The sky was an unsettling tapestry of dark, swollen clouds, streaked with flashes of lightning that flickered through the thickening atmosphere, creating a dramatic backdrop for the evening. A car sped down the rain-slicked streets of Cradle, where the sound of distant thunder rumbled ominously. "Mom! It's gonna rain tonight!" exclaimed Rebecca. Francis rolled her eyes with a mix of annoyance and disbelief. She couldn't understand why her little sister, Rebecca, was so thrilled about the impending downpour.
"Francis, why that look?" their mother, Beatrice, asked, noticing her daughter's disinterested expression while navigating the vehicle through the growing twilight. "Nothing, Mom," Francis grumbled, her focus split between the conversation and her phone. Meanwhile, Beatrice glanced at her son, Josh, through the rearview mirror and frowned. "Haven't I told you to fasten your seat belt, Josh?"
Josh shrugged, momentarily pausing the video game on his tablet. "Yes, Mom," he muttered, slowly reaching for his seat belt, looking rather put out.
"You kids have developed a habit of grumbling, especially you, Francis!" Beatrice chided, but the irritation in her voice was tempered by the underlying concern for their safety. Francis shot back, "Can you focus on the road? We don't want to end up in a ditch," her tone serious as she kept her eyes glued to her screen. Beatrice sighed deeply in frustration. "You kids grow up so fast," she mumbled, making a U-turn onto their street.
Suddenly, the clouds unleashed a torrential downpour, thick sheets of rain cascading from the sky. The sound of rain hammering against the metal roof of the car created a sense of urgency, each drop striking like a miniature drumbeat. "Damn it," Francis muttered under her breath, a wave of unease washing over her as she recalled the relentless, earthy scent of rain and the chilling thought of stepping out into the downpour, soaked to the bone.
In stark contrast, her little sis sitting in front of her, Rebecca, was a whirlwind of exuberance. With a sparkling gaze fixed on the blurred world outside, she pressed her small, freckled nose to the cool glass of the window. "Yepeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she squealed, her voice ringing with pure joy, as she watched the cascading droplets race each other down the pane. The shimmering glow of streetlights reflected in the puddles formed on the asphalt, transforming the mundane urban landscape into a fantastical world of dancing light and color.
"Yes, Baby, I can see it," Beatrice replied, her eyes flickering briefly from the road to catch a glimpse of Rebecca's sparkling eyes filled with excitement. The glow of the dashboard lights illuminated their faces in the dim light of the car, creating an intimate cocoon amidst the darkness outside. She felt a twinge of guilt for bending the safety rule by allowing her young daughter to sit in the front seat, but the late hour and the tranquility of the quiet neighborhood soothed her worries. The moon cast a soft glow, and in that moment, all she could focus on was the joy radiating from her daughter as they shared this fleeting adventure.
Upon arriving home, a well-furnished duplex with a neatly manicured garden and a small courtyard came into view. Beatrice announced cheerfully, "We are home!" Francis groaned as the rain drummed louder overhead. "Gosh, Mom, I can't walk in this rain!" she mumbled with a frown.
"Yeah, me too," Josh chimed in with a smirk, attempting to lighten the mood.
"Shut up, Josh! You're such a hypocrite. You play football in the rain and do all sorts of silly things with your friends!" Francis shot back, frustration painted on her face.
"Enough! You two need to get out of the car, I don't have time for your bickering," Beatrice said sternly as she exited the vehicle. Rebecca was already unbuckling her seatbelt and leaping into the rain with uncontained excitement.
Josh hesitated, slowly putting away his iPad before exiting the car with a lazy air. In a huff, Francis slammed the car door behind her as she stormed towards the entrance. "You're gonna pay for that if it gets bad," Beatrice warned, but Francis ignored her, striding straight to the front door that led into the warm, dry sitting room, while her family trailed reluctantly behind her.
"Hello, Dad," Francis mumbled as she pushed open the creaky door, only to find her father glued to the screen, eyes fixed on the wrestling match roaring to life in the living room. As anticipated, he didn't acknowledge her greeting, lost in the chaotic energy of the ring. She shrugged off the oversight, hurrying up the stairs to shed her damp clothes from the unexpected rain, the laughter and chatter of her family echoing warmly behind her.
Once inside her room, she closed the door with a soft click and turned the lock, her fingers brushing over the charms of her keychain—a birthday gift from Felix that had sparked countless daydreams since the moment she unwrapped it. A smile flickered across her lips as memories flooded back, stealing her attention for a moment. With a sigh, she pulled herself from her reverie, making her way to the bathroom.
She quickly undressed, revealing her beautifully shaped caramel skin—a body that many girls envied, one she had worked hard to maintain. Stepping into the bathtub, she twisted the tap, sending warm water cascading in, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. As she sank into the tub, she closed her eyes and let the warmth wash over her, lulled into a state of relaxation.
Suddenly, a series of loud bangs startled her—a jarring interruption in her tranquil moment. "What the heck was that?!" she yelled, her heart racing. She stood up, water sloshing around her as she reached for her towel and hurried to the door. Flinging it open, she scanned the corridor, peeking left and right, but found nothing. Was she hallucinating? Confused, she slammed the door shut and locked it firmly, trying to regain her composure.
Turning to retrieve her phone, she felt a warm, firm hand grasp her waist. "Geez!" she screamed, spinning around to face the intruder. "Felix?! What are you doing here?" Confusion and excitement intertwined in her eyes.
"Shhhh!" Felix hissed, pressing a finger to his lips, urging silence. Just then, a knocking echoed at her door, followed by her mother's concerned voice. "Knock, knock, knock!" Francis, what's going on in there? Are you okay?" Beatrice called out, impatience lacing her tone.
"Yeah, Mom! I'm fine! Just watching a movie," Francis responded, trying to keep her voice steady. "You should keep it down—you don't want the neighbors calling the cops on you," Beatrice warned, her tone shifting to one of frustration.
"Yeah, I know, Mom," Francis replied, rolling her eyes as she heard her mother's footsteps retreat down the hallway. "Phew! That was close," she whispered to Felix, who was still gripping her waist. As he gradually loosened his hold, Francis felt a blush creep onto her cheeks, suddenly aware that she was still wearing nothing but a towel.
"Umm, how did you get in?" she stammered, trying to maintain her composure as she stared at Felix, now comfortably seated on her bed. Felix didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the floor. "Felix?" She repeated, a hint of concern creeping in. "Are you okay?"
"You like the keychain, huh?" he said, diverting his eyes to meet hers, standing up and closing the distance between them. "Yeah," she replied softly, a nervous flutter in her stomach.
"Why are you avoiding my question, Felix?" Francis began, her voice a mix of confusion and frustration. But before she could finish her thought, he captured her lips with his, leaving her momentarily stunned. A whirlwind of emotions flooded her mind as she felt herself melting into the kiss, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck, losing herself in the moment.
When he finally pulled away, a teasing smirk danced across his lips, and it was then that she became acutely aware of her vulnerability—her towel lay discarded on the floor, leaving her standing completely naked before him. Embarrassment rushed over her like a wave, coloring her cheeks a deep crimson.
Felix, undeterred, murmured playfully, "No need to be shy. You're stunning. So this is what you've been hiding beneath all those baggy clothes." He ran his fingers through her long, silky black hair, causing her heart to race even faster.
"Umm, Felix," she stammered, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on her. "You still haven't answered my question. How did you get in here…?"
Suddenly, a loud voice echoed through the room, "FRANCISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!"