Roommate Cycle

A Story by WriterBytes

Prompt: Cycle Jullie moves with her new roommate, but she isn't what she expected.

Jullie stands in front of the red wooden door. The bronze number 201 glistens. Jullie palms feel sweaty, she looks at the door one last time.

“Knock, Knock.”

She takes a deep breath.

“Today, a new day Jullie. You will be a freshman in college and living with your new roommate. I hope she is nice.” She thought to herself.

She fidgets and her hand grips tighter on her luggage. There is a click, the door opens. Standing in front is a girl. Her black rimmed glasses balance on her button nose. She smiles sweetly, and her chocolate eyes sparkle. Jullie follows the waves for her hair. It is like the waves on the beach.

“Hello!, you must be my new roommate.”

Jullie still in awe of how beautiful and sweet sounding her new roommate is. She looks up and tries to meet her eyes.

“Um, yeah.” Jullie whispers.

Trying to maintain eye contact with the girl, she feels her face heats up in embarrassment.

“What are you standing there for? C’mon in!”

She grabs Jullie’s luggage and drags it into her apartment. Inside, it gives a contemporary, modern vibe with a bit of cosiness. The walls are plain white. The living room has wooden furniture with yellow accents. The couch has yellow cushions and the table has a yellow table cloth on it.

“You should take your shoes off before you enter.”

“Um. I’m sorry what is your name?” Jullie asks shyly.

The girl’s eye widens in surprise before a huge smile appears on her face.

“Silly me! I’m Callie and you are?”

“Jullie,” she whispers.

“That's such a pretty cute name.” She comments, her smile is bright like the sun.

Jullie blushes at the compliment. Callie’s voice like honey, sweet and smooth.

Jullie follows Callie around her apartment, the wooden floor is cool to the touch that sends chills up her spine.

“This is the kitchen.”

The kitchen is small but modern. There is a dishwasher, a washing machine and a dryer underneath the countertops.

“You can do your laundry here, tonight.”

Callie grabs Jullie’s hand and leads her away from the kitchen in a hurry. Her hands are warm and smooth like baked clay fresh out of the oven. She opens, a door.

“This is your room.”

There is a single sized bed in the middle of the room. Sunlight flooding the room with warmth through a massive window. A desk in front of the window, the view of the window is the cityscape. The sun is high in the sky as people walk busily to their destination like ants. The trees are bright green and flourish with life. There are empty bookshelves in the corner. Julie takes the luggage from Callie and pulls it in. The carpet feels as soft as a cloud when she wiggles her toes it tickles.

Thank you, Callie.” Julie says with a small, soft smile. Callie returns the smile.

“If you need anything, just ask. I’m just opposite the hall.?”

“Sure!” Jullie exclaims. Her blue, ocean eyes sparkle.

“And also…”

Callie's voice became dark and cold, it makes the warm room, frozen like the winter breeze.

“Don’t go into that room. Ever.”

Callie points to the door next to hers. Jullie’s mind spiral with confusion, curiosity and fear. Callie’s warm chocolate eyes are glazed and empty. Jullie nods.

“Anyway, enjoy your stay,” she says sweetly. Jullie jumps onto the bed, the bed is soft and warm just like Callie. The sheets smell like driftwood on a beach. Her muscles are sore from carrying her heavy luggage up the stairs. Slowly the fragrance and the comfort of the bed relax her tense muscles. The bed pulls her onto itself and immediately she is asleep.

Jullie wakes up to the sound of metal. Her eyes slowly adjust to the darkness. She looks outside the window. The moon is full, glistening in the night sky. There is the sound of occasional traffic and crickets chirping. Jullie sluggishly drags herself out of bed to investigate the sound. The hallway is dimly lit, at the end of the hall there is a light. Quietly, Jullie walks down the hallways. She doesn't want to disturb Callie from her sleep. She peeks out into the kitchen. A sigh of relief escapes her lips. Callie is in the kitchen, she is wearing an apron littered with red splotches that look like spider lilies.

“I’m sorry, did I wake you up?”

Callie stops what she is doing and turns to Jullie. Her face is covered in these red splotches.

“Um… No, I’m just curious about what you are doing?”

“I’m cleaning my art supplies.”

In the sink, there are various tools covered in red, that even the water turns a murky maroon colour.

“Let me help you.”

