N u m i n o u s .

Corrupted composure

"Please, wake up miss Brangwen. You're drooling."

I shift, feeling a sharp pain in my head and a dull ache through my shoulders. The light is too much and I can't really move. Something's draped over me.

"I-what is this? Did someone.... Say someth...." I feel drowsier by the second, and let the hazy darkness edge its way completely over my vision.

"Seriously? Elysia Brangwen!"

I snap up slightly. "Hm? I'm just- sorry..." I lightly slap myself on the forehead as I start trying to sit up, and I realize I have clothes on again. I still can't open my eyes so its difficult to fix the dress I have on without fumbling. I manage.

"Third time."

Male, annoyed, strained, exhaling. A tap. Shoes on tile. Its cold. Its too bright. There's wind from a certain angle. Is a door open? There are no windows.

I rub my eyes and yawn. My legs and arms are cold. "I beg- beg your pardon?" I grumble and I manage to slowly open my eyes.

"I've had to wake you twice before this, Brangwen. Well, its expected. Maybe the gender difference isn't even real." He exhaled, mumbling under his breath.

Black hair, black suit, pale skin, red eyes. He's taller then me, even as I get up its still obvious. There's a breeze from the door that really looks like a white block pushed out of the wall. I look back at him, and frown at what a bored look he seems to give me.

Yet his eyes are intense, and dangerous. I almost feel threatened.

"Get up, we don't have much time before you're fans show up. Being an infected girl is quite a twisted honor."

I get up, and bring the white fluffy blanket over my shoulders. I clear my throat and begin to walk as I watch him shift a white and black scarf covering his mouth, and force a smile on my face.

"Seems so," I call after him as we both begin to walk outside, and suddenly theres lights and voices, I freeze. The sounds grow and grow until I see white behind my eyelids. I grind my teeth as I suddenly feel like they have no right. The light feels too harsh and I take a step back, darkness suddenly sounding safer, and cooler. My heart is pounding and my head has a constant thump, in my skull.

I don't understand why I have such a sudden change, and it frustrates me even more. I just got set off by the snap of a camera.

"Hey, girl! Over here!"

"NO NO, HERE!"

"Sweetie! Look at the camera! Smile now!"

Do you hear them? They're making fun of you. You're an animal on display. Can you hear the laughter? It's not funny. You're not a joke.

I exhale harshly and watch the fog from my mouth escape with tunneled vision. The concrete under my feet feels like ice. Ah, right, I have no shoes. My hands tremble, and suddenly there's one on my shoulder. A startling grip and something stabbing through my collar bone has me hissing and grabbing at a gloved wrist in a hazy rage.

I hear harsh shouts and demands of peace, for their own sake.

"Come on kid, don't make this the fourth time I have to wake you up." He whispers, and I look up at him. I feel ashamed almost, suddenly letting go like that, and so I meet his scarf instead of his eyes. I grab onto his shoulder as he pries my hand from his own, and both me and him let go at the same time.

I mumble an apology as we begin to walk again, and I hope its unheard by the gradual and calmer growth of shouts from news cars and camera men that push over the yellow tape lines for my attention. I slow, waving at the fancy ladies with loud voices on the left, and stare at my confused expression in multiple camera lenses. The roars on the right grow as I'm suddenly being tugged along by my hand, and so I throw a smile to make up for it.

I turn forward and look over the black haired boy's shoulder, noticing a black truck, clearly meant for us. I snap my gaze over to the driver who has the windows down, and catch his pointed gaze from over his sunglasses. His gray eyes and white hair contrast against his black suit. I suddenly notice the white letters of the NDAG clash against the black doors.

My eyes widen, and I remember what red eye's said.

"Being an infected girl is quite the twisted honor."

I can't lie and say I'm not a little afraid as I step onto the truck and take a seat on red velvet. I just don't know what to expect anymore, but I know it just gets harder from here on out. I hear stories and stuff on the news about most of the members being insane at the beginning, and after me-myself- being set off by a few loud noises and lights must be pretty pathetic. I ball up my hands in worry as I realize exactly what is and will be happening to me. I mean, I'm not human anymore.

I died.

And of course, there was never any laughter.