57. For the Love of Hearing

Alisa - Two Months Later
My name is Alisa Cristescu, and I am a perfectly sane and healthy twenty-something-year-old strigoi. My best friend and maker, however, is quite crazy.
After living my entire life with my parents, my older sister, her husband, their three children, and a dog named Luna, becoming a strigoi and moving out with Laura was the highlight of my life. It's been a happy home ever since. We had ups and downs like any friends have, but not like this.
The loud music coming from Laura’s room pops like firecrackers in my head. Grumbling unheard even by myself, I google ‘where to buy earmuffs near Dristor.’
The search comes up with nothing useful, and the delivery may take up to three days. My eardrums don’t have that much time left.
Tumbling onto my couch, I close my eyes, wishing for the world to stop exploding. The music gets louder, and my ears feel as though they're bleeding.
“Shit! Shit! Shit!"
I force my way into Laura's room. Her hand lifts a dart as she focuses on a board with concentric circles on the wall.
Pop music is playing. Extremely loudly.
“I’m trying to hear my thoughts!” I yell.
Laura doesn’t hear me. She throws the dart right into the center. I don’t dare get closer and become the next target.
“Laura!” I shout as she stops to take another dart.
She glances toward me, then grins, pausing the music. Any grin from Laura nowadays looks half like a scowl, but that’s not enough to intimidate me.
“Ah, Alisa,” she says, pointing the sharp tip of a dart toward me. “Care to join? You could use some practice. I mean, what’s super-strength without accuracy?”
I yank the dart from her hand and place it in my pocket.
“You can take it.” Laura shrugs. “I have more.”
“Pubs exist for a purpose. Go there and have at it.”
“Pubs are closed this early in the morning. Plus, there are too many men around there.” She pulls out another little arrow. “They keep hitting on me, and darts keep getting stuck in their body parts. Pure coincidence, believe me.”
“How can you listen to this crap all day?”
“It's my favorite band!”
“I thought you were listening to classical music."
Laura looks at me befuddled. "When was that?"
"Nevermind! I’m only wondering how long you intend to keep this up.”
"Until the day I die." Laura forms a flawless 'o' with her lips before covering them with her hand in an expressive gesture. "Oops, I keep forgetting that I can't. Haha!"
“You give me no choice. I’ll call Paul and tell him everything.”
“Fine, whatever.” She rolls her eyes and turns back to her wall target.
I leave her and throw myself down on the black leather couch in my room. The music comes back to a new all-time high volume, and I sigh, raising my fingers to my temples.
It doesn't work. My head is throbbing, and I feel like my brain will explode.
On my smartphone, I read some articles about mental illnesses. Apparently, you cross the line into insanity when your mental state stops you from being able to function properly and having a normal life. By those standards, Laura is not the least bit insane. But she’s not herself. I'm the one going nuts.
Day after day after day, music, movies, and other loud hobbies fill the air. She even learned to play the guitar! At night, clubs, parties, and god knows what else. I was too tired to keep up with her the last few days.
Oh, how I miss Laura. I prefer her nagging and calmness. I'll never admit I thought this way if she returns to normal.
I spring off the sofa, stroll down the stairs, and out of the building. While I do not enjoy traveling by subway, I need to meet Paul in person. There is an exit from the Unirii metro station right outside Wolves Inc offices.
Dan is sitting on a bench outside the closed glass doors, the last person I want to see right now. He's wearing a polo shirt and slacks and is about to take a sip from a disposable cup of coffee when he notices me.
He leaps up from the bench. “Alisa?”
“Not now. I have to see Paul. It’s urgent.”
"What could be so urgent after two months?" He comes to me and grabs my arm. "I’m fed up with all the excuses as to why you can’t see me anymore. I wonder if your interest has faded after I fell for you."
“If I had known you’re so needy, maybe I wouldn’t have forced you into a relationship.” I yank my arm free from his grasp. “Maybe a one-night stand would have been for the best.”
He raises an eyebrow, and I feel embarrassed. Dan does not deserve my mockery. He's a fantastic boyfriend and a wonderful guy in general. It's hard to find someone who will stick by me despite my personality.
“I’m sorry,” I say, lowering my head to avoid his gaze. “I’ve been feeling a little worn down lately.”
He places a hand on my shoulder, and, seeing that I don’t shrug it off, he embraces me in a warm hug. “Do you need anything?” he whispers.
“Yeah, I need to see Paul.”
Dan nods and kisses my forehead. He's a great boyfriend. Without him, I would go nuts and join forces with Laura, trampling over the remains of humanity.
We go inside the building together. I follow him to Paul’s office, where Dan stops.
"Let me go in first," he requests. "I'll notify him of your arrival. His mood hasn't been good lately. And it's not like we can walk in together."
I wince at Dan’s subtle reminder that we haven’t told anyone about us. I still think it’s for the best. Dramatics and funny stuff are my specialties. I don’t shine so much in the psychology department, and these two—Laura and Paul, I mean—need special care.
"Of course." I step aside and watch Dan knock on the door. I hear Paul's voice.
"Come in."
After less than a minute, Dan comes out and leaves the door open, signaling for me to enter.
“What can I do for you—” Paul pauses, raising an eyebrow. “Alisa, right?”
“I have a case of a nut job that only you can crack.” I close the door, walk into the room, and take one of the chairs across from him.
He gives me a blank stare. He may still despise strigois, maybe even more so after what happened with Laura, but I need my apartment and my hearing to return to normal. I can't just sit around, waiting for these two to make things right. Besides, based on how good he looks, this man has it easier than Laura.
“What’s the problem?” he asks again, leaning on the backrest of his seat.
“Laura,” I say, staring at him. “She's not herself. It’s like the old Laura has died, and a new, insane persona has taken over her body.”
“My condolences,” he says, unfazed. “But we’re not together anymore. I don’t see what this has to do with me.”
“It has everything to do with you!”
Paul punches the desk, going from a state of still calmness to a fit of feverish anger in a split second. "She’s the one who left me!"
“Some people stay, some people leave, but their hearts remain in the same place. Even if hers is not beating, it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.”
His rage flickers like a flame in his eyes, but I have to press on now while he lets me speak.
“If you had a pill that can heal love, memories, and pain would you take it? Laura did something similar, but it didn't heal anything, just suppressed them and left her hollow. Go speak with her, please. Only you can bring her back.”
The door opens, and Dan enters with two coffees.
“Dan,” Paul says, taking both cups, “would you kindly escort Alisa out?”
“Certainly.”
I have to make one last attempt. “Can I—”
Paul cuts me off with his index finger held up. “It was a pleasure. Now, please excuse you.”
I rise from my chair. Before reaching the door, I look at Paul over my shoulder.
“You may choose when to start loving, but not when to end it.”