MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: WHITE MUSTANG BY LANA DEL REY.
Gwen groaned loudly the moment Allan arrived. "Must you always keep us waiting?"
"Horace doesn't mind," he replied lazily, throwing a glance at Horace, who only shrugged in agreement. Gwen gritted her teeth in controlled anger.
"Easy, with that temper dear," Horace teased, which only annoyed her further.
"What did he say?" Allan asked, referring to Mr. Hance.
"He just asked about you. But I bet he suspects you're the Phantom Lord," Horace explained.
"That's all?" Allan's tone was dismissive.
"He asked if you were human, and I said yes. Don't you think you should be more careful?" Horace's voice carried genuine concern.
"No worries. I'll be done with this body soon," Allan murmured, unconsciously brushing his chest wherehis heart lay.
Before leaving, he added casually, "Oh, and I'll be gone for the break."
"Why are you saying it like it's a big deal?" Gwen rolled her eyes.
"Because it is. I'll be gone the whole week."
Both Gwen and Horace froze.
"You're joking," Horace said in disbelief.
"I'm not." His tone carried a strange, dreamy distance.
"Allan, you know you can't," Gwen said softly her harsh tone replaced with something rare, almost tender.
"I've just never tried. Usually it's only three days. This time, I'll push my limitsThey wanted to protest, but the determination in his eyes silenced them. Behind his smile, though, doubt lingered.
---
Before nightfall, Allan went to the farthest abandoned manor, a ghosted place no one ever stumbled upon. The broken staircase creaked loudly beneath his feet as he made his way to the piano room.
He sat down behind the instrument, pulling a white kerchief from his pocket to clean the spotless black piano. Pressing one key, a soft and melodious note filled the air. Instead of playing, he whispered, "I want to tell you that, I'm leaving. Not for long though,… just a short while."
His smile trembled, his eyes rimmed red. For the first time in years, he would be gone for a whole week. It was hard but he wouldn't back away. He hadn't told Gwen or Horace the real reason, because if he had, they would find a way to keep Elaine behind."But unfortunately, I'll be back," he murmured, his voice breaking. His eyes watered but no tears fell. He tilted his face to the blackened ceiling, then closed his eyes and began to play the only tune he knew.
This time, his mind didn't wander to ease hi burdens. It dragged him back to his buried past, whispering never to forget it not even during his first real escape.
When the tune ended, he opened his eyes slowly, as though adjusting to reality. After sitting in silence for a long while, he wiped the piano once more, then left.
---
"You're late," Elaine said the moment he walked into her room.
She sat on the bed with the blanket up to her knees, a book in her lap. He gave only an empty smile before settling at the far end of the bed without pulling the blanket over himself. Closing his eyes, helooked like one asleep, but she knew better.
"Are you okay?" she asked, genuine concern softening her voice, she couldn't help but feel something wasn't right with him.
"What makes you ask?" he replied with another question, as always.
"Um… no reason." She quickly returned to her book, not wanting to pry.
The silence stretched until he asked, "What about your roommate?"
"You mean Dana?"
"Which other roommate do you have?" His bluntness made her feel silly.
"Oh. She's just been quiet lately. I don't see her much," Elaine muttered.
He hummed, then asked, "How often does your neck hurt?"
The question startled her. "Um… not very often. But at least once a day."
"Let me see."
"What?"
He motioned for her to come closer, she inched closer and closer toward him and for some reason, her heart began pounding in her chest, until she was sitting cross-legged in front of him.
"Turn," he said, his warm breath fanning her ear. She flushed red, her throat dry.
She obeyed, turning so her back faced him. He gently brushed her long black hair aside, exposing the pale curve of her neck. Her heartbeat thundered in his ears, and a smirk tugged at his lips.
There it was, the cracked skull mark, darker and larger than before.
He barely grazed it with his fingers. Elaine flinched instantly, the touch sending a sharp sting through her.
"How is it?" she asked, her voice faint.
"A little more unstable than the last time," he answered truthfully, he stared at the mark much longer than required before letting her hair fall back in place, but she didn't move away. She lingered in his closeness, as though unwilling to leave his warmth. He waited for her to shift, but she stayed still.
"I'm done," he said quietly.
She turned too face him, forgetting how close they were to each other, and the next moment, everything seemed to screech to a halt, including her heart that had been pounding loudly, as her lips accidentally pressed against his.
Her eyes widened out of shock, which made her unable to move, leaving her rooted in the same spot, He didn't move either, didn't push her away or pull her closer. His expression was unreadable as their lips stayed pressed together in accidental intimacy.
Realizing what happened, Elaine snapped her head forward, face burning, too mortified to move.
"I… I'm sorry. T...that was a mistake," she stammered, silently cursing herself, wondering what he wouybe thinking now.
Still, he said nothing, he only placed a hand gently against her back before murmuring, "Move."