A bleeding moon's pulse

CHAPTER 5 | ACT 2

Gauze tiptoed out of his room now that he was conscious, making his way towards Lidocaine. He had a nightmare and wasn't sure what to make of it. He ambled towards Lidocaine, knowing he could always rely on him. He tapped Lidocaine's shoulder, looking at him intently. "I had a bad dream. Can I share with you?" he murmured.

"Of course." Lidocaine curtly said, "What's been bothering you?"

"I don't remember much but someone was talking down on me... God, from the sky, talked down upon me. He told me many things. He was a disembodied voice in the sky, and while his tone was gentle, it felt as if I was being judged... As if he was staring down right at me."

"I was stumbling around the streets like a drunkard. I don't know why I remember them so well. I keep regaining memories of the settlements and I can't understand why. All my repressed memories are coming back." He rambled. "I was running down to the garbage dump, through the secret entrance and to our thingy."

"Ah yes, I remember the dump quite fondly. Always swarming with insects and decay. We were wise to choose the metal-side of the dump."

"But you can't tell Iodine!" He added, out of breath. "Iodine has been anxious lately. I haven't said much to them, but I'm their twin and can sense it. I don't want them to remember the settlement's details... They've had a lot of bad experiences there. Unlike me, their memory isn't as lacklustre... "

"I don't know if they remember this shit or not. But I don't want to be the one to bring back the memory" Gauze humbly remarked. He was more serious with his tone. He meant what he was saying.

"No worries, no worries. It was just a nightmare. Pure fiction." Lidocaine said, "What an odd experience. I'd say drink some water and try to pick yourself back up. Go get some cold air in the central bay" he nodded.

"I will." he bluntly said, smiling weakly as thanks, and leaving for central bay. Gauze emerged, to the public, for the first time in a few days. He wandered around for a little bit before coming to his senses.

And for once, he was beaming with life. Iodine was absorbed in their own matters and didn't notice him until he spoke. Lidocaine wasn't there altogether — he was in his study. Bothering him while he was in it was criminal even. "I'll pilot the sub-shuttle!" he had said, and immediately, all eyes fell on him.

"Oh please. Gauze, you have no piloting experience. And you're too impulsive." Iodine countered, taking a sip of water to wash the words off of their tongue. "Lidocaine is wounded, despite having the most experience out of the three. I'm going to have to end up doing it."

"...I read the piloting manual. I'm not going to stray again. The radio officer will guide me through" He whined, almost hurt by Iodine's sharp words. "Don't you trust me? I'll be fine," he added with a frown.

"The manual doesn't equate to experience. I should be the one piloting the shuttle." Iodine firmly said, trying to negotiate. "You're going to end up hurting yourself. Need I remind you, that your psyche was injured?" Iodine snarked, countering his argument with sheer ease. "We don't have all that much time to decide who we're sending; So instead of bickering we should disqualify some of the arguments provided."

"What, you think what you're doing will work? Whittling and disqualifying everyone's arguments except your own?" Gauze barked. He raised his arm, but it immediately dropped down. His hazed vision began to flicker. Overcome with such fatigue and weakness whenever he stood up.

"I'm going. It is what it is, just accept the facts." Iodine finalized. But Gauze didn't want to listen. He shut his ears and pouted, just like a little child. He could take Iodine no more. "You're weak. You can't go. You should be kissing my shoes right now for taking the job up for you, but I suppose your pissed-off frown is the only thanks I'll ever get out of you." they jeered.