Live Without You?

“Speaking”, +Japanese+, *Thinking*, ~also thinking, implies arguing with ones’ self~, //Flashback//, [sign language], =+=song lyrics=+=



Song is "Wreath of Barbs" by Wumpscut



Duo immediately headed for a dark corner booth farthest from the dance floor of the club called ‘Death Born’ it suited his mood. So did the weather, it was stormy and windy and pouring freezing rain, but Duo didn’t care. The club was only about a mile from the safe house, it hadn’t been that long of a walk. The walls were covered in tattered black carpet in a failed attempt to deaden the noise level. Duo wasn’t sure if he’d hear a gun go off in this room or not. The music that pounded and thumped against his body was almost painful. *Heero would hate this place.* Came the unbidden thought. He heaved a small sigh as he slid into the booth. The seat was covered in black vinyl, the table was black Formica®. Duo felt right at home and vowed that he would come here more often if he could. A group of young, scantily clad teenagers tromped past and Duo watched them walk by enjoying watching the pretty people interact. Enjoying that even in this time of war people could still smile could still spend a night with friends. Duo allowed himself a moment to wish he could be part of them, be part of the thronging mass of humanity that led carefree lives and didn’t have to worry about Gundams and missions and near-death experiences and lost loves.



Duo silently watched the undulating bodies, the chatter that somehow managed to take place over the pounding music, the happy smiling people, the dark and brooding people.



Then his breath caught in his throat as the opening notes of a song he knew well play over the masses. *How long has it been since I heard this? How long since I wanted to, needed to? How long since I wanted the pain it brings me, the sorrow.* He climbed to his feet, swaying a moment with dizziness before he got his balance and then glided to the dance floor like a shadow of death, the crowd parting around him only to close without a ripple to attest to his passage.

The words of the song shivered over him like the tip of a knife against his skin and he could feel himself getting lost in it the glory of its darkness.



=+= Holy burning hand of wrath

Piercing forever through the heart



And this flaming orbit of shame

Ravages and

Splits the path.=+=



His body rocking and swaying to the rhythm, hips pumping to the beat, eyes closed. He poured all his pain into the dance. Each movement written in anguish across the bloodied parchment of the music that entranced him.



=+= Grinding binding taking away

Needles above the prey

Wreath of barbs



Grinding binding taking away

Needles above the prey

Wreath of barbs

Wreath of barbs=+=



His heart was trapped in a wreath of barbs that cut deep. Bleeding what little life he had left in him, tearing his soul to shreds. He felt as if he could get away if he wanted to…but did he really want to. Did he want to leave the not so distant past behind? He needed this pain. Craved it, this pain was all he had left. It was his entire world now. In this pain he could glimpse a shimmer of cobalt blue eyes, a flash of golden skin, a toss of chocolate locks. He couldn’t give this up.



=+= The

Injection of religion

Has a coma like effect

And the bodies

They lay in decay

Dreaming of a greener day=+=



Duo wrapped his arms around himself, wrapped around his pain as he rocked to the music. His head down, focusing on the weight of his braid as it swished around his body, the heat of his living blood pumping in his veins.



=+= Grinding binding taking away

Needles above the prey

Wreath of barbs



Grinding binding taking away

Grinding binding taking away, away =+=



The lights pulsed and throbbed against his eyelids seeking entrance, but he stayed enclosed is his own darkness. They couldn’t touch him here in his hell. None could reach him none could pull him free.



=+= Open eyes reading nothing

A sky harsh blue grins black

A sky harsh blue grins black



And I bleed and bleed in this wreath of barbs

And I run and run but I don’t get far, don’t get far, don’t get far.=+=



He leaned forward as his head violently snapped up and down to the beat of the music as it pulsed through him, taking over the rhythm of his breathing, filling him with vibration. Bringing him closer to death, further from the half glimpsed, soulless wasteland he inhabited now. The pain brought him closer to Heero.



