the night is cold and long

[Ryan de le Poer]

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Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone;
I'll be waiting.

Her stomach lurched, and she clamped her eyes shut as if it would somehow suppress anything from rising in her throat. Whatever Hybrid had brought from the city was delicious. So much so that Ryan had taken a bottle for herself, barely letting it leave her sight as she continuously took long swallows from it. She had gotten herself lost. Figures. Her own father had warned her about this place. He had told her not to get lost in the maze of the mansion. Until now, she had successfully avoided it, only to steal roses from the garden whenever she pleased.



The navy knitted blanket that had at one time been wrapped around her frame had long since been forgotten. Strewn in some room, somewhere, but too far out of reach for anyone in this state. She huddled in a ball behind a heavy piece of oak. She didn’t know the purpose behind this bureau, but it was making for a rather genius hiding spot (or so she thought). When Hybrid stumbled into the hall, a grin lit upon her features. Taking another quick swig from the bottle, she rose too quickly, and jumped out behind him. "Guess who!" She shrieked, wincing at the sound of her own voice. She giggled, tripped, and the bottle slipped from her fingers. Much to her relief, it didn’t break when it hit the floor, though the alcohol streamed out until the volume was level with the bottom side of the lip, which then made it seem like it would have a tiny constructed boat inside. Ryan wrapped her arms around Hybrid’s neck in attempts to stabilize herself, leaning heavily forward while her mind tried to recalibrate and set her back on track.

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