Chapter 11: News

Phoenix stood in front of the brown door. The gold knocker was tempting her, but she didn’t reach for it. In all her life, she could finally call herself frightened. She couldn’t do it. Why did she have to be the one to bring the bad news? She knew that answer.

“Why don’t you just knock already?” Leif said, placing his hands behind his head.

Phoenix was slightly startled at first by Leif’s sudden words, but she soon came back to reality. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Silence, no one was on the other side for sometime. But soon a click was heard and the door opened.

“What can I-” a young woman began. She had short brown hair and light blue eyes that looked like the sky itself. Her brown dress reached the floor and covered her arms. A white apron was around her waist and was stained with ingredients. “Oh, Phoenix, Leif.”

“Good evening, Mrs. Chalet,” Leif said, giving a small bow with Phoenix.

A child ran up behind Mrs. Chalet and hugged her legs. He hid behind her dress and peered up at Phoenix. A boy around the age of five with dark brown hair and blue eyes. He looked like his mother; fair skinned and a bit thin. He wore a blue t-shirt with gray shorts and black sneakers.

Phoenix squatted down and smiled at the boy, hiding her fear to tell them the news. “Hello, Max.”

The boy nodded and gave a calm smile.

“What brings you two here this late?” Mrs. Chalet said, smiling. She placed a calm hand on the boys back to reassure him.

Phoenix stood and looked back at Leif. Her eyes pleaded with some assistance, but he just nodded forward-urging her to speak. Phoenix, reluctant, looked at Mrs. Chalet. A frown had formed on her face.

“We need to speak with you, Mrs. Chalet,” Phoenix answered.

“About?”

Phoenix looked to the ground with a silent sigh. She then looked back up, appearing to be in soldier mode. “It’s about your husband, Mrs. Chalet.”

Mrs. Chalet was silent for moment. Her smile had faded now, she knew what they were here for. She looked down to Max, her son, with a light smile.

“Max,” she said, “why don’t you go upstairs and get ready for dinner.”

Max nodded and ran up the stairs.

Mrs. Chalet looked back at Phoenix and Leif. “Come in.” She stood to the side and let the two past through the doorway.

A normal home, wood walls with wooden floors. Not a lot of furniture, but enough to survive. The kitchen could be seen from where Phoenix stood, and so could the living room on her right.

Mrs. Chalet shut the door and walked past them, walking into the living room.

“I’m sorry about coming by so late, Mrs. Chalet,” Phoenix said, following the woman.

Mrs. Chalet looked back over her shoulder as she stood in front of the couch. “Oh, it’s fine. I’m always happy two have you two over.”

Leif smiled, but Phoenix failed to smile. She couldn’t find the courage to smile, since she brought such deathly news with her.

“Please, sit,” Mrs. Chalet said.

Leif and Phoenix sat down in the chairs across from where Mrs. Chalet took a seat. Leif had glanced over to Phoenix to see her nervously sitting forward. Her hands in her lap and her back in perfect posture. While, he himself, was slouching in the chair. His legs crossed, being conformable without a care.

“So,” Mrs. Chalet said, “what is that you wanted to tell me about my husband?”

Phoenix played with her fingers a bit and failed to look up to the woman. 

“Mrs. Chalet,” she began, “your husband…has gone missing.” Phoenix glanced up to see the woman a bit shocked at the news. “I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you this.”

“Currently,” Leif butted in, seeing Phoenix not wanting to speak any longer, “GALACTIC is trying their best to find him. But…nothing has been found. It’s hard knowing whether he’s alive or…” Leif took a break.

Phoenix looked up and saw Mrs. Chalet was looking to her hands. Her eyes showed her sadness of finding this out. But she wasn’t crying. Phoenix couldn’t look any longer, so she studied her own hands.

“Thank you,” were the words that left her lips.

“What?” Leif said, a bit surprised to hear a thank you.

Phoenix looked up to see Mrs. Chalet giving a smile. “I know how GALACTIC keeps things from the people. But I appreciate that I can hear this. So, thank you.”

After Mrs. Chalet’s kind words, there was silence. No one knew what else to say, especially Phoenix. She couldn’t think of what to say.

“Well,” Leif said, breaking the silence, “we best be off.” Leif stood and walked to the door. Phoenix and Mrs. Chalet following.

Mrs. Chalet opened the door and let the two walk out. They bowed and wished Mrs. Chalet the best. They then turned their back to her and began making their way home.

“She’s strong,” Leif said, putting his hands in his pockets as they walked with the setting sun on the pavement.

Phoenix didn’t say anything. She focused on the ground, her walking. She didn’t want to think about Cole and Kaiden missing, she couldn’t.

Leif glanced at the poor girl next to him, seeing the sun shining in her eyes. He could understand what she was thinking. It was as if the emotions were just falling off of her.

Leif took a hand and placed it on her shoulder. Phoenix looked up at Leif, only to be surprised by a caring smile.

“We’ll find them, Nixie,” Leif said. “Don’t worry.”

Phoenix held a smile back and looked back to the ground. She slapped his hand off her shoulder, making Leif dumbfounded when she rejected his kindness. 

“I know that!” she said, anger taking the place of her sadness. Phoenix strode forward, Leif watching her back carefully as she grew further and further away. “And don’t call me ‘Nixie’!”

Leif gave a small grin.

“Aw, Nixie!” Leif said. “You shouldn’t say such hurtful words. I know you like it!”

Leif noticed the ticked expression she showed, but he couldn’t help but tease her further. She was just too compelling for him not to give her such attention.

Reviews

[TLK]

Check your spelling and grammar, and make sure you avoid passivity. You have a good concept but it's marred somewhat by these little, easily fixable errors. Leaving them untouched the way you have makes it look like you don't care, which I'm sure isn't true.