Erinyes Game
You wake up in your room. You look around, feeling disoriented. Something feels…off.
For some reason, you expect the windows to have metal bars and dusty old curtains. And where’s the fireplace, constantly crackling away on the other side of your room? Touching your neck, you feel a strange indent, as if from a too-tight necklace.
Your head pounds, and you stagger out of bed. Every time you close your eyes, you see colors, but they bring you no comfort. They’re violent, accompanied by screams and pain and—
Ugh, you need some water and pain medication for this awful headache of yours. Maybe if you ate something, it would help.
Leaving your room, you walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. Someone’s already waiting for you there, washing dirty dishes and cheerfully whistling.
He turns and spots you, giving you a bright smile. “Morning, sleepyhead! I thought I might actually have to come and wake you up myself.”
That deep, soothing voice of his has always been comforting, but for some reason it brings up your dreams. Or were they memories?
“Ha—” The wrong name is on the tip of your tongue, and you catch yourself just in time. “Good morning, Blake. I just had a really weird dream, more like a nightmare, I think. I Just want to grab some pain meds and water, that’s all.”
Your boyfriend frowns, wiping his wet hands on his apron before coming to your side. “Are you okay, honey? Do you want to talk about it?”
You shrug. “Not really, I guess. All I remember are colors and pain, and something about Greek myths.”
Blake chuckles. “I always loved those stories growing up. I thought the Greek gods were such a crazy cast of characters, you know? Did you know about the time that Zeus gave birth to Athena—he swallowed her mother because the Oracle said…”
You smile just to see Blake smile, listening to the ridiculous myths he knew all about as you get a glass of water.
When he finishes rattling off a strange tale, you look outside, noting that it's a nice sunny day. Following your gaze, Blake says, "How about we go out for breakfast today? You look like you could use some fresh air."
Whatever did you do to deserve such a thoughtful boyfriend? With a smile you go get dressed and head out.
Blake chooses a local café at random, saying he wants coffee before getting food, and you go along with him.
Once in the café, Blake takes his own sweet time perusing the menu, as always. You already know what you want, so you let your mind and gaze wander, looking around at the people. One in particular catches your eyes. A man, sitting facing you, staring down at a book. He glances up and meets your gaze. He's handsome, blonde and blue-eyed and looks straight out of a magazine, but that's not really why you're staring at him. Something about him brings up your dreams, the flashes of silver and gold that you probably imagined--
Blake calls your name for the third time. "Hey, it's our turn to order. Go ahead, honey."
"Right, right..." Tearing your eyes away from the handsome stranger, you order your drink, forcing yourself to avoid looking at him. It feels like your drink takes ages to arrive, though it really only took a few minutes, and you pick it up and hurry to leave. Blake doesn't ask why you're in such a hurry all of a sudden, merely picking up the pace to walk ahead of you.
Two steps out of the café, you're stopped by a hand on your arm. The stranger's grip is firm, his blue eyes staring right through you.
"Hello," he says. "I'm so sorry, I must have mistaken you for someone else."
"That's okay, don't worry. You seem familiar to me too, for some reason."
"What a coincidence..." There's something so familiar about his smile. The headache is slowly coming back in full force, right in the middle of your forehead. His hand slips down to meet yours, and you can't decide if you're uncomfortable or surprisingly okay with this.
"Hey, man." Blake steps in between you two, breaking the man's hold on you. "Are you hitting on my girlfriend?"
The man blinks and backs away, looking offended at the mere thought. "No, not at all. She just looks like an old friend of mine, that's all."
"Well, if that's all, then we'll be going now." Wrapping a possessive arm around your shoulders, Blake turns and walks you in the opposite direction. You steal a glance over your shoulder at the man, wishing you'd been able to talk more, but he disappears into the crowd.
You stick your hand in your pocket, holding onto the piece of paper the stranger put in your hand. Maybe you'd get some answers…Glancing down at you, Blake's frown eases up into a smile. You slip your other hand around his waist, squeezing affectionately.
