Cursed memories

Stained hands

I slightly shifted in the chair before slowly opening my eyes. I looked around at the stained wallpaper. I guess this wasn't some crazy dream after all. A little tap was placed on my shoulder and I looked over to see Clover smiling at me.
"Good morning. We're gonna go look around again so Madeleine wanted me to get you up." He explained. Man, I can't even sleep in in solitary confinement? Or, had I already slept in? Theres no clocks so far so we wouldn't even be able to tell. I just nodded and Clover went back to talk with everyone else. I don't even remember the last time I got a good nights sleep so it's no surprise I woke up last. I got up and walked over to everyone else. We all shared good mornings and ventured back off into the library. Today, we decided we should all stay together for the time being. We all went to the opposite side of the room, searching around. I was just admiring the books again when Latte and Licorice came over. Latte moved closer to me, bumping her shoulder against my own.
"You don't look like your searching." She teased. I rolled my eyes.
"Buzz off.." I smirked. She looked up at the books I was studying and started reading over them herself. Licorice grabbed a book of his own and flipped through the pages. Then, closed it with distaste. I took a peek at the cover and it was a book of learning magic.
"I don't need this. Stupid light magic.. when it's not used by the right people, it could be less than garbage to me." He sneered.
"Couldn't you say the same about dark magic?" I asked. He paused.
"I suppose so. But, I'm sure it-" He was interrupted by his own coughs into his sleeve. Once he stopped, he looked down and his eyes widened. Latte and I both noticed his expression and she tilted her head in confusion. I lightly tapped him on the shoulder and he jumped, throwing both his arms down by his side. "Fuck off!" He grumbled and continued to cough a bit as he briskly walked away. I scoffed.
"Rude.." I huffed.
"...Is Licorice acting a bit.. off to you?" Latte said in a hushed voice. "I know you guys aren't too fond of each other but since yesterday he's been acting weird."
"I do agree but, think about the situation we're in. I'm sure everyone is just scared shitless including him. I don't blame him for being a bit touchy." I explained. Latte glanced back to Licorice and nodded.
"You're probably right.." She agreed. I tried to pull out another book but it didn't budge. I tugged a bit harder and the book tilted downwards. The bookcase beside me started to shift and revealed a hidden door. "Woah.." Latte gasped.
"And you said I wasn't investing." I chuckled and walked up to the door. I opened it and flipped on the light switch to see a white padded room. I raised an eyebrow and took a few steps in with everyone cautiously following behind me.
"This doesn't help narrow down where we are at all.." Clover sighed.
"Yeah, if anything, I'm even more confused." Madeleine agreed and walked up beside me. He stepped down on one of the padded squares and it slightly sunk into the floor, making a clicking sound. Suddenly, the door slammed shut and we all looked around frantically.
"W-Whats happening?" Latte muttered. Then, small hidden doors on the wall opened and many enemies started pouring into the room. Though, they looked different than the normal ones. They looked sluggish and sick, almost decayed even. Madeleine waisted no time getting to the front and summoning his sword. He looked back at us all.
"You all remember how to fight, right?" He asked. Sure, it had been a while since our last battle but I study magic everyday. We all nodded and apparently thats all he needed to get him up and started. He swung at the enemies with force, sending them in a poof of smoke. Licorice gripped his scythe and started taking the left while I summoned a whirlwind of coffee to the right. Latte combined her coffee with mine to drag in more enemies. Clover stood near the back while Licorice discreetly protected him while he played.
"I'm moving in, got it from here?" Latte asked. I nodded and she dashed through the crowd, knocking them back with coffee. I continued with what I was doing but with the fatigue I was already feeling, my coffee started to wither. I looked off to my left to call out for Latte but, in my distracted state, one of them got up close to attack. Before I knew it, I was pushed back and protected from any injury. I looked up to see Madeleine in front of me, swinging his sword. He glanced back at me with concern.
"Are you alright?" He asked. A red tint came to my cheeks but I quickly shook it off, remembering we were still in battle.
"I'm fine. Thank you, Madie." I softly smiled. He grinned back at me.
"No problem, Mocha!" We both continued in the battle. Latte created a coffee spiral in the middle of the room to disorient them while Madeleine and Licorice knocked in the ones that weren't caught in the coffee. Clover played a song to boost Latte and I's attack. Quickly getting them memo, I created a whirlwind in the middle of Latte's attack and the enemies got sucked into the middle. I threw both my hands up and the whirlwind exploded, sending them all flying around. The five of us ducked to avoid getting hit. All the enemies poofed and I could finally take a breather.
    "Woohoo! We did it!" Latte shot up and cheered.
     "God, I haven't fought like that in a while.. it's thrilling if I'm honest." Clover giggled.
     "Heck yeah it is! Now, let's get out of here before more come." Licorice suggested and walked to the door. The rest of us followed him out. Madeleine quickly shut the door behind us, making sure it was shut. Almost as if on queue, the bookcase moved back to it's original spot. I put a hand to my chin.
     "Why is this secret door even here? And those enemies were quite peculiar as well.." I monologued.
     "Stop analyzing and just be happy that we got out of there unscathed." Licorice grumbled.
     "Can't help it."
     "Learn. You can learn everything else, right?" He teased with a smile. But his smile dropped when he started to cough once again. Madeleine patted him on the back.
     "You ok there, Licorice?" He asked. Licorice didn't answer and shuffled away from Madeleine.
     "I'm fine. I'm going back to the children's center." He started but I held a hand out.
     "Stop right there. Are you sure you're doing fine Licorice? Latte said you've been off lately and I'm starting to agree.." I explained.
     "I'm telling you, I'm fine. Get off my back about it." He threatened. I looked him up and down in confusion.
     "Why are you so spiteful towards me? Did I do something wrong?" I asked.
     "Stop pestering me, Espresso."
     "No, why won't you just be straight forward with us?" I stepped a bit closer. Licorice noticed and stepped backwards. "Can't you just-"
     "No, can't you just leave me be?! I don't need any of your help, especially from you!" Licorice spat. I scoffed, a bit taken aback. I could tell Madeleine was about to intervene but I shot him a look that made him stand down.
     "I have been nothing but helpful to you and now you've decided you just don't want it? Now, I don't mind if you don't want help but why are you more rude than usual? It's not that hard of a question." I sneered. He gritted his teeth and looked down at the floor. My blood started to boil. "Say something!" I shouted. He looked back up at me with a completely angry look.
     "Would you mind your own business Espresso?! Stop trying to interfere with my problems! Like I said, I don't need you! Just fuck off!" He yelled. I was about to respond but Licorice quickly covered his mouth. He backed up from us a little, holding something back. His scythe dropped to the ground and he started to cough into his hands. But, when he took his shaky hands away from his mouth, a black liquid stained his mouth and hands. He looked up at me with tearful eyes before vigorously coughing up more black liquid. Honestly, I didn't even want to look... why did I push it?