The Wild Side of Us

Chapter 16 - Welcome Back to Accepting My Old Life

I awoke hours later, my head and vision groggy. I didn't want to leave my bed. I didn't even bother trying to get up. I closed my eyes and tried to force myself to go back to sleep, but I couldn't. Thoughts about Axel invaded my mind. How he was doing. What they were doing to him. If he still wants to be with me. After I failed him and disappointed myself. I would be surprised if he escaped again just to be with me. I shoved my face into my pillow and squeezed it with my arms. 

It's not worth thinking about this.

I passed out since I hardly gave myself space to breathe.

~~~

It was late at night when I woke up again. My stomach growled, but I didn't feel hungry at all. I continued to feel groggy and disappointed. Somehow, I managed to force myself to stand up and walk out of my room. My footsteps swagged, and even walking seemed impossible to do. I had to lean on the walls for support. I collapsed onto the couch, not wanting to move another muscle. I decided to stay here until the end of time. Or until someone breaks in and does something to make me move. I doubted very much someone would care enough to walk to my door. 

As my head moved around, I seen something unusual at the base of my door. A small, white square. It caught my eye, so I stood up and limped over to the object. I picked it up and observed it.

My full name was written on one side, and I turned it over to see it was a letter. Even though every part of me despised seeing it in the first place, I opened the letter. 

The mayor's face projected into the space in front of me, that bastard grin on his face. I scowled, but didn't have the energy to make a fist. 

"I will give you three days to get used to your house," he said. "On the fourth day, you will return to work, then carry on your life as usual. I contacted your boss and made up an excuse, and he agreed to let you back in. If anyone asks, you just had some family business you needed tending to. Give a lick of what actually happened, and you'll rot in prison. Have fun, cat." The letter ended with that grin looking down at me. I closed the letter and threw it at the wall, though it only gently glided to the floor before it could touch the wall. I then fell to the ground and wrapped my arms around my legs. 

I hate him. It's not fair. He shouldn't be mayor. He's the one who should be in prison. Not future me. Not Axel. Not any of the innocent omnivores and carnivores. 

He should rot in prison.

I laid curses at him until I fell asleep, right there at my door.

It was still dark when I woke up, but the increased light told me it was morning. It was the second day. By tonight, it will be two days since Axel was taken away. I whimpered when I thought about him.

The knots in my stomach became sharp thorns, and I realized I desperately needed to eat. I walked over to my kitchen and lazily pulled out a box of chocolate cereal. I didn't pour it into a bowel. I didn't add milk to it. I simply took the box, sat on the couch, and ate. Most of the cereal missed my mouth because I didn't aim for my mouth. My arm felt heavy, a dead weight cursed on my arm. Ultimately, I gave up when my floor became littered with the cereal.

I can't stay like this. I have to get up, move, pretend everything is fine. I have to see Vix, Jack, Mr. Blazer, Scarlet, Bobo, and Jet. I have to pretend I'm okay in front of them. I'll tell those who don't know the truth, a harmless lie. I'll tell those who do know that Axel found somewhere better to live. Because if I don't, I'll lose my money, my house. I'll be taken to prison for loitering. Prison. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to live there.

I didn't have the energy to argue back.

Instead of falling asleep, I laid on the couch and wondered what to do until it was night again. Thoughts about sucking it up and going back to my normal life. Thoughts about running away and living somewhere else as someone else. Thoughts about giving up. I couldn't get them to go away.