Emperor of Annihilation

FORTY ONE

Autumn peaked through the blinds. "He's still out there." She said with a head tilt. "How is he not tired yet? Or at least hungry. He's been out there since this afternoon." 

The dark clouds painted the night sky, signalling the arrival of night. I shrugged my shoulders, my attention immersed in the act of drawing, the strokes of my pencil on paper occupying my thoughts more than anything else.

She comes around her bed over to mine, then plops on it with a sigh. "Why don't you go talk to him?"

"I don't want to. Besides why should I?" I retorted, then added. "You don't even like him." 

She nodded. "I'm aware I don't like the bastard, but a part of me feels bad. He looks so pathetic and sad on his knees." 

He followed me out when I stormed out and wouldn't leave until I ran away.Since then, he's been outside the dorm, on his knees, presenting me with five bouquets of assorted rainbow flowers – my favorites.

That was 5 hours ago, and he still hasn't left, not even when the warden attempted at escorting him off the girl's property. He's wasting his time. I'm not interested in speaking to him anytime soon, so what he's doing is a complete waste of both mine and his time.

I winced as Autumn pinched me, causing me to shoot up. "Come on, talk to him. At least for five minutes," she urged, her tone a mix of encouragement and insistence.

I slap her hand off me and shake my head. "If you feel so strongly about it, then you speak to him." 

"You know what?" The bed lightened as she got off, walking towards the door. She looked over her shoulder at me. "I will," she declared with a determined expression.

My brow raises and I cock my head at her. "You.. will?"

"Yup. Someone has to talk to someone."

With that she leaves, the door shutting on her way out.

EZEKIEL 

"She's not coming out." A familiar voice called out behind me. I know it's Lau before I even turn around to glare at her. She's crossing her arms over her chest, a stern expression on her face. Just by looking at her, I can tell she's pitying me. 

I hate being pitied. All my life I've been nothing but pitied by the people around me. It got worse after Charlotte's death. 

The number of people who asked if I were okay, not out of genuine concern but as a mere formality, weighed heavily on me. The truth was, I lost my sister, and the hollowness in my heart made everything even worse than it already was. 

They didn't see a boy when they looked at me. They perceived a hollow monster, mistakenly believing I lacked emotions, branding me as a mere bug in comparison to them. Their gazes carried only pity, never genuine understanding or empathy. It left me feeling isolated and misunderstood.

"I'm not leaving until she does," I declared firmly, refusing to budge from my spot. Despite the determination in my words, I could feel my knees slowly giving out, beginning to buckle under the pressure.

"You don't get it. She's not coming at all, so why are you still even here?" 

"Because."

"Because?"

I turn around so that I'm facing her window, hoping to get a glimpse of her through the blinds. "Because." 

I could almost hear her eye roll. "Whatever," she said dismissively, turning to leave. Swiftly, I stopped her just in time, and she spun around, an impatient look on her face.