The Death That Follows

Homeward Bound

TW: Mentions of Gore, Mentions of Self Harm, Panic Attack

Wilbur

I woke up again wishing the oblivion of sleep would stay with me.

It was night time now, the curtains open over the small window to reveal a quiet city below. Techno and Niki were still here, sleeping in very uncomfortable looking positions in the hospital chairs.

I looked down at myself, needing something to do besides stay in my thoughts. My whole chest was covered in thick bandages, and it hurt to breathe too deeply. A blanket was covering the bottom half of me, but I felt my sore, painful legs covered in soft pajama pants.

The end of my arm, well, what used to be my arm, was covered in white bandages, much like my leg, but I still felt it. I felt my arm like a lost person. Like Tom. . .

I shook my head, not wanting to think. I lifted my other arms, tubes and wires sticking out of the skin, making my stomach churn. It was almost completely a sickly yellow color from healing bruises, and was covered in angry yed lines.

Scars.

Scars that I would never get rid of.

I turned my arm slightly, and gasped. This is what you deserve. It was very neatly carved into the soft, white skin of my forearm. Along with XD will prevail, and XD NEVER DIES. What was worse was that I recognized the handwriting.

I knew exactly who cut this into my skin, yet couldn't blame him.

Ranboo.

I touched my face gently, and winced, though not from the spasming pain. One of my cheekbones was broken, and all different thicknesses of divots and puckered lines covered my cheeks. I had never been oblivious to my looks, but now, would I even recognize myself? Could I?

You are such a handsome boy, my son. The voice came out of nowhere, hitting me like a bullet to the stomach.

"Dad." I whispered, tears coming to my eyes.

No. I couldn't think about him. I couldn't think about anything.

You are adorable, Wilbur. That was the voice I had been dreading.

I had to stop thinking, end it, stop, stop STOP.

I banged my head against the backboard, but all I hit were pillows.

You know, mate? You're too bloody sexy for this world.

Please! STOP. I had to end this. I searched feverishly for something, anything, to calm the voices, stop the fire burning so hotly inside of me that I could hardly think.

Finally, I found a metal food pan beside my bed and hit myself over the head, my vision turning black as I knocked myself out.

Niki

I woke up to a clang, and jolted out of the cold, plastic chair I was sleeping in. I looked around wildly, searching for the source of the noise. Techno woke up, screamed something about someone getting their hands off of his potatoes, and dropped into a fighting stance.

"What was that?" He asked, and I shrugged.

"I don't know." I responded, but, looking closer at Wil, I gasped. A slightly bloody pan lay on the bed next to him, and there was a blooming bruise on his forehead, slowly turning purple.

"He knocked himself out." Techno said, stunned.

"Why?" I asked, moving forward to see his face better.