ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond
Chapter 38: ★Their Apartment★

Chapter 38: ★Their Apartment★

~Chapter 38~

We trudged through the city streets, for what felt like hours. The sidewalks were now crowded, with people rushing to and fro, their faces a blur.

Frank, still dead weight between us, hadn’t stirred once, his snores was the only timing reassuring, indicating us he was still in the living world.

Aria had told me, with a sheepish smile, that Frank was a heavy sleeper, and that he wouldn’t even notice if she left him at the alley. "I’ve left him countless times before. But today, I need him home." she’d said to me when I asked her was this normal.

Finally, Aria stopped in front of a small apartment building. The building facade was a mess of crumbling brick.

The building looked like it was holding on to its last shred of life.

Aria nodded at a group of men huddled in the corner, their rugged faces illuminated only by the faint glow of a single overhead light.They were engaged in a heated game of cards, only nodding back at her slightly.

Aria pushed open the door and I followed her into the building, Frank’s weight still leaning heavily on me.

She pulled Frank upright as he swayed slightly from her grip. We stepped into an elevator. My heart pounding in my chest.

Wondering what I was getting myself into. Was I really ready to accept Aria’s help? What if she’s a serial killer and I’m walking straight to my death.

And what would happen once we reached their apartment? she might jump on me, trying to kill me.

We leaned against the elevator wall, taking a break from carrying Frank bulky weight around the city.

The elevator doors slid open, and together we pulled Frank with us out into a hallway. The hallway was dimly lit with worn, beige-colored walls.

The air was stale and musty, heavy with the smells of stale cigarettes and cooking oil that cling to every surface, assaulting my nose.

I unconsciously wrinkled my nose, trying not to show my distaste but Aria shot me a wry smile, as if knowing what I was on.

She led the way with me beside her, still shouldering Frank’s weight. The hallway was narrow and cramped, with some flickering fluorescent lights overhead.

Aria stopped in front of a door with a faded "3B" painted on it. She fished out a set of keys from her pocket and unlocked the door.

The sound was loud in the quiet hallway, making my heart thud more and a shiver run down my spine as the door creaked open.

Beyond the door lay a small, cluttered apartment. The living room was dominated by a worn, brown couch with a coffee table littered with empty beer cans and cigarette butts. This twin still smoke at home too? I remembered when Aria had called Frank and addict and I’m not surprised anymore.

The air was thick with the smell of smoke and stale beer, and my eyes watered in response to the toxicity.

"Welcome to our humble abode, I know. it’s not a palace" She laughed a little before continuing.

"But home sweet home," Aria said, gesturing for me to the room, as she took in my reaction.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect, but Frank’s weight was still leaning heavily on me, and I couldn’t stand there forever, she was going to drag me in anyways with frank.

Aria chuckled and shook her head. "Don’t worry, Katya. I’m not going to jump on you and try to kill you," she said, pausing a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. "At least, not yet." Her words sent a jolt of adrenaline through my system.

That didn’t stop my nerves at all. How did she know what I was thinking? I could have sworn I’d kept my thoughts to myself. But Aria just grinned, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

"You said it out loud," she confirmed, and I shot her a wary look, my expression stern. It wasn’t funny. But Aria just chuckled and gestured for me to follow her.

We moved deeper into the apartment, and she closed the door behind us with a swift kick of her foot.

Moving towards the couch, Aria released her hold on Frank, and he slumped forward, pulling me with him. I hadn’t realized I still had a grip on his arm, and now I found myself tumbling forward, my stomach lurching as I struggled to regain my balance.

Frank landed with a thud on the worn cushions, his body sprawling across the couch like a rag doll. I yelped stumbling after him.

I landed on top of Frank in a ridiculously awkward position, my arms and legs tangled around his limp body. I heard Aria’s laughter echoing through the room, a deep, throaty sound that shake her entire body.

She was laughing so damn hard like she was crying, her gasps for air interspersed with snorts and giggles.

Harshly pulling my arm, trying to extricate it from beneath Frank’s dead weight. His body was like a rock pinning me to the couch. I finally managed to free myself, standing up from his still-sleeping form.

Frank didn’t even stir, despite the commotion and noise surrounding him. Aria had been right; he was a damned heavy sleeper.

Turning to look at Aria, who was still laughing uncontrollably. She was doubled over, her hands clutching her stomach as if it hurt. Tears streamed down her face, and her eyes sparkled with mirth.

