The Summoning

IX - Are You Really Okay?

The next morning, I was awoken to the sound of something akin to a concert, interrupted the occasional laughter or yelling. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up and stretched before realizing I really needed some more pain medication. The drum beat seemed to be coming from the end of the hall where Vessel had been playing piano. Last night felt like the entirety of it was all a dream.

My head was pounding, sending blood pulsing down to my leg and hand. I didn't think the pain would be worse than yesterday, but somehow it was.

I limped to the door and grabbed a single crutch and started down the hall to the crashing of symbols and hum of a bass. 

The room was now brightly lit, but not by candles, but by light spilling in through the large windows. They were as large and tall as the ones in the church, but didn't have the stained glass. 

"Okay so it's duh-duh-duh up? Or down?" III was plucking out a tune on the bass, glancing up to Vessel who had been turned to face him on the piano bench. 

Almost excitedly, Vessel moved his fingers and hands as if miming III's playing before swiftly turning around and playing a low tune on the piano.

"Ooohh, okay I got it, I got it." III said before playing out something similar to the piano notes. 

Behind them, in the opposite corner of the room was a giant drumset that nearly seemed to swallow II as he sat behind it, twirling a stick in his hand. 

I flinched when II whistled to get their attention and they turned to him in sync before turning to look at me. 

III slung the bass around him to sit on his back and stepped toward me as Vessel stood. III spoke softly, different from the relaxed voice he had moments before. "How are you?"

I clenched my teeth and willed my bottom lip to not quiver as I stood up straight. "Fine."

Vessel was sticking close to the wall, slinking toward me slowly, most likely so as to not scare me like yesterday.

I blinked up at III when he snorted in disbelief, "Okay, sure."

II started toward the door as I backed away into the hall and III spoke again.

"Four started on some breakfast. That and some more pain meds should help."

II and III jostled each other as they spilled into the hall in front of me, III grabbed II's shoulders and jumped up and down, running into II again and II stopped and waved an arm above him as if shooing a fly. 

I waited for Vessel, but he had stopped at the door and raised a hand in invitation. Narrowing my eyes to him, I pursed my lips and started back down the hall. It was nerve wracking having Vessel follow behind me. 

III knocked into II again and they stumbled into the kitchen as we followed. A sweet and savory aroma filled the kitchen as I entered and followed the other two to the table. Vessel pulled down some plates and I felt my face heat when his worn t-shirt slid up to reveal pale skin.

Jesus, I was like a teenager. I blinked the feeling away and tried to focus on something else.

He did look different today than yesterday. His skin was still vaguely painted with some black and it peaked out from the old Failure band t-shirt. He was wearing black skinny jeans that were torn at the knees and adorned with a brown belt. Like the rest of them, he stayed in his black socks as they went about the morning.

III sat at the table bouncing both his knees dressed in skinny jeans that were either too short or were pulled up to reveal the checkered socks running up his ankles. His shirt seemed to be some sort of Junji Ito inspired print covering the entirety in different images and scenes.