Inked Wings
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX - Burden

/ Noel’s POV /

10:10

I hate this place, I HATE THIS PLACE.

I hate this cursed room. I hate my cursed hands, they hurt and tremble. I hate this earthquake in my cursed body, I can’t take my skin.

My breathing is so annoying. I can’t. I can’t anymore.

I haven’t cried this much in weeks. I kick the platform where shitstain sits. Once.

Eat shit! Eat shit and die! I kick again.

I hate my saggy skin. I HATE THIS!

The sheets are all over the floor, my backpack hits the wall and then falls down.

The skin’s melting off just like the eyeballs. ‘WHY DIDN’T YOU JUST LEAVE FOR DEAD?!’

I’M a Burden!? Me?! If I’m such a burden why didn’t you just kill me just like everybody else that gets in your way, you soulless maniac!

... My tears are burning my cheeks. Ugh! I don’t care!

Get yourself killed! Exactly like Abi!

…

I get dizzy suddenly. A hot streak of pain punches me again and again. My nails are digging in my arms, scratching my skin.

I scream. A dying rat, my voice is so stupidly thin.

I pick everything and then throw and push it all over again. Still screaming.

A silhouette is blurry in the background.

That book! Mold - ass (ripping the pages) book!

I rip and pull and rip. I wanna die Iwannadie-IwannnadieIwannadie….

My skin opens up, at my right hand.

Shit! The bleeding burns, it burns! ‘Argh!’

‘Alright, that is enough.’ A ghost voice snaps me to reality.

It’s…it’s Artsy… Googly Eyes? She is scratching her cheek. Does rubbing her claws over them spots on her face not hurt?

She talks:

‘I’m gonna need you to give me your palms and follow me.’ She stretches out her hands (and wings) my way. ‘Birdie and I will patch you up.’

‘Eat ashit….’ I hiccup. Such a pathetic hiccup, even it it trembles.

My hands squeeze her fingers.

The halls are cold and dead quiet. I - agh - stop it with all the dead stuff, you tool.

Doesn’t take too long to get there. It’s a much larger room with a king bed and actual - furniture, it’s been a while. Birdie is under a blanket, moving until she sees us.

Artsy - Artsy Braids lets go. The wall is light on my back.

I fall down on my ass and I hug my knees.

She brings something….bandages and - liquid. I shake my head.

The only time I was bandaged was when Abi found I twisted and cut a bit of my knee. It hurt less than now. He pulled me close, hugged me then sang to me while he rolled my knee…

That was the only time. I ever only needed patches. My finger rubs the scar on my forehead, from that arcade.

I can’t feel my eyes anymore, just boiling water and this shit headache.

I move away from her but now Birdie is close and is keeping my hand in place. Artsy Braids wipes the blood coming from the deep cut, then rolls the bandage.

Up and down, like rolling the toilet paper. Hah, almost like Abi…

I let out another yell.

My hands rub my eyes furiously. I’m so done. I’m so done.

Don’t look at me like that! Birdie has barely conversed with me since the trash digging, now she’s all in my face. I shove her back.

‘Stop talking, stop touching me!!’

I wish I was with Abi…I wish he didn’t - I wish he just - I wish that asshole -

His shitty face pops up in my head. I shake it.

You’ve been nothing but a burden…I never chose to be your burden.

The wipes sting.

Nothing I do really matters, huh? I can’t be Abi…I can’t help anybody.

Even with the app, I can’t do it right. All the hours didn’t matter in the end. I’m done.

I can’t help anybody, especially here.

‘When…was it you go out?’

Birdie tilts her head. Annoying.

Artsy responds. ‘Our next pitstop is MORTEM District. We won’t be there long.’

I haven’t used that invisibility device ever since that first time but it works pretty well. Some food and medicine should be enough. If I’m careful…

You’ve been nothing but a burden, Noel!...

Y’all not my responsibility. I ain’t ever wanted to be yours. I’m not needed here.

Grow up!

You grow up, bastard!