A dull violet light illuminated the otherwise pitch black apartment. Its source was a mystery, but one that was ignored by the unconcerned man. Dwight sat upon his tattered couch, body sunken into its fabric as he leaned back into it. Glazed eyes continued to stare straight ahead, taking in nothing as shadows surrounded him. The presence of people he would have once called his friends, his family, surrounded him. Disapproval laced their body language, a hostility melting into the air. His own remained numb, limbs unable to move as the stillness continued.
How long had it been?
"Can't even keep track of time…" Meg dragged out each word, lumbering with heavy steps from her former position to block his line of sight.
He didn't respond, if one didn't know any better they'd assume him to be a corpse.
"I admired you, I did. I-" She choked, a lump forming in her throat. "Why do they always leave? First him, now you."
Thoughts danced; memories of the woman, full of energy, cheerfully launching herself onto his back. Memories of them sitting together at the familiar campfire log, no other souls nearby as they exchanged stories of their pasts. The fleeting sense of ease and fellowship that followed. A flame engulfed them, the memories fading from existence to be replaced by a harsh rebuke. The blurry vision of a woman fleeing as he laid losing his life.
She cleared her throat, a shaky sigh escaping.
"You hurt me, Dwight, you said you'd be here for me…"
Her presence left, a void taking the spot she had once held.
The backend of the couch behind him sank lightly, Claudette leaning her lower back against it. Her head tilted upwards in thought. The soft scent of her various herbs clouded the air around them, something that had once held such comfort for the man. The countless times she had bandaged him, soothing him with her loving motherly demeanour.
"You know," She began, the gentleness gone. "I often regret helping you."
Her eyes cast downwards, crossing her legs together.
"Saving you only to find myself taking your place, death awaiting me."
The void took her place, another presence disappearing from his cage.
Movement shifted the armrest beside him as Jake continued to sit hunched over. His back the only viewable angle of his body. A silent, seething anger tainted the atmosphere between them. A deafening contrast to his normal, calming presence. The one that could draw birds into his surroundings, inviting them to sit casually on his finger or shoulder, completely content and unafraid. Accompanied by his rare smile that could bring anyone to a place of tranquillity.
Without a word the man of nature stood, stalking towards the front door. The walls shook from the force at which he shut it behind him.
He was gone.
Thick smoke drifted into view, his lungs tightening from the nicotine smothering him. Nea stood at the corner of his eye, her own shut as she leaned against his window sill. She remained quiet, much more relaxed than the others had been. An oddity given their rough history together, their distrust and animosity before Meg had dragged the rebellious woman into the group. Maybe such was precisely why, he had simply proven her right.
"Good job, buddy." She spoke condescendingly, a strange sense of peace surrounding them.
She didn't leave, not for some time. The smoke gradually filled the room, her body fading as her cigarette burned away.
"See you soon."
Her presence was replaced by another, one of familiarity yet uncertainty towards its identity. The being was slow to form, rising into existence at its own leisure well it approached. It ambled forward till it was barely touching him, The presence lingering at his back, sending numerous chills along his spine. Unformed arms wrapped around his exposed neck, feeling along his fragile skin well claws dug into him, puncturing the skin faintly. Light trails of blood ran down, staining the white collar of his shirt.
"yo͞o,yə wil,wəl bē mīn' ˈbrōkən wən"
A/N: Sorry about any notification issues, this file did not want to upload correctly for some reason-