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Jan. 5th, 2023 23:52
Midnight melody
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overmoreNights in the manor were one of the things Andrew didn’t dislike much. The sounds that filled the house were now finally gone, with the occasional tick of the grandfather clock being the only thing keeping it from being completely without of sound. It made the survivor finally feel at peace after the long day of participating in those games. Now was finally the time to rest for a bit, sleeping the night away without having someone try and talk to him more than he’d like and without being chased by a hunter.
Unfortunately for tonight, the sleep didn’t come to him at ease.
These nights happened from time to time, making it impossible for Andrew to get a good night's rest without doing something first. Whether it was a walk around the manor or just going to get some tea, it didn’t matter. It was enough to help him sleep.
Others didn’t seem to struggle with this, so it must’ve been God’s punishment for all the things he’d done wrong. At this point there was nothing he could do but pray for forgiveness, hoping one day he’d deserve it. Until then, he’d have to walk through the manor, hoping to fall asleep by that.
Tonight, the halls are empty like always. The moonlight was the only thing giving them light, laps that were scattered through the halls turned off long ago. Walking like this felt a lot more natural to Andrew, already used to always being active at night before coming here. During the way he kept himself away from the sun as much as he could. His skin was so easy to get damaged and even when he was fully covered he’d refuse to go out unless necessary. Luca tried to get him out of his room more than once to just be around others, but he had failed every time.
Andrew was aware that he meant good, that he wanted him to just not stay alone the whole day, but he couldn’t. Not just because of the sun, but because he couldn’t think anyone would want to be around him.
Compared to the others, he looked like a freak. A monster. A ghost. Who would want to be around someone like that?
Andrew stopped in front of a window. It was opened, letting in the cold night air, making the always warm manor slightly cooler for a brief moment. He wasn’t aware these could be opened. The bedroom ones were fine (he’d witnessed Emma climb to the rooftop more than once through them) but the ones near the main door were impossible to open. After witnessing this, maybe they were just too old so the owners of the manor just made sure they cannot be opened so that no one would damage them until they decided to replace them with new ones.
He pulled the window handle, cool air now hitting his face, looking out into the night. Everything seemed so peaceful. To think that in a couple of hours, all of this will disappear, replaced by the loud noises of hunters and other survivors, peaceful night gone until the sun sets again. Andrew wished he could stay like this forever, his eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the nature, the wind, the violin-
Wait a second.
Andrew opened his eyes, looking down at the garden. Emma had decorated it herself, flowers and other plants making the previously empty space look a lot more pleasing to the eyes. In the middle of it stood a figure playing the violin in the middle of the night.
He had heard of the violinist. The hunter that everyone seemed to be wary of, somewhat the same way they were of Hastur or Yidhra, though not because of an inhuman appearance or difficulty escaping from during a game.
They had called him odd, from what he knew. A human who had sold his soul to the Devil, the rumors said. Andrew knew better than to try and approach someone like him. They had yet to meet in a game, so it made sense they had never seen each other. He could only see him from the back now, dark hair covering his entire body. He couldn’t tell from his current position, but he seemed tall. The best he had to compare him to was the chair not far from the hunter, but that thing was small compared to everyone, so the only way to tell was to be near him.
Suddenly, the music stopped.
At first, he had thought the violinist was done and was to go back in for the night, but he didn’t move. Instead, he turned around, looking up right at Andrew.
How had he seen him? Did he have an ability that could tell him that? But no one was able to use any of their abilities outside of games!
He stood there, frozen, looking at the hunter, unsure of what to do next. Truly, he should’ve just stopped looking when the hunter looked at him, but what should he do after that?
Before he could think of an action, the violinist gestured with his hand. Andrew couldn’t see well, but it seemed like he was telling him to come down?
He then also realized that he wasn’t holding his violin. His other hand was down, and the violin was being played by his hair this whole time. Others definitely seemed to be right about the whole ‘sold his soul to the devil’ thing. There were a lot of weird hunters here sure, but most of the ones who could do things like this were either dead or not human. This hunter didn’t seem like either of those at first glance at least.
Andrew swallowed hard, moving away from the window, now closing it. He could just go back to his room. Nothing should really happen to him. The hunter wasn’t aware of who he was and it’s not like there was a reason why he would try to find his room.
Still, the grave keeper doesn’t go back to his room but rather uses the stairs that lead down.
As Andrew entered the garden, he could finally spot the hunter’s height. As he had expected, the man was tall, much taller than others. He was taller than both Jack and Michiko, and his hair made him seem even larger.
“What does the grave keeper do at this time of the night?”
