Our Monster Life

Chapter 2: Breathe With Me

Here, we find ourselves in the present day where those three are now students at a high school, not far from the neighborhood they call 'home'. Today also happens to be the first day of the new school year, though one of the girls knows all too well what lies ahead.

They each stand side by side, peering towards the threshold that awaits them.
Kira: "Well, here we are again. Are you two ready?" Turning to her companions, fully prepared to receive their reply.
Alena: "Ready!" Spoken in the usual cheerful tone.
Charlotte: "....." Speechless as the wave of fragile emotions consumes her.

At the lack of a response, both Kira and Alena lock their gaze upon their silent, wide-eyed, trembling friend.

Kira: "Charlotte?"
Charlotte: "........"
Kira: "Charlotte!"
Charlotte: "Hm?...Y-yes?" The sharp roar of Kira's voice had somehow snapped her out the trance.
Kira: "Are you okay? You know you don't have to push yourself. I could take you back home, and we can try this again tomorrow or whenever you're ready."
Charlotte: "No, no, I...I'm going in."
Kira: "Are you sure?"
Charlotte: "...Y-yes."

With that final response, the other two girls reluctantly accept her words.
Kira: " ...Alright then."
They then face the entrance and proceed onward.

One and a half hours later...

Charlotte: "B-blood...there's blood...there's blood..." She mutters repeatedly in a state of shock while drenched from head to toe in the thick red liquid that had been mercilessly dumped on her a moment prior.
Alena: "It's okay, Charlotte. I'll get you to the nurse's office." Trying to calm her friend down the best she can while guiding her.
Charlotte: "The blood... the blood...it's everywhere..."
Alena: "I know, I know... wait..." She pauses after noticing that the blood isn't giving off a scent.

Alena: "It's fake."
Charlotte then turns to her.
Charlotte: "...W-what?"
Alena: "You don't smell anything, do you?"
To that, Charlotte slowly brings a bloodied sleeve up to her nose, and indeed, there was no odor.
Charlotte: "No..."
Alena: "That means it's fake."
Charlotte: "Fake...the blood...it's fake." Just as those words are blurted out, her eyes fall shut, and she collapses into Alena's arms.
Alena: "Charlotte! Nurse, help!"

Moments later in the nurse's office...

By now, Charlotte had been laying peacefully in sleep like state on the bed until suddenly springing back awake with a gasp.

Charlotte: "The blood! The blood!"
Alena, who had been sitting beside the bed, then leans over to her.
Alena: "Shhhh. It's okay. The blood is gone. See?"

After examining her hands herself, it was true. All of the fake blood had been washed away. In that relief, Charlotte was able to ease back into the bed.

Alena: "Charlotte."
Charlotte: "Hm?" Directing her gaze to her seated friend.
Alena: "Breathe with me."
Charlotte: "...Okay."
They take each other's hand, slowly inhaling and exhaling deep, calm, healing breaths. Those breaths abruptly break with the deep emerald haired cat girl bursting through the door, huffing in frustration.

Kira: "UGH!! I can't believe those cowards got away!" Then, noticing the two taking in her sudden appearance and outburst, she quickly softens her tone.
Kira: "How are you feeling, Charlotte?"
Unsure of how to answer that question, she looks away.
Kira: "... Look... I know you're hurting inside. We all see it. I just... want you to know that you don't have to keep it to yourself. We're friends, and we're here for you."
Charlotte: "... I know."

With nothing more, she can say to that, Kira sits in a chair across the room. Her gold eyes fixed on the floor.

Kira: "....I really wish it didn't have to be like this... it's all because of those lies that humans believe about us."
From the other side of the room, Alena swiftly turns to her in disbelief.
Alena: "Kira, it's not right point fingers."
Charlotte: "But it's true, and you know it!" Snapping back into the rage she had been holding in.
Alena: "That may be so, but talking like that makes you no different than those who try to harm us."
Kira: "'Us'? There's no human in existence who would dare to treat an angel like this."

As if that statement had been a dagger piecing right to the core, every ounce of pent-up emotions came flooding out of Alena like an endless river. To which even Kira was shocked and disappointed in herself for unintentionally targeting her own friend.

Kira: "Alena, I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to -"
Alena: "No... you're right about that... I... may not know what it's like to be in your shoes... but that doesn't mean I don't feel your pain, too." She says while wiping away the tears as they form.
Alena: "You said it yourself... we're friends..." Now desperately holding back an ocean, but ultimately failing.
Alena: "And it hurts to see my friends suffer while I'm useless."
Charlotte: "You're not useless."

Shifting her body to sit at the edge of the bed, Charlotte lays a hand on Alena's.

Charlotte: "You taught me this, didn't you? Kira, come here." As instructed, she comes over to the bed sitting at Charlotte's other side, who then takes her by the hand.

Charlotte: "Now close your eyes and breathe with me." And they do so. The three of them taking deep breaths, healing them inside and out.

Charlotte: "Feel better now?" She says, gently opening her eyes. The others following her lead.
Alena: "Yes."
Kira: "I do, actually."
Charlotte: "Good. Now the two of you can return to class."
The two at her sides look to her in surprise.
Kira: "What?"
Alena: "But what about you?"
She gives them a gentle smile.
Charlotte: "I'll be fine, now go. I don't want you to miss class by hanging around here."
Alena: "... We'll come back for you, okay?"
Charlotte: "I know you will."
Kira: "... Take care then, Charlotte."
Charlotte: "I will, don't worry."

With that, they leave, and Charlotte lays back down in the bed. A little concern still lingering within her from the argument between Kira and Alena to her own turmoil brewing inside.