7 Deadly Roommates

by George Saoulidis

  Evie swallowed. “I’ll think about it!”

  “Plus, it will give us more time to hang out,” Costa said, winking at her. “Wouldn’t that be fun?”

  Evie pointed at the door. “Sure. It’d be nice. Anyway, I promised I’d be somewhere, and I have to leave. Thanks for staying late for me, and I will think about the offer.”

  Costa grinned.

  Evie took a step away, then turned back to him. “Both of them,” she added, smiling back.

  Chapter 53: Horace

  “You’re here!” Horace exclaimed, pulling her inside his house. He glanced at her overnight bag, and checked the time. It was late and Evie definitely wasn’t going to pay a double tariff for a midnight taxi. And he wasn’t going to let her, either.

  “Hey,” she said and peeked around the corner. The girls were in the living room, chatting away. They all turned to her and smiled and said ‘welcome.’ Gula was making popcorn.

  “We’re gonna watch the new superhero movie, the one with the Slime-man. I assume it’s all right with you?” he asked her.

  “Sure, I wanted to watch it. Is it the one where he loses his powers?” she mocked in a deeper tone of voice.

  “Have you seen it already?” Horace asked, curious.

  “Nope. But it is the second movie, so he will definitely lose his powers and mope about it,” Evie said, rolling her eyes.

  Gods, he loved her. Taking in her cute expressions and her gorgeous eyes, he stopped for a second to admire her. Evie had embraced the whole geek thing completely, and she really did enjoy it.

  Evie was comfortable around his house so she didn’t even ask and went in the guest room.

  “No, wait!” Horace said but it was too late.

  “Sorry!” she winced and took a step back, shutting the door. She whispered, “Which one is that, Ava, right?”

  “Yeah, I should have told you she was sleeping in the guest room.” Horace rubbed his neck. “Then again, pretty much the entire house is occupied.”

  “Oh. Do you want me to leave afterwards?” Evie blinked.

  “No! Come on, don’t be silly.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You can sleep in my room, and I’ll sleep on the couch with Acedia. Is that alright?”

  Evie looked up at him, her eyes a glint of greenish brown. They looked wet. She looked away, and said with a small voice, “Of course it is.” She broke off his embrace and went into his room. “I’m gonna put on my pyjamas,” she said, shutting the door.

  Evie came back wearing her uniform, which was her well-worn pyjamas with little Teddy Bears. Horace was delighted to find that she was getting along with the girls, they were polite and cordial to each other. After the popcorn came and the movie started, they even commented and laughed together at the absolute ridiculousness of the movie premise.

  “He lost his powers and now he’s pining about it. You were so right,” Horace said, raising his soft drink at her.

  They clinked bottles. “Of course I was,” she beamed at him, then threw a handful of popcorn in her mouth and chewed proudly.

  When the movie was over, Evie showed them Ira’s cyberscan, and her sketch-over. She made her into a tough dwarf-lady who wielded a greataxe.

  “Badass...” Ira whistled, nodding away, appreciating the artwork. “I like it, thanks Evie. You made me look great!”

  “You really like it?” Evie asked, her voice raising high. “You’re not just saying it to be polite?”

  “Of course not! And where can I get an axe like that for real?” Ira asked in all seriousness, and the others all burst in laughter.

  Ira frowned at them all. “What’s so funny?”

  They laughed even harder.

  Lux turned to Evie. “So, what else can you draw?” she asked with her thick Russian accent.

  “Um, whatever you want. I generally start with a feeling and kinda wing it. Do you want me to draw you? I just need a picture, for starters,” Evie said, gripping her tablet.

  “Niet, but how about my sister Acedia?” Lux said, and they all turned to the quiet girl at the edge of the sofa.

  Acedia perked up slowly when she realised she was the centre of attention. “Wow. What did I do?”

  “Nothing wrong, radosta moya. Will you model for us?” Lux stood up and walked towards her with her hips swaying. Horace enjoyed the view, and Lux offered her hand to Acedia as if she was asking for a dance. Acedia accepted it and stood up slowly, blushing from all the attention. Lux spun her around slowly. “Pretty, da?”

