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

butterflies unfold throughout her as Rhulle filled her thoughts. She half wanted to take it off for the trial, thinking it would be brought up, Owen possibly reacting from the information.

She thought better, her ring gave her strength, drawing it from inside herself when she needed.

“You’re gonna have to explain yourself!” Avie turned, seeing the brunette gesturing towards her ring. She brought her hand up to silently ask if the object was what she was referring to. “Yeah, the ring, silly! How long has that absolute rock been on your finger?”

She lifted her eyebrows, pulling an apprehension laced face while she twirled the band around, “Well, uhh, I received it the same night I was shot.”

Sandy’s face practically paled, “No! Aww sugar, I’m sorry, I was just thinkin’ I didn’t even notice it all this time and last thing you need is me pesterin’ you about that night… Well, let’s not talk ‘bout it, you can explain this mystery man and why I haven’t met him later. Right now, you gotta get going, I’ll drive ya.”

Being ushered out the door and hopping into the truck, Avie stared back down to her gold band while being transported through the streets, a sigh escaping her as she longed to be with him instead.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t ya?”

Her head snapped up, catching Sandy’s brown side eyes and knowing smile, “I’ve never felt this way about anyone, I think he’s the same way. I’ve been in love with him for a while now.”

“You gonna tell me his name? I’ve met ‘most everyone in town, I want to see which one took your heart away.”

The woman smiled, “He isn’t in town, I have to go and visit him, or he comes to me.”

“Damn. That’s rough, sugar. It must be tough having to leave and deal with the oddity that happens ta people like you.”

Avie almost forgot about people essentially needing to stay in town. The vibrations plagued her even throughout her stay, wracked her body as she worked tirelessly to find the answer. She remembered what her first information source had said some time ago; about people experiencing the same feeling once they left Blacken for a period, always bringing them back in due time. She wondered how those individuals were affected now when Rhulle no longer needed to continuously call people to Blacken.

“I haven’t felt the—uhh—phenomenon any time I have left. Then again, I’m only gone a few days, so it might take longer. Who really knows?”

“If anyone could figure this stuff out, I thought it would be you. I don’t really know much about it, never bothered ‘cause it sounded so made up. But how could people with no contact with each other all feel the same pressurized ‘travel incentive’? And why to our town?”

“I think I got a few answers,” she laughed, “nothing interesting to warrant an end to the mystery.”

“I don’t know, been a bit since I’ve heard ‘bout anyone skippin’ town, you may have done more than you’re lettin’ on.”

A shoulder shrugged, nonchalant, “I would love to know what I did then, this whole thing was only a passion project.”

Sandra laughed, herself chiming in while they parked in front of the courthouse. It was small, like everything in town, only expanding outwards in a long shape with maybe two levels in all. Avie’s stomach tied in knots while she sat before its intimidating form.

If she could stand before an unknown creature of the night, she could do this easy.

“Once you’re done, I need to hear all ‘bout mystery man. You still haven’t told me his name, so I expect that at least. Call me when you’re done, I’ll pick you up.” Avie huffed out a long breath while the brunette patted her back, “You got this, sugar. Startin’ is the hardest, you just have to start.”

She nodded, determination lighting behind her eyes as she gained confidence through Sandra.

The woman stood outside of the blue truck, drinking in the building that seemed bigger than it was, waving a small goodbye to the driver before walking up to the double doors—boots clacking on pavement and a purse clutched in sweaty palms.

“Just have to start,” her mind repeated while opening the heavy door, walking in with her head held high.

Dappled grey stone made up a majority of the elegant hallways and flooring, gold intricacies laced throughout the stone and pillars as she walked through the professional building.

Despite the modern outside, inside of the courthouse styled a Romanesque fashion, older and more delicate areas showcasing its old age as it more than likely had been up and running with expansions added for numerous decades. Many arches and pillars lined the space where Avie walked, going through examinations and being directed to the courtroom.

The dark wooden doors opened, and she strode inside, placing a seat beside her victim service personnel.

She only met the man once before, introducing himself as Todd Harper with a firm handshake and soft chocolate brown eyes the night after she received the subpoena. His beard speckled russet and red while his long hair was sandy blond, clutches of freckles marked his tanned skin in a similar fashion to her own.

Todd smiled, flashing overlapping teeth as he ushered her to the reserved seat.

“There’s a chance they won’t call you up to the stand today, but still prepare to, just in case,” Todd whispered as he leaned over, “you doing alright, Avie?”

“A little nervous, but I’m ready.”

They nodded in response.

Owen had been brought in, adorning the bleak jumpsuit and handcuffs, his cerulean eyes finding hers immediately, as if waiting for her, seeking her and only her in the sea of people; watching only as he passed through the aisle before biting his cheek with gaze returning to the forefront.

Avie felt her heart squirm in her chest, unsure why she felt so apprehensive upon seeing him. Chalking it up to the fact both of them would be the only true dancers in this turn, one of them would plead a case greatly