We'll Get There {AntiAverage} (ABANDONED)

21: C B

1454 words

"We- we're pretty sure it was him, Chase. I don't know who else it would be."

I muttered a curse under my breath, running a hand down the lower half of my face. "And you- you said no-one else was there? Just Yan?"

"Yeah. Look, I gotta go, we're close to Raspy Hill. Just- just stay together, whatever you do, don't go out on your own.", Jackie hung up without waiting for a response.

I set the phone down, and rubbed both my eyes with my hand. I glanced over at Anti, and my gaze softened ever-so-lightly.

He was staring into the distance, body curled around his raised knees and lower back leaned against the headboard. He twisted his hands together, clearly fighting off tears.

"Is the kid deæd?"

"No. He- he isn't stable, but Yan was alive when they found him. They're taking him to Iplier Manor right now.", I explained, resting my arms over the tops of my knees. "They think... they think it was... him."

Anti's jaw clenched.

My adrenaline spiked as I saw a drop of blood drip down his legs. He was clenching his hands so hard his sharp nails had punctured the skin.

"Anti, hey, you're safe here. He can't get you- there's no way he could get past everyone. I'm gonna see if JJ and Robbie'll come in here so we aren't spread out, and there's no way he could best all of us at once."

"I- I was alone, the first time.", his voice was low, almost like he was reminding himself. "And he had to take me by surprise."

"Right. He-", I paused, registering the last sentence. An emotion somewhere between anger and heartbreak welled in my chest.

I don't know what I imagined happened all those months ago, but it wasn't... that. It wasn't him attacking Anti while the glitchy ego's attention was elsewhere. I couldn't explain it, but it made the already awful individual seem even worse.

"He... can't do that again. You're prepared this time."

I hesitated for a moment. "Is it okay if I touch you?", I asked, half-extending a hand in offer. He jerked away even at the motion, and shook his head as he rested it atop his knees.

"Pł-please don't.", he seemed uncomfortable saying it, like he was afraid he'd offend me.

I retracted my appendage, "Gotcha, dude. Just- breath with me, okay?" I took a deliberately long, calm breath, held it for a moment, and slowly exhaled. He shakily tried to mimic me, but found himself unable to get immediate control of his increasingly rapid gulps of air.

It took a couple of cycles, but eventually Anti's dyspnea did started to slow.

I let my hand rest on the mattress through the process, and when he was ready, he carefully took it with one of his own. This movement exposed the damage he'd done; there were fairly deep marks, still oozing blood, on both his knees and his palms. I'd have to remember to grab some bandaids or something.

"Dø you... do you think he'll come here?", He asked, voice small.

I sighed.

"I... don't know. But I still want to be prepared. I think we should all stick close until the others get back."