12Hayden sat up in his bed and checked the time, Hayden almost instantly sprung out of bed, went to the bathroom, and took a shower. Today was the day!
Finally after two long weeks of waiting, Charlotte was finally arriving.
It seemed to drag on forever. He spent the last few weeks watching every series that his friends recommended to him, drawing for "clients", achievement hunting on some of his older video games (That was the most effective means of killing time…), and of course setting up his spare bedroom for his guest.
After his shower, Hayden got dressed and went into the spare bedroom with a vacuum cleaner. He gave the room a few last-minute adjustments: a quick vacuum and some air freshener. Hayden turned off the vacuum cleaner and stood in the middle of the room. "I could work at a hotel," he said out loud.
He spent the rest of the day cleaning up his house, vacuuming every room in the house, making sure the bathroom was clean. After a few hours of cleaning, he found himself on the couch taking a rest. He glanced up at the wall clock, it read 3.30 PM.
Charlotte was scheduled to arrive at around 5.30. Suddenly, his phone rang, he quickly answered "Hello?"
"Hey Haydie!" Charlotte said excited as ever, "Today's the day! Are you excited?!"
Hayden let out a small chuckle, "You bet! I've just finished setting up your room."
"Awesome! Look, is it cool if I come early? I managed to finish my work here early!"
Hayden immediately stood up from the couch, his tiredness now a distant memory, "Of course!"
"Great! I just need to get some stuff in order." She said Hayden could hear the sound of rustling fabric and zips being closed.
"I'll see you soon then!" Hayden then hung up.
Charlotte sent a text: "I forgot to ask! Can you sprinkle some salt around the ritual circle and light the candles? It will make the spell easier to cast. Text me when you've done it!"
He pocketed his phone and entered the kitchen, grabbing a bag of salt and a box of candles from the pantry.
Hayden went to the garage and sprinkled some salt around the sigil and lit up the candles. Despite the fact that he knew it was just for his sister's portal, it felt so wrong. "Where's my human sacrifice and satanic robe when you need it?!" Hayden joked to himself in an attempt to lighten up the mood. He struck a match and lit the candles, slowly and methodically. After the final candle was lit he stood up, blowing the match's flame out and he pulled out his phone.
He texted Charlotte, "Okay, it's ready"
"Great! stand back." Suddenly, the ritual circle began to glow and the candle's flames turned an unnatural shade of orange causing Hayden to stand back. The garage then lit up as the portal began to form in the middle of the ritual circle. Hayden instinctively reached for the folding chair and hid behind it, she did tell him to step back after all.
Once the portal was fully formed, Charlotte stepped through the portal with two bags one in each hand, and a backpack strapped on her back. She stepped out of the ritual sigil and the portal closed behind her, a moment later, the candles blew out. Hayden peeked out over the top of his folding chair and very quickly he stood up, the chair falling onto the floor with a clang.
Charlotte set down her bags and jumped into Hayden's arms, almost toppling him over. For a while, the two remained in that position, the two of them shedding tears in the process. They pulled away and wiped their eyes.
"You okay?" Hayden asked, his voice wavering slightly.
"I'm alright, Hayden," Charlotte responded with a smile. Hayden grabbed one of her bags and led her to the spare bedroom.
He opened the door and stepped inside and allowed Charlotte to slowly step into the room. It was a quaint and cosy space with a neatly made bed, a small chest of drawers, and a lamp next to it. A small desk and chair sat by the window, and a bookshelf lined with fantasy novels Hayden collected over the years. For a while, Charlotte stared at the room.
Hayden placed down her bag and turned to his sister, noticing her frozen gaze, "Uh, is the room okay?"
"I…" She slipped her backpack off and set it down beside her bed, "I LOVE IT" she belted out happily and jumped on the bed with a laugh. She felt a sense of comfort wash over her as she took in the simple yet charming room.
"I thought you hated it." Hayden leaned on the doorway with a revealed smile. "Well, I'll let you settle in, join me in the kitchen when you're done."
Hayden stepped out of the room and down the hall. Charlotte opened one of her bags and began to palace some of her clothes into the small chest of drawers. "I'll sort out the rest later!" She said before going to join her brother in the kitchen.
She entered the kitchen and saw at the table, Hayden pouring two glasses of wine. He offered a glass to her without saying a word. Charlotte took the glass out of his hand, "I hope you like it," Hayden said nervously.
Charlotte brought the glass up to her nose and gave it a smell, "Hmm! Smells lovely."
Hayden raised his glass, "I just want to say, I really can't believe you're here," He said with a smile, "and uh I'm not one for speeches so, I hope you enjoy your stay."
Charlotte smiled and clinked her glass against his. "Thank you, brother." They each took a sip of the wine, the liquid was surprisingly smooth and easy, especially when compared to the wines that Jennifer and Jane enjoy. "Oh, that's smooth!"
Charlotte set her glass down and looked around the kitchen and the living room, noticing how clean it was compared to her last visit. "Wow, you sure did clean up!"
"Well, not often your long-lost sibling comes over for a few weeks!" Hayden retorted after he finished his glass of wine. "I'm down for an early dinner, so I'll get started. So make yourself at home!" He started pulling out the ingredients from the cupboard and fridge.
Charlotte took off her blazer and rolled up her sleeves and stood next to him at the counter, "Let's get started then!" Hayden gave her a grateful smile.
After dinner, Charlotte and Hayden washed the dishes, "Since when do you cook?" she teased.
Hayden shrugged, "Uh, since my step parents could teach me…"
After the last plate was put back in the cupboard. Despite it only being 5.43 PM, Charlotte let out a long drawn-out yawn. "I think I'm going to go to bed, it was an exhausting day."
"Fair enough…" Hayden pulled her into a hug. "I'm so happy you're here…" He said through some tears.
Charlotte rubbed his back in return, "Thank you for having me…'
Hayden pulled away, "Goodnight Char."
"Night Hayden." She said disappearing into the hallway and entering her room, closing the door behind her.
Charlotte almost immediately dressed into some light undergarments for sleep. As soon as she was changed a wave of tiredness hit her, as if her body knew that she could now finally relax. Without another word, she turned off the lamp and climbed into the bed. The soft embrace of the blankets almost made her melt into the bed. Her eyes gently fluttered as the sweet embrace of sleep overcame her.
Hayden went back to his room to finish up another customer's request for a drawing. He pulled up the request and began to draw. As he did so a warm feeling rose in his heart, the piece of him that had been missing for so long was now here.
As he drew his eyes panned to a drawing on the corkboard in front of him, they landed on Spawn and a demon that he assumed was a hellhound.
"I wonder if Charlotte knows who "Vortex" is?"
Thank you for your patience.
Apologies for another short chapter, but i do promise more interesting and fun chapters are in store.
Typically i find there are moments in writing a long story involve some "filler" chapters
Most importantly, thank you for reading.
Cya!