Limerence│Billie Eilish (Eva, Swarm)

Chapter One: The Beginning of the End

Cold.

Terrified.

Homeless.

That summed up Leah's situation in three words.

It hadn't always been this way. Just a few hours ago she had a home, but then the incident changed that...

It wasn't all that bad, she had her older sister Layla and that was all she really needed.

They were in her sister's car, sitting in silence but not the comfortable kind. The kind that was so thick with unspoken questions it choked. The question here was obvious: "What are we gonna do now?"

Layla was the braver one and broke the silence.

"I-I" she choked out, "I'm sorry-"

Leah cut her off.

"What are you sorry about? If anyone should be apologizing it's Dad! He got us into this mess! He's been messing up our whole lives!"

Layla sighed and slumped back against the car seat. "I guess I just feel responsible that we're stuck. At this rate, we're going to be found and finished off by them..."

Leah stared at her sister for a moment. This whole thing had taken such a toll on her. Her brown eyes that usually shone like stars and glittered in the sunlight had dark bags under them that took away their beautiful shine. Leah also noticed how her sister's full cheeks were stained with tears she'd been letting fall silently when Layla thinks she doesn't notice. Her thick curly afro, usually elaborately styled, was messy and wild. The skin on her arms was becoming irritated from her picking at it...

Leah reached over and pulled her into an embrace, letting her sister cry on her shoulder for once. "You're doing an amazing job Lay-lay, Mom would've been so proud..."

At the mention of their late mother, Leah felt her sister shake and she held her tighter.

Suddenly there was a knocking on their car window.

"What the heck..." Leah broke from the hug to see what just hit their car.

It was some random lady who dressed like a hippie. She had stringy brown hair, a shirt with a fringe, a maxi skirt and smile that rivaled a creepy clown...

"Oh hi!" she began, way too enthusiastic for someone walking around in the middle of the night. "Sorry to disturb but I couldn't help but notice you two. You're not from here are you? Are you lost?"

Layla gave Leah a look to say, "Who is this crazy girl and why is she by our car?"

"Uhm yeah..." Layla started. "We're just passing through-"

The strange lady quipped in "Well you've been here for a while and it's pretty late, if you need a place to stay, there's a women's shelter not too far from here. I stay there and we've love to have you girls..."

Leah and Layla looked at each other. They didn't really have a choice. I mean how bad could staying with a bunch of hippies be? Not worse than being found that's for sure...

"Uhm yeah sure, I guess." answered Layla.

The hippie lady smiled that creepy, overly enthusiatic smile again. "Excellent, my car is the gray one over there! Follow me!"

Layla trailed the hippie lady's car until they arrived at a large estate. It was too dark too really see any details but Leah hoped it was decent. As they left their cars, a feminine figure holding a torch came up to them.

"Taylor, you're back," a velvety voice said, hugging the hippie lady. "And I see you've brought guests!"

Her voice was comforting, soft and silky. She spoke like a therapist or some sort of mother figure.

"I'm Eva and it's an honor to welcome you to our humble abode-"

She then pulled Leah in for a hug, Eva's vanilla scent taking over her senses. She felt oddly comforted by her presence. A feeling she's been a stranger to all her life. Something in her was disappointed when Eva pulled away. Their eyes met and Leah felt like the butterflies in her stomach were attacking each other. It may have been the persistent hunger in her stomach or a side effect of Eva's sparkling gaze.

Eva smiled softly, "I believe that we'll have a special connection love..."

Her hair was golden static, her eyes soft but sharp, like velvet hiding a dagger. When she smiled, and it wasn't just a smile. It was a promise. It was dangerously addictive.

Layla visibly tensed up when she saw the almost immediate intimate connection between Eva and Leah. When Eva came over to hug her, she stopped her sharply with an outstretched hand, indicating that she would prefer a handshake.

Eva's calm demeanor faltered at this, confusion written on her features, but she quickly recovered and shook Layla's hand with a manufactured smile plastered across her features.

"Well you two must be exhausted," said Eva, gesturing to house. "Let show me you to your room!"

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Leah's Journal - Entry 1

We should've just slept in the car.

Layla keeps doing her whole quiet-bodyguard routine, but I know she's skeptical of this whole situation.

I am too.

I don't wanna think about tonight anymore. Never again. Not about Dad. Not about the way he looked at us before we ran...

But Eva? She looked at me like she knows. Like she's already read this journal and highlighted the worst parts.

She said we have a connection. She kinda scares me and intrigues me in every way.

I should sleep and stop overthinking this mess

Probably won't.

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Author's note: Hello lovely readers! This story has been in my drafts for a while now and I'm so excited to finally share it with you all! I hope you enjoy this journey and fall in love with this book as much as I have!