  “She’s lovely,” Evie said warmly. She stood up and gave instructions. “All I need is a well-lit picture, full body.” They went to a clear wall and turned on the lights, then she took a few pictures with her phone. “Now a few close ups... Wow, Acedia, your face is so detailed and expressive, I really need to capture this.”

  Acedia smiled at that and her whole appearance seemed to change. They all observed, staying out of the way. The only thing that moved was the fan he’d brought in the living room to cool them. Horace watched, his foot slapping the carpet. It was a nervous tick he had. Evie hadn’t said anything about his message, and he knew she had seen it. Sure, there was a lot going on, but she could have said something at the very least, couldn’t she? He watched as she directed Acedia’s slow movements. He tried to see the girl as Evie would. Thin, bony. Some would say: sick. Acedia had looked better the first few days they met but now it seemed to Horace she had relapsed. Had she even eaten anything? He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen her put something in her mouth.

  “There, done,” Evie said and sat down, her attention at her drawing tablet.

  “Should I leave the lights on?” Lux asked.

  “Sure, whatever,” Evie replied, clearly distracted.

  Lux smiled and turned them off. Horace knew she didn’t like attracting mosquitoes, she complained that they ruined her skin. But who did? Gula brought in more snacks for everyone, and Acedia sat back down on her spot, her focus on Evie’s tablet as she worked.

  Horace sat next to Acedia and grabbed a sandwich from the tray, then offered it to Acedia with a napkin. “There you go, honey.”

  She smiled wide at him, and slowly accepted it with her bony fingers. “Wow. Thank you, Horace. How nice of you. I already ate.”

  “A couple of pop corn kernels don’t count as dinner.” He eyed her, making his thoughts clear.

  Acedia licked her lips and bit down on the sandwich, then chewed forever.

  “That was the smallest bite ever taken. Anyway, I don’t wanna pressure you, I just want you to be okay,” he sighed.

  She nodded, smiling bitterly.

  He kissed her on the lips and picked up the tray. He set aside a couple of sandwiches for Ava on a plate and brought them to her room. He knocked on the door.

  “Come on in,” Ava said.

  He brought the plate inside and set it on the usual spot. “How are you?” he asked the Asian lady. “Don’t you want to join us?”

  Ava was reading a book on the bed and keeping herself cool with her vandalia. Horace admired the dragons drawn on both papers. “No, I’m fine, don’t worry about me. I can entertain myself.” She raised the side of her mouth into a naughty smirk.

  “Oh... Right, okay then.” Horace sat at the edge of the bed and licked his lips. “I... uh, probably messed up big time today.”

  “At work?”

  “Yeah. I shoved a customer and he fell on the ground. I still think he deserved it, but Nico, my boss, won’t take it too kindly.”

  She shrugged gracefully. “Understandable.”

  “What do I do now?”

  “Was that the path you wanted? Managing an ice cream shop?” Ava asked, her words simple, without emotion.

  “Not really, no. I... uh, it’s silly, but I always wanted to make a figurine store or something. With fantasy stuff, you know, dragons, witches, that sort of thing. It’s nerdy, I know, but that’s what I wanna do.”

  Ava said nothing for a long moment, then click
ed her tongue. “What’s the commotion about in the living room?”

  “Oh, they’re having fun with Evie’s sculptures. Digital ones, she takes a picture of the girls and paints over them, making them badass. She made Ira one, not that she needs any more badassery, and now they’re doing Acedia.”

  Ava nodded imperceptibly, and after a long moment, she added, “So, fantasy stuff, dragons, witches, that sort of thing.”

  Horace chuckled. “Yeah, I guess.”

  Then his eyes went wide.

  Chapter 54: Evie

  Evie woke up in the middle of the night, as usual. She needed to pee and she ran to the bathroom on her tiptoes. After that, she walked quietly back to Horace’s room, and noticed the TV was on. It was playing some drama series with the volume turned all the way down and with subtitles. What was Horace doing, wasn’t he asleep? She decided to check up on him. Peeking around the corner, she took a look at the couch.