"I’m...breaths in...sorry," she gasped, "but it was fucking funny...hahaha." She held her stomach, still chuckling as I stood there, pouting.

It wasn’t funny at all, as I was the one who was in that awkward position, so why was she laughing so hard.

"Ahh, hahaha," she slowly came down from her laughter-induced high.

"We haven’t even lived together for an hour, and I’m already loving it. I don’t remember when I last laughed this hard." Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she wiped tears from her cheeks.

Irritation pricked on my mind at being the source of her amusement, but Aria’s infectious laughter was starting to wear me down.

She gazed at my scowling face, a smirk playing on her lips before she said, "Come on, it was funny, don’t look at me that way. You don’t look cute when scowling."

Her words hit a nerve, and my scowl instantly deepened into a frown. I wasn’t trying to be cute; I was genuinely annoyed. I knew I wasn’t exactly the epitome of beauty, and her comment only served to confirm my insecurities.

Aria’s expression changed as she took in my noticable reaction. Her smirk faltered, and she frowned, her brow furrowing in concern.

She walked over to me, her eyes scanning my face as if searching for clues. "What’s wrong, is it about me laughing at your position?" she asked, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of apology

"Nothing, " I shook my head, trying to brush off my feelings.

Forcing a smile onto my face. But Aria wasn’t buying it. She looked at me, her eyes narrowing slightly, "Really? You’re sure?"

I nodded again to reassure her, but Aria’s gaze lingered on mine, perhaps searching for any sign of deception.

I was starting to get uncomfortable under her scrutiny, wondering how someone I’d just met could already be treating me like we were old friends. It was both unsettling and strangely comforting at the same time.

"Alright, lemme get you some clothes to change into," Aria said, moving away from my side and disappearing through a doorway.

I took the opportunity to glance around the space, taking in the layout of the apartment. There were two doors at the far corner of the room, and along the side, I could see a kitchen, the counters cluttered with dirty dishes and takeout containers.

Their apartment was clearly not well-maintained. Littered beer bottles and pizza cartons scattered the floor, giving off a strong smell of spoiled food and decay.

My nose wrinkled even more in distaste, wondering how anyone could live like this.

Aria walked back into the room, holding out a bundle of clothes. "These are mine. Just some clothes to manage with for the time being. You can’t walk around in that fabric." ," she said and her distaste for my current clothes was audible in her voice, and she didn’t even try to hide it on her face.

"Thanks." Taking the clothes from her hands. She turned pointing towards the door she’d walked out from. "You can go in there and change. That’s my room, and now yours too, since we’re going to share." She gestured towards the room next to it. "The room next to it is Frank’s."

I walked to the door, cautiously still cautious that someone in this world was willing to help me and I just met her for the first time.

I pushed open the door and the smell of cigarettes hit me harder. was this the room that’s Aria. it definitely is as I didn’t do mistake in entering. She must be smoking harder than I thought because her room clearly reeks off it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Like daja vu, I couldn’t pull down the zipper on the dress, I stood in front of the small bed, wrestling with the zipper on the dress.

I couldn’t pull it down, no matter how hard I tried. Miss Red had forced me into this dress, and now I was stuck. I had been trying for what felt like an eternity - two minutes, maybe more - and I was starting to feel frustrated.

Walking back to the door, I pushed it softly, calling out to Aria in embarrassment, "Can you lend me a hand here, please." My voice was barely above a whisper, and my face heat up with embarrassment.

Aria looked up from her phone in hand and nodded. She stood up, pocketing her phone in the back pocket of her jeans. She had changed out of her jacket and boots, and her hair was slightly disheveled, she must have been running her hands through it.

"Turn around," she instructed and I turned my back to her as she helped me zip down the dress

She left me to change, and I quickly stripped out of the dress and into the clothes she had provided.

The jean shorts were a bit too big for me, stopping just above my thighs. I wondered how they would fit Aria, who had a more flesh than I did. The beige-colored top was loose-fitting, but comfortable. I pulled it over my head,

pulling the beige-colored top overy head.

Walking over to the living room again to tell Aria I was done.

Two heads turned towards me - Aria’s and Frank’s. When did he wake up.

Frank’s eyes locked onto mine, a lazy grin spreading across his face as he watched me from head to toes.

******

Sorry for the long Chapter and only one

I’m really sorry, thanks for reading

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