Chapter 11: Comatose
A wild animal they called him.
"We don't accept resignations." His face was stained with blood, matching the blood thirst in his wolf like eyes.
They say that the moon turns him berserk, like a werewolf in those old tales. There are even rumors of him being raised by a pack of wolves.
The pale moon light reflected off his long messy blue hair stained with the blood of another.
He was feared all throughout the city. He terrorized the people with his old fashion claymore, making the city streets run red with the blood of its people.
"I got nothing to say to you."
No one has ever survived an encounter with him.
His double-edged claymore flashed in the moonlight as he wielded it effortlessly with one hand. "I will leave you with nothing."
His long sword could pierce through flesh in an instant.
A loud blood curdling escaped through the lips of his unfortunate victim. The smell of copper stained the air. All his senses began rolling in and out like a tide, receding further and further before the pain hit like a tsunami.
A dark cloud wafted over me, swallowing me whole into the everlasting darkness. But even as all the blood flowed out, draining the life out of me, I managed to live. I survived the encounter with the demon dancing in the pale moonlight.
Roxas jolted awake. The early morning sunlight shined through the crack in the curtains and barely filled the room. Xion was still fast asleep with her head resting in his lap. He gently touched his palm on her silky hair, smoothing down any strands that stuck out.
"Hmm." Xion stirred in her sleep. "Roxas?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Morning, sleepy head."
Xion sat up and blinked her eyes repeatedly to wake up. She stretched, letting out a huge yawn. "It's early."
"You hungry?" Roxas asked sweetly.
Xion felt her little tummy rumbling, whining for food. "Yeah."
Roxas half smiled at her. "I'll make some breakfast." He stood up, letting Xion collapse back down on the couch. "You just rest a little longer."
Xion happily obliged, quickly drifting back to sleep. Roxas stood there, watching her sleep. He watched as her small body slowly moved as she gently breathed. Her face was squished against the arm of the couch, making her cheeks pop out more.
Roxas headed into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. He angled his head around, looking at the cabinets and the fridge. "I wonder if we got any eggs left." He popped the fridge door open. The quiet humming of the cooler was audible now as he peered his head inside. Twelve eggs sat perfectly in their individual holders. Roxas grabbed two at a time and stuffed them tightly into the bent corner of his arm.
"This should be enough," he commented to himself. He shut the fridge shut with his foot and placed the eggs carefully on the counter near the tiny grey stove. One, two, three, four… He counted the eggs he grabbed… five, six, seven, eight.
"Eight eggs should be enough." Roxas then made his way to the then pantry door at the end of the kitchen. His feet scrapped a lot the cool tiled floor as he tried to slip and slide along. Roxas bit his bottom lip and crossed his fingers. Please let there be rice. Please let there be rice.
He swung the pantry door open. The entire first row was taken up by newly bought packages of rice. Roxas grabbed a bag, feeling the rice move and shift around between his fingers. "Perfect," he mumbled to himself.
He grabbed a good-sized sauce pan from the bottom covers underneath the counter. He dug his fingernail underneath the plastic and cleanly ripping it open. Roxas tipped the bag over and the white rice poured out like a tiny waterfall. He then held the sauce pan underneath the faucet. He turned the knob a notch and a blast of a steady cool stream of water burst through the tip, filling the pan with water. He quickly shut off the water and pulled the pan away.
Roxas placed the filled sauce pan over the front left burner and flipped the switch to the highest setting. The burner ticked a few times in rapid succession before the gas ignited into a large blue flame. He pulled out the tiny draw next to the stove and fumbled around in the clutter of large knives, spoons and other utensils. Roxas tossed around the items, hearing them clank against each other before pulling out a large wooden spoon. He shoved the drawer shut, making the utensils shift around inside,
Roxas poured a little salt into the rice before stirring. He stirred in a random pattern, doing eight figures to a rapid back and forth motion to a huge circular motion around the pan, spilling bits of sticky rice and rice water. The water began popping tiny bubbles. Roxas grabbed a cover and another pan. He placed the cover over the rice as it began rolling over to a boil and placed the other pan on the front right burner.
Roxas reached up above him to the secret compartment of spices and oil. He grabbed the vegetable oil and the bottle of soy sauce. Both were sticky and slippery to the touch. He wiped his hands off on his pants and unscrewed the cap from the oil. He perfectly balanced the bottle oil above the empty pan without spilling a single drop yet. He tilted the bottle carefully down and up, trying to get that perfect amount. He accidentally dipped it a little too far, pouring a little too much oil in the pan. "Oops!" Roxas quickly withdrew the bottle and capped it.
