Harm and Harmony

-Chapter 73-

Day: 76

Days Left: 5404

Lives Saved: 0

Breathing in and out slowly, Harmony counted to ten in her head, preparing herself to talk to Corinna. After the countdown finished, she did not move, head bowed. She knew that she had to tell Corinna to leave. Their cohabitation wasn't working out. It would be best if Corinna stayed with Ivette instead.

Yeah...

She would be happy there.

Harmony remembered Corinna, Ivette, Sumit, and Rin all laughing and smiling. She hadn't seen Corinna smile like that for a while now.

Taking in one last short gulp of air, Harmony closed the bathroom door. Corinna sat in front of the fireplace, flicking through the pages of her notebook. Her body seemed to flinch as the bathroom door shut, but she did not turn around.

"Corinna?" Harmony stepped forward, only able to muster a croaking mumble.

The young woman slowly turned her head and looked up at the chimaera, her face expressionless and vacant like a porcelain doll.

Silence.

Harmony swallowed. No words escaped her mouth.

She knew that it would be for the best for Corinna to live with Ivette.

It would be best for both of them.

And yet she couldn't bring herself to do it.

The words remained on her tongue, refusing to be said.

Why?

Why can't I?

Lowering her head, Harmony asked, "can I join you?"

Her lips curling into a slight smile, Corinna nodded and patted the floor next to her.

Harmony shuffled over and slumped down onto the floor beside the young woman.

The two remained quiet, staring into the smouldering fire. Harmony breathed in, about to apologise when Corinna beat her to it.

"I'm sorry, Harm," said Corinna, her eyes focused on the fire. "I'm sorry that you didn't escape. But I think that it's too dangerous to go up that rock tower. You'll hurt yourself again. There are other portals, right?"

Harmony sighed. "Yeah, there are. But none are as convenient as this one. It's almost directly under it. I'll wear the harness next time, even when it's not windy. That'll keep me safe." She glanced over at the young woman and saw her blank and indifferent face, her eyes dull as if she was a mannequin.

Wrapping her arms around her legs, Corinna squeezed them tight, rocking forwards and backwards slightly. Then she lied her back on the floor and gazed up, stretching her arms upwards, casting long and dark shadows on the ceiling.

"What are you doing?" Harmony asked, attempting to lay back too, but it was painful due to her wings.

"Shadow puppets." Corinna grinned, creating different shapes with her fingers and hands. "See! Look, a cat."

Harmony laid on her side, resting on her elbow so she could look up at the shadow cat.

"But I can only do it like this," explained Corinna, showing the chimaera how she did it. "With it sitting down and its back facing away from us."

"How very rude of it."

"Yeah, cats are like that. I can also do..." Corinna moved her fingers. "A dog! Only its face though. It could be a jackal, like you."