Once Bitten

Delusion's Easier Than Grief (46)

MK didn't interrupt or move during the tale of their capture, feining sleep as he listened to the recount until Mei got to the part where she saw Jīng dragging MK down to the basement and he stiffened ever so slightly, wanting to hide or run or get away from the memories of that place.

He listened as Wukong asked about the screaming, and while Mei explained that she had no idea but that it was definitely Jīng's voice they were hearing MK let out a little gasp, unable to stop himself as the phantom sound of her begging made him want to gag.

"Oh, sorry bud, did we wake you?" Wukong asked softly, noticing MK was awake and he cracked his eyes open, not seeing the point in pretending to be asleep any longer as he shook his head and looked away, twisting his fingers.

"I'm okay." He mumbled, knowing full well that it didn't answer the question but no one called him out on it.

"Do you want some more water, something to eat?" Wukong asked and MK shook his head, nauseous at the thought of food. He looked around the car tiredly and then looked back down when he caught sight of Mei, her green eyes boring into his soul.

"I'm good." He could tell his lacklustre responses were worrying Wukong, so he tried to put on a smile, a weak brittle thing that was the best he could do.

"Thanks though, honestly I'm just pretty tired." He said, trying to sound sincere and Wukong gave him a smile back, patting his hair again.

"You can go back to sleep if you want." He suggested but all MK wanted was something to distract himself, something to get his thoughts away from the fact that he was a murderer now.

"I can't." He shook his head, hoping it would shake off the thoughts making their way back into his head but it didn't, and he could still hear her screaming.

The car pulled to a stop, a gas station to their left outside the window and MK took the welcome distraction.

"Why're we stopping?" He asked, peering out the windows as Macaque grabbed his bag and turned around to look at him.

"Need more supplies. You could probably do with some more painkillers and we can fuel up while we're here too." He explained and Sandy nodded,

"Yeah, if we keep driving we might make it tomorrow afternoon to the evacuation sight. Then we can all rest safe and sound!" He said, cheerful and Macaque laughed lowly, shaking his head.

"You're not driving till the last of those sedatives are out of your system so I'll drive. Might need a break for a few hours to sleep but we should be good." He said, stretching his hands out in front of him and cracking his knuckles and MK looked at the bags under his eyes with a frown. He looked like he needed a break, like he was already exhausted but was just pushing himself to keep going, and MK felt bad.

"Oh, I can drive!" Mei perked up, sitting forward in her seat with a bounce and everyone looked collectively worried about the manic look in her eyes, even Macaque who pushed her back.

"No thanks, kiddo. We want to actually make it in one piece." He snorted and she huffed, crossing her arms with MK stared down at the sleeves of his PJs. Of her son's PJ's.  

"I'm a great driver!"

"I'll drive. We can take it in turns." Wukong suggested from the back and MK tried not to grip onto him at the offer, thoughts racing nervously at the thought of Wukong not being close enough to grab anymore. He felt like he'd be unsafe the moment Wukong wasn't within arms reach, like the only thing protecting him right now was the arm around his shoulder and it made him feel pathetic, so he swallowed it down.

Macaque looked at Wukong and then MK, studying them both before shrugging his shoulders.

"Sounds good, but only if you're sure."