Unbreakable (Killer X OC)

Chapter 24: Awake ⚠️⚠️

**Chapter 24: Awake**

AUTHERS NOTE:
As someone who has struggled with self-harm and battled with depression, please seek help wherever you can. The world is better with you in it. So, yeah, trigger warning for this chapter. If reaching out for help is hard, please check out https://twloha.com/self-care/ (To Write Love on Her Arms); they helped me through my darkest times. Let them help you. You matter. Keep going.

When Cytherea opened her eyes, she thought she would find Killer beside her in the field. Instead, she was met with complete darkness. Panic surged as the weight of reality shattered the calmness she had felt in her dream. With a heavy sigh, Cytherea focused on activating her haki. This allowed her to realize she was in Killer's room, all by herself. For once, she felt relieved by this solitude; she needed time to contemplate her next steps. Spotting a tray with a glass of water and some snacks, a sense of happiness returned as she placed it on her lap.

Alongside the food, there was a note, and she was taken aback to find she could read it, it was written in fresh blood. With a light movement of her wrist, she picked up the note and started to take in its message: "Love, take some time to relax today. After being thrown overboard, eaten by a Sea King, and dealing with the chaos from yesterday's battle, you deserve a peaceful day of rest. The crew is celebrating our recent victory tonight. You're invited to join if you'd like. If you need me or Wire, just call from the transponder snail next to your bed. I'll come by as soon as I can. -Killer"

She smiled at the note and placed it back on the tray. She ate a little and tried to take inventory of her wounds and emotions. The stab wound on her back was itchy and tight, which meant that it had been treated at some point. She did not smell blood anywhere, and she was wearing her own tank top and sweatpants. Killer must have bathed and dressed her. Besides the normal aches and pains from a hard battle, she was physically fine.

The poison she had been given must have been temporary. Cytherea recognized that her mental state was in shambles, with a storm of emotions swirling inside her to the point of numbness. She understood that she wasn't okay, but she feared that expressing any of those emotions would be too much for her to handle. Despite this awareness, she struggled to concentrate on anything specific. She stood up and began to pace, feeling as though the walls were closing in on her. She needed to distract herself from what had just happened. Shaking her hands in an attempt to relax, she paused in the center of the room and took a deep breath.

Speaking to herself, she said, "You won't let this control you. You will be strong and keep moving forward. No tears, no signs of weakness. You are a Kid Pirate; we don't let anything weak hold us back." She nodded to herself, picked up the snail shell, and called Wire. After one ring, Wire answered with a flat, "Yeah?"

Cytherea had rehearsed what she wanted to say. "Wire, could you bring me a change of clothes and my weapons? I'm feeling restless and need to move." Wire hesitated at the straightforward request and replied, "Cyth, you really need to rest. I can get you some clothes later before the party, which is in about six hours. Why don't you sleep, read, or listen to music until then? It's important; we don't need you here today." Cytherea felt her heart drop, and tears started to well up. She took a deep breath and replied in a forced cheerful tone, "Alright, if you don't need me, I'll just stay here. Sorry for bothering you." Wire attempted to respond, but she had already ended the call. She took a few deep breaths and sipped some water, trying her best to calm herself down.

Her mind was filled with relentless negative thoughts: "We don't need you," "the SLUT Cytherea," "DID YOU MAKE THIS UP, YOU BITCH?" "Just stay down," "WORTHLESS! HOW DARE YOU SPEAK, YOU PATHETIC WORM!" "You're useless." The voices grew increasingly louder, and all she wanted was for them to quiet down. Overwhelmed, she sank to the floor, clutching her head tightly as tears streamed down her face. She desperately sought a distraction. Deep down, she felt worthless and foolish, always relying on others for help, and she understood that the crew had no need for her.