cold

it's been a week.

it's a chilly evening in anistar city, only some degrees away from freezing. the sun is starting to set. 

sparky is outside, on his way home from hanging out with friends.

really, he wanted to see if he could find syra. she'd vanished again, she did that sometimes - disappearing for a few days before coming right back. 

but this was the longest she'd been gone. it's starting to worry him.

he sighs, restless. holding his arms close in attempt to warm up a little. he should've worn the big coat. 

-

....he's here, on the steps of the little townhouse he calls home. he remembers, once, syra taught him a cool move on these steps, told him a corny joke, had long conversations talking about whatever. once, they'd bought frozen treats from a street vendor and ate them on the steps. 

he swallows nervously. nobody is home. mother is... off somewhere, running some errand he didn't care to know and syra...

he doesn't know either.

the key turns, and the door opens to a dark, lukewarm house. it's uncomfortable.

maybe that's just him worrying.

---

sparky grabs a snack from the pantry, sleep already dragging at his eyes. it was weird. he wanted... he wanted so badly to crash into bed and sleep for ages, but at the same time, something in his mind buzzed so fiercely it was sure to keep him awake.

where are you? 

he makes a little whimpering sound and sneaks off to his bedroom. the door creaks slightly as it opens.

he remembers those few childhood nights when anistar's vicious freezes were too much for him to bear. he remembers, shivering, cold and afraid, inside his sister's room.
it was pleasantly warm.

....he has to check. 

abandoning his own room, he wanders off, a faint hope somehow worming its way into his mind. maybe... maybe she's back home already and he missed her? and she's taking a big nap? he knew how heavy a sleeper she was. 

he opens the door to a long empty room.
it's cold.