You're back, Mari

Chapter 15: Conversations

Sunny woke Kel and her up by accident. He had dropped a glass in the kitchen, and the sound of shattering caused Aubrey to sit up at a speed that made her dizzy. Kel woke up as well, looking around in confusion.

"Hey! Careful!" Aubrey scrambled to her feet, seeing Sunny moving to pick up the shards. As she ran over, she saw the bandage around his head. "What...?" She shook her head, first ushering him out of the kitchen. "You don't pick up glass with your bare hands, dumbass. You're gonna cut your fingers."

Sunny blinked slowly, before nodding. He looked somewhat ashamed as he was guided out of the kitchen, and Aubrey looked down at his hands. They were shaking. Actually, Sunny was shaking.

"Yo! What's up?" Kel smiled up at them before it faltered. He stared at Sunny, concern radiating from his gaze. "Hey...what happened?" He glanced around. "Where's Basil?"

Sunny stiffened. He opened his mouth, then closed it, body trembling even more. Aubrey quickly helped him get to the couch, moving the blanket out of the way. She then sat next to him and began hesitantly rubbing his back.

"H–Hey, it's alright..." Kel joined the two on the couch, sitting to Sunny's left. "We're here, okay? Whatever you need, just tell us. That's what friends are for, yeah?" Kel's tone was light yet sincere.

It was then that Aubrey's phone buzzed. Kel's phone buzzed right after. The two shared a look over Sunny, who was now curled up, wrapping his arms around his legs.

It was a text from Basil. Both Aubrey and Kel were met with a long paragraph Basil had sent all explaining the situation. There was another shorter message, describing the extent of their injuries.

The description of the events was pretty general and without emotion. Though, what Aubrey was focused on was one specific injury Basil mentioned, which could only be linked to strangling. Strangling.

Aubrey glanced over at Kel, who was still staring at the screen with wide eyes, mouth slightly ajar. Aubrey then looked at Sunny, who stared forward.

"Sunny..." Aubrey looked at his wrapped head and his calm, almost peaceful expression. The neutrality that used to bring her comfort only left behind confused dismay. After everything that has happened, after everything he's been through...

Aubrey reached forward and pulled him into a hug. Sunny stiffened, probably not expecting the embrace. Aubrey held him as gently as possible, as if he could break with the slightest amount of pressure.

"Why didn't you..." Aubrey's voice trembled. "Why didn't you ask for help? Why...why did you go on your own?" Aubrey tried to catch her breath, feeling like the world was spinning. She gently raised a hand, then pulled Sunny's head to rest on her shoulder. Sunny relaxed into her, still curled up.

"I...I'm fucking furious." Aubrey grit her teeth, using her free hand to wipe at her eyes. "I...I still don't know the full picture, but Basil said you were there for Hero. And I don't–I don't care if he's trying to get better. I don't care that he 'woke up'. And I don't care if he's struggling, or–or hurting himself. You shouldn't have gone out there! You shouldn't have gotten close to him at all!"

Aubrey squeezed her eyes shut, leaning her head up against the couch cushion. She stared at the ceiling and felt a hand gently grab at her shirt. She looked back down and saw Sunny's eye jittering. "You still feel responsible, don't you? That's why you went. That's why you keep putting up with–with this bullshit."

Sunny didn't respond, continuing to stare forward blankly, holding her shirt with one hand, grip weak and shaking. "But...but it's not. The things that have been happening are not. Your. Fault. It's Hero's fault. It's Basil's fault. Those two just–they both–"