Metronome

Ooky Spooky

A face poked around the corner to look up at her. The dim lighting casted odd shadows on the man's strange features. His scarf was down, but he quickly pulled it up and ducked away.

There was a pause, then a single knock against the concrete wall.

Ooky Spooky

He quirked an eyebrow up, wondering what kind of hornet crawled up her ass. He was content to handle the situation as he'd been doing: in private.

The next couple days were radio silence. It seemed Mr. Partway had no intention of continuing contact, and Lucas certainly didn't. Should she decide to return to the house, she would find an envelope taped to the door with her name on it. The letter inside read:

"Evie,

My mother is sick. I've gone to Florida to visit and take care of her. The key is under the mat if you want to try again. Lucas doesn't respond well to being pushed, it just makes him push back harder. He's a sucker for an offering, though. I'd suggest a record; Louis Armstrong is his favorite. It may take a few tries, but he'll come around eventually.

-Isaac"

Ooky Spooky

Im off to bed!

Ooky Spooky

Isaac was reclined on the couch, reading. He looked over the top on his book. "I'm surprised you lasted that long," he said dryly. He flipped a page. "Well, good on you for trying. Come back anytime."

He seemed almost...smug? He had known this would happen. He knew she would give up upon meeting the stubborn enigma that was his housemate.

Ooky Spooky

Mentioning the boy's name seemed to be have been the absolutely wrong thing to do. Lucas was suddenly on his feet, angry. He kicked his chair over onto the ground and stormed away, slamming and locking himself into the bathroom. His outburst was so sudden that it was startling.

Ooky Spooky

As she approached, he shrunk down into his coat like a scared turtle, glaring at her over the top of his scarf. He couldn't call her Evie; he couldn't call her anything. Because he couldn't talk.

Lucas made no move to initiate any sort of friendliness. He simply sat in his swivel chair, shoulders hunched, arms crossed, and glared at the intruder.

Ooky Spooky

"In the flesh," Isaac said, almost begrudgingly. He began to drive. "I heard about what Lars showed you, and I don't particularly agree with his reasoning. However," He paused. "Seeing as the cat's out of the bag now, I guess we may as well do some damage control." He was heading out of the city and into an older suburb.

"If you're going to report on this, then I want to ensure that the privacy of everyone involved is maintained. I don't want to see my house on the 5 o'clock news. Or the church, for that matter." The houses in this neighborhood were a little on the run down side. The one they pulled into the driveway of was no different. It's lawn was mowed and neat, but the paint was peeling and the driveway was black with mildew.

Isaac stepped out of the car. "More importantly, while I may agree to this, there is one other person you have to convince." His keys jangled as he unlocked the front door. "Lucas is incredibly stubborn, and I have no intention of arguing with him." The house was quaint enough inside. It was fairly organized, if not terribly outdated. He walked her down a wood paneled hallway, and stopped at what looked like a, you guessed it, basement door.

"I won't agree to any interviews or documentaries until Lucas agrees as well. I told him you'd be stopping by to pay him a visit. Good luck." He opened the basement door and motioned towards the steps. Down below the stairwell led into a hall, which then lead into a large, open basement room. It was dimly lit by a single light bulb. Soft music was wafting from down below, from the unmistakable sound of a record player. The song was Louis Armstrong's La Vie En Rose. The tonal difference between the sweet song and the stark, concrete walls was baffling.

Isaac didn't come down with her. When she descended, it was only her and Lucas to sort out their differences. Lucas's dwelling consisted of the cement floored room with no windows. He had a twin bed pushed against one wall, the basement bathroom in all of it's green tiled glory, and several mismatched tables and odds and ends furniture here and there. It such a strange living space.

Lucas sat in a swivel chair, which he spun in to face the woman as she came down. He tugged his scarf up to further cover his face, and didn't make eye contact. It was very clear that he didn't enjoy his safe space being invaded. The record player, sitting on a table with a couple of books, popped and crackled softly as the music played.

Ooky Spooky

"This is Isaac Partway. Meet me at the cafe on the corner of Waterford and Oak street at 2." With that, he hung up. It seemed, like his business partner, Isaac wasn't particularly sociable. Or, maybe it was just because he was pissed at having his hand forced. Whatever the reason for the curt phone call, when 2 o'clock rolled around, Mr. Partway was sat in his car, idling by the curb.

He was watching people walking towards the door of the cafe, looking for someone fitting Evie's description. When he saw her, he rolled down the window and hollered. "Evie! Over here." He leaned over to unlatch and throw open the passenger door of the car. This screamed 'stranger danger' everywhere. But, having already gone down into a literal dungeon with a strange man, an immortal, and an actual demon, why start being cautious now?

Ooky Spooky

"What the hell were you thinking, Lars?!" Upon finding out about the witness to their demon killing last night, Isaac had driven up to the church to berate Lars. The priest was standing in the middle of his modest living quarters: a former classroom in an older section of the church turned into a studio apartment. It was neat, clean, and very plain. The furniture was mix-matched, leading one to believe that most of it was donated from different people. Plants lined the window sill, which sunlight was shining through. Isaac Partway had invited himself in while Lars was having toast and coffee for breakfast.

"People deserve to know the kind of danger their in," Lars said, "You wouldn't act, so I did."

"Lucas has been working his ass off, the last thing he needs if the media harassing him!"

"He's a grown man. He can handle himself."

"You're such a-" Isaac cut himself off before he went too far insulting one of the few allies he had. He was red in the face, his fists clenched.

"You should get in touch with that woman. If she gets exclusive rights to the story, you won't have to worry about the media. I'm sure she won't mind keeping your address and private lives our of the lime light."

Isaac gritted his teeth, and forced himself to breath slowly. "When this blows up in our faces, you are cleaning it up," He said, pointing an accusing finger at the priest.

---

Her cellphone rang. The number was unknown. When she answered it, an unfamiliar man's voice spoke to her. "We need to talk," Isaac said.

Ooky Spooky

1001fonts.com

It's an image