The Shadow Circle

Chapter-13

It was about 2 AM when Julian finally gave in to the exhaustion. The papers that I'd stashed down my dress were itching uncontrollably. Julian pulled over at a gas station and I got out. The street lamps flickered. Julian decided to fill gas while I'd sneaked off to use the restroom. My skin thanked me as I removed the papers from the front of my dress and dumped them in the backpack. The makeup I'd put on for tonight's rendezvous had smeared everywhere, making me look the the lovechild of Marilyn Manson and Harley Quinn.

"You look like shit," a feminine voice echoed in the empty stalls. I jumped.

"So do you," I told Elizaveta. She did fare better than me though, her hair was messed up but her makeup hadn't been melted off by a blast of heat.

"We need new clothes," I said. I wrinkled my nose. My clothes were starting to stink from the sweat and everything is put it through.

Elizaveta washed her face in the sink, smearing her makeup as well. She handed me a tissue and used one for herself to wipe the makeup off. I did the same.

"I don't know how he saw us," Elizaveta said.

"It's okay, this was that idiot Kai's idea," I lied.

We didn't speak for a while as we fought with our skin to relinquish its hold on the make-up. I somehow did sense a sense of kinship which almost made me feel guilty for the entire thing.

Almost.

Suddenly Kai and Julian stepped into the stall.

"This is the girls washroom," I said. "You shouldn't be here, unless there's something I don't know...?"

"You need to get us new clothes," Kai said.

"Nope," Elizaveta and I replied in sync.

"Seriously," Julian insisted.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because... you'll see," Julian said and shifted nervously.

"Fine," Elizaveta said. "But I'm not going alone."

I reluctantly walked out with her. The air between us was filled with tense silence. It made me very uncomfortable.

"Well," I said. "At least we got out alive."

"Yeah," she muttered. "Are you a pyro?"

"Excuse me?"

"Are you a pyromaniac? You really don't seem bothered by flames," she continued.

"I don't think so," I frowned. "Maybe I am. So what?"

"Nothing, trying to make conversation," she said.

We walked into the tiny store at the station. I picked a hideous orange Anime shirt for Kai and some black pants to go with. They were probably too big for his frame but eh. Elizaveta was a bit pickier. When we were done, we picked out clean clothes for ourselves. I usually never wore dresses but they seemed way more comfortable than jeans.

"Lazy shits," Elizaveta muttered as we walked towards the cashier.

"I'm getting food," I told her.

She absently waved at me to hurry up. Obviously, by food I mean 'candy'. I raided the candy section, I even grabbed some protein bars and lots of water so I could somewhat claim I was eating healthy.

"Kestrel," Elizaveta snapped. "Hurry up."

"Are you PMSing?" I snapped back. I thought we were making progress with the 'not killing each other' bit. I walked up to her slowly. She kicked my ankle as she handed over my purchases to the cashier with a smile.