By: Abigail Handojo
Trigger warnings: Mentions the feeling of being run over by a car.
Promise Me You'll Live
Chapter 2: "Pillow Fights"
Amy’s POV
“Day 6 since Lily appeared. Page 2 of journaling what we know. Log number 5, assessing her abiliti- Owhh! Lily why’d you throw a pillow at me while I’m-” I look up from my notebook in irritation before realizing what just happened.
“Wait, you can pick things up?!”
“I guess so. But I can’t feel the texture of the fabric, only the weight. It’s like lifting dense air.”
“Can you do it again?”
Lily slides her hands under a second cushion and scoops it up, flinging it toward me. It brushes past my shoulder, barely missing my head.
“No way! We gotta write this down-”
Lily pelts my head and back with pillows, sending the pencil flying. I give up trying to write and set the notebook down.
“H-hey can you at least chuck them at my bed, not at me?”
“Nope, it’s more fun this way.”
She begins collecting pillows from my bed and sofa as ammunition. I catch one as it comes crashing down and toss it in her direction.
We pause in anticipation as it comes in contact with her figure, passing through and landing on the carpet behind her.
And then war breaks out.
“Not fair! You can’t be hit-”
“Yeah, well I still feel it…”
“Okay, but you’re not-”
I make a run for it, tugging the cushions from her fingers before piling them in a corner and standing in front.
“Amy! Quit hogging all the pillows”
“Quit hurling them!”
Her eyes dart from the pyramid to my smug grin. She hesitates before passing right through me.
The sensation prickles the tips of my toes and fingers. Hairs on the nape of my neck offer a standing ovation. My breath gets trapped in my chest and I drop to the ground.
Lily freezes, abandoning the pillows and staring at me in concern.
“Amy! I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Are you okay?”
“Y-yeah, I just wasn’t expecting… that.”
“Did I hurt you?”
“Not… really… but for a second it felt like I was being run over by a car or something”
Lily falls silent and a flood of emotions wash over her features though I can't quite tell if it's guilt or something more...
“Seriously, it’s okay, Lily. I’m fine, here, rematch?”
I reach for a nearby pillow, holding it out for her. She gaps at it, deciding whether or not we should presume our battle and act like she didn’t just phase through me. Eventually, she accepts my offer and moves to yank the pillow from my hands, but I don’t let go. I tug.
“Let go!”
“No, you let go!”
“No, you!”
“No, you!”
Her grip gives out and I hold the cushion just above her reach. Our two-inch height difference allowing me the upper hand.
I raise my voice, hollering in victory before noticing that Lily's fallen silent once again.
“What- Oh come on!” I say in defeat after realizing the reason.
The torn hem of her dress lifts off the ground as Lily begins levitating. Her toes go slack, pointing straight down and her arms droop to her side. It’s terrifying.
She meets my eyes and smiles innocently before plucking the pillow from my grasp.
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