=+=Grinding binding taking away

Needles above the prey

Wreath of barbs



Grinding binding taking away

Needles above the prey

Wreath of barbs



Wreath of barbs

Wreath of barbs

Wreath of barbs



Wreath of barbs



Grinding binding taking away

Needles above the prey

Wreath of barbs



Grinding binding taking away

Needles above the prey

Wreath of barbs



Wreath of barbs

Wreath of barbs

Wreath of barbs



Wreath of barbs=+=



Dark emotion radiated off him in waves as the last notes wavered in the air and through him. He stayed for a moment frozen in time. The heel of one hand pressed hard against his temple as if to hold back his pain, arm across his chest tightly to protect all that his broken heart still held dear. He raised himself up not bothering to put his joker’s mask back on. He didn’t care what these people knew they were nothing to him. He didn’t have to smile, they expected nothing from him, not the completion of missions, not strength or bravery, not caring or kindness, and they sure as hell didn’t expect him to go on without his koibito. *I want to die…* his thoughts came like unbidden dark winged birds. *I don’t want to go on living this damned, half-life without Heero.* He slid into the booth panting slightly. *I must be outta shape if that left me short of breath. Maybe it is more than just a cough and I am getting a little chest cold. Maybe I shouldn’t have walked here…who am I kidding I knew I was getting sick and I just couldn’t muster the energy to care.*



“Let me buy you a drink.” A creepy blond man interrupted his thoughts as he slid into the booth that Duo occupied. Black contact lenses covered his entire eye making them look huge and impossible to guess his true eye color. The paleness of his hair and skin was a stark contrast to his dark outfit. He must have been twenty years older than Duo even if Duo had actually been old enough to get into this club, which he wasn’t.

*Pervert* Duo thought. He repressed an angry retort and a sigh. He just didn’t feel like putting up with any losers tonight.



“I’m not interested.” He stated to the man across from him.



“Come on, not even a soda.” He cajoled. Duo growled low in his throat.



“Not interested.” He growled again and turned away expecting the man to leave him alone as he stood to his feet to find another table. Instead he slammed Duo flat against the booth seat and pressed down on top of him. He pushed his knee roughly between Duo’s thighs and shoved his tongue so far down Duo’s throat that he had to fight not to gag. Duo was shocked. Stunned! He balled his hand into a fist, but it felt weak like he’d been sick. His body wouldn’t obey him; it sat within the grasp of his attacker, utterly useless.

*And no wonder you feel like shit.* He berated himself in a detached kind of way.

The man’s hand groped violent at the zipper to Duo’s pants as he moved against Duo’s hips painfully, causing Duo’s breath to hitch in his chest. He didn’t want this man touching him; only Heero was aloud to touch him like this. He didn’t want this bastard touching him! But his body wouldn’t move! He wondered dimly why he was going into shock. The offensive man slipped his hand under Duo’s shirt fumbling for his nipple and moaned into his mouth when he got Duo’s pants undone. Duo pushed against his shoulders as hard as he could, but it didn’t do him any good. He could kill 15-plus Oz soldiers in hand-to-hand combat easily, but now his body wouldn’t obey him and throw off one stupid loser. He felt weak and the others strong grip only increased the feeling of helplessness. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all. He felt a small sob building in his throat.



“I’m gonna make you suck me off pretty slut-boy.” He panted in Duo’s ear. The sob broke free as tremors ran through his body.



He never saw the blur that was Wufei streak across the club. One quick chop to the back of the neck and the man fell heavily against Duo’s body. Wufei kicked the pervert away and hauled Duo out of the booth and to his feet quickly. He swayed there a moment then his legs gave out and he slumped trembling to his hands and knees. Wufei reached to help Duo and he recoiled. Wufei pulled back in shock at the wide-eyed look of fear on his face. The music thumped against him painfully. He couldn’t feel his heart beat pounding in his chest, couldn’t feel the breath in his lungs. He shock quickly gave way to panic. Memories he hadn’t thought of in years, things he’d made himself forget long ago, things that made him feel a horrible gut-wrenching terror, memories he didn’t want to remember, ever, flooded back to him.



Quatre and Trowa were before him suddenly. Trowa pulled him against his broad chest and Duo tried to push away from him. Trowa just wrapped his arms tighter around the shorter pilot and lifted him into the air. Trowa carried Duo towards the door with Wufei in tow. Quatre was already at the door arguing with the club’s owner to have the offender banned. One look at Duo’s shivering form ensured that the man would never be seen at this particular club again.



Rain splattered against Duo momentarily as Trowa climbed into the backseat of the black sports car that Wufei had ‘barrowed’ and tried to put Duo in the seat, but the smaller boy locked his fingers in Trowa’s shirt tightly with a small whimper. Trowa sat with Duo embraced against him and spoke to him about whatever came to mind. Trying to get him to snap back to reality. It was the most words he’d ever spoken in a single conversation at anytime without being prompted.