How the heck did he even know who he is!?
He feels his heartbeat quicken as the hunter approaches him. Andrew had to look up, trying to maintain eye contact, but he’s not sure if he could do that for long.
Violinist’s eyes were not visible due to his hair covering them. The one noticeable thing about his face was his smile which seemed to be present at all times.
“How do you know who I am?”
“Do you think hunters don’t talk with each other? It’s good to know about other survivors even if we haven’t encountered them yet. And your appearance is hard to miss.”
Andrew can’t look at him anymore. His head moves away, looking at the flowers next to them.
He looked like an idiot. Just like he knew who violinist was, it was obvious that he’d know about Andrew too. While most didn’t have much knowledge on what hunters did in their spare time, it would be stupid to assume they wouldn’t help each other deal with survivors. Even if they didn’t know their actual names, they knew who they were based on what they used to do before coming here. Not to mention that Andrew was the one with albinism therefore easier to spot than anyone else.
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
Andrew couldn’t look back. “I’m just out for a walk. What would you be doing here?”
“Practising. The hunter side of the manor knows to be a bit more lively at night compared to the survivor’s side.”
There was no rule that forbid hunters and survivors to go to each other sides, but most people didn’t dare do it. That little girl liked who liked to play with the boy hunter was the only one who would go there enthusiastically. Everyone else would be tense at even thinking that someone had to go to the other side.
“Why did you want me to come here?”
“It’s unusual to see anyone of the survivors up at this hour. Most of your people are asleep by now”, he said as he moved away, sitting down on the garden chair. “I have never seen anyone wander around at night like this.”
This was the first time Andrew had seen a window open in the hall, so there was a good reason why he hadn’t seen anyone. He doubted the hunter would bother wandering in the halls on the survivor side of the manor unless he wanted something from one of them.
“I sometimes take a walk when I can’t sleep. Tonight there was an open window so I looked out and heard your music. I didn’t think you’d see me though.”
“It’s not hard when you feel like someone’s watching you. Considering it had helped me in the games more than once, it wouldn’t fail me again.”
So, it had nothing to do with his hunter abilities but everything with just regular human sense?
“If you want to say and listen, it’s fine. I don’t mind company.”
He had hesitated at first. The hunter was definitely an odd one, with his hair like that and just the fact that he was out here playing music. Truly, Andrew should just go back to his room and try to fall asleep. Or maybe make some tea in the kitchen and then try to fall asleep.
Instead, he sat down next to the hunter on the bench.
He was still in disbelief that his hair was moving, but seeing it in from of him, this close, made sure that he wasn’t in fact just seeing things badly from afar. Maybe he was possessed by a demon as others said. Or even worse, he was a demon but he just hid that.
Would God forgive him for voluntarily spending time with a demon?
The music once again filled the garden, Andrew once again getting the feeling he had felt just a bit prior at the window. The gentle breeze, the violin, the moonlight, the sounds of nature. It had mixed so well together that it felt like a lullaby. Andrew could close his eyes and just fall asleep right there and then. He shouldn’t, obviously, but he could close his eyes for a second, right? After this, he could just go back to his room and sleep.
So he does so. He closed his eyes and let the music of the violinist overcome him.
---
When Andrew opened his eyes, he was inside, his body still, but the feeling of being moved was there.
“Finally awake, sleeping beauty?”
He wasn’t sure if he should be more concerned over the fact that the hunter was carrying him or the fact that he had used ‘beauty’ to describe him.
“I fell asleep?”
“Pretty fast too. You haven’t slept that much. But good thing that you’re awake, considering that we’re about to get to your room.”
The violinist stops, giving some time for Andrew to fully come to his senses so that he could put him down.
“There you go.”
“Thank you…” Andrew stops for a second. He had realized something just now.
He truly embarrassed himself twice in one night.
“Something wrong?”, the hunter asked.
“Your name. I don’t know your name.”
The hunter chuckled at that. “Antonio is my name. Come to think of it, you hadn’t told me yours either.”
“Andrew. It’s Andrew”, He said. “Thank you for bringing me here, Antonio.”
“The pleasure was mine. I should get going now. Good night Andrew.”
“Good night.”
As soon as he’s back in his room, Andrew falls down on his knees, leaning against the door.
What even happened?
That encounter was… odd but at the same time, it wasn’t unpleasant. Antonio definitely looked and behaved oddly in his own way, and he probably wasn’t even human anymore, but he didn’t seem that dangerous per see. He never thought a hunter would be that pleasant to be around at all. It was certainly an experience.
