Title : A Separate Ending
Author : The DarkScientist
Book : A Separate Peace
Author : John Knowles
Brief Summary : I never realized I'd snap, maybe I did once at the tree—The savage within me…
Disclaimer : I don't own any John Knowles work :D…May he rest in peace, good soul he was…
"Who was where on the limb? Was one of them ahead of the other?"
"Well of course."
"Who was ahead?"
Then I realized I couldn't take it any longer. I never realized I'd snap, maybe I did once at the tree—The savage within me—as Leper had said. Before I could think anything through I yelled. "I was! I did it! I jounced the limb! I wanted Phineas to fall off." Tears stung my eyes, but no, I wouldn't cry. I couldn't cry, not in front of them—not in front of anyone.
I started walking, the acoustics of the outside picked up the sounds of my West Point Stride. The look on Finny's—no Phinea's face was one I had never seen before. The look of deep pure hatred and loathing had masked his handsome features. My heart clenched at the thought of Phineas hating me, after all, I was his roommate and best friend. And somehow—just in my head—his lover.
I could hear Brinker's voice yelling, "Gene! Come back! Phineas! Wait!" That only meant Phineas was chasing me, "You get all your facts! You collect every fucking fact there is in the world!" Phineas yelled. I just ran faster, all that summer training was useful after all. I ran until I reached our dorm room, deserted and messy to an extent to make me depressed. It felt like I was running on clockwork, all automated, not feeling anything. My hand automatically went under my pillow feeling for the sharp metal razor I had hidden there since the first time Phineas and I fought. I couldn't hear him anywhere so I brought out the razor. Honestly, that year was my masochistic year, and I smirked as blade came closer to skin. I heard it practically screaming for blood, and blood I gave it. The crimson lines danced on arm as they dripped onto my pants, the wound joining a family of old scars that laced my arm. If Finny kn—what would he care?! He doesn't care about me anyway!
I heard footsteps and I saw him…God, he still looked so handsome, combining the look of a pauper yet mixing it with the royalty of a young prince. I heard him yelling for Brinker…Brinker, God I hate him…Phineas hobbled over to his bed and grabbed his blanket. My head started to pound and I began to see doubles, "Gene! Gene! Wh-what happened? Oh God…" He wrapped the blanket around me tightly. For a moment there, I felt so safe. In his arms, I shook at the thought. "Gene…" he whispered into my ear while holding me, I cringed inwardly as he applied some pressure to the messy and slacked cuts on my arm. "Gene!" Brinker's voice was unmistakable…I started to see black spots in front of my eyes then my eyelids felt heavy… "Stay with us Gene!"
When I woke up, the first thing that hit me was the hospital smell, second was Finny's scent.