He remained unresponsive as Trowa carried him into the house. He tried to set Duo on his bed, but once again Duo clung to him like he was drowning. Trowa sighed and sat against the wall hugging Duo against him, but not moving in any other way. Quatre came in with a glass of water and a washcloth. He gently began to wash the make-up off and Duo flinched slightly each time the cloth touched him. Quatre spoke soothingly.



“Duo are you going to be alright?” Quatre asked. No response. “ Duo? Are you okay?” Quatre asked again and waved his hand slowly in front of Duo’s eyes.



Duo continued to stare straight ahead not seeing anything around him. Trowa began to rub Duo’s arm idly. His eyes widened even more, if that were possible and he started shaking after a moment. Trowa continued to run his hand in long even strokes and tightened his other arm around the smaller boy’s waist protectively. A sob wrenched its way from Duo’s throat and a tear trailed down his face. Closely followed quickly by another.



*Oh no, he’s had a nervous break down!* Came Wufei’s worried thought as he watched from the doorway unsure what to do and feeling utterly useless.



“Duo?” Quatre said again and brushed his hand lightly through his chestnut bangs. Duo pulled away with a small cry of fear and began fighting against Trowa. Trowa caught Duo’s fist as he tried beating it against his shoulder. He began to scream, a loud keening wail that originated deep in his chest. “Duo! Duo stop!” Quatre was yelling to be heard, but still trying to remain gentle as he and his lover restrained their friend. After a moment Duo huddled into a ball and continued to scream wordlessly, but he no longer struggled. Just lay sprawled half across Trowa’s lap and half on the bed. He began to chatter quickly.



“No! Stop it! Stop!! Let me go!! Stop it! No! Stop it! Please, please stop!” He begged in a shrill voice as tears streamed down his face.



“Duo listen to me.” Trowa told him talking in what he called his ‘lions voice’. The voice he used to calm the large cats when they were upset. It was low and melodious and strong. “We’re not going to hurt you Duo. We only want to help you.” Trowa stroked his hand gently over Duo’s hair. Slowly the other boy began to calm down. “He has a fever.” Trowa commented anxiously.

Trowa shifted him into a sitting position and leaned his head against his shoulder. Duo closed his eyes and nuzzled against Trowa’s warmth. He shivered violently and silent tears poured down his face, but he was quiet for the moment. Trowa rocked him back and forth and he fell asleep quickly. Then Trowa tried to shift him slowly to the bed and froze when he curled in on himself tightly with a small whimper.



“We can’t leave him like this.” Quatre whispered softly. “At least one of us should stay with him. I think he’s getting sick.”



“He’s pretty shaken up. I’ve never seen him like this before.” Wufei agreed. What he didn’t say was that he was pretty shaken up as well. He really did like Duo. When he’d walked into the club and throw a quick glance around he hadn’t seen the other boy at first. If Duo hadn’t kicked his leg up in the air when he did Wufei probably wouldn’t have seen him. It had taken all of his self-control not to kill the smarmy bastard pressed against Duo. The thought that Duo could protect himself never even crossed Wufei’s mind, he could tell that Duo didn’t want the man around him, so he took care of the problem. Simple. What wasn’t simple was the fear tightening his stomach as Duo shrank back in fear and collapsed to the floor. *I never really realized that…I mean I know I wanted to go out with him, but I didn’t realized that I actually had feelings for him.* Wufei sighed softly to himself. *I’ll go out with just about anyone I never mean anything serious by it, so when did I become serious about Duo.



“Why don’t we move into the master bedroom and all of us stay there tonight.” Trowa suggested. “We’re going to have to take his clothes off any way. Sleeping in wet bondage pants is no fun.” He said authoritatively. They nodded agreement.



Quatre knelt next to the bed and put his hand gently on Duo’s forehead. “Duo wake up sweetheart.” He said softly. Quatre was the only boy Wufei knew who could call another guy ‘sweetheart’ and not lose an ounce of manliness from it. And anyone who didn’t think he was tough hadn’t seen him fight off a troop of OZ soldiers. Duo’s eyes fluttered open and he stared at Quatre in fear. “We’re going to move into the other bedroom…” Duo grabbed Quatre’s arm tightly as if to keep him where he was. “…We don’t want to leave you alone so we’re going to take you with us. Okay?”

Duo continued to stare silently.

