Brink of Death

Trauma and Tire

...tick....tock...tick....tock...tick..

Chosen's senses begin to stir awake.

..tock...tick...tock...tick..tock..

He mumbles inaudibly as his eyes begin to slowly open. The room starts to come into focus as beams of sunlight peek through the window.

...tick...tock...tick...tock..

Chosen's eyes direct over to the clock on the wall as the sound of constant ticking fills his ears. He sighs and closes his eyes again, leaning his head back against the chair.

"..."

Suddenly his eyes breach open and he bolts upright, his breath picking up. Chosen looks around the room swiftly, his mind racing with incoherent thoughts and his breath shallow.

..tick...tock...tick...tock..

Chosen's head pounds as he stands up from his chair, his vision disorientated as he stumbles over to the bed. Looking down he finds himself frozen.

Dark is completely still.

Chosen's breathing speeds up.

Dark is bleeding out.

Chosen's throat tightens.

Dark is covered in lime green scars.

Chosen's hand trembles by his side.

Dark is glitching.

"Fuck...nonono...shit..shit." Chosen whispers to himself as he puts his hands on Dark's shoulders. "Don't you fucking die on me now, please."

..tick...tock...tick...tock...tick

Dark's body begins to....disintegrate.

Chosen's eyes widen even more and his heart pounds in his chest. His vision blurs as he feels himself get choked up. "No....no...nonnonoNO" he shakes Dark by the shoulders. "Dark please" he cries. "Please no."

..tock...tick....tock...tick...tock

Chosen reaches out but the only thing that touches his hands is dust. Disintegration of code by code. Tiny 0s and 1s.

His breath stops. Tears pour down his cheeks.

...tick...tock...tick..tock...

...tick...

..tock...

..tic-

Chosen gasps loudly and bolts upright, his eyes darting around the room. The sun is peaking through the window, the clock is ticking on the wall.

..tick..tock..tick...tock..

Everything seems quieter. He can feel tears trickling down his face as his breath begins to slow down.

Finally Chosen directs his eyes to the bed. Dark is there, sleeping, with a green scar up his chest and his face, yes, but not glitching.

Chosen stares at his sleeping body with pure relief but terror as well. He lets out a heavy breath and tries to ground himself. "It was just a dream.." he sighs, swallowing down saliva that was stuck in his throat. He sniffles, "It was just a dream.."

...

Chosen steps down the hallway and pauses when he reaches a door, before turning left to go in.

The sound of water pouring down and hitting the shower tiles fills the air. Chosen stares at himself in the mirror for a moment, just blankly staring at the exhaust and moodiness on his face.