He reached to the other side of the counter to his other side and felt around for the eggs, feeling around and pulling up empty like a claw machine. He grabbed the first egg and with one swift motion he cracked the egg against the stove. He held both ends in his hand and pressed his thumb against the crack as he pulled the egg apart. A bit of the clear slimy part of the raw egg got on his thumb as it dipped down and hit the pan perfectly. Roxas continued and repeated the process with the next seven eggs.
Roxas grabbed a fork from a drawer behind him and beat the eggs in the pan. The yolks bleed into one another, creating this huge blob of yellowish-orange slim. He placed the fork against the outside of the pan. The slim ran down the metallic surface.
Roxas closed the fridge after grabbing the carton of milk. He pulled open the tab and sniffed the contents inside. "Still good," he said pleased. He poured a generous amount over the orangish slim. It created blotchy spots as the milk settled in with the eggs below. Roxas switched on the burner to a low setting and beat the eggs one last time. It filled almost half the pan.
Roxas set the fork down and lifted the cover off the other pan. A heavy cloud of steam shot up into the cool air. Roxas grabbed the soy sauce and tipped it over the steamy rice. He shook the bottle hard three times, shooting three streams of soy sauce over the rice. He grabbed the spoon and began the mix everything in. About five minutes later, he placed the wet cover over the rice again to let it set and focused back on the scrambled eggs. The eggs slowly began to clump together. Roxas grabbed the spoon and stirred the eggs, speeding the process of solidifying.
A pain suddenly shot up Roxas's arm. He threw the fork out of his hand and into the eggs as he grabbed his upper arm. It convulsed and throbbed as a searing pain rushed through his arm. Roxas was paralyzed as the pain took control of his nerves. He stood there helpless. One. Two. Three. He calmly counted. Four. Five. Six. The muscles in his arm spasmed a twitched in every way against each other. Seven. Eight. Nine. Then as quick as it hit, it stopped suddenly without rhyme nor reason.
The smell of something beginning to burn filled the air. Roxas snapped back and swiftly grabbed the fork out of the eggs. They didn't form correctly. The still had the white part of the egg with burnt ends. Roxas gave it one last stir before removing the pan off the front burner and extinguishing the bright blue flame with one twist of a knob. Roxas then removed the cover from the other pan and removed it to the back burner and turning it off.
He grabbed two porcelain plates with a beautiful blue vine/flower design on the rims. He scooped up plentiful of each the rice and the eggs for both the plates. "Hm? There's still enough left," Roxas commented on half the rice and eggs that were still left sitting in the pans. He shrugged it off and walked out into the living room with two steamy dishes. "Wakey, wakey, Xion."
Xion groaned in her sleep as she rolled on her back. She raised her arm up and made a grabbing motion with her hand. "Just put the plate on me."
"Be careful, Xion," Roxas warned as he placed the plate on Xion's chest.
The hotness of the plate burned through her shirt and on a concentrated area on her chest. Xion grabbed the plate and sat up, allowing Roxas to sit on the on the couch too. The delicious scent wafted into Xion's nostrils. Her mouth to salivate at the wonderful smell. She eagerly grabbed her spoon and scooped up a good chunk of fried rice and scrambled eggs. "Mmm…" Her body shivered in delight as she savored the delicacy. She slowly chewed, taking it all in, before swallowing. "It's amazing!"
Roxas lit up. "Really?"
"Except…" Xion added.
The happiness faded away. "Except?"
Xion pointed her spoon accusingly at Roxas. "You kinda burnt the eggs."
Roxas's bottom lip quivered as he gave Xion the puppy dog look. "It was an accident."
Xion swallowed another bite. "It's still good," she said in between bites. "I love it."
Roxas took his first bite. It could have been better. "I used to make all this stuff all the time," he cooly bragged. "Ven was in love with it."
Xion swallowed her last bite. "Why don't you offer him some?" she innocently suggested.
Roxas stopped halfway through eating. He placed his spoon down with a tiny clink. "I mean… I guess I could…" He set his plate down and walked into the kitchen to make another plate of the now warm food.
He carried the plate on the palm of his hand like a waiter and approached Ven's room. He hesitated. He felt Xion's beautiful eyes staring into his back. He firmly wrapped his free hand around the brass door knob. He slowly opened the door. "Ven?"
Empty.
Xion jumped as she heard the porcelain plate break in half against the floor. "Fuck! Roxas?" She rushed over to his side and peered into the empty room. It was a hell of a lot cleaner and neater than Roxas's room.
"He should have been home by now." There was mix of emotions in Roxas's voice.