*Does he even understand what I’m saying?* Quatre wondered. Finally he nodded slightly and Quatre tried to move back to let Trowa get a better grip on him. Duo still gripped Quatre’s wrist firmly and Quatre got the impression that nothing was going to make him let go until he wanted to. Trowa slipped around them and lifted Duo gently from the bed. Quatre had to walk next to them as they made they’re way across the house. Wufei rummaged in the closet and came out with a pair of black sleep pants and grabbed a couple of Duo’s pillow.



Wufei entered the master bedroom quietly and Duo’s head snapped up, eyes wide in fear. Wufei smiled at him to let him know everything was okay and threw the pillows onto the bed, which was really two twin beds pushed together. He turned toward Duo who was standing silently in the middle of the room with his hand gripped tightly on one of Trowa’s shoulders. Quatre was gently trying to persuade him to let go of his arm. He finally loosened his grip and Quatre pulled his arm back slowly. He turned his back toward Duo and faced Wufei as he mouthed the word ‘fuck!’ and clutched his arm in pain. Wufei could see half-crescent nail marks in the reddened skin.



“Duo we need to get you into some sleep clothes.” Trowa told him still using the ‘lions voice’ Duo nodded silently, eyes still unfocused. Trowa slowly began to pull the shirt off of Duo who still gripped his shoulder tightly. His breath became ragged as Trowa worked the tank top up slowly and a small cry burst from Duo’s lip as he tried to push away. Wufei’s strong arms encircled him lightly holding his arms close to his body.



“Duo we want to put you in some pajamas, but to do that we need to take off the clothes you’re wearing now.” He said gently as he looked up into Duo’s fear stricken eyes. Duo shook his head violently and whimpered while he tried to get away.



“Duo trust us, we’re not going to hurt you. We want to keep you safe, we’re your friends.” Wufei told him quietly as he rubbed Duo’s shoulder lightly. Duo stilled and Trowa pulled the shirt off deftly. He quickly stripped Duo of the tight pants and had the pj’s halfway on before Duo even knew what was happening. Trowa tried to steer him to the bed, but his legs buckled under him and he plummeted to the floor. Wufei threw himself forward and caught the braided boy who lay limply in his arms. Duo’s eyes fluttered a few times as they rolled back in his head right before he passed out.



~~~~~~~~Duo swam back to awareness slowly. His head was pounding and he felt cold and shivery, but like he needed to be dunked in the artic ocean for about a half hour. His throat was dry and scratchy and he couldn’t figure out why. His body hurt like he’d been beaten repeatedly and he couldn’t get his eyes to focus in the too bright light. He started to drift back to sleep even though he felt that something was…off.

A cool hand brushed his cheek gently, followed by something chill and moist. Duo twisted his head to the side.



“Here’s the new one.” He heard a familiar voice say quietly, but he couldn’t place who’s it was or where it was in relation to him. He felt the thin sheet covering him slip away and his fingers clutched at it lightly, he fought off the tiredness that clung to him.



*I’m in a bed…* Duo thought.



The gentle hand pressed against his forehead lightly. Something was wrong…there was something he was missing, something he should remember…

Duo recalled the feel of someone pressing into him, his disgust as hands roamed his body.

He sat up with a cry and tried to push away from the hands that tried to hold him down.



“Calm down Duo, you’re going to hurt yourself.” The familiar voice chastised.



“Here lets get this on him.” Another recognized voice spoke softly. Something cool settled over his entire body as strong hands continued to hold him to the bed.



“Lets talk his temp again.” One of them said. A hard piece of plastic slipped in his mouth and rested under his tongue. “Hold that there.” It instructed and Duo clamped his teeth around the object.



“103, shit!” One of them said after pulling the object out of his mouth. “This is no good. We can’t wait for Quatre to get back, its gone up 3 degrees in the last fifteen minutes. Get him outta bed.” He said.



*Who is that?* Duo thought trying to peg down the voice. He felt himself being lifted gently and pried his eyes open to look up at the one who held him. *Trowa.* he confirmed to himself. *Is that water?* he wondered silently.



“Here give him to me.” the other said.



“Wufei…” Duo croaked out as he felt himself shifted about. Arms enfolded him and pulled him downward.



“Don’t worry Duo we’ve got you, you’ll be fine.” Wufei assured. He cradled Duo against his body as cold water rose around them. Duo gasped and tried to sit up but Wufei held him tightly. He slid down and submerged all but their heads in the cold water.



“What…” Duo murmured.



“You’re sick. You have a high fever and we’re trying bring in down. Quatre’s gone to get some medicine for you, but until he gets back we have to keep you from getting too much hotter.” Wufei said. Duo leaned his head against Wufei’s shoulder, his face resting in a small pool of water.



He felt himself jerk back to wakefulness without being aware that he’d drifted. Something bumped against his arm and he turned his head to look at it.



“Peas?” he said blankly.



“We’re out of ice.” Trowa explained and plopped another bag of frozen vegetables into the bathtub. Duo laid his head down again as Wufei rubbed a hand over his back. Duo slipped away again.



