Nightfall: Chapter 2

(S)
=i put my hand up=
Nah, it's fine. Any questions before we start training?

"Nope."

I shuffled along the bed, finding a more comfortable place to lean against.

(S)
=i nod=
Okay then. Anton, what do you suggest we work on first?

(Anton)

=I rub my chin for a second=

I suggest we start with hearing.

=I smile=

It shouldn't be that hard.

"That hard. Sounds... Great."

Maybe I was tired. But everything seemed... Less... Serious now.

(S)
Well, close your eyes. And just focus on your hearing. Tell me, is our guest in the other saying anything in her sleep?

I did just that, and listened.

"Nothing, just slight snoring."

(S)
And what about the walls? Do you hear anything from them?

The walls? What on earth?

"I don't know... Nothing."

(S)
Listen for the small critters, the settling of weight as the people above us move around, the slight rattle of plumbing. Can you hear it?

"A bit."

I wasn't very good at wall listening.

(S)
Just focus. Pour all your attention into your ears.

I tried.

And there it was, the sound of a slight vibration, the patter of... Tiny, tiny, tiny feet. Then it was gone again.

"I heard something."

(Anton)

=I smile=

What better way to learn than by example...

=I sit and close my eyes, and slow my breathing, focusing on hearing, and tuning out my other senses=

(S)
=i whisper, to help her focus on her hearing=
Listen again. Try to find it again.

(Anton)

=I continue to tune out my other senses, listening carefully=

Our sleepy house guest snoring, the rattling of old plumbing, the sound of little rodents pattering underneath my feet...

=I listen once more=

And I also hear a baby crying from five blocks away...

=I smile, pleased at good I still was=

I concentrated, or to the best I could, on the walls. There was a slight vibration, the sound of... Quite a lot of little feet, which I guessed would be Insects of some sort. Noises could be heard from outside... Televisions? Speaking?

(S)
=i lower my voice even more, so it's barely more than a whisper=
There you go...focus...

=i slowly and carefully moved so I could put my hand next to her ear, ready to snap my fingers=

I continued listening, attempting to make the noises further away clearer... An argument of some sort? Shouting? It was over... Something. The roads seemed quiet, odd.

(S)
=i snap my fingers as hard as I can=

The noise was quite loud, which wasn't exactly great for my ears.

"Ow."

I shook my head.

(S)
=i chuckle softly=
There will be sudden changes to you and your surroundings as you live this new life. It's best to learn to adapt quickly, and push past the pain.

I shook my head, going back to the listening.

"What am I listening out for?"

(S)
Just listen. Hear the world around you, and listen to what normal humans could not.

=i got back to my spot=
Try to find location and distance.

"How do I do that?"