The Assylum's Monster

C10: Repercussions

Some good music to listen to while reading:

https://open.spotify.com/track/31xKK2dXR5ffsjeAmDYxqQ?si=8cd19f913d0b4332

______________________________________________________________________

The next day, Jason woke up to a strange sight. He saw his friend rolling back and forward, glowing sweat on her body making her skin look supernatural. He went to her side and tried to wake her up by gently shaking her shoulders. She didn't wake right away, making her friend worry.

" Hey, Anais... " He said, shaking her again.

He stood up, painting and panicked. Looking around her, ready to defend herself, she didn't notice Jason on the spot. When she let herself relax somewhat, she turned to face her worried friend.

" Hey. " Anais greeted him.

Worry slipping from his shoulders, he took pulled her into a tight hug. He hid his face in the crook of her bare neck, sighing. She chuckled, feeling his curly hair brush her nape. He joined in, tired.

" Come on, Jason, let go. I really need to go to the bathroom. " She pushed him back slightly.

Jason took the hint and let her go, keeping an eye on her. Anais closed the bathroom door behind her and took a quick shower to break free from all the sweat sticking to her skin. She sighed, relaxing under the warm water. A moment after, the water got colder and colder making her flinch. Her breathing accelerated considerably. Beginning to hyperventilate she stopped the shower and tried to get out of it without slipping and falling dangerously to the ground.

She was definitely unlucky, because she did. Fortunately, without hitting her head anywhere. The loud thud echoed in the silent bathroom.

" Anais! You okay in there? " Jason asked on the other side of the door.

He knocked, waiting a response. The answer he got only made him worriedly open the door. Anais was now naked over the toilet, puking everything that was left in her stomach – which was nothing but bile really. Jason walked over to her, taking a towel, and rapping it around her shoulders. Lifting her white hair out of the way, he caressed her back gently trying to help her.

It took over fifteen minutes before Anais could let her grasp on the toilet go. Looking warily around she wiped the bile dripping from her mouth. Jason quickly flushed the toilet and went to his bag, getting out some new women's clothes he had just bought in a little shop down the street. He put them on the sink counter and took another towel coming over Anais to dry her hair. She stayed silent, exhausted from all the puking and let him dry her. He wasn't exactly gentle with her hair and clearly didn't know how to dry it without damaging it, but she didn't care. She had difficulty trying to fall back to sleep, so, complaining right now was a no-go.

Done, Jason brushed her hair with his fingers and tied it with an elastic that had been left behind by the previous costumer of the room. Letting the damped hair towel on the floor, he helped Anais stand up and sit on the toilet seat. She let him guide her without protesting. Smiling at her, he pointed out the stack of clothes on her side.

" You can change into that. I'm... I'm gonna wait outside the bathroom. " He said leaving. " Don't hesitate if you need help. "

Even though she was facing his back, she nodded. Jason didn't close the door all the way just in case. Anais reached for the clothes and didn't bother examining it before dressing herself. Jason had bought her a simple flowy white cocktail dress.

[Insert image of the dress]

She zipped up the dress without a second thought and walked over to the mirror. Her reflection shocked her. What startled her was not the large dark circles painted under her brown eyes nor was it her sickly complexion. What shocked her was her white hair. Examining each strand between her fingers she staired at them for about five minutes before finally rinsing her face with the tap water.