~~~~~~~~“Here Duo drink this.” A gentle voice insisted. Duo swallowed something liquid and fruity. “Just one more Duo come on.”



*I already did that now leave me alone.* he thought to himself, but opened his mouth anyway. Again the thick liquid was forced down his throat.



“I’m so sorry, every place was closed. I finally just tied my shirt over my face and broke into one of them. I left the money on the counter though.” The voice said. A hoarse chuckle trickled from Duo and ended in a spasming cough.



“Quatre.” He gasped out once the coughing subsided, still smiling a little.



“Don’t worry Duo everything is going to be okay. We’re going to take care of you.” The blond assured. Duo nodded and realized that he and Wufei were still in the bathtub together. But now he was on his back cradled against the others chest. He began to struggle against the one who held him. His heat soaked mind suddenly conjuring images of pain and fear.



“Not again.” Trowa pleaded and moved forward to hold Duo still. He looked over to his lover. “Duo’s delusional from the fever.” He told the blond boy. Duo started screaming and Quatre jumped in surprise.

Revulsionfearanguishpaindisgusthaterageloathing boiled in him all at once; all directed at himself, each emotion rising above the other drowning out all else. Quatre felt himself sink sharply to the hard tiled floor.



“Quatre!?” Trowa said sharply.



“I’m gonna be sick.” Quatre hissed out. Trowa slid the bathroom’s trashcan under his face quickly. Quatre emptied his stomach and sat back on his heels.



“Are you alright?” Trowa asked laying a hand on his back.



“Don’t touch me!!” he spat. Trowa pulled back in shock at the look of rage of on his beloved’s face. Then the blond broke into hysterical tears. “T…T…Trowa!” he stuttered. “I…I can’t st…st…stay here! Please!” Trowa threw a concerned look from Duo who was also sobbing to his boyfriend. Realization flickered in his eyes and he struggled to his feet, scooping the blond up as he went, and rushing from the room.

Wufei got Duo calmed down and Trowa came back into the room. Wufei looked up at him questioningly.



