Beauty Of The Deep

Bewitching Hour : 6

“Arlo, you little wuss! You dare come back in my house with empty hands!" Mother furiously ranted at the boy the moment he step foot inside the door.

He was a fool to think the old lady wouldn't notice his hands that had nothing to offer for the day.

Of course she would've notice.

He clicked his tongue once the old lady was done with her one-sided argument. He was now inside his room, night again.

The other kids were still at the diner, eating their supper so he was the only person occupying the empty room. An exhausted sigh left his lips as he plopped his body on his wooden bed that he's been sleeping in for years. It was now too little for him to be completely comfortable in it, he obviously outgrown it. It wasn't as spacious as it was the day he arrived in there.

Lying down with legs crossed in the air, beside the window that always remained the perfect spot to over-think things and daydream all night long. His thoughts lead him back to the shore where he woke up from his unconsciousness and met Moon.

He had already given up on trying to remember why her voice sounded so familiar, so what's left for him to ponder is the odd tattoo she had on right arm.

Of course he couldn't miss it at that moment she had her arm out of water and he didn’t mention about it since it may be rude or he’d be spewing nonsense.

At first he thought it was a burn or past scar that left her arm in that condition but he noticed lately that it was a pattern with white ink that almost matched her skin tone, from a close view it’ll be easy to see the pattern.

"I'd be damned if she was a witch." Arlo lowly snicker.

“But I hope she isn't." He trailed off, bringing his hand to brush back his hair from blinding his sight of the old wooden ceiling that is barely managing to hold the whole place in one piece.

Arlo thought that he wouldn't be able to get some sleep tonight since he passed out for who knows how long but to his total contentment, he was able to drift to sleep with Moon still lingering on his mind.

Hours passed by. The sound of fingernails tapping a beat on a wooden surface woke him up from his deep slumber. He flutters his eyes open to the where the noise was coming from.

His vision was still unfocused and blurry from being woken abruptly, causing him to furrow his eyes to get a better look at the window. A human figure standing outside his window was all he could distinguish.

Arlo brought up his fist to rub his eyes out from the blurriness before he halts midway, just registering what he just saw.

"Ah!" He shrieked, backing away from the window in results of him falling off his cramped bed. The impact left a loud thud and squeak on the old ground but the kids were still in deep sleep.

"Hey-hey don't worry, it's just me." A soothing voice uttered, and it was the same voice from the shore.

"Moon." Arlo panted out, relieved. It wasn't an intruder or a ghost. "You scared me for a minute there." He chuckled, palm pressed against his chest to ease himself.

"I must've looked so stupid." He admitted standing up on his feet.

"Nah, it was hilarious." The window of his room wasn't that high off the ground, Moon was able to place her arms for her chin to rest on.

"It's late at night, what are you doing here?" He asks, concerned and confused. His eyes were all red, fresh as a fish.

"It's actually morning, but the moon's still awake." Arlo acknowledge her answer with a nod as he scratched his neck.

Arlo’s sleepy-yet wide eyes travel towards Moon's arm a moment after recalling the conversation he had with himself before he lost himself to sleep.

His brows immediately connected at the sight of her bare arm. The white-inked tattoo that he was certain he saw yesterday was no where to be seen.

He starts to call back his thoughts about her. What if she was indeed a witch?

"Are you still sleepy?" Moon asks upon seeing his lost expression, but she wasn't that slow to catch his eyes glued to her arm. A smirk crawled up her lips but she immediately flattened it when Arlo faces her.

"No, I’m wide awake now." He says, laying back down with his arms supporting the back his head. Moon lifted herself to sit on his window, The boy was surprised by her action but allowed her to do so. His wary eyes travels to his best friend Seven who, like everyone else was in deep sleep. There are nights where Seven would abruptly wake up and accompany Arlo in his lonely nights until daybreak, but it isn’t routined.

"If someone wakes up and sees you I might get in trouble." Arlo honestly announced.

"I'm quick." Moon shrugs with a cheeky smile on her face. She was aware that they were other kids in the room as well.

The boys secretive smile slowly falters, "Where'd your arm tattoo go?" The question was delivered without a second thought, but it was too late to dismiss it since Moon heard it clearly.

"I hid it." Moon now wore a mischievous smile which sent chills crawling under his skin.

Gulping down the knot that formed in his throat, "P-pardon?" He stutters, instinctively backing away from the girl. A second later she grins, "Just messing with you."

Arlo laughs awkwardly.

Of course she couldn't have just hid a permanent tattoo.

"I don't have one." Moon says with a shrug of her shoulders before turning her gaze towards the ocean.

“I am certain I saw a white pattern in your arm yesterday.“ Arlo mumbles, and Moon heard it clearly.

“Maybe your mind was playing tricks on you?” She says, eyes still glued to the ocean, “You almost drowned after all before being washed off the shore.”

“I’m sure what I saw but,” Arlo spoke but halts from his words. He doesn’t recall anyone being at the site when he was drowning especially since he would’ve called for help if he did see anyone present. So how did she know that he was drowning let alone pass out after that?

"Your best friend really is in deep sleep huh." She turns her head towards Seven’s bunk bed and Arlo followed her gaze.

Was she referring to Kim Seven?

"How did you know?” Arlo questions, looking at the girl very cautiously, "Are you a witch?"

"Pfttt." She suddenly bursts out laughing at Arlo’s question. It might have sound childish to her, since she was laughing with little tears in her eyes.

“You might wake them up!" Arlo shushes the girl under his breath but the girl didn't consider his words as she stops laughing.

"Yes. I am a witch."