𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝔼𝕀𝕃 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝟙

“Zaphira the pizzas ready!” Blane called from the stairs

“Coming!” I hollered as left the room the smell of pizza getting stronger as I made my way to the kitchen.

“Smells good, smells not burnt,” I said as he grabbed a plate from the table.

“Ha-ha, I’m not exactly sure what you guy’s problem is with cooking pizzas but your oven seems to work fine maybe it’s the person cooking it.” He joked as he sat at the table and slowly munched on his pizza.

“Or maybe it’s just the pizza,” I said as I came to the table with my three slices of pizza. “I think the pizza has a personal vendetta against me,” I said defensively. We sat in silence for a moment as we ate the pizzas.

“A vendetta against your entire family? Mira couldn’t cook a pizza to save her life either.” Blane finally said as he reached for his glass.

“Never heard of a family vendetta.”

“I’ve heard it throughout history is not uncommon for something to curse an entire family in this case it would be the God of frozen pizzas.” I spoke.

“Do you hear yourself when you speak? The God of frozen pizza you watch way too many documentaries.” He said as he went back to eating his pizza. I frowned at him before going back to my pizza the long awkward silence as we ate.

“Maybe the God of Pizza wouldn’t have a vendetta if you didn’t cook them every so often.” Blane teased.

“I am not giving up pizza I don’t care how badly the God of pizza hates me it’s delicious,” I said determined as a ate another slice of pizza and looked directly at the ceiling as if God himself was staring at me.

“Right, anyway I’m going to go borrow the bathroom try not to piss off any God while I’m gone,” Blane said as he picked up his plate and moved towards the sink. I watched annoyed as he left the kitchen leaving me alone with the dishes.

“I can piss off whatever gods I want,” I mumbled as I finished my food and put my plate in the sink, and ran the water.

I listen to the sound of the rain from the window the lights blocking out the darkness of the storm outside. I do hope that there okay. I thought as I scrubbed the plates.

My mind a blank as I thought of mom and dad, the fear that water would destroy their stones and carry them out into the ocean leaving them forever in the ocean surrounded by fish.

I really do hope that nothing happens and that there still where they were placed years ago.

I could hear the sound of water draining and the bathroom door opening as I made my way to the living room.

I cozied up on the couch watching the news as the TV switched from the weather forecast and the map of the country, a story arresting in the corner just above Mur Haven.

“Hey, Zaphira?” Blane said As I flipped the channel from the news.

“Know what we should do?” Blane asked as he came down the stairs. I turned to glance at him, he was wearing one of my father’s old T-shirts and pajama bottoms his hair drenched as it dripped down the side of his neck.

“Get you a towel?” I asked as I watched the white shirt slowly go from white to grey.

“We should watch that movie that we planned to watch a week ago the one with Sean Olson and Malia Richardson.” He said as he plopped down on the couch beside me.

“Haunted Village?” I added as I looked at him perplexed.

“Yeah, that one! He said ecstatically. I heard it recently came out on Cyber stream.” He said excitedly as he grabbed the TV remote and switched HDMI’s

“Wait seriously! I’ve been waiting forever for it to get there. I’ve been watching it on YouTube this entire time, but I’ve been having to hunt the episodes down one by one since they don’t have a full playlist,” I said as I watched Blane log into our Cyber stream account. My heart almost dropped as I saw haunted Village as a new arrival, listing all the seasons.

“Yes, we should watch this,” I said stoked practically hopping on the couch.

“Okay haunted Village it is,” he said as he rose from the coach putting the show on and then pausing it. “So, did you buy soda? And snacks when you went grocery shopping?” Blane asked as he slowly rose to his feet.

“Yeah, soda is in the fridge and chips are in the cupboard,” I said got up from the couch, and moved to a cabinet along the wall pulling out the big fluffy blanket.

Blane came back with the snacks as I jumped over the back of the couch onto the cushion, the blanket falling on top of me, I could hear Blane laughing as the cans touched the table with a clink.

“You never change, always getting excited over TV shows.” He stated as he pulled the blanket off my head.

I said nothing as I pushed play and grabbed the bag of chips from his hand, Blane looked at me for a moment before shrugging and reaching for his soda.

We were almost halfway through the eighth episode when the power went out, the only sound was of the storm that howled outside, the windows rattling ferociously against the frames.

“Looks like the storms getting bad,” Blane said as he went to the window pressing his face against the glass as he peered through. I stumbled my way feeling for the drawers.

“Yeah, it sounds like it is do you think your parents are going to be okay?” I asked as I found the candles.

I put the candles down to feel for a lighter when I remembered my phone.

How could I have forgotten I had a cell phone?

Feeling my way back to the couch I patted my surroundings until I could feel my phone case.

That’s so much better than walking around in the dark hoping not to bring into something. I thought as I turned on the flashlight walking towards the drawers and pulling away the lighter.

“I’m sure my parents are doing fine,” Blane said as he turned on his flashlight.

“Do you think we’ll be able to go to school tomorrow?” I said trying to sound enthusiastic about it though inside I was praying to God the storm never ended.

“Doesn’t look like it I mean, if there is a flood outside… depending on how bad it is I don’t think anybody is going to be leaving their houses for a little bit it being too dangerous to drive,” Blane said.

“Do you think we should call it for tonight? I know it’s late as it is but I’m not exactly tired.” I said.

Blane looked at me for a moment then made his way slowly towards the stairs.

“If you can go see Mira then I would suggest you get some sleep now because it won’t be very long before they open the school if people can go outside,” Blane said as he made his way up the stairs.

“Good point, I don’t exactly want to regret it when I have to wake up at eight in the morning,” I said as I started to follow him.

“Just remember leave your door open if I have to get to you quickly it will be a lot easier with the door already open,” Blane added before turning towards my parents’ room.

“I know the drill don’t worry,” I said rolling my eyes before turning towards my bedroom.

“Night Zaphira!” Blane hollered from across the hallway.

“Night Blane! I hollered back as I crawled into bed.

I wonder what is in the box, should I… No, I’m not going to be tempted whatever mom doesn’t want me to know I won’t know I refuse to know.

I stared at the ceiling blinking a few times as my heart churned in my chest many feelings welling up as I tried not to think of them.