The Scream of the Banshee

Depressed and Distressed

It had been two hours that Misery was screaming. From late morning to just after lunchtime. No one had even eaten lunch because of how concerned they were for their friend.

"Could we eat now? I'm dreadfully starving," moaned Poe, holding his stomach with his wings.

"Well, since Misery fell off to sleep, I don't see why not. No use just standing here," agreed Ruby, laughing.

"Skull Boy? That was amazing how you handled that!" cried Iris, jumping up and down as they reached the top of the stairs.

"Thanks! I must be related to a long line of doctors and nurses because of how calm I was!" he replied cheerfully.

"Yes. You were so cute... uh... I mean... cool about it," managed Ruby, beginning to play with her fingers nervously.

"Told you!" Frank whispered to Len.

"I see it, now," Len whispered back.

Ruby washed her hands, and began on lunch, wondering how to deal with Moira. Other than that little slip when replying to Skull Boy, she had Moira strongly on her mind, and she really wanted to help the poor thing. But as soon as she set lunch out on the table and called the gang to the kitchen as she went over to feed Moira, she was only shocked when Moira wouldn't take the food. Ruby frowned at this. She knew how precious Moira was to Doom, and just never believed it was time for her to die. At least not yet.

"Of course she'll die. But she still seems a little too young. Her structure is still nice and strong looking," sighed Ruby as she headed back to the table.

Moira was thin, but not enough to be concerning. It was noticeable, but not a huge deal. However, she was very tired and just barely had the energy to move.

"Delicious as always! Thank you, Ruby!" exclaimed Poe, his beak still slightly full.

"No problem," she replied, her voice a little