Experiment of Madness

36-Unwanted Chains-Dag

Two weeks later.

I arrive back from school, my mind still grappling with the situation at hand. I stand at the door to my room, hesitation stopping me from entering. I've locked the door and closed the window, ensuring that Aerra remains inside, her whereabouts still uncertain. The silence from the room only adds to my unease, and I'm yet to figure out what to say to her.

As I enter the living room, I find Fane seated on the couch, engrossed in writing something.

Fane looks visibly frustrated, surrounded by a sea of papers. He lets out a deep sigh, his voice tinged with annoyance, "I can't do this, I hate math." The mention of math triggers a wave of irritation in him, his face reflecting the difficulty he's facing with the subject.

My words come out with a hint of resignation and hopelessness, "I hate everything." The weight of my statement hangs in the air, the negativity palpable in the room. It's a reflection of my current mindset, the frustration and burnout evident in my simple declaration.

A small chuckle escapes me, a mixture of amusement and resignation in my tone, "Lucky me, I have another year to suffer here. You get to graduate first while I'm stuck here longer."

A shrill ringing sound cuts through the air as a phone suddenly rings, breaking the momentary silence that had fallen in the room.

"It's not mine." The source of the ringing remains elusive, leaving us both wondering whose phone it could be.
I glance around, still trying to figure out where the noise is coming from, my voice joining Fane's in confusion, "It's not mine either."

My eyes fall on a pink phone case lying nearby. It suddenly clicks, and I realize which phone it belongs to. My tone is nonchalant as I address Fane, "It's your girlfriend's." I direct his attention to the phone, its distinctive pink case giving it away.

Fane's expression changes as he glances at the phone, a slight roll of his eyes betraying his annoyance, "It's Indie. Why's she texting Sasha?" His words carry a hint of irritation, the mention of Indie and Sasha piquing my curiosity.

Fane's frustration with Indie is evident as he sighs heavily and mutters, "This bitch..." His tone is laced with disdain and annoyance, the mere mention of her name seeming to trigger a range of negative emotions.

I chime in, adding a tidbit of information, "I heard her third book is really popular. Everyone is crushing on that Adam character." My voice carries a hint of indifference, as I mention the success of Indie's latest book and the swooning over the fictional character within.

Fane looks visibly uncomfortable and frustrated as he hears me mention that Indie's fictional character is based on him. He sighs, his voice tinged with disappointment and a hint of betrayal, "Yeah, but when you know I'm Adam and she put my life in her stupid book, it leaves me thinking about Sasha. How could she put her life traumas in the book without her consent?" His emotions are palpable, the implications of Indie's actions weighing heavily on his mind.

Fane's frustration continues to boil over as he vents, his voice growing louder and angrier, "She put her life struggles in her damn book just so she can be popular because what, she couldn't think with her damn mind?" His words are fueled by a mixture of disappointment and resentment, his dislike for Indie's actions growing more pronounced with each utterance.

I speak up, attempting to offer a more positive outlook, "Think about it in a different way. Now you and your girlfriend are popular."
Fane's voice is firm, his concern clearly focused on Sasha's emotional state, "I don't care about me. I care that Sasha is sad, that she felt betrayed, and now this bitch has the audacity to text her." The mention of Indie's continued attempts to contact Sasha only serves to fuel his anger and protectiveness over his girlfriend.