for isnt_the_same

[chesstotem]

The night Ariadne met Aubrey, things didn't turn out as they were supposed to. It started out just fine - they met in the bar they'd agreed on, chatted inside for a while about nonsense like the weather, then stepped outside to talk business.

It was as though the dark figure had been waiting for them - Aubrey was right in the middle of a sentence when suddenly a tall figure swooped in out of nowhere and descended on her like a rabid dog. Ariadne screamed as the person - thing - whatever it was - ripped her throat out, and the next thing she knew she was running blindly back towards the street, something warm trickling down her temple. The time that followed was fuzzy - she knew she must've ran for a while, because she was out of breath, but then she was in a cab (the cabbie was giving her a funny look, maybe to do with that warm trickle), and then she was at a hotel, getting more funny looks as she stumbled into the elevator.

Then she was pounding on Arthur's door, praying to whatever gods might be listening that he was inside.

Comments

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur dozed off for a couple of hours before he realized he fell asleep. He'd need rest eventually, but not while Ariadne was still on edge.

[chesstotem]

She started to doze a couple of times, but every time she closed her eyes she saw Aubrey's face, startled and then slack; the blood; the shadowy figure that moved so quickly Ariadne barely saw it.

When she did relax enough to drop off, it didn't take long for the shadowy figure, dripping blood, to start stalking her nightmares. She was asleep for maybe an hour before waking with a frightened cry.

[isnt_the_same]

At her cry, Arthur looked up from his book. He started reading to keep himself awake. "Are you okay?" He asked, looking at her with concern.

[chesstotem]

She glanced around fearfully for a moment, her eyes finding Arthur's face. When she saw him, she took a shuddering breath, then turned back to the sofa, shivering a little. "I don't understand," she murmured.

[isnt_the_same]

"Don't understand what?" Arthur closed his book and set it aside on the coffee table.

[chesstotem]

"Who it was," she said. "Why it happened. Why her? Why us? Why like that?" She turned her head to shoot him a glance. "Not that you even believe me. Why should you care."

[isnt_the_same]

"Right, I'm going back to my book." Arthur picked up said book and opened it the the page he was last on.

[chesstotem]

She was silent for a while, and when she spoke again, her voice was once again small and frightened. "D'you think he knows who I am?"

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur looked up at her for a moment. "Maybe." Probably since she was suppose to be the mark, but who ever got there got the wrong girl.

[chesstotem]

She glanced at him again, just looking frightened. "What do I do?"

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur sighed again, but not out of frustration. "You let me take care of this."

[chesstotem]

"But what if he comes after you?" she whispered.

[isnt_the_same]

"Don't worry about me, alright?" He looked away from her and to his book.

[chesstotem]

"But I do," she said. "You don't even believe what I saw. What'll happen if he comes after you? I know Aubrey was armed; she didn't even have time to draw her weapon..."

[isnt_the_same]

"I'm more than capable handling anyone," he assured her. "So don't worry about me."

[chesstotem]

"No, you're not," she insisted. Picturing Arthur in Aubrey's place made her sick to her stomach. "Please, Arthur. Please. Don't - don't go looking for him."

[isnt_the_same]

"Ariadne," he said, raising his voice a little. "Go to sleep. And stop worrying. You'll only make yourself sick."

[chesstotem]

"I can't," she said helplessly. "What if he comes after you? I can't go to anyone else; why would anyone believe me?"

[isnt_the_same]

"Fine, I believe you, alright?" He scowled at her.

[chesstotem]

"No, you don't," she said, starting to cry again. "He'll kill you, Arthur. He'll find you, and tear your throat out, and then what will I do?"

[isnt_the_same]

He ran a hand down his face, got up, and walked over to her. "I promise you that nothing will happen to me or to you. Rest. You need it."

[chesstotem]

"I can't," she admitted tearfully. "Every time I close my eyes, I see it." She grabbed his hand, used now to the coldness of it. "Please don't leave me."

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur blinked at her before sitting down on the edge of the coffee table in front of her. "I won't leave."

[chesstotem]

She carefully kissed the back of his hand, just needing some contact with someone she felt like she could trust. "I care about you," she admitted hesitantly. "I could never stop worrying, because I care about you."

[isnt_the_same]

Arthur looked away. "I care about you, too, that's why I want you to stop worrying and let me take care of this."