Page 48 of A Soul to Touch

Her hand fell to the side to hit the floor.

I need a fucking drink.

She eyed the bottles of Marianna’s Sleeper she had on the dining table.

Getting to her hands and knees, she shoved herself to her feet. She didn’t grab a bottle, only because Faunus said he hadn’t liked the smell of alcohol on her. She was trying to entice him, so that would obviously go against everything she was trying to do.

Mayumi entered the storage room and collected her futon. She rolled it out before grabbing her winter blankets and two pillows, one to rest her head on, and the other to cuddle.

Then she stared at the flames on her side, wishing for sleep but knowing that was going to be a battle. She was horny, disappointed, and a little saddened because of her own whirling thoughts.

I’m scared to get close to anyone, but I hate being alone.Faunus being here eased her desire for a companion, but it was also making her realise just how lonely she felt.

For the past six months, drinking and keeping herself busy had been her only real friends.But I can’t drown my demons; they know how to swim.

Mayumi had regrets in her past. Regrets that refused to allow her a good night of sleep.I’m so tired.

The storm was oddly calming to her senses, but it did little to help her have a full sleep. Instead, it was fitful, and she gave up by the time it was late morning.

She groaned as she sat up and held her forehead.

I feel hungover.Her head was pounding.

She put her arms over her head and stretched before twisting her neck one way and then the other. She turned her gaze to thewindow to see the snowstorm was still as prevalent as the day before.

I’m going to have to do so much snow shovelling once it’s done.She wasn’t looking forward to that. She hated doing it.I’ll just get Faunus to do it.

Perfect.

For today though, I’ll get him to help me fix the attic.

Slow to get up and moving, Mayumi dressed in her brown robe and went outside to fill a bucket with snow so she could melt it for her drinking and bathing water.

Faunus was curled up in the corner, and by the blackness of his orbs, she knew he was asleep. She was surprised he didn’t wake upon hearing her movements, but she figured he’d been awake all night to watch out for Demons.

Maybe that’s why he left?

She took that string of thought and tugged on it to save herself from further dark thoughts that may want to persist.

A soft whine from him had her brows knotting and her body stepping just a fraction closer. His limbs twitched wildly as though he was trying to run from whatever was chasing him in his dreams.

Is he... having a nightmare?Mayumi shook her head.Of course not. He’s a Duskwalker. What could he be afraid of?

She went back inside without disturbing him. Her little clothing was making her tremble with the icy chill, and she wanted to escape it.

As her tea was boiling, she did her usual routine of cleaning her body and dressing for the weather.

The storm made it impossible to truly know what time of day it was, but she figured it was midday. Once she finished her peppermint tea while eating brunch, she made her way outside so she could annoy the Duskwalker into giving her attention.

He wasn’t on the porch anymore, and when she investigated the yard, she couldn’t find him.

“Faunus?” she called.

Don’t tell me he left...

A sigh of relief slipped past her lips when he emerged off to the side.

“What is it, Mayumi?”he asked from the middle of the clearing. He didn’t come any closer.

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