Blake definitely doesn't have to know about this.
For some reason, you expect the windows to have metal bars and dusty old curtains. And where’s the fireplace, constantly crackling away on the other side of your room? Touching your neck, you feel a strange indent, as if from a too-tight necklace.
Your head pounds, and you stagger out of bed. Every time you close your eyes, you see colors, but they bring you no comfort. They’re violent, accompanied by screams and pain and—
Ugh, you need some water and pain medication for this awful headache of yours. Maybe if you ate something, it would help.
Leaving your room, you walk down the stairs and into the kitchen. Someone’s already waiting for you there, washing dirty dishes and cheerfully whistling.
He turns and spots you, giving you a bright smile. “Morning, sleepyhead! I thought I might actually have to come and wake you up myself.”
That deep, soothing voice of his has always been comforting, but for some reason it brings up your dreams. Or were they memories?
“Ha—” The wrong name is on the tip of your tongue, and you catch yourself just in time. “Good morning, Blake. I just had a really weird dream, more like a nightmare, I think. I Just want to grab some pain meds and water, that’s all.”
Your boyfriend frowns, wiping his wet hands on his apron before coming to your side. “Are you okay, honey? Do you want to talk about it?”
You shrug. “Not really, I guess. All I remember are colors and pain, and something about Greek myths.”
Blake chuckles. “I always loved those stories growing up. I thought the Greek gods were such a crazy cast of characters, you know? Did you know about the time that Zeus gave birth to Athena—he swallowed her mother because the Oracle said…”
You smile just to see Blake smile, listening to the ridiculous myths he knew all about as you get a glass of water.
When he finishes rattling off a strange tale, you look outside, noting that it's a nice sunny day. Following your gaze, Blake says, "How about we go out for breakfast today? You look like you could use some fresh air."
Whatever did you do to deserve such a thoughtful boyfriend? With a smile you go get dressed and head out.
Blake chooses a local café at random, saying he wants coffee before getting food, and you go along with him.
Once in the café, Blake takes his own sweet time perusing the menu, as always. You already know what you want, so you let your mind and gaze wander, looking around at the people. One in particular catches your eyes. A man, sitting facing you, staring down at a book. He glances up and meets your gaze. He's handsome, blonde and blue-eyed and looks straight out of a magazine, but that's not really why you're staring at him. Something about him brings up your dreams, the flashes of silver and gold that you probably imagined--
Blake calls your name for the third time. "Hey, it's our turn to order. Go ahead, honey."
"Right, right..." Tearing your eyes away from the handsome stranger, you order your drink, forcing yourself to avoid looking at him. It feels like your drink takes ages to arrive, though it really only took a few minutes, and you pick it up and hurry to leave. Blake doesn't ask why you're in such a hurry all of a sudden, merely picking up the pace to walk ahead of you.
Two steps out of the café, you're stopped by a hand on your arm. The stranger's grip is firm, his blue eyes staring right through you.
"Hello," he says. "I'm so sorry, I must have mistaken you for someone else."
"That's okay, don't worry. You seem familiar to me too, for some reason."
"What a coincidence..." There's something so familiar about his smile. The headache is slowly coming back in full force, right in the middle of your forehead. His hand slips down to meet yours, and you can't decide if you're uncomfortable or surprisingly okay with this.
"Hey, man." Blake steps in between you two, breaking the man's hold on you. "Are you hitting on my girlfriend?"
The man blinks and backs away, looking offended at the mere thought. "No, not at all. She just looks like an old friend of mine, that's all."
"Well, if that's all, then we'll be going now." Wrapping a possessive arm around your shoulders, Blake turns and walks you in the opposite direction. You steal a glance over your shoulder at the man, wishing you'd been able to talk more, but he disappears into the crowd.
You stick your hand in your pocket, holding onto the piece of paper the stranger put in your hand. Maybe you'd get some answers…Glancing down at you, Blake's frown eases up into a smile. You slip your other hand around his waist, squeezing affectionately.
Blake definitely doesn't have to know about this.
