The sound of rain was loud against the metal of the fire escape. Sitting securely in the open window above it was Ruby with one hand curled around a coffee mug that contained peppermint tea. Her hair was loosely piled at the base of her neck and her free hand was out the window, extended just enough to be able to catch the droplets at her fingertips. Her expression was soft, eyes wide and lips upturned in a dreamy smile as she watched the rain come down. She could pretend that it was washing away all of the negative energy surrounding the city the last year. All of the turmoil everyone had gone through. It was over now, the supernatural community back to a semblance of peace.
Behind her, she could hear the occasional snippet of dialogue from the television An arthouse film, she couldn’t remember which one. She doubted Ramsey would either, sometimes something was just put on for background noise or aesthetic. A brief but powerful burst of inspiration. Her attention turned from the rain outside and into the apartment’s living room. The lamp in the corner emitted a soft glow, Foster was a small black lump contrasting her white couch, and then there she was. In almost the middle of the room on the floor where they’d pushed the coffee table aside, with a sketchbook in front of her and a set of charcoals beside it, was Ramsey.
She could see her in profile. Sharp jawline, pixie nose, prominent cheekbones and brows just slightly furrowed in concentration. Just the sight of her caused her lips to pull into a softer smile. “What are you working on?” She took a sip from her tea, let a bare leg fall from the window to brush along the inside wall, her polish chipped toes pointed to just graze against the hardwood floor. @hunter-haller