  It was turned away and they weren’t sitting up, so they mustn’t have been awake. But there was movement in the twilight.

  Oh.

  They were horizontal. Evie took in a good look of Horace’s butt, illuminated by the television. He had a really nice butt. He was on top of Acedia, she couldn’t see them, just his back. Evie focused her attention and could hear them whispering sweet nothings into each other’s ears. Horace was being extra slow, she could hear him kissing Acedia all over and mumbling to her as he moved inside and out very slowly.

  Evie turned around, put her back against the wall and slid down to the floor. She teared up instantly. She wanted to dart out of there, just grab her stuff and walk out in the middle of the night. She wanted to slam the door and stop hearing them make love.

  But why was she feeling like this?

  It wasn’t like they were doing something bad. And she hadn’t laid claim on Horace, in fact, she kept telling everyone he was just her friend. Her best friend, but a friend. And now he had found someone and a proper friend would be proud of him and feel good about it and not roll up into a ball on the floor like a little girl and cry snot all over her sleeves.

  Hear that, Evie?

  Nope, she wasn’t hearing anything. Or rather, she was, and that’s why she couldn’t pry herself away from their intimate moment.

  “Promise me you’ll eat something, okay baby,” Horace whispered softly.

  “Wow. Okay,” Acedia moaned, out of breath. “I will, just after this... ah... as soon as... as soo- Ah... ah... AH!”

  Evie could tell she was shuddering underneath him, enjoying her orgasm. She dared to glance back and she could see Acedia’s bony fingers digging into Horace’s back. Horace kept kissing her and thrusting slowly as she rode it out. Evie let out a chocked cry and quickly muffled herself, tears falling down her cheeks. She was certain they would have heard her if they weren’t making so much noise themselves.

  When Acedia stopped panting, Horace kissed her for a long time, then whispered, “Now off you go to grab something to eat. I’m not trying to pressure you, okay? I just want you to be healthy.”

  “Okay,” Acedia said and he got off from on top of her.

  Evie scrambled down the corridor and back to Horace’s room. She saw Acedia getting up and putting on her pyjamas, and Evie shut the door carefully and quietly behind her. She sniffled, then looked around the room. Horace had a bunch of figurines laying around, witches and warriors and space aliens with a bit too much skin exposed.

  Inspiration struck.

  She opened up her tablet and loaded Acedia’s pictures from earlier on. She started sketching like crazy, pouring all her anger and frustration into her creation.

  She turned the girl’s bony fingers into an undead fist clutching a dagger. She gave her greenish-blue short hair, pointed in tufts, and a powerful gaze, oozing yellow light. She switched her into a crouching position, dagger raised, ready to strike. She drew armour on her that was adorned with purple edges and skulls with glowing purple eyes. Big pauldrons that made her look like she was built for speed.

  And finally, Evie turned her hands and feet into bare bone with no muscle, sinew showing, animated by magic.

  When she was done, she took a step back and looked at Acedia, turned into a loveable undead rogue that had stolen her friend’s heart.

  Chapter 55: Horace

  Horace woke up early, he was anxious about meeting his boss. He got to the kitchen and tried to keep it quiet as he made coffee, but the clinking was impossible to avoid.

  “Hmm?” Gula mumbled, waking up. She had a chocolate wrapper next to her pillow. “What is it?”

  “Nothing, it’s still early. Go to sleep,” Horace said and caressed her hair.

  “No, you’re up, so I’ll get up.” Gula sat up on the cot with her eyes closed. “I’m getting up,” she said, doing no such thing.

  Horace chuckled. “Seriously, Gula, I can make my own coffee, it’s okay.”

  “Nooo,” she whined. “It’s like my one pleasure.” Gula forced her eyes open and blinked too many times, forcing the sleep dust away. She stood up and sleepily started making breakfast for him.

  Horace sighed and hugged her from behind, making sure to get a good handful of her boobs.

  She squealed in delight. “Want some sugar in yours?”