He… wouldn’t mind doing that again. If they could sit like that, one listening to the music of the other in the middle of the night. It definitely seemed to help his sleeping problem. It felt like a lullaby and like the most peaceful melody he had heard in his life.
He’d do everything to experience that again.
Unfortunately for tonight, the sleep didn’t come to him at ease.
These nights happened from time to time, making it impossible for Andrew to get a good night's rest without doing something first. Whether it was a walk around the manor or just going to get some tea, it didn’t matter. It was enough to help him sleep.
Others didn’t seem to struggle with this, so it must’ve been God’s punishment for all the things he’d done wrong. At this point there was nothing he could do but pray for forgiveness, hoping one day he’d deserve it. Until then, he’d have to walk through the manor, hoping to fall asleep by that.
Tonight, the halls are empty like always. The moonlight was the only thing giving them light, laps that were scattered through the halls turned off long ago. Walking like this felt a lot more natural to Andrew, already used to always being active at night before coming here. During the way he kept himself away from the sun as much as he could. His skin was so easy to get damaged and even when he was fully covered he’d refuse to go out unless necessary. Luca tried to get him out of his room more than once to just be around others, but he had failed every time.
Andrew was aware that he meant good, that he wanted him to just not stay alone the whole day, but he couldn’t. Not just because of the sun, but because he couldn’t think anyone would want to be around him.
Compared to the others, he looked like a freak. A monster. A ghost. Who would want to be around someone like that?
Andrew stopped in front of a window. It was opened, letting in the cold night air, making the always warm manor slightly cooler for a brief moment. He wasn’t aware these could be opened. The bedroom ones were fine (he’d witnessed Emma climb to the rooftop more than once through them) but the ones near the main door were impossible to open. After witnessing this, maybe they were just too old so the owners of the manor just made sure they cannot be opened so that no one would damage them until they decided to replace them with new ones.
He pulled the window handle, cool air now hitting his face, looking out into the night. Everything seemed so peaceful. To think that in a couple of hours, all of this will disappear, replaced by the loud noises of hunters and other survivors, peaceful night gone until the sun sets again. Andrew wished he could stay like this forever, his eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the nature, the wind, the violin-
Wait a second.
Andrew opened his eyes, looking down at the garden. Emma had decorated it herself, flowers and other plants making the previously empty space look a lot more pleasing to the eyes. In the middle of it stood a figure playing the violin in the middle of the night.
He had heard of the violinist. The hunter that everyone seemed to be wary of, somewhat the same way they were of Hastur or Yidhra, though not because of an inhuman appearance or difficulty escaping from during a game.
They had called him odd, from what he knew. A human who had sold his soul to the Devil, the rumors said. Andrew knew better than to try and approach someone like him. They had yet to meet in a game, so it made sense they had never seen each other. He could only see him from the back now, dark hair covering his entire body. He couldn’t tell from his current position, but he seemed tall. The best he had to compare him to was the chair not far from the hunter, but that thing was small compared to everyone, so the only way to tell was to be near him.
Suddenly, the music stopped.
At first, he had thought the violinist was done and was to go back in for the night, but he didn’t move. Instead, he turned around, looking up right at Andrew.
How had he seen him? Did he have an ability that could tell him that? But no one was able to use any of their abilities outside of games!
He stood there, frozen, looking at the hunter, unsure of what to do next. Truly, he should’ve just stopped looking when the hunter looked at him, but what should he do after that?
Before he could think of an action, the violinist gestured with his hand. Andrew couldn’t see well, but it seemed like he was telling him to come down?
He then also realized that he wasn’t holding his violin. His other hand was down, and the violin was being played by his hair this whole time. Others definitely seemed to be right about the whole ‘sold his soul to the devil’ thing. There were a lot of weird hunters here sure, but most of the ones who could do things like this were either dead or not human. This hunter didn’t seem like either of those at first glance at least.
Andrew swallowed hard, moving away from the window, now closing it. He could just go back to his room. Nothing should really happen to him. The hunter wasn’t aware of who he was and it’s not like there was a reason why he would try to find his room.
Still, the grave keeper doesn’t go back to his room but rather uses the stairs that lead down.
As Andrew entered the garden, he could finally spot the hunter’s height. As he had expected, the man was tall, much taller than others. He was taller than both Jack and Michiko, and his hair made him seem even larger.
“What does the grave keeper do at this time of the night?”
How the heck did he even know who he is!?
He feels his heartbeat quicken as the hunter approaches him. Andrew had to look up, trying to maintain eye contact, but he’s not sure if he could do that for long.
