B l a n k

Chapter 9

My chest tightened, and a feeling of dread wormed its way into my stomach, where it settled, making everything inside me feel heavy. I struggled to produce words, but my throat was tight and dry.

"Wha-at?" I choked, a sob already finding its way out.

Sketch stared up at me, her eyes filling with tears that threatened to spill over her cheeks. She blinked them away and took in a deep breath, "The hospital is taking the kittens and I away. We won't be able to see you anymore." Her entire image was dark and grey looking. Her pelt was darker and duller, no longer sticking out even the tiniest bit, and her wings looked limp and stiff, the feathers no longer fluffy and instead pressed tightly together. Even her bright, fiery eyes had been doused. Now, they were a cold blue, something I wasn't quite in the mood to comment on or note.

“Bu-t why?” I pleaded, “They ca-an’t!” I had only just met them. It was for the second time, but technically, I hardly knew them. Now...  Now they were going to take my only friends away. They were taking them, right after I got them back.

Sketch gritted her teeth for the second time, taking a deep, shuddering breath, "Void and Lock-pick are sick, and I’m slowly getting worse as well. Plus, the hospital believes that our influence on you is bad.” Her eyes flashed and I heard a tiny growl rising in her throat before she shook her head, pushing away whatever it was she was thinking.

My tears finally found their way out, layering on top of the nearly dried streams my nightmare had caused. I ignored her brief, awry behavior, blinded by the pain and grief clutching my heart, “But you were fine before!” I cried. Many feelings crashed down on me, gnawing at my heart as I imagined being without them. I would have to be alone with nothing to do. I couldn’t live like that. Not again.

She took in yet another shaky breath, “I know. I’m not sure what it was, but we haven’t felt too good since we left earlier.”

I just stared at her, allowing my vision to blur as my eyes glazed over. There was nothing else I could do, nothing else to say. I extended a hand, reaching out to touch her, just to hold her, but before my hand could even brush against her fur, she pulled away, out of my reach. I sat, frozen in shock as she turned away.

“There’s no point. It’ll just make it harder,” she breathed. “I might as well just leave now.”

Before I could even draw in a gasp, she was at the door. It opened, and without even glancing back, she left.

She... left...?

Did she even care?!

I stood, no longer shaky.

I blindly ran for the door, shrieking and yelling and screaming after her, but instead of seeing her form slide back through, I was met with a much larger one.

Her eyes, the mirror of mine, widened as I crashed into her. The waves of brown rushed in front of her shoulders as she was hit, but my blow only stunned her, and she didn’t even fall over. She wrapped her arms around me, and only then was I able to momentarily think straight and connect her appearance to her name.

Luka.

The only person in this entire facility who really tried to be kind to me, and I sure as hell didn’t care.

I thrashed around in her grip, crying out and kicking her legs as hard as I could.

Luka was a part of this. I just knew it.

Tears streaked down my face as she held me, not even fazed by my fit. She pushed me down onto the ground and pinned me by my shoulders, “Kye... Kye, calm down. It’s okay...” she attempted to soothe, her voice calm and even. Her eyes betrayed her, showing her concern, but I ignored it, trying to push her off of me.

“You took them away!” I screamed at her, “Sketch and the kittens are gone! You took them!”

Realization seemed to flood through her, only fueling my anger. She did know!

I put every bit of my fury into my movements, throwing kick after kick, but I couldn’t do much, as she was on top of me.

“I know... I know, Kye...” She seemed to hesitate a moment before she continued, "I can explain if you would just-"

"I don’t want an explanation,”’ I growled, deep and guttural, “I want my friends back!”

Pain flickered through Luka’s eyes as she gritted her teeth. She looked me right in the eyes, her tone sincere, though I knew better than to believe her now, “I’m so sorry Kye, but they can’t come back...” She seemed to struggle for words, as if trying to formulate a lie.

“Why the fuck not?!” I spat, glaring straight at her.

“I... I can’t tell you that.” Luka looked toward the door longingly. She seemed torn, as if she were a mother forced to choose between work and her child.

I managed to wriggle out from under her half-way, absolutely tired of this. Without a second thought, I pulled my knees up to my chest and slammed them into her ribs, stunning her and effectively pushing her off of me.

She let out a low oof sound, but I was already gone, having dashed at near-inhuman speed to the darkest corner of my cell.

I pressed myself deep into the cushion of the wall, wishing I could just disappear into its comforting hold. My voice was hoarse as I silently hissed at Luka, “Just... get... away...”

Luka just sat there, staring at me, acting surprised and hurt.

She just won’t give up will she?

“Go!” I roared.

She pulled herself to her feet, and without another word, she was gone, having closed the door behind her and whisked herself away into the depths of the hallways.

As soon as she was gone, I finally let everything loose.

I screamed and cried and pulled at my hair. I cursed the cats’ names, cursed every being in this damned hospital, and even cursed myself for somehow getting stuck in this whole situation, even if that had been been my past self.

I didn’t care when I heard Luka and Stephen fighting in the hall-way over putting me back in a straight-jacket. I didn’t care when Myra and Jerome joined, adding more yelling and confusion to the mess. I didn’t care when nurses and doctors tried to calm me down, though they never brought a needle or straight-jacket anywhere close to me. I didn’t care when I screamed at every person who came into my cell. I didn’t care when the patients in the cells surrounding my own joined chorus in my vocalized anger. And I sure as hell didn’t care when I was finally put under; when the dull burning forced its way into my veins and the solid black veil slammed over my senses.

I just didn’t care anymore...