Grave Digger

Chapter 25- Brothers

An hour later we're still on the couch. Having ate our dinner, now we were just watching Tv. I'm still on Sam's lap, taking solace in the newfound silence.

"How are you feeling?" He asks.

"Peaceful." I mutter my eyes closed as I listen to the sound of Sam's heart beat. "It's never been this quiet."

"It's always quiet in your apartment. You never even have the Tv loud, you don't play music. Was it because of him?"

"When I'm alone, it's usually around then he or any of them start talking. But it's different with you. I can't hear anything, no whispers. Nothing." I breathe out in relief.

"That is hell." He mutters in disbelief.

"Preaching to the choir."

"Why do you wear that hat?" He asks and my eyes open to see the hat still on the floor. "You wear it all the time. Kendric, is his hat the same?"

"Yeah. I wear it because I have to. It's who I am."

"No it's not. You were drafted into this and I don't know why, but it's not you."

"His name was Wallace. He wanted to make me a bride when the massacre happened, and Kendric wouldn't let it happen."

"Just a never ending train of trauma aren't you." He scoffs playfully and I laugh, Sam chuckling as he holds me in his lap.

"Is that him in the painting?" Sam jutting his chin to the mounted ip wall length painting. "I thought it was Kendric. I was confused about the hat."

"I was for a while too. Then I remembered and Kendric took his time explaining." I stare at the man in the painting. No wonder I never gave him a face. I didn't want to remember him at all.

"Are you okay?"

"GrimFather kept me safe. He killed his own maker for me." I hum softly.

"I should probably talk to him." Sam says.

"Why?" I sit up fully. Looking at him in confusion.

"I want to formally meet him. Get to know him. Make sure that he knows me." He says and I shake my head. "I'm not scared of Kendric either!"

"I'm not saying that but trying to intimidate Kendric doesn't work. He choked out the doctor just for asking too many questions. Just don't push that button yet Sam, please." I say looking at him and after a beat he nods. His hand on my lower back rubbing small circles on my skin.

"Okay. No pushing, I'm sorry." He says and coaxes me back to him, laying my head on his chest again.

"Okay." I breathe out.

***

Its the next day, and I've revisited the now hardened statue. The head now complete, I was working on the wings, one torn from the back and the other badly wounded but still attached. I spent the whole day molding clay until my hands hurt. A few peers peaking into the room in shock when they see me alive and breathing.

"Hey." I pause in the middle of my work and look up to see Seth standing awkwardly to the side, and he teeters from foot to foot almost nervous to talk to me.

"Hi." I reply flatly.

"Look I know you don't like me-"

"I didn't say that." I say and turn my eyes and hands back to the clay, slapping chunks into place and smoothing it into the form of feathers.

Detailing these wings are going to take forever.

"But don't you-"

"What I don't like is how you treat your brother. I don't like that you defend your father even thought I'm very sure he's just as mean to you, just like he is to Juni."