyes.