Outside, Akeno sat on the grass, looking ahead at the far plains. The sky was a lid of cloud, the light beneath it flat and filtered.
She sat in silence, her fingers rubbing and brushing the grass blades. A sigh escaped her. She grasped a blade of grass and ripped it from the ground, tossing the blades away.
She shifted, her fingers finding the tightness of muscle in her abdomen.
She pinched the skin, wincing. It was the same coiled feeling she'd get waiting for her mother to return late at night, listening for a step that never came.
"It feels tense."
She leaned back on the grass. The air rushed over her, cool and insistent, carrying the scent of damp earth. But it may have not been just a gentle breeze.
Behind the cottage, the door opened and Gracie stepped out. The clothes on the line flapped in the building wind.
She pulled her sleeves up and began working down the line. Her fingers brushed the fabric of a tunic, still damp. She folded it over her arm. The next garment, a pair of trousers, was dry. She transferred it to her shoulder.
Her eyes lifted to the sky. It was cloudy, but she saw no true sign of a storm.
There must be, if she's the one saying.
Her gaze drifted from the sky to scanning the plains. That girl. What she might be doing right now?
Gracie's hand glides through the line of clothes, selecting and arranging them by their dampness and dryness.
She must be hungry. In the midst of Alina's interrogation I forgot to ask her for breakfast.
Her finger tries to undo a handkerchief which was tied together on its own to not fly away with the wind.
She was sleeping while we ate.
She struggles to undo it, but when she does it falls. "Tch"
Gracie bends and picks up the handkerchief and aggressively shakes it.
Gracie hurriedly picks up the clothes, both hers and the ones belonging to Alina, then reaches the undergarments. She picks her own, pinching them by her finger.
She stops in front of the undergarments that belonged to Alina.
… No. I'm not gonna touch that.
With that she walks off and back inside the cottage.
Inside some noises from the kitchen. She peaks in and sees Alina, plating.
Is that for Akeno? Must be.
Without asking Gracie goes to a different room, empty except for some chairs and an old dusty bookshelves. Inside there was also a clothesline with nails on the walls.
She hangs the wet clothes from her arm and stretches them. The space was already occupied for one of her T-shirts.
This one would be in my room.
Akeno was muttering to herself when a soft friendly voice cut through the air from behind her.
"Hey, Akeno."
She turned. Alina stood in the cottage doorway, waving her inside with a smile.
"Come" saying just that, Alina went back inside the cottage.
What is she calling for?
Her own question echoed in the silence Alina had caused. The simple command felt like a hook to her chest and the instinct told her not to go.
Akeno looks at her bandaged feet, the memory of Gracie's hand was warm while the memories of Alina felt cold.
Is she gonna ask more questions?
Her body stiffens as she recalls the previous interrogation. A moment of silence later she got up.
But I shouldn't ignore her.
She wore her slippers and looked at her hand, covered in dirt. I must wash it fast. Quick, she's waiting.
With that in mind and rushes, not runs and walks fast and steady to the handpump. As she washes her hand a thought pops up.
What does she want?
After washing she rubs her hand together. As she does she glances around and sees the clothesline. With some garments.
Whose is that?
She didn't get much time to think as another voice came. "Akeno! Where are you?" "Wait!"
She called back as she rushed to the front door. She opens the door to see Alina half sitting on the table with her arms crossed.
"What took you so long? I had called you, you heard?" She tilts her head.
Akeno jerks a bit, "O-oh y-yeah. I… I went to wash my hand–"
"Hygienic huh? Good enough." Alina's eyes never left Akeno's. Though, Akeno couldn't keep her eyes up.
Alina taps on the table, "This is yours." saying that she steps aside to which Akeno saw a plate of food.
Rice, veggies and a boiled egg.
Alina snaps her finger, "It's not good to stand in front of the door. The spirits may get mad."
Akeno frantically steps inside. "S-sorry" She slightly bows and recalls the earlier bow towards Gracie.
Would she dismiss me just like Gracie?
No. Aline didn't.
Alina again taps on the table. This time, it was a bit louder.
Upstairs. Gracie places her wet T-Shirt on the wooden chair of her room. She turns to look out at the horizon by her window and far away sees some dark clouds.
Her breath itches.
She was right. She always is.