traitor | Ziggy x Nick

2: favourite crime

Well, I hope I was your favorite crime
It's bittersweet to think about the damage that we do
'Cause I was going down, but I was doing it with you
Yeah, everything we broke, and all the trouble that we made
But I say that I hate you with a smile on my face
Oh, look what we became
-
Olivia Rodrigo
>>>

Today was the day.

Cindy's funeral. And all the victims at that.

It'd somehow been decided that all twelve victims would have their funerals on the same day because there was only one church around. The morning of, it had been two weeks since the massacre, two weeks of Shadyside families trying to gather enough money to bury all the victims. They all deserved so much better but we never had much to start with.

Today I would be escorted by Nurse Beddy to the funeral, who'd offered to come with me after hearing from my doctor who would only allow me to go if I had an adult accompanying me. He'd told me my wounds were healing surprisingly well but if I was under too much duress it could easily open. Yet, thank god for Nurse Beddy, otherwise I wouldn't be able to visit Cindy one last time.

"I think you look pretty good for a girl who was stabbed to near-death two weeks ago," Nurse Beddy says as he nods at me.

"For a half dead girl I'm sure I look like," I turn to the small mirror after he secures a small blue ribbon to my hair, "shit."

"You look great Ziggy, trust me, but it's time to go," he smiles and I follow him out the door.

We had arrived a half hour early as I wouldn't risk being caught in traffic, and as I stepped out of the car, my hands were shaking violently. Suddenly a warm hand envelops mone and I look to Nurse Beddy and he gives me a reassuring smile. I can do this.

I take tentative steps toward the church doors, deep breaths matching my small steps. Cracking open the door, I'm met with rows of pews and nearly collapse. It was too surreal. I proceeded slowly to the altar where 12 caskets were lined up. Too many. I walk closer but stop myself, knowing if I saw the bodies I would collapse right then and there, before the funeral even started.

"I'm going to go out for some air. I'll be back before it starts. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," I tell my companion.

I quickly stand and walk out the left side of the church, taking a seat at a nearby bench and close my eyes. I missed her so, so much. It's so hard without her. I sit there, alone, eyes closed with blackness filling my vision. Still the only thing I seemed to see was that sick sick moment where Cindy decided to sacrifice herself for me. With her damned shovel against killers of the past, coming back to life, no way to kill them and keep them dead. Tommy- no, the Camp Nightwing Killer we all wanted to call him now, charging at the bravest person I knew, both knowing she had no chance. Wielding an axe right into her chest. And the milkman stabbing me over and over until Nick revived me. Alice getting axed, Gary's head, Jeremy's glasses, blood everywhere.

"Ziggy..."

I turn my head to the voice.

"We're starting in five," Nurse Beddy tells me.

I nod and walk back with him to the pews, sitting in the front row, next to a woman I don't know. I look around for my mother but she's not there, probably drunk and hungover. I sigh, she could've at least been a half decent parent and shown up.

"Are you Christine? Christine Berman?" The woman next to me asks suddenly and I swivel my head around.

"Yes," I answer softly.