Drums
"Koschei… are you alright?"
Theta walked into their room slowly, his eyes on his friend. He was lying in a fetal position on his bed, his back towards him.
"Go away…"
Theta walked over to the bed. "What's wrong?"
"I said GO AWAY!" Koschei shouted, swatting in Theta's direction with his hand.
Theta stayed where he was. "Koschei what's wrong?"
There was a pause.
"They hurt Theta…"
"What hurts…" Realization struck. He placed his hand on Koschei's shoulder. The drums had come back.
Koschei uncurled and sat up, his hands on his temples. His face was wet with tears.
"They hurt so much…" he whimpered.
Theta wrapped his arms around him. Koschei buried his face Theta's shoulder, and cried.
"Why won't they go away?" he wailed. "Why can't they leave me alone?"
Theta listened to his cries, unsure of what to say.
"Theta… am I really this insane?"
"You're not insane…" Theta said, tightening the embrace encouragingly.
"Then what are they?" Koschei shouted.
"I don't know Kos… I don't know... but one day, we'll find out… and I will make sure they never come back."