How NOT to end the world

.•° ✿Prince's feather✿ °•.

JULES

I reach for the dream, but consciousness pounces on me. The momentum throws me off the bed; I end up upside down, staring up hopelessly as I try and ease my confused mind. I sigh, pulling myself up. The memory of the dream suddenly slams into me, making me watch my step. I look for the smiles, the noise, trying to keep my scared hands from shaking. I feel for under the bed, not turning my back on the deadly openness of my room. Once my fingers hook around the laces, I step through the bed and undo the window. I land on tough grass.

The world still had it's lights out-the clouds moved sluggishly, and the only thing I could here was the crackle of grass under my shoes and the shreiking of my mind.

I need to get out of here.

I look into my reflection on the open window. No wonder my Rafe's been avoiding me, I look like a mess. I push back my overgrown locks, breath in a mix of sweat, and weave through the garden. I make for the streets.

***

RAFE

My eyes fluttered open as i shifted to consciousness. I look around wildly, not daring to move. The dream like plants taught me-I can barely tell that this is reality. My eyes still adjusting i grab at my hair-what was THAT.

New words started to flood, uprooting distorted memories-

"It's a loop, get the journal, go to the elevator."

I groan, releasing my greasy curls. That was nightmare, it wasn't actually real right? Distantly, I remember I would usually be comforted by Koi.

I silence those thoughts, starting my routine.

I shove my hand under the blinds and flip them so light streams in with bar like bands. But the cloudy skies make the pale light hang in the room unnaturally. I land on my bed, reach under my bed and pull out my journal. I keep all my thoughts in here, so it doesn't stay in my head, so I can breath. So I start to write. I scratch away at the old book, and when I'm done the room feels more real. I place the journal under my bed, and kicked on my slippers and make my way out of the jungle, which seemed to never really leave.

I tried to blink away sleep as I walked down the hallway, and into the kitchen.

The TV glowed red, people on the screen smiling and plasticy. He was facing the screen, but his shoulders were hunched over with exhaustion. Hearing my movement, Jules whipped around. He smiled, a knot twisted in my heart.

"Hey man."

He called out. I ignored him, though craving contact with my roommate, I refused to engage.

Jules shifts uncomfortably. Noise fills the background.

"I hope you slept well." He said.

I walked away, catching a glance at the screen on the TV; it read 8:03.

I opened the fridge, ice cold air flooding my lungs. I heard Jules move again. I grumbled, snatching a container of leftovers and slamming the door. He started to rant again-

"Dude, shut up."

Before he made me feel guilty again, i strode back through the corridor, but the thought followed me,

"You need to work together to survive."

***

JULES

I rest into the door frame, breathing in the smell of Rafe's room. Maybe he's having a bad day-I can't give up. I shuffle my feet, and steel myself. I cough, making my prescense known.

"Hi."

I said. I opened my mouth to speak, but the sight before me filled up the space. Books and collages, old trinkets all were scattered on the floor. Photo's of us at college stuck out too me. I slide to the floor and picked up one, shaking the polaroid image.

"Hey I didn't know you kept these!"

I looked down, my heart warmed.

"Yeah I would throw them out but Koi would get upset-photography was their thing."

Mentioning them, the ever present pool of guilt twisted.

"Look mate I am so sorry-"

"Don't."

Suffocating silence. I shifted uncomfortably, pulling myself up.

"Well, their not the only one's happy that you kept them."

I mumbled, walking away.