THE FLOORBOARDS SEEM TO creak underfoot with each hesitant step his takes ; the small cottage that the couple had taken residence in during their ( hopefully short ) stint in Castle Rock seems to be falling apart beneath their fingertips with each passing moment. Paint peels from the wall & garrish wallpaper seems to split from its base in waterstained streaks. He can’t help but feel as if the cottage is giving him a message -- begging him to leave, leave as soon as they can. Nothing seems to feel right and ever since their arrival, Zaiden is unable to ignore the knot coiled deep in the pit of his stomach. Dread. He can feel it in his bones, seeping through his muscles & sinew. The sun had set behind the peaks of the forest fringing Castle Lake hours ago -- and with the moon hanging high amongst the willowy clouds, Zaiden knows he should be asleep.
He lays still in bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling as he attempts to count sheep -- but as each slow second ticks by, he feels himself growing restless. A curse spits past his lips as he jerks himself upright, long legs swinging over the edge of the bed only to jam his feet into the slippers waiting dutifully for him. He trudges along down the corridor before veering into the small living room area -- and sure enough, blue hues rest upon the figure of his fiance, hunched over the coffee table. The lamp at his side is on, illuminating Blaise’s crouched figure in pale yellow light. He has on his reading glasses, table a mess of notes & research. Zaiden wishes he was surprised -- but instead, a tired sigh is all he can muster. ❛ You said you’d be in bed with me two hours ago. ❜ He can’t bring himself to sound annoyed; instead, baritone timbre is quiet and heavy with exhaustion. ❛ Or did you forget about me ? ❜