A Plagued Winter

Chapter 1

For some people, trauma can hit like a freight train. For others, it acts as a slow poison only taking wind a certain period of time later. For me... I think it's a bit of both. Like an infected syringe presented towards an unwilling child scared of the hospital for worthy reason. It was as if that night, I had been stabbed violently with the point of a sharp metallic needle and three years later its injection of infectious disease has yet to end for me. The poison of the tube still slowly pouring into my veins that have now turned black and thin in its decay.

December 2, 2012

That night~

"You guys do realize that hide and seek is supposed to be played with more people right?"
Mikey turned to his two friends with an annoyed expression plastered onto his exotically featured face. His eyebrows were furrowed against his olive-colored skin, above dark brown irises. Jett-black hair dancing in the violent winds of a December night.

Carlee, the more energetic one of the trio, rolled her copper-colored eyes at him in irritation. She was the natural description of hazel. Light brown skin, dark brown hair, and a petite size to match.

"If you're too scared you can always chicken out you know. There's no shame in calling quits. Except for you, there's literally shame in everything you do."

Of course, she was only joking, in her own way. Carlee liked to arm herself with characteristic comments in any conversation involving Mikey. They've been best friends since 3rd grade and even back then the two fought with each other childishly as if they were brother and sister. Plus, Carlee knew that if she provoked Mikey enough he'd stay with her and Trey just to prove her wrong.

"Could you guys stop bickering for like one second? And Mikey you were the one who suggested we stay out past nine tonight. We live in the whitest neighborhood in all of Norfolk. There's no reason for you to be scared."

 
Trey tag-teamed Mikey with slight teasing. He knew Mikey had a bit of a temper and so whenever Trey and Carlee banned against him, Trey made sure to keep his tone light so as to not set him off. Trey was the oldest of the two, he was starting high school this year while Mikey and Carlee were beginning seventh grade. Since he was older, Trey instinctively portrayed himself as their protective brother-bear which presented him in a more responsible light helping them stay clear of offenders as the attitudes the younger ones executed seemed to bring trouble wherever they traveled. He was also one hundred times more gentle and soft-spoken than the ruffian younglings he ran around with. Trey had dark brown skin and short-to-the-scalp hair that followed the shape of his dome. He was only taller than Carlee in the trio but that didn't say much. Compared to Mikey, who was built like a brick wall with a heavy set frame that only grew more intimidating as he grew into himself, Trey was significantly slimmer and void of intimidation but was still somehow miraculously complemented with an insane speed that he always used to his advantage. 

"Oh great, now I'm being picked on by the both of you. Thanks so much. "

 
Mikey sneered and kicked their soccer ball hard against the toe of his shoe at Carlee who was too lost in her own thoughts to dodge the force to her shin. Last summer, Carlee, Mikey, and Trey, all had matching bruises on their shins from soccer matches and scratches on their arms from trekking through the forest by their houses. The scratches had faded away for nothing considering they'd make a fast return next summer to mark their expeditions. All that was left were a few dark bruises that laced their skin. This hit to her leg wasn't too painful but it would certainly add to her collection of warrior scars later that night.

"Oh yeah, no problem. Anytime."

Carlee picked the soccer ball off the ground and chucked it at Mikey's head. Mikey made no move to dodge her throw knowing Carlee's aim wasn't worth shit. This was confirmed when the ball landed on the grass a foot away from where Mikey stood. The saddest part was that they weren't even that far apart from each other.