Alpha Sin novel Chapter 2

ARTEMISIA

On the outside, it was a large plain-looking building. The only thing that stood out in it was the way the balcony was decorated with beautiful and different hues of flowers.

I could recognise only the fuschias, morning glory, and red rose flowers.

The rest looked quite foreign. But, I was sure I had come across it before.

"Where could she be?" I asked myself as I stood in the lot that was brightened by the light from the moon.

I glared at the lamppost that was beside me. I guess it was only for decoration since I didn't see a light from it.

I looked heavenward and I noticed the moon was at its peak.

The last time I checked the clock before coming out, it was past eight.

It was rare to see the moon outside fully by this time of the day. But, I wasn't surprised.

Swirling again as I heard a low groan, I sighted Julie hunched above a trash can.

Wincing, she clutched her tummy as she heaved.

"I won't drink anymore." She moaned, wiping her mouth with the back of her palm.

"Maybe, you shouldn't say a promise you can't keep," I said.

I lifted off her hair as it cascaded down her face. I had heard her a lot of times promising not to do things.

But, at the end of the day, she goes back to what she had promised not to do.

It wasn't her first time vowing to stay away from booze. It might be her fifth or sixth time. Maybe more because since she had gotten her fake age license she had been partying ever since then and it had been two years ago. We were barely sixteen then.

"It's good to see you are sober." I patted her back, before doing her hair in a ponytail.

I passed the bottled water with me to her, she opened it and rinsed her mouth as well as face.

"Artemis." She said as she straightened a while later. "You look better than I do now."

"That is because I touched only a drink. Besides, it was not that alcoholic."

Despite it containing only a little bit of alcohol, it had affected me slightly because I was a lightweight.

The first time I tasted vodka, was when I vowed not to ever touch anything alcohol because I was overly drunk despite taking only a few sips of the monstrous liquor.

Also, I had embarrassed myself. I had kept to the vow until tonight.

But, I was glad I didn't take more than I could.

"Come on, let's get going," I mumbled, wrapping my hand around her waist.

The leaf rustled and the air became more frigid.

I used a free hand to tug the sleeve of the blouse I donned. But, it was of no use because it was way too short.

I groaned, whilst shivering slightly. I felt Julie did the same and I wondered why she was cold since she wore a leather jacket.

I helped her zip it up before proceeding towards the house.