Lucian POV

I was on the verge of sleep when I heard the screaming coming from the next room. In all honesty, I didn’t want to get up – I was exhausted from doing nothing all day because, that’s very tiring.

I think.

“I’ll kill you! I swear I will!”

Now what’s happening? My eyes lit up mischievously, was that hot chick scolding someone again? I needed the latest scoop – I had to get in on this.
I jumped out of bed, it was so dark that I couldn’t see where I was going. I bumped into several things and, likewise, let out several curses. Preparing myself into acting smooth and casual I opened Valarie’s door, holding a candle I found on my night stand.

The feel was so creepy that I almost closed it immediately – a dark room filled with quiet sobs? No thank you. But maybe, just maybe, the sobs were coming from the person she scolded – in which case, thank you so much. I moved further into the room and my eyes narrowed in confusion.

Valarie was on the floor, in the corner, clutching a broken piece of vase – so hard that she was bleeding – and aiming it at her neck. She kept muttering, “Michael baby” over and over again. I could tell that she most certainly wasn’t okay.

I left the room and knocked on Will’s door as – currently – he seemed to be the second in command. Despite him not liking me. Something about me trying to steal his man or some overly romantic notion.

Matt was the one who opened the door, looking flustered.

“Uh, I was looking for Will. I must have the wrong room?” I intended it to come out as a statement but it manifested as a question. Damn tonight I‘m the personification of awkward…

“What is it Lucian?” I heard Will ask. Oh, so they’re sharing a room. Once again my eyes lit up from the hot gossip. I needed to remember this in the morning. But for now…

“Yeah, so, err, Valarie is like aiming a sharp piece of vase at her neck and, like, I don’t know what to do?”
Suddenly Matt rushed past me, basically pushing me aside. I scoffed.

Can you spell rude?

Then Will did the exact same. I ignored the feeling of uselessness because I really didn’t know what to do. Do I offer her chocolate – even though we don’t have any?

I followed them to her room and saw Matt holding her down as she screamed and kicked. Struggling against his hold. But, ultimately Matt was much stronger than Valarie. She was a mess – crying so loud.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped a bit, but it was just Gloria with tears in her eyes.

“She has episodes like these, that’s why killing Cannibals was so important to her…"

I looked back at the subdued Valarie – she cant kill Cannibals anymore because they were now clustered into a horde. Poor thing – I guess. I mean, I don’t get why people are so serious, Will, Valarie even Matt. I mean, sure, we could die, but that’s that. There’s no need to take it so seriously – certainly not to the point of psychotic episodes.

I shrugged, there’s nothing here I could do. I did my part by calling for help – anyway I thought that’s what I did. If I made things worse… tough luck.

_______________________________________

It was so freaking hot. I could hardly breathe – the humidity covered me like a blanket. Nonetheless, I got up and did my morning routine. Which basically consisted of cleaning my mouth with mouthwash – since there was no longer running water. I think I missed that the most. Running water. As in, you could take baths and not constantly be caked in filth and sweat.

Valarie always seemed clean – I should ask her how she does it. But maybe not right now…

I left my room and proceeded down stairs – this house really was huge and luxurious and I loved it. We had so much food on reserve, tons of canned goods and water galore. The house was stocked to utter satisfaction. We were all content here. The Fence kept us safe – thick black metal designs planted into slabs of concrete. It was far away from the house but not too far – we could see a threat coming from the second story.

Once I got down to the lounge I noticed Will and Matt sitting awfully close to one another. Almost on top of each other – it was sweet but I still wanted the details.

“Hey guys!” I said enthusiastically – hoping a friendly approach would work.

They stared at me with bored eyes.

I came, I saw, I made it awkward.

I cleared my throat, getting ready for round two. “So last night was pretty intense, wasn’t it ?”

Will didn’t look at me as he said, “It was inevitable, a person can only bottle up so much emotion. Soon the bottle has to overflow”

Gotcha!

I put my hands at the back of my head in a relaxed manner – feigning innocence. “So Matt, didn’t Val say we should all be in our own rooms? Why were you in Will’s?”

Pink dusted across Matt’s tan skin and the same pink appeared on Will’s pale skin.

I knew it!

Matt cleared his throat, “I needed to ask Will somethi-“

I interrupted him before he could continue, “ You needed to ask him if you could stuff his turkey, didn’t you?” My eyes narrowed in delight and a mischievous smile sketched across my face.

Matt and Will both coughed in surprise, “No, definitely not!” He said in defence.

“Oh so Will stuffed your turkey then? I never picked you as the type but no judgment dude.”

Matt’s face grew pinker, “If anyone is stuffing Will's turkey, its me!” He basically yelled.

Just at the right moment Gloria appeared. She looked so excited it was heart warming.

“We found turkey?” She asked in utter excitement.

Will cleared his throat, “Lucian is being stupid, Gloria. Sorry to get your hopes up.” 

I snickered internally. It was so much fun being with these serious people – they’re rattled so easily. They’re like a family – and I’m a member. I owe all that to Valarie.

I just hope she’ll be okay. She hasn’t come out of her room yet – and I don’t expect her too any time soon. But what did she see? What could possibly get under Valarie's skin?