  “No,” he whispered into her ear, “but I will want some sugar from you later on.”

  Gula giggled, then started making breakfast.

  “Make sure Acedia gets something to eat, okay?” Horace said loud enough to be heard in the living room and sat down on the table. He checked his phone, he had a message from Nico. He sighed, then read it. ‘I’ll be at the shop in the morning, we need to have a chat.’

  Right. Horace dropped his phone on the table and it bounced a couple of times away from him. Gula turned back to see him, hesitated, then turned back to making breakfast for seven- wait, no, eight people. It was quite a feat of her, and sure, she ate some of the breakfast along the way, but she always made whatever everyone wanted the exact way they wanted it. It was a gift.

  Gula brought his coffee. “Thank you, sweetheart,” he said, taking a delightful sip.

  She beamed at him, then hopped off to make the rest.

  Horace leaned forward and grabbed his phone back, then checked his stats.

  Evil Thought

  Tokens

  Gula

  6

  Luxuria

  7

  Avaritia

  3

  Superbia

  4

  Invidia

  0

  Ira

  4

  Acedia

  7

  He had a thought last night, but he wanted to sleep on it before talking it any further. It had formed in his mind and somehow it all clicked together when Evie told him about her sculptures. He needed to talk to her, alone.

  “Hey, Gula, honey, make me a tray for my toast and Evie’s. I’ll take it to her in my room.”

  “Sure,” Gula shrugged and her curves bounced up and down all over her body. Horace observed the show, mesmerised. She really was very cute.

  “Evie? Are you up? I’m bringing you coffee,” Horace said, knocking on his own door.

  “Wha- Wait!” a panicked Evie said from inside. “Give me a minute.”

  “Sure. But I’m also carrying French toast and it smells delicious and the cheese is melted all over, and I can’t stop myself, it’s right under my nose and it’s just asking for me to take a bite, and I’m taking it, I can’t stop, it’s all gone! Oh, no, I can’t stop myself, the entire toast is gone! There’s only one piece left but it’s calling for me...”

  The door opened and a frowning Evie stood across it. She snatched the toast from the plate with a quick motion, and stuck her tongue out at him. “You’re such a drama queen.”

  “I got you to open the door, didn’t I?” Horace said, chuckling. He stepped inside.

  “Don’t you want all of us to have breakfast together?” Evie asked, pointing at the kitchen
.

  “They’re not all up yet. But I wanted to discuss something with you.”

  “Sure.” Evie shut the door and sat on his bed, cross-legged. She took the plate and munched on her toast. “Breakfast in bed, I feel so honoured. Will you tell me what’s on your mind?” she asked, licking her lips.

  Horace sighed and sat on the chair beside his desk. He tapped his coffee cup, thinking his words. “Look, remember when I wanted to start a company? With fantasy figurines, etcetera?” He shrugged and pointed at all the figurines laid out in his room.

  “Yeah. You kinda babbled on endlessly about it last year.”

  “Look, nothing has changed, there is no capital, no business offer, and the market is pretty much the same I believe. But I think I wanna start it now,” he said, sucking air through his teeth.

  Evie scrunched up her nose and ran her tongue inside her cheek. “Hmm... Okay, why not? Go for it.”

  “Really?”

  She shrugged and took a bite. “Yeah. You obviously seem a lot more confident nowadays, perhaps it is the right time to start a business like that.” Her words dripped with innuendo and she seemed angry about something, but still they were words of encouragement.

  Horace blinked at that. “Wow, thanks Evie! Honestly I expected a ‘get back down to Earth’ talk.”

  She nodded deeply. “Yeah, I admit that’s what I would have told you a year ago. But I kinda see things differently now, and it’s thanks to Ava!”

  “What? Really? How?”

  Evie stood up and turned on her tablet. “Look, I’ve been working on a secret Agora profile, Evangeline.”

  “That’s not that secret, it’s your actual name,” Horace snorted.

  She squinted at him. “Nobody calls me that, dummy. Nobody will know. Anyway, look, I’ve been doing some commission work, and it’s going well.”