𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕣𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟: 𝕂𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕣 ℚ𝕦𝕖𝕖𝕟

9.6K 370 18
                                        

Saturday night, Morticia proposed a movie marathon. "Just us girls," she offered with a wise smirk, perhaps knowing how Gomez's presence often put her on edge. "I was going to suggest this last night, but you disappeared on me."

Of course, Valentina had an excuse on the tip of her tongue. She prepared for this. "I thought it was time I finally explored the nearby town of Jericho. You were busy with extracurriculars anyway! I bet you didn't even miss me."

"I always miss you," Morticia countered. "Even when you're right beside me, it feels like you're miles away..."

Valentina... Didn't know how to respond to that, had no practiced response. After a long pause, she said, "I'm sorry for making you feel that way. I'll try to be more present in the future." She was looking down at her lap rather than up at the other girl, but she meant it.

Morticia reached out to stroke her cheek with the back of her hand. "I know you will, mon chou. We're having a rocky transition, but I promise the road will smooth out eventually. I've seen it in my visions."

Valentina wondered what exactly she saw but didn't want to pry. A psychic's visions were incredibly personal.

With snacks and blankets in their arms, the pair ventured down to Ophelia's rec room. It housed an enormous TV set, a VCR, and a mountain of tapes. They didn't appear to be in any sort of order. Some of them didn't even have their right sleeves. Going through them seemed like it would be a whole ordeal, so Valentina quickly pawned that job off on Morticia.

"I'm in the mood for whatever, so just pick three of anything." She said as she made herself comfortable, sitting criss-cross on the big, cushy sofa.

Morticia's answering smirk was an enigma. That was Valentina's only warning to backstep on her decision. But she didn't. She just smiled back, set the bowl of popcorn in her lap, and pulled a fuzziest blanket up to her chin.

It was only when she saw Morticia's selection that she understood. Friday the 13th, Aliens, Hellraiser... She had chosen three horror flicks.

Valentina hated horror. It was scary. But she didn't want to look like a baby in front of the older girl. That being said, she was dug into Morticia's side like a tick within fifteen minutes of the first movie.

"The 80s were an excellent decade for horror movies," Morticia said, like she was remarking on wines of a good vintage.

"I much preferred the neon colors and rollerskates growing up," Valentina whimpered as she hid her face behind her hands. But then she peeked through her fingers, rendering the gesture moot. Conversation was a good distraction from what was happening on the screen, though, so she continued, "Who would you be in if you were in a horror flick?"

"The killer," Morticia answered without hesitation.

Best not to dig too deep into that. "I think I'd be the idiot who gets killed first," Valentina joked, trying to laugh even though fear was making her throat tight.

"I don't think so."

"No?"

"No. You'd be the final girl."

"Who's that?"

Morticia turned her head away from the flickering screen, looked deep into her eyes as she explained, "The last girl alive to confront the killer... Ostensibly the one left to tell the story. And, often, the killer's obsession."

"Is that your way of telling me you wouldn't kill me if we were in a horror movie together?" Valentina teased.

Morticia gave her an alluring smile. There shouldn't be anything romantic about what she said. Romance and horror should never mix. But Valentina had the sudden urge to kiss her. Still, she hesitated a second too long. The moment passed. Morticia turned her attention back to the film.

Valentina was a mess of nerves by the end of the first flick. It wasn't over yet, though. She still had two other movies to get through.

Halfway through the third, the lights turned off.

Valentina screamed.

"Sh, sh, shhh," Morticia hushed, stroking her hair in a comforting manner. "It's alright! It's just a power outage."

"Wh--Why did the p--power g--g--go out?" Valentina needed to get a hold of herself. She was mewling like a newborn kitten.

"Likely because of the thunderstorm outside. In addition to the wind and lightning, it's freezing cold rain. Anything could have happened to the power lines." That made sense. "Let's grab our things and go back upstairs. It's almost curfew anyway."

It was best to just listen to Morticia, seeing as she was obviously the voice of reason between the two of them. If anything, Valentina was the voice of hysteria.

They changed into their pajamas before their little movie night, so there was no fumbling around in the dark for the right clothes. Morticia sat down at her desk and started working on something by candlelight. Valentina decided to just retire for the night.

But even the reassuring weight of Baphomet in her arms didn't soothe her. The scenes from the two-and-a-half horror films she watched were still fresh in her mind, appearing behind her eyelids as soon as she closed her eyes.

Keeping her eyes open wasn't a great option either, though. The flickering candle threw shadows all around the room. Every so often, she imagined she saw a man standing in the dark recesses of the corners. The longer she stared, the more concrete he became. Then the flame would throw a beam of light in that direction and he would disappear.

"Morticia?" Valentina asked at last, meek as a mouse. She still didn't feel comfortable enough to call the girl by pet names or even her nickname.

"Yes, mon bébé?"

"Can I sleep with you tonight?"

There was a beat of silence before Morticia turned around in her desk chair to look at her. The darkness covered her face like a shroud. Valentina could only imagine how pathetic her own expression was. "Only if Strawberry Milk Baphomet stays in your bed," she answered at last.

Leaving the plushie behind, Valentina all but scrambled out of her bed, across the room, and into the other girl's. She didn't know if Morticia favored the right or left side, so she laid in the middle of the mattress.

The pillows bore the same scent Morticia always wore, that of earth and purple flowers. Valentina buried her face in one and took deep breaths through her nose.

Without a visible clock, she lost all track of time, just watched Morticia scribble away at a few papers until her mind grew calm and her eyelids grew heavy.

𝕊𝕥𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕 ℂ𝕦𝕡𝕚𝕕 ➶Where stories live. Discover now