Blacken by Alandra Rankin (i love reading books txt) 📕

the coffee table in front of them, standing and making his way to find something in the kitchen. Avie followed him, still taking sips of the dry wine in an attempt to not seem rude.

“It’s fine though, see?”

Opening the fridge, he ignored her words, crouching in the doorway and searching its contents. “Hrm, what if we threw some fruit in it? That’s fancy, right? Might help the taste,” he wondered aloud.

Avie couldn’t respond.

The blond waited a few seconds. Realizing he wasn’t getting a reply, he stood upright and turned to face her with an eyebrow cocked, watching in that moment as her shaking hand fell numb and glass slipped through her fingers.

“Avie?”

The glass dropped and shattered on the linoleum, Owen hastily moving around the door of the fridge to get to her, mindful of the broken pieces. Her distant expression caused immense worry to wash over him as it showcased to her, blurred in all his motions.

She went numb, her mind reeling into overdrive and causing everything around her to suddenly halt, caught up in the slew that was her psyche.

Owen grasped at her shoulders, “Avie! Avie, c’mon, talk to me, what’s happened? What’s wrong?” He tilted her chin up with a gentle thumb and finger, causing her eyes to meet his.

“It’s back. The vibration. It’s fucking back,” she eventually stammered out, eyes wide in an internal panic.

“What do you mean? It’s impossible! How the hell do you mean it’s back?”

“I don’t know, I just feel it! The same as it was when I had to be here. What does it mean, Owen? What does it mean?!”

Avie was terrified. All the conspiracy theories conversed in the past few days littered there in her mind. They mingled with the foreign feeling, the itching underneath her skin that she knew all too well. It didn’t make any sense; everyone had it stop when they came into town…. She was still in Blacken!

Were there actually little green men responsible? Were they coming to take her away?

Were they going to kill her?

“Whoa, whoa, breathe now, Avie. I’ve got you. I’m here. There are never any witnesses to the disappearances, remember? No one’s going to take you away, you’re going to stay right here. We will figure this out,” Owen spoke as if reading her fears. The thoughts inside her racing as fast as the frequency drummed through her circulatory system.

He breathed with her, trying to get her to calm.

Deep breath in, let it go, repeat.

He held her face in his hands and kept direct eye contact.

Avie’s breathing started to slow by mimicking the man in front of her, just his presence being a huge help with calming down the intruding thoughts. God. She wouldn’t know what she would have done if she was alone.

Owen’s hands moved, readjusting the woman’s arms to rest around his shoulders before picking her up. She made a noise, not expecting the action, and before she could ask what was going on, she was set down on the couch.

“Stay and relax, I’m going to get you some water, I’ll be right back.”

She tried to focus on a spot across her, the buttercup walls and macramé plants strung up swirled around each other unless she absolutely focused her vision. Grabbing the afghan from the back of the couch, she wrapped it around her shoulders just as Owen returned. Avie sipped on the cold liquid as he sat beside her, rubbing small circles on her back.

“Was it something to do with the alcohol?”

“I don’t think so, I’ve had a few drinks before, and nothing happened then. Damn it, I can still feel it. Could it really be something beyond our comprehension? Why is my experience with this different from everyone else’s?”

“Whatever is happening, the rabbit hole goes deeper than expected. This opens up way more questions. I’ve got a heating pad; do you think it might help?”

Avie nodded, wanting to try anything to relieve the pressure.

The blond returned with medication and a warm bag, giving her a massage to try and ease the stress and lift some of the vibrating that wracked her body. It took a few hours of distractions and trials, but eventually, the feeling tapered off, much to their relief.

“I’m sorry,” she spoke from his shoulder.

“Hm? What for?”

“I feel like I ruined the night, we were supposed to be celebrating.”

Owen turned, she readjusted to see his face, “You don’t have to be sorry, Avie. You didn’t do anything wrong. This is an awful thing that makes you uncomfortable. It took over. All I want is for you to feel better. The night isn’t ruined, just interrupted.”

She smiled, relieved at his words. The guilt hit her hard over the fact she couldn’t do what they originally planned for the evening, all she wanted to do was have a break and a fun night, but it turned into an ordeal.

“Can we watch a movie? And maybe I can have some of that wine with fruit?”

Owen chuckled, “Absolutely.”

They watched an old movie, the hours dwindling into the early morning as they finally enjoyed each other’s company, the sensation finally long passed.

Owen mulled around the small space, looking for an appropriate place to set the box he cradled in his arms.

“Would just anywhere for these be alright?”

Avie watched from where she made up her bed in the next room, seeing him struggle with the heavy box, “Yes, that can go anywhere! Thank you!”

She smoothed out creases from the satin sheets, glancing out the window, finding that the line of the forest met on the other side of the street. The redhead grabbed an empty box before standing to meet Owen in the living space, looking in tentative apprehension at the mess she would have to sort on the wooden floor.

A multitude of boxes littered the small space, they piled up on furniture and counter space, leaving the floor a maze to weave in and around. Avie had been able to pick up a few items for her new apartment, as well