It's a Long Way Down

Chapter Eighty-One: Addictions

TW: Drug usage

Aether's head flew to the side as a punch hit his face. He let out a groan as the man in front of him said, "You really are pathetic, Aeth. You always try so hard to help everyone else, but who helps you when you need it?"

"They care about me," Aether said, "They've been there for me since day one."

"But have they really though? I mean, come on. Zephyr died for Terzo. Ifrit left. Mist left. It's only a matter of time until the others leave, Aether. Once they realize how pathetic you really are," Cowbell said. Aether groaned and said, "Echo, you gotta believe me, okay? I tried to let Terzo let you stay! You can't just project your problems onto me, I didn't do anything to you! I fought for you!"

"Bullshit, Aether! You never fucking cared! No one ever did!" Cowbell yelled. He threw another punch at Aethers face befire walking off. Aether huffed and looked at Cowbell, "How's your back doing?"

Cowbell froze for a moment. Everyone usually forgot about his chronic back pain. What he forgot is Aether used to help soothe it. But it angered him that the quintessence ghoul was trying to gain points with him. He simply grabbed some stuff out of a bag in the corner of the room, walking back over to Aether. He sat in front of him, not worried about if Aether would hurt him. Despite the restraints, he knew that Aether wouldn't hit him. He didn't think Aether would be that type. Cowbell started putting a tourniquet around Aether's bicep as he said, "I'll show you how I got rid of my pain. You see, once I left, I figured I needed something for the pain. And I found this. And, Satan, did that help me."

He took out a spoon and started heating up some rocks until they were liquid in it. Aether's eyes widened as he started to struggle against the restraints, "No, I don't want this."

"No, no, you don't need to worry, Aeth. You'll feel amazing afterwards," Cowbell said, filling a needle with the liquid, "Just stay still."

Aether's chest started to rise and fall quickly in anxiety. He knew the look of the drug well. He had seen other bands they toured with use it. It was heroin. Cowbell let out a growl when he saw Aether wouldn't stop moving, making him punch his face again saying, "I said don't fucking move!"

Aether stopped moving for a moment and Cowbell took that chance to push the needle into Aether's vein, injecting the drug into him. Aether told him, "No, no, please, I don't want this. Echo, I'm sorry, if I did anything to you, I'm sorry."

"Too late for apologies now. You'll want more later. I'll be back," Cowbell said, a smirk on his face. He then walked out of the room as the drug started to wash over Aether, his body going numb. He felt a warm feeling go through his veins, finding himself calm. Despite the situation he was in, he felt calm. He leaned his head back onto the chair as he let the euphoric feeling take over. He didn't know how long he was alone, but it felt like a few minutes before Cowbell walked back in. The former ghoul looked at him with a smirk on his face saying goodbye, "You ready to try more?"

Aether, still overcome by the effects of the drug, silently nodded his head. He knew he should've said no, but his body answered before he could think about it. Before he knew it, Cowbell had injected more into him, and that euphoric feeling washed over him again. He was enjoying the feeling. And that was bad.

"How does it feel?" Cowbell asked him. Aether told him, "Good. I feel numb. I feel warm."

"Yeah, that's why I like it. Then I can't feel the pain in my back anymore," Cowbell said, leaning back in his chair. Aether simply hummed in response, his eyes closed as the warm feeling of the drug flowing through his veins took over his senses. Cowbell told him, "It really does help with so many things too. Stress, sadness, anger, and the obvious, pain. You'll love it."