Chapter 35: In The Wine Cellar

A Chapter by Emunah June.

When I got there, Brother was standing outside his house, coat on and feet tapping against the ground. "Sorry I took so long," I said, and Brother nodded. "S'okay. It's not like I was in a big rush anways," he said. I shrugged and he pulled away his coat sleeve to peek at his wristawatch. "I shouldn't be long, the store is only about a 10 minute drive from here. Incase I do take awhile, there's a frozen lunch in the fridge for Koda. Please try to get her to eat it," he asked, his eyes heavy with concern. I nod. "Of course. I want her to get better just as much as you do," I reply. He looks up at the sky. "Right well..." he mumbled off, and I feel a bit guilty.

How can I be mad at him? He's gonna take good care of her. I know he will.

"I'll make sure Brother. She's my family too," I say reassuringly as I pat his shoulder. He turns and looks at me, then gives a firm nod. "Okay. I'll trust you."

Why wouldn't you?

"Trust me?" I ask, unsure of where this was headed. Brother shrugs as he walks off and hops inside his car. I watch as the car comes to life, ready to take him where he wants to go. As he pulls out of the driveway, he sticks his head out the window.

"Just...knock off the dreams, will ya?"

I feel all colour flush from my face.

Koda told him.

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"Koda?" I call.

The inside of the house is cleaner then I imagined. Everything is in it's proper place, and it shows no sign of slacking off. I smile. Koda was never one to leave a place messy. Everytime Brother and I would visit, her house was always as clean as it could possibly be. We'd normally knock on the front door and she'd answer with her hair in a messy ponytail and some sort of cleaning implement in her hand.

And this place showed no different.

I walked into the living room, which was a cozy creme colour. She wasn't in there, but remnants of her thoughts were. A baby blanket was spread on a nearby loveseat, and a photos of Koda when she was pregnant are scattered all over the coffee table. I feel my heart go heavy.

She's really taking this hard. Poor thing.

I blow out a candle that's still going on a chairside table and continue my way through the house.

Next is the dining room, which is more pristeen then the room preceeding it. Everything is set for a dinner for at least five people. The plates were out, the napkins were folded, and the silverwear was placed in the correct order.

They really thought of everything, didn't they? But still no Koda.

I walk up the stairs and check the master bedroom and the two guest rooms, but Koda isn't in any of them. I feel myself get tense.

Did she leave the house? No, Brother would have told me. So where could she be?

I peek around the corner and knock on the bathroom door, but I get no response. When I open the door, she's not there either.

"Koda??" I call, a bit more loudly.

I get nothing.

I begin to panic. "Where are you?? It's me, Alphonse!" I call, half jogging back into the dining room. When I get no response again, I feel sweat drip on the back of my neck. "Koda!!" I practically scream, and that's when I noticed the door near the entrance that's slightly ajar.

Huh...why didn't I see that before?

It was closet sized, so I think that's why I didn't care for it right away. I walk over and pull the door open, only to see a loosely lit cellar below. "Koda?" I call, slowly making my way down the unsupported wood stairs.

Nothing still.

The room below is damp and musty. I cover my mouth.

The air tastes like rust and hospital medicines...gross.

"Koda, are you down here?" I ask.

Soon enough I find her, sitting in a rocking chair with her eyes closed. She's sleeping.

I breathe a sigh of relief. Good, she didn't run out. "Hey Koda," I whisper, gently shaking her shoulder. Her eyes slowly opened, and she glanced over at me. "Ed..?" she asked, and I give a small laugh. "No, it's Alphonse," I reply. She smiles, then leans her head back and begins to rock back and forth. "Oh...well hi Al. What're you doing here?" she asked, her voice still strange sounding from just waking up. I stand up straight and fix my coat collar. "Brother told me to watch you while he was away. He won't be long, I promise."

Koda gives a tired smile, her eyes looking over at a barrel of wine. I look with her. "We...we were starting a wine cellar down here," she whispered. Her voice is hoarse, like she's been screaming alot. I imagine it's from all the crying she's been doing. "Yeah?" I reply, "And hows that going?"

She stands up and slowly makes her way over to the barrel. Koda turns and looks at me. "We only have one," she says, and she pops the cork just so that a trickle of wine spills onto the floor. "K-Koda, don't do that you'll waste it," I say, and she responds by putting her finger under the wine and bringing it to her mouth. "It's our wedding wine," she says, "want some?"

I don't know how to respond.

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