Breaking the rules

Chapter 9

“Morana’s getting much better than you. You might wanna keep up,” Atlas laughed. Morana walked into his arms willingly and tightly squeezed his waist. The bandage seemed to be on its thread.

I reached out, my fingers caressed the bandage. “Morana, be more careful,” I warned her. Her eyes were glossy. She looked sad. I turned my hand and saw a slightly red spot. I turned my attention to Atlas, the man I trusted to help Morana protect herself when I cannot be there. “Atlas, what is this? Why is she like this?”

“Bucky, it’s okay. I need to clean it, anyway. Atlas and I got carried away, and I got a little aggressive. He and I have talked and won’t use the wooden knives until I’m fully healed,” she explained. Her smile was a plea. She could fucking beg, and I still wouldn’t care. Her voice was assuring. Aside from the plea I heard, Morana’s body read differently. She was slouching, she was panting, and her head was not high like it usually was.

“Atlas? Why are you letting her do this? Why are you letting her train in this condition?” I could feel my anger rising in my chest. I felt red, I saw red. “Give me a fucking reason, Atlas,” I demanded. I grabbed the slick shirt he was wearing and pulled him closer.

“She came to me. Not my fucking fault she trusts me enough while you were busy working,” he spat. I felt his slobber going down my face. “Now, be a big boy, and take care of your fiance.” I turned to find Morana, and she wasn’t in the gym. Her sweaty shirt was here, but nothing else; I couldn’t feel her.

“Mother fucker!” I shouted. I grabbed the closet weight and threw it at the wall. It left a paint stain and some of the concrete fell. “Fuck, where?” I needed the taste. I wanted the thoughts, and the ideas to go away!

“No, Mr. Barnes, Jameson whiskey won’t make it better. Just breathe. Go to Morana! She has a degree in this mental health bullshit!” Atlas was mad. Mom was mad. Morana was mad. Everyone was mad at me.