“He’ll be fine. Lets get Duo dried off and into bed. His fever should be going down.” He suggested. Wufei nodded.



~~~~~~~~Duo woke up again; sunlight was streaming in the window bedroom. He was wearing his boxers and his hair was loose around him. He struggled into a sitting position and looked around. He was in the master bedroom of their safe house. Quatre was sprawled in an armchair from the living room, snoring softly. Wufei was curled into a ball next to him. Duo groggily looked back to Quatre who now had his eyes open. He smiled at Duo brightly.



[How do you feel?] Quatre asked in sign language. It wasn’t the normal brand of sign language; it was a mix of military, American, and Native American sign language with a lot of their own gestures thrown in. If you didn’t know it then you’d be hard pressed to figure out what was being said.



[I’ve been better, but I feel all right I guess.] Duo replied.



[Wufei just fell asleep; I don’t want to wake him. Are you hungry?] Duo nodded his response. Quatre rose smoothly from the chair and headed silently to the kitchen.



Duo lay back down dizzily. *Man what a retard. How could I let myself get to this point? Oh yeah I remember, I don’t care. All the people who ever cared about me are dead. I must be cursed. I guess it’s a good thing Wufei saw the light and decided against going out with me, wouldn’t want to kill him too. Just another death on my conscious.* he thought bitterly. *I am Shinigami, death is always alone and I was a fool to hope otherwise.*



“My existence is a wreath of barbs.” He murmured softly as large tears rolled down his face. He rolled to his side facing away from Wufei and tried to stay quiet. Apparently it didn’t work because after a few moments he felt a warm hand brush gently against his back.



“Duo?” Wufei said sleepily. “Are you alright?”



“I’m…I’m sorry I was such an idiot. I knew I was getting sick and I didn’t care. I’m sorry you had to come rescue me.” he said quieting his cries, his voice shaking a little.



“I would rather we have to come and get you a million times than have something happen to you.” Wufei whispered sliding closer to the other boy. “I realized that what I’d said made me sound like a jerk and that you were probably upset. I gave you a little while to calm down then went to talk to you, but you were already gone. I saw your nail polish and makeup and we guessed that you’d gone out so we went looking for you.”



“Yeah…well I’m sorry. I won’t be doing it again anytime soon.” Duo said.



“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound insensitive. I was just shocked. None of us ever knew that the two of you had been together. You should have told us, then we wouldn’t have worried as much. We thought that you’d mourned your best friend long enough and we were worried that you wouldn’t move on, but losing a lover is harder. That’s what I meant when I said that I wouldn’t have tried to go out with you. I wouldn’t want to rush you when you just lost him.” Wufei whispered. “It’s…hard. I think that in some ways I’m still mourning Merian, I think I always will. But I’ve gotten to the point where I can live without her and it doesn’t hurt every time I wake up. I don’t spend every moment thinking about how I’ll never see her again. You have to find another reason to live.” Wufei told him softly. “And we’ll be here to help you if we can. We’re your friends Duo.”



“Thanks Wufei.” The long-haired boy said appreciatively.



“Anytime.” He assured. Wufei continued to rub Duo’s back in light circles. “Where’s Quatre?” he asked.



“Making breakfast. I haven’t seen Trowa yet.” Duo informed him.



“Trowa was called away on a mission this morning right after your fever broke.” Wufei said sitting up. “I’ll go help Quatre.” The Chinamen stood to his feet and stretched languidly.



“I’ll come too.” Duo said sitting up and trying to hide the dizziness that gripped him.



“You should stay in bed for the rest of the day.” Wufei instructed and turned away.



“No really I’m fine.” Duo said a little too hurriedly. Wufei looked back at him from the doorway.



//“We all have nightmares. Except for guys like us…they don’t stop. They’re still there when the daylight comes.”// Why Wufei remembered Duo speaking those words at this time he didn’t know. Maybe it was his long hair cast about him in loose disarray or the way he clutched the sheet around his body or the sunlight shimmering in his violet still-tear-wet eyes that held a pleading note he tried hard to conceal. Wufei remembered the way Duo had screamed when in the grip of his fever-induced delusions. *He doesn’t want to be alone.* Wufei realized.



“I’ll stay here with you, Quatre will be fine by himself. I can’t cook anyway.” Wufei said with mock suffering. Duo snickered as Wufei walked back to the bed.



“I wouldn’t want you to poison me I’m still recovering.” Duo said grinning. Wufei hit him with a pillow. “Seriously though, thanks Wufei.” Duo said calming down. He lay back against the bed with a yawn.



“Go back to sleep, I’ll wake you when the food’s done.” The dark haired boy assured him.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(7 months, 2 weeks and 3 days after Heero’s capture.)



Darkness enfolded him, surrounding him. Something soft and gentle brushed against his face. ‘Who are you?’ he asked without words.



‘I am darkness and light. I am pain and joy. I am all things. I am death.’ A kind, powerful voice replied.



‘Am I dead?’ he wondered opening his eyes without opening them. Large bright violet eyes stared down at him. Their owner shook his head. ‘I dream about you. I always see you. You say my name and I’m safe. If you say my true name will I die? Why do I have to stay alive?! Why can’t I let go!’ he cried painfully.



‘You must protect. That is why you were created.’ The voice told him, the violet eyes that hovered just out of reach.



‘Protect who?’ he asked.



‘The people of the heavens. The one with violet eyes.’ It told him.



‘But you have violet eyes, you’re death.’ The boy argued. The eyes nodded.



‘I am death. I need you.’ the voice said. Something smooth rubbed against his face again and instead of comforting it terrified him. Accompanying his growing sense of unease was a harsh hissing sound and a sharp pain in his arm.



Wings’ eyes snapped open. He felt the brush of fur against his face and pain in his arm. Wings’ hand shot out and pinned the startled creature to the floor. He gripped its ragged gray fur tightly and snapped its neck quickly. The rest of the shapes scattered into the darkness and made their way through the tunnels they’d built. Bringing the warm corpse to his mouth Wings tore out the throat of the rat and began to suck hungrily at the jagged wound.

It’d been a long, long time since his Master had come to see him. He hadn’t had anything to eat or any water in all that time. He was glad for the rat, it was a lot more filling than the spider he’d caught a few days…a week?…awhile ago.



*I’m going to die here. Death will come for me and I’ll be with the violet eyes.* Wings chewed on the rat corpse a while longer, sucking the meat from the bones, before tossing it aside.