The Mysterious Rattle 03

 Original Idea: Sophiie93

Copy Editor: Leena  

“Th-thanks” Melay said with a small smile. She got up off the muddy ground to meet James’s gaze. “Uh….”

“James” he said, smiling back. 

“Nice same” Melany’s right head said with a grin. However, James could tell it was a fake smile. Her left head still looked worried and scared. He figured they were wasting time here and should probably just leave.

He tugged on Melany’s hand trying to lead her out of the house, but she did not want to move. “Wait… my things. I have some food and clothes and…” 

James cut her off, patting her right head softly. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you more food and clothes. Right now we have to get out of here.” 

One of Melany’s heads nodded while the other looked behind her, as if saying goodbye to her old broken home. When they finally got outside, James lent Melany his coat. He looked for his friends’ van, but only saw tire tracks. “This is a problem…” he said. “My house is about ten minutes from here. I know the rain is bad but do you think you can make it?”

Melany meekly nodded with both heads. They both walked, Melany clutching tight to James’s side, hiding herself in her coat. Police cars and fire trucks roared past them halfway through the walk. Melany jerked back in fear.

“It looks like someone else called 911” James said. “Thank goodness, there’s gonna be debris flying around everywhere. You know… they could help you. Find you a good place to live. Is there a reason why you are so scared?”

Melany didn’t answer. “I understand. You don’t have to say anything” James reassured her.

By the time they had reached James’s house the rain had died down. James started digging in his pockets for his keys while Melany looked at the front door as if it were the gates of paradise. It was no mansion, but it was warm, comforting, safer than the old abandoned manor she lived in.

“Come in!” James said with a smile. Melany hurried inside tracking mud in from the front door. The change in temperature was immediately noticeable. Sweet sweet warmth. She hadn’t felt like this in years. She just stood there, soaking up the heat, waiting for James to tell her what to do next. She was surprised when he took a towel and started drying her hair.

“Wow, your hair is super long” he laughed. “And super wet.” 

“Y-yes” Melany squeaked out. She kept her hands at her sides, afraid to make any sudden movements.

“You need to take a shower, come here” James said motioning to the bathroom. 

Melany felt a little lost. She wasn’t sure what comforts she should take part in. She almost felt guilty, like she didn’t deserve it. She just obeyed everything James said. He directed her into the shower and turned on the water. 

James left the room to let her get clean. She disrobed and stepped into the gentle hot water which relaxed her aching muscled. “CLACK” She heard the door closed. Was James spying on her!? She immediately curled up in a ball until she heard…

“Make sure to close the door. You’ll let the cold air in. I’ll find you some clean clothes.”

Melany was starting to feel more at ease. Maybe James was just a nice person. Maybe she had nothing to worry about. 

The hot shower felt like a dream. It fell over her head, down her necks, across her body, releasing all the tension stored in her. She had her eyes closed, just enjoying the feeling of something other than the cold air. It felt like hours before she heard a knock at the door again.

“Melany? I’m just going to leave your clothes here.” Melany poked a head outside the curtain to see James dropping off a pile of fresh clothes and a towel. 

“Thank you!” she replied in an excited and grateful tone. She took the shampoo and washed her hair, scrubbed her body, it was so long since she had been clean.

James sat on the sofa after drying himself off. It was then that the situation started to sink in. A strange mutant he just met was showering in his house. “Well… I couldn’t just leave her there” he thought… convincing himself that this was the right thing to do.