Xion grabbed his hand. "Let's go look for him, together. You said he works in the city right?"
Roxas peered down at Xion's worried face. He deeply sighed with a bittersweet smile. "Let's go find my brother."
The bus ride was long and bumpy. Xion kicked her feet above the ground in her seat as she watched the rolling scenery. A few times she would tug at Roxas's sleeve and ecstatically point out the window to the snow-covered fields. Roxas laughed at her silliness and messed up her hair a few times during the ride and Xion would always fix it and pout at Roxas.
Xion pressed her face against the window. "Look, Roxas! We're heading into the city." Xion gawked at the large shiny building as they drove by. It was Xion's first time in the city and she felt like a giddy little child.
The bus slowed down and came to an eventual stop at a bus stop.
"Come on, Xion." Roxas held Xion's hand and lead her off the bus as a group of passengers followed them off.
"There." Roxas pointed at a fancy bar across the way once the large bus moved. "Ven works there."
Xion looked to her right down the street. She tugged at Roxas's hand. "Roxas, there's been an accident."
Roxas looked down the same direction. 30 feet away was a few police blockades and police tape blocking off the rest of the street. A few police surrounded a heavy blood stain and drag marks in the snow. Roxas felt something heavy in his gut as it twisted into tight knots.
Roxas tore his eyes off the site and directed it back at the bar. "He should be here," he said doubtfully.
They walked across the street hand-in-hand and entered through the large entrance. Surprisingly, the bar was packed. A few cops sat in the back of the bar enjoying a couple of beers. Roxas guided Xion over to this room near the open bar labeled "manager". Roxas gave a loud knock on the solid wood door.
A few seconds passed by and the door swung open. A bald man with a thick beard opened the door. "Roxas?" he asked in a deep hoarse voice.
"Where's Ven?" He sounded anxious.
The manager looked at the ground. "I-I'm not sure," he answered honestly. "Go ask the bartender. He was the last one to see him."
Roxas grew anxious as he walked over to the open bar. "Excuse me?"
The bartender lend over the counter and smiled at the two teens. "What can I getcha?" He winked at them.
"Where Ven?"
The bartender smacked his lips and grabbed an empty shot glass. "Last time I saw him, he was talkin' to these two strange guys." He stuffed his ragged into the glass. "I can't remember what they looked like exactly."
"Did you see where he went?" Roxas asked with a crack in his throat.
He pointed at the exit/entrance. "He left through the front."
Xion tugged on Roxas's hand. "Let's go ask around town. Someone's bound to have seen him."
Roxas pulled his hand away from Xion. "We'll never find him." He dropped his head and sulked out the bar. Xion followed behind him.
"Roxas, please," Xion begged.
"Excuse, me, sir?" A police officer approached Roxas. "Are you related to Ventus?"
Roxas looked up. "He's my brother." At this point Roxas was desperate.
The officer looked at him sympathetically. "About your brother…"
Roxas rushed through the blindingly white hallways. His heart pounded his chest and he threw his body forward. He soared through the halls in a blind panic.
A giant machine was hooked up the Ven's mangled body. It steadily pumped oxygen into his nostrils and mouth. The heart rate monitor beeped loudly in synch with the sound of the pump.
Roxas stared at the comatose body that was once Ven. In Roxas's eyes, he showed nothing. He felt empty.
Xion silently watched as Roxas stood in Ven's room, holding a photograph in his hand. For the last few weeks, he stood there, hours on end in that room. He refused to move or even eat or sleep.
Xion stood there in the doorway. She felt her heart breaking watching him stand there. "Roxas," she finally called out to him.
He didn't budge.
"Roxas, it's… it's alright to cry," she told him. "Don't hold back, Roxas. Just let it all out."
Roxas suddenly fell to his knees, still clutching the photo. He hunched over and a single tear rolled down his face. His lips quivered as the single tear soon turned into a stream of tears that fell from his face. His body convulsed violently as screamed. The tears wouldn't stop after the first and neither would the screams. He continued to scream through the tears.
Just like on the day his parents died. He screamed and screamed as the tears flowed like a downstream river. He clutched the photo in his tiny shaking hand. The photo was of him,Ven, and his parents. The only family photo he had. He would continue to scream until Ven embraced him in a loving hug. A hug that would shield and protect him from the harsh world.
Except Ven isn't here this time.
Roxas continue to scream and cry, scream until his throat burns, and cry until his eyes sting.
"Roxas."
He felt a warm embrace from behind as skinny arms wrapped around him.
Xion placed her head against his back, feeling his sobbing shake through his whole body. "Roxas, everything will be alright. You have me now."