Jullie quickly pulls up her sleeves and walk over to the sink. Callie stretches her arm between Jullie and the sink. She gives Jullie a warm smile.

“No need, I'm almost finished.”

“Oh.”

Jullie steps away from Callie.

“What are you doing with those tools?”

“It’s for a painting.”

Her eyes sparkle in awe.

“What are you painting?”

Callie stops what she is doing. The tools in her hand fall onto the sink and echoes in the kitchen.

There is a lingering silence. Jullie mind spirals,

“Did I said something wrong, maybe it is too soon since we just met…”

“Maybe, one day I’ll show you.” Callie words break Jullie’s flow of thoughts.

Jullie gives her a confused look but just return a smile.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“You should go to sleep, you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”

“Well, Goodnight then.”

Callie smiles a gentle smile,

“Goodnight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

Jullie walks back to her room. The door next to Callie’s room looms in the dark. Jullie feels a chill down her spine as she walks past.

Outside the window, small snowflakes falls. People outside wearing scarves and hats. Snow piles on the window sill. The trees are bare. On the desk, there are stacks of books, a mug stained with coffee, a calendar with messy writing and circles all over the place. Papers are in scatters.

“Knock, knock.”

The pen from her hand falls onto the desk. She rubs her eyes and takes another gulp of coffee.

“Come in.”

Callie walks in, she is holding two mugs. She places one gently on the table, not making a sound. She sits on the bed, and takes a silent sip.

“I made hot chocolate and I thought you would like some.”

Jullie stares at the mug, then directs her attention at Callie’s sweet smile. She snaps out of her trance and blushes in embarrassment of how much of an idiot she is. She takes the mug and take a sip out of it. The beverage is sweet and warm like its maker. It flows down her throat smoothly and creamy.

“Thank you, It is really good.”

Callie beams, and a small blush appears on her cheeks.

“It's just hot chocolate.”

Both of them laugh. They talk all through the day about themselves. The warm light from the windows becomes dim and there are fewer people walking down the streets. The room is flooded with warm colours of the sunset. The mugs are empty, with the lingering scent of hot chocolate in the air.

“Hey.”

Jullie turns her head from her work and faces Callie.

“Yeah?”

“Do you want to see my new artwork. Its almost done.”

Her eyes sparkle and she beams at Callie.

“Sure!” She says enthusiastically.

The girls walk out of the room and down the hall. The floor sends chills up her spine, making her want to retreat to the comfort of the carpet in her room. They stand in front of the door, the forbidden door.

“This is my art studio.”

“Oh.”

She opens the door. Jullie peaks inside, it is pitch black and oddly smell of lemons. She slowly walks inside. She can hear the screams of the wood as she steps. The darkness suddenly vanishes, Jullie’s eyes widen. There are hanging bodies with big deep cuts on them. All female, all dead. The way they are displayed, look like a mass suicide happened. At the back of the room, is a huge glass display case. She walks closer to it, the frame is in gold and at the bottom there is an engraving on the plate.

“My appreciation will always be displayed.” A whisper says.

There is a click, Jullie turns around to see Callie. She has her usual sweet smile, but it looks menacing.

“Jullie, you were the best roommate I ever have.”

Jullie remains silent, she wants to run and scream but nothing happens. She is paralysed in fear. She can see the glimmer of the knife in her hand. She gulps some air.

“Jullie, you have that these other roommates lacked. Kindness, beauty and you helped me. I am really grateful, but I don’t want you to leave me. You were my only friend.”

She smiles and approaches closer. Jullie can feel her breath and see the glaze in her dark eyes. Jullie minds races, she just stands there not doing anything. She feels sick, and the room is spinning. She drops to the ground, her body lying still on the cold lemon scented floor.

“I put some poison in your hot chocolate, you should start feeling the effects.”

She can feel panic rising, her mind racing of all the things she will never do, all her regrets and most of all, the betrayal. She can feel her heart pounding in her chest. Callie crouches down on the floor, she moves closer to her ear.

“You were nice company.”

Without thinking Jullie replies,

“Thank you.”

Her eyes flowing with tears as she takes her last breath. Callie waits a few minutes, she checks her pulse. The warmth of her skin, slowly fading away and her pulse is still. She stands up, her expression of joy on her face. Her eyes show no remorse and not a single drop of guilt. The doorbell rings, it echoes in the halls. Callie’s smile grows wider.

“The cycle begins anew.” She whispers.