{ day before the hunt / Nessa mentioned }
‧˚₊┈┈ ⋅ ∙ ∘ ⋆˖⁺˖⋆ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ┈┈┈‧₊˚⊹
The corridors were empty, shrouded in the deep blue of late evening, casting long shadows as Hayes made his way toward Inessa’s room. To some this setting might be eerie, unsettling, but to Hayes it was like a breath of fresh air. If he even know what that feels like given his certain addiction. His notebook, a worn leather-bound relic full of scribbled thoughts and symbols, was tucked under his arm. The plan was simple: give it for her. Be a good friend and simply land it to her, let her believe it contained something helpful for the scavenger hunt tomorrow. But he knew better. He wasn’t worried that she’d question its contents - most of the time, no one questioned Hayes. Well… That is a big lie. These days that’s all everyone does but Nessa always trusted him. Or that’s what he wants to believe in.
As he approached her door, Hayes didn’t hesitate - he rarely did. Inessa was probably in there, as she usualy was around this time, and the plan was simple: hand her the notebook, let her believe it would help. And leave it at that. Knocking softly, he waited, expecting to hear her familiar voice through the door. Silence. His brow furrowed slightly, and he knocked again, a bit louder this time, glancing around the hallway. Still nothing. He pressed his ear closer to the door. No sounds of movement, no shuffling of books or papers. Something unwelcome tightened in his chest. She wasn’t in. His hand hovered over the door handle for a moment before he stepped back, a faint tension in his jaw. Where was she? And more importantly, with whom? The thought surprised him in a way he didn’t care to acknowledge.
He exhaled softly, the usual calm slipping for just a moment. Hayes wasn’t going to chase her down, and calling? That wasn’t his style. Phones were impersonal, detached. And too much could be lost in translation.
Shifting his weight, he glanced down at the notebook in his hand. He had brought it for her, so he’d leave it. Setting it neatly in front of her door, he made sure it was impossible to miss and she would see it soon as she returned. Straightening up, Hayes lingered a little longer than he intended, his fingers twitching toward the cigarette tucked behind his ear. The empty hallway felt even more oppressive now. He shook off those thoughts, wherever she was, whoever she was with, it wasn’t his business… Not really. With a quiet sigh, he turned on his heel and slipped back into the shadows of the corridor, his footsteps fading as he left behind one more piece of his plan.
{ hunt / with Vinnie }
‧˚₊┈┈ ⋅ ∙ ∘ ⋆˖⁺˖⋆ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ┈┈┈‧₊˚⊹
Hayes had learned to get by on minimal sleep, but mornings like these - early, unwanted, and intruded upon by Vincenzo, made him long for just a little more time in the quiet darkness. The room was still hazy with the remnants of last night’s research. He hadn’t planned on being here. Here, as in this morning, facing yet another scavenger hunt. Here, as in this cursed college. But something had pulled him back. Even after last year, even after his best friend’s disappearance. If he didn’t want to be here then why did Hayes come back? Surely there was a reason for it. As much as he wanted to succeed in his studies and did care about the amount of knowledge he could gain, his disinterest in everything around him did not look good for him. But he had to be here and he had to be drawn back into the same ridiculous game with the same rituals.
Or did he? Given his late night research he hoped he would wake up late and blame it all on his ambitious late night study time. No one would question anything and he would get in no trouble. It was a perfect plan only if someone didn’t ruin it. He rolled over slowly, blinking the sleep from his eyes, and shot Vincenzo an irritated glance. The guy was too perky for this time of morning, standing at the side of Hayes’ bed like he had just strolled in from some perfect dream. There was something about breakfast and…What else did Vincenzo say? ”Could’ve given me another ten minutes.“
Hayes refused to sit up and he wasn’t in the mood for any of this, not with his head still spinning from last night’s thoughts. The hunt, the disappearances, and… Inessa. He’d tried to avoid thinking about where she’d been last night. A part of him hated it - this nagging distraction from everything else that mattered.
But instead of glaring at Vincenzo like he usually would, silently demanding that he get the hint and leave, Hayes found his gaze drawn to the blanket that now lay in a heap on the floor. It felt like a small betrayal, losing that last layer of warmth and comfort he was clinging to. ”Why did you do that? And…“ he asked quietly, his voice soft, almost innocent as his eyes shifted back to Vincenzo. ”How’d you get in-“ He paused, waving it off with a sigh. ”Nevermind.“ There was no point in asking. He knew how Vincenzo operated, always one step ahead with his tricks. But Hayes couldn’t summon the energy to be irritated this time. Not today. ”You could’ve just… knocked like a normal person, you know?“ He dragged a hand over his face, exhaling slowly, as he finally sat up. ”And let me guess, next you’re really gonna try and make me get up for breakfast, like the responsible one you pretend to be?“ He looked at his friend for a moment, his lips twitching slightly as he tried not to smile. ”I’m not even convinced you’re human at this point. Who has this much energy in the morning? It’s unnatural.“
˚₊‧┈┈ ⋅ ∙ ∘ ⋆˖⁺˖⋆ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ┈┈┈‧₊˚
@Madilfill - babyyy Nessssaa mentioned
@raviola - Vinnzie