TWs: Life-threatening condition, manipulation/gaslighting/psychological abuse, dream turned nightmare, panic attack, bit of blood, mention of dying/death. Stay safe :)
"This sucks," Larry uttered, watching as the soldiers guarded around the perimeters of the doomsday device, "What do we do now?"
"I wish I knew..." Arthur rasped, his bloodshot eyes blinking rapidly against the wind, "They took C away."
Larry frowned, watching the rigid movements of his friend's chest, "You're not telling me something."
Arthur let out a soft laugh, "Is that so?"
"Arthur." Larry glared at him, "What's going on?"
The ginger was quiet, his eyes lazily dancing around the area, looking at nothing. He took a breath before glancing in Larry's direction, "I'm not going to see the end of this."
"Well, neither are we." Larry gestured to him and Edd, who was still asleep.
"No, I mean..." Arthur shook his head, "I'm dying."
Larry took in the words, letting them sink in. His eyes widened as he looked at him, "What?" The ginger said nothing, letting his head hang in silence. The world spun around him as he took a breath, "What the fuck do you mean?" Larry spat, knocking his shoulder into Arthur's.
Arthur winced, swallowing thickly as he whispered, "Hy-Hypoglycemia..."
"You can't die from low blood sugar unless..." Larry put the pieces together as he gazed at Arthur, his stare turning cold, "And you didn't say anything or get any help?"
Arthur stayed quiet, his head reeling and dripping from sweat, "I thought I could handle it-"
"You idiot!" Larry yelled, startling Arthur. He rarely saw or heard Larry lose his calm composure, "Just because you think so doesn't mean everyone thinks the same way! Have you ever thought to consider Matt? How would your son feel if you died right here, right now, without ever getting to say goodbye!?"
Arthur's mouth opened, then closed. The words stung him. They clawed at his heart like a parasite digging into flesh. His eyes pricked with tears, threatening to fall. It hurt more than anything else in his body. He let out a small sob as the blood-stained tears fell.
Larry remained quiet, dealing with the thoughts and feelings that swarmed inside his mind. His eyes were burning, yet he pushed the tears back, not letting them fall.
He looked at the moonlit sky. He didn't believe in any God, yet he found himself hoping the others were on their way soon.
"Where am I...?" Edd whispered, finding himself on a hilltop looking down at a ruin, "Is that...?"
The layout resembled a house, with charred wood pieces and ashes scattered around the place. What was left of the red roof lay in chunks, sharp edges sticking out from the collapsed building. The wind picked up, taking the ashes in its current.
Edd felt the breeze against his face and hands, slowly breathing it in. It had been a while since he's been in fresh air. It felt like a sudden relief to his nose and lungs.
Suddenly, he found himself falling. His eyes widened, a yelp emitting from his mouth at the sudden loss of ground.
"Are you alright?" A voice spoke from the darkness. It sounded familiar, "Those guys can be assholes... I'm sorry about that."
'Tom...?' Edd thought.
"Wait, you dropped this!" A different voice spoke, "Hey, you're a very talented artist- not as talented as I am, of course!"
'Matt.'
"Name's Tord- and that's all you need to know." A strong-accented voice said.
'Tord...' Edd frowned, his heart beating heavily.
"My 'friends' didn't want me hanging around you." Tom's voice echoed, "So I dropped them. You don't have to worry about it; it was years ago."
Edd found his body trembling. His hands balled into fists, flexing over and over again.
"I may be popular- but you guys are my real friends," Matt affirmed, "Now who wants some mille feuille?"
His lip quivered as he bit it, glaring into the darkness. He tasted blood.
"Your eyes are... very animated." Tord's voice whispered.
Tears threatened to fall from his juniper eyes, his vision misty. His body curled, his hands pulling through his hair.
"Ey, Head." A voice uttered through the darkness, "Didn't think I'd find you here."
Edd froze, finding the voice close to him. He looked around wildly.
"I should thank you for killing me. Without your help, I would've been a nobody forever!" Hellucard laughed.
'It's just a dream, it's just a dream..." Edd thought to himself as he pulled himself closer.
Edd felt a presence next to him, then whispered in his ear, "Are you sure it's just a dream?"
Tears were flowing freely down Edd's cheeks as his eyes grew small. He used one hand to cover his mouth.
"Poor little Edd... has nobody to love him, nobody to go to, all alone in this cruel world." Hellucard's voice mocked from all around, "Nobody would miss him if he died."
Edd covered his hands, but it did so little to block out the demeaning laughter from Hellucard.
"Edd, dammit, snap out of it!" A voice shouted beyond the laughter. The brunette peered out from his hands, "It's not real- Wake up!"
Edd breathed, seeing a spec of light in the distance. He took another breath, trying to calm himself down as he watched the beam pass over him.
Edd found himself sore. His arms and wrists hurt from struggling within them.
"Thank fuck, I thought you were having a seizure at first," Larry spoke from beside him.
"How long was I out...?" Edd uttered, his voice rasping.
Larry looked up at the sky, watching as the early sun rose in the dark orange, "I would say the whole night and a few extra hours."
Edd nodded, then looked at the other person with them, noticing that he was sleeping, his figure twitching.
"We might also have to wake him up soon," Larry mentioned, glancing at his friend, "I don't want him sleeping for too long."
Edd raised an eyebrow yet didn't say anything, "Alright... what's your name again?"
"Larry Gilmour." He spoke, then gestured to the ginger, "His name is Arthur Hathaway."
"Hathaway...?" Edd muttered, "That's Matt's last name. I think..."
"Arthur is his father."
Edd's eyes widened, his mind reeling back to a time when everything was alright, and Matt finally met his father, "Oh, that's right."
"Look alive; there's his majesty." Larry spat as he followed Hellucard with a piercing gaze.
Edd's chest felt heavy as his body tensed up. The chains around him felt lighter than the weight on his shoulders. He ground his teeth together, seething as his eyebrows furled and his juniper eyes glared at him. Hellucard had done something to him; the brunette knew it. Between his amnesia and everything else, Edd wasn't planning on letting him go easily.
Glancing down at his position and the inhibitor cuffs around his wrists, he knew he couldn't escape.
'To- The others...' Edd frowned, knowing the rebellion would have a plan of attack. He just hoped it would be soon.
Looking up, he saw Hellucard smirk when he met his gaze. Edd narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth. The King just waved, wandering off to the other side of the courtyard.
'That bastard better hurry...' Edd thought.
✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧NOTE✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧
SURPRISE! ANOTHER CHAPTER :D
I know, it surprised me too *sips tea*
I thought this book was gonna be 25 chapters long, but now look where we're at...
Comments are appreciated 3