CHAPTER 34
Silence
Mars stayed in her bed. She didn't dare leave the room with the four burgundy walls. Though it was now unfamiliar and cold, it was better than going outside. As long as no one bothered her it would be fine. Everything inside of her had shut down, her mind empty. Not even a flicker of what she'd done went through her mind- it was all black.
Doc laid curled up on her stomach, but she didn't reach out despite his nudging of her hand. She knew she was sick, but giving thought to getting help sent her teetering to the edge.
The door opened, she remained firmly where she lay. Ahmir sat down at the end of her bed. "Mum said you were back, I didn't believe her." He handed her a Chinese takeout box with a fork, "Thought you might be hungry." Mars sat up and took it without acknowledgment, beginning to eat the shrimp lo mien inside.
Ahmir looked at her, she looked like shit. Complete and total shit. Her skin was dull and pale and dry, her lips were cracked, it looked like she could barely even open her eyes. "Are you going to stay?" She didn't reply. Ahmir leaned forward and put his hand against her cheek, she was freezing. His hand reflexively jerked from her.
He waited for her to do something besides eat but it never came. So, he kissed the cat and left the room, careful to close the door behind him. Their mother stood at the end of the hall biting her nails. He walked up to her.
"Did she look okay?" Mary asked. Aje shook his head.
"She's acting like a Zombie." He said. "At least she's eating." Mary nodded. "Why don't you go talk to her, Mum?"
"You know I can't do that." Mary looked at her eldest, her sweet boy. Always so kind and good intentioned. "Could you text Stiles? Maybe he can get her to do something."
"Of course. Anything you need Mum."
Mary smiled. "Thank you, sweetheart." Her concern for her daughter was mounting, remembering the days when Mars was a young child and would not speak or look people in the eye, or even at you if she knew you were watching. Maybe she'd made the wrong call in keeping Stiles away the last few days.
Aje walked upstairs to his bedroom and texted Stiles: Mar won't leave her room or talk again. At all. She won't even look at anyone. It's been a couple days, could really use your help bro. The reply was quick, reading I'll be there in 10.
Just as he'd said, Stiles was there within 10 minutes. He elected to go in through the window as he always did, he thought maybe that would be more familiar to her. Stiles hoped that Ahmir was just overreacting, Mars was probably just in a mood. But when he got there it became evident that wasn't the case. Normally, she would have a book out or a movie on in the background, playing with Doc. There was nothing except the Chinese food on the side table saying she was even alive.
What he saw was a girl laying under the covers on her back, looking up at the ceiling and her arms lain at her sides. A cat desperately trying to get her attention. Doc was circling, nudging her with his nose every few steps, climbing onto her chest to stick his tiny face in hers and licking her cheeks.
If it wasn't for a prolonged blink, he genuinely may have thought she was dead. "Mars?" He tried. Nothing. "Mar." He tried again. Nothing. He went to her and sat beside her on the bed. She rolled onto her side, facing away from him. Doc went to his corner.
He shook her, she didn't say a word. "Don't do this shit, Mars." He grabbed her hand and forced her to sit up, she made no effort to let him know she knew he was there. He reached for her face and cupped it in his hands. "Look at me, Mars, look at me." He tried. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them ever so slightly he saw her pupils so large you could barely see the blue that was supposed to surround them.
He shook her, gently at first. "Mars" He got more aggressive, she moved with him but still did not look at him or speak.
"You can't do this to me, you can't be this selfish!" He cried at her catatonic state. Her eyes flickered to his for only a second before she looked away again. Mars held each of his hands in hers and laid down, making him follow. She held him against her chest. He put an arm around her waist, a wave of calm flowing from where she'd touched him to all the way down to his toes, like she'd somehow made him into an extension of herself. Of her desires.
He wanted to say something, but his mind was blank and words couldn't form in his mouth. She ran her hand over his back, his hair stood on end. In this sea of calm, his vision became clouded. He'd caught a glimpse of Mars' face, and just before all was black, he could swear her eyes were green.