You sat across from Arlecchino in a coffee shop, hands wrapped around a cup of black coffee. The aroma should have been comforting, but you were too anxious to notice. The past month had been a blur—more missions, more blood, and more faces that haunted your dreams (or nightmares). Not that you had sleep anymore, not really. Insomnia had taken over completely.
Arlecchino was as poised as ever, sipping on her coffee. However, her sharp gaze occasionally flicked toward you with something between curiosity and concern. She didn't say much, though; she rarely did unless it mattered. But you could feel her attention on you, even when you weren't looking.
"You're quieter than usual," Arlecchino finally said, breaking the silence. "Quite unusual for you," she added, her lips twitching into the faintest smile. "Though I suspect it's not by choice."
You didn’t respond.
The truth was, you didn't have the energy for banter.
When the two of you finally stood to leave, the motion hit you harder than you expected, and before you could even process what was happening, you lost consciousness.
When you woke up, the first thing you noticed was the unfamiliar ceiling above you. The second was the softness of the bed beneath you. You sat up quickly.
The realisation hit you like a freight train: have you been kidnapped?!
You stood, swaying slightly as the dizziness from your sudden movements caught up with you. Your instincts screamed danger, though logic whispered you weren't in immediate harm.
Faint sounds drew you towards an open door at the end of the hall, so you followed it cautiously. The room beyond was small but cosy, filled with different books. Sitting in an armchair, legs crossed, was none other than Arlecchino, a thick book resting on her lap.
"You're awake," she said without looking up. The woman then closed the book with deliberate care, placing it on the small table beside her. "You fainted earlier. At the café."