Violinist’s eyes were not visible due to his hair covering them. The one noticeable thing about his face was his smile which seemed to be present at all times.
“How do you know who I am?”
“Do you think hunters don’t talk with each other? It’s good to know about other survivors even if we haven’t encountered them yet. And your appearance is hard to miss.”
Andrew can’t look at him anymore. His head moves away, looking at the flowers next to them.
He looked like an idiot. Just like he knew who violinist was, it was obvious that he’d know about Andrew too. While most didn’t have much knowledge on what hunters did in their spare time, it would be stupid to assume they wouldn’t help each other deal with survivors. Even if they didn’t know their actual names, they knew who they were based on what they used to do before coming here. Not to mention that Andrew was the one with albinism therefore easier to spot than anyone else.
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
Andrew couldn’t look back. “I’m just out for a walk. What would you be doing here?”
“Practising. The hunter side of the manor knows to be a bit more lively at night compared to the survivor’s side.”
There was no rule that forbid hunters and survivors to go to each other sides, but most people didn’t dare do it. That little girl liked who liked to play with the boy hunter was the only one who would go there enthusiastically. Everyone else would be tense at even thinking that someone had to go to the other side.
“Why did you want me to come here?”
“It’s unusual to see anyone of the survivors up at this hour. Most of your people are asleep by now”, he said as he moved away, sitting down on the garden chair. “I have never seen anyone wander around at night like this.”
This was the first time Andrew had seen a window open in the hall, so there was a good reason why he hadn’t seen anyone. He doubted the hunter would bother wandering in the halls on the survivor side of the manor unless he wanted something from one of them.
“I sometimes take a walk when I can’t sleep. Tonight there was an open window so I looked out and heard your music. I didn’t think you’d see me though.”
“It’s not hard when you feel like someone’s watching you. Considering it had helped me in the games more than once, it wouldn’t fail me again.”
So, it had nothing to do with his hunter abilities but everything with just regular human sense?
“If you want to say and listen, it’s fine. I don’t mind company.”
He had hesitated at first. The hunter was definitely an odd one, with his hair like that and just the fact that he was out here playing music. Truly, Andrew should just go back to his room and try to fall asleep. Or maybe make some tea in the kitchen and then try to fall asleep.
Instead, he sat down next to the hunter on the bench.
He was still in disbelief that his hair was moving, but seeing it in from of him, this close, made sure that he wasn’t in fact just seeing things badly from afar. Maybe he was possessed by a demon as others said. Or even worse, he was a demon but he just hid that.
Would God forgive him for voluntarily spending time with a demon?
The music once again filled the garden, Andrew once again getting the feeling he had felt just a bit prior at the window. The gentle breeze, the violin, the moonlight, the sounds of nature. It had mixed so well together that it felt like a lullaby. Andrew could close his eyes and just fall asleep right there and then. He shouldn’t, obviously, but he could close his eyes for a second, right? After this, he could just go back to his room and sleep.
So he does so. He closed his eyes and let the music of the violinist overcome him.
---
When Andrew opened his eyes, he was inside, his body still, but the feeling of being moved was there.
“Finally awake, sleeping beauty?”
He wasn’t sure if he should be more concerned over the fact that the hunter was carrying him or the fact that he had used ‘beauty’ to describe him.
“I fell asleep?”
“Pretty fast too. You haven’t slept that much. But good thing that you’re awake, considering that we’re about to get to your room.”
The violinist stops, giving some time for Andrew to fully come to his senses so that he could put him down.
“There you go.”
“Thank you…” Andrew stops for a second. He had realized something just now.
He truly embarrassed himself twice in one night.
“Something wrong?”, the hunter asked.
“Your name. I don’t know your name.”
The hunter chuckled at that. “Antonio is my name. Come to think of it, you hadn’t told me yours either.”
“Andrew. It’s Andrew”, He said. “Thank you for bringing me here, Antonio.”
“The pleasure was mine. I should get going now. Good night Andrew.”
“Good night.”
As soon as he’s back in his room, Andrew falls down on his knees, leaning against the door.
What even happened?
That encounter was… odd but at the same time, it wasn’t unpleasant. Antonio definitely looked and behaved oddly in his own way, and he probably wasn’t even human anymore, but he didn’t seem that dangerous per see. He never thought a hunter would be that pleasant to be around at all. It was certainly an experience.
He… wouldn’t mind doing that again. If they could sit like that, one listening to the music of the other in the middle of the night. It definitely seemed to help his sleeping problem. It felt like a lullaby and like the most peaceful melody he had heard in his life.
He’d do everything to experience that again.
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