Deja Vu

~Year 2013~

(Present)

"How about another cup of hot chocolate?"

Adam suggested with a grin after him and Irene went inside the house after spending their time at the lake for what felt like hours.

Irene was sat on the couch which she had been brought to the first time, staring at the empty fireplace.

Adam dropped himself into a sitting position next to her. He thought to himself that Irene must've been thinking about his father and the fact that she had ran away.

So, as a gesture of sympathy, he raised his hand to place it on hers, but the moment their skin connected, Adam pulled away in shock.

"What's wrong?" Irene asked in a mutter.

"Your hand– it's freezing."

"It's because– er– I'm just cold."

"Oh, yeah? Are you sure? Because even if someone was dying of coldness, I'm pretty sure their skin would've been warmer than yours–"

"Adam!" Irene snapped, glaring at him deadly.

For the second time in his life, Adam had felt truly scared.

Not because Irene was looking scary.

It wasn't anything of that sort.

It was more like a feeling, overwhelming him from inside; as if alarming him that danger was close.

But, ignoring that feeling, Adam shook his head when Irene looked away.

"So, here's a second suggestion;" he said, "how about you go make us both two cups of hot chocolate, and I go bring wood for the fireplace. Hmm?"

"Yeah," Irene smiled at last. "That would be nice."

So by that, they both stood up, one heading toward the kitchen, and the other to the garage.

When Adam returned with firewoods in his hands, Irene was already back on the couch with two cups in her hands.

He made the fire and while they waited for it to grow, Adam left to his room, and in Irene's surprise, turned back with a large and woolly blanket.

"What's that for?" Asked Irene with curiosity.

"It belonged to my mother. Its warmth always calms me down."

He then slowly rapped it around himself and Irene before she handed him his cup of hot chocolate.

"I understand what you've been through." Adam broke the silence.

"What do you mean?"

"I've been through the same... Somehow."

"What happened?" Irene asked in full concern.

"I– I never got to know my mother. She died after I was born. And my father... He passed away not too long ago." Adam went silent, frowning into the fire's flame.

"I'm so sorry to hear it." Irene whispered before she hesitantly rested her head on Adam's shoulder. "You don't know how thankful I am of you."

"For what?"

"For having me here. I know I'm a complete stranger... But everyone was a stranger to one another at some point."

"True." Adam smiled to himself. "And thank you."

"Me? For what?" Irene raised her head and asked.

"For being the most amazing stranger I've ever known."

Irene giggled quietly before placing her head back on his shoulder.

***

It was past midnight that the two finally decided to go to bed after many minutes of silence, and a few of talking and laughing.

Both smiling goofily, Irene and Adam bid each other goodnight and went in their rooms.

When Adam closed his door, he couldn't stop smiling until morning.

But that wasn't the case for Irene.

As soon as she closed the door to her room, her smile faded.

Irene made sure to lock the door before stepping away.

She then dug into her closet and took out a jar which was made of thick glass.

Afterwards, Irene pulled away the curtains and carefully placed the jar on a small desk before the window, under the moonlight.

She then bent down on her knees next to the window and looked up at the moon.

"I'm nearly there." She said. "I have Louis. I have Scott... I only need him, and it would be over.

Louis... A simple young boy that was forced to be a man by life. Someone that time had forced pain upon his soul.

Scott... Not even the sun had seen him smile.

And now Adam...

He's different. I can sense it. I don't know how... But I know his soul is purest of all..."

Irene then slowly stood up and made her way over the bed, laying down gently.

She stared at the ceiling emotionlessly before saying,

"He's the last one... It's almost over."