Sounds of Trouble

Sophie’s time on the island was quite bland. She didn’t have any friends and frequently was bothered by home, and the constant nightmares continued... but things cheered up for her after she’d met a friend. Kurt was really nice and Sophie’s first friend as well. They hung out a lot after school. Even if he was the kindest person in the world to Sophie, she did detect something below the surface...

Today, after school, they’d gone on a walk together, talking about stuff.

“Y-Yeah, everything is great.. thanks, K-Kurt.”, she said softly but loud enough to hear. It was an improvement over when she’d first got on the island, when almost nobody could hear her in the rare times when she spoke. Now, though, she was a bit more open to people, especially Kurt.

Nibbling on a pretzel, she blushed a bit. “O-oh... um, thank you..”, she said, a tad embarrassed.

@Saber

“Erm, yeah, y-you’re welcome..”, Sophie said, a blush of her own matching his. “I’ve been en-enjoying them a-as well. Um, thank you, too..”, she said, finishing her last pretzel.

”Um, a movie s-s-sound—”, Sophie started before noticing the sounds from the house up ahead. Noises- and emotions- emanated from itvthat weren’t too pleasant. Her stomach plummeted when Kurt revealed it was his house. He’d had some bruises and bandages on his hand that he never explained well, and now this... Sophie was worried. But again, she wouldn’t- she couldn’t confront him about it. It just wasn’t something that she could force herself to do, at least not yet.

Even so, as she passed the house and paused, just for a moment, to glance in the window before briskly walking on, a very quiet “Kurt.....” escaped Sophie’s mouth. She was really worried for him, but didn’t think she could help...

@Saber

“N-n-n-n-no, I-it’s not your f-fault..”, Sophie said, hugging Kurt. A sudden wave of guilt washed over her. She tried to not tremble.

”Umm... I..”, Sophie started, but her voice trailed off. She really was conflicted in what to say, or what to do. She sensed the shame, sensed the sadness. She had to do something about it, but there weren’t many options here.

”It’s okay.. but, uh... I-I’m s-Sorry, too..”, Sophie said, feeling pathetic and useless there. She should have done something else, but she couldn’t. She should have done something about his parents, but she couldn’t. Glancing down, Sophie repeated much more quietly, “I’m sorry...”

“Um....y-yeah, um, o-okay..”, Sophie said, following Kurt’s face away from the house. It almost relieved her a bit, walking away from the house, emotions and sounds fading. She didn’t have to try as hard now to not shake. Kurt shouldn’t have to deal with this. Nobody should . But.. it just wasn’t in Sophie to be able to fix that yet. She had to comfort him somehow in the present before worrying about that future. And, on that note, to stop worrying about the past.

Sophie looked over at Kurt, a bit more guilt just creating a pit in her stomach. As Kurt’s emotions were sensed by the girl, it worsened, becoming deeper and deeper, threatening to swallow her. The way Kurt looked.. it was almost scary. This didn’t seem like the him that always put on a smile for the sake of others and at the expense of his self.. but this was what he had to be going through. Sophie’s pit in her stomach became bottomless.

Once the sounds and emotions of the House faded totally, Sophie was relieved of hear Kurt’s voice again, albeit still a sad one. “Y-Yeah, w-we can do th-that..”, Sophie said. It was something to take her mind off of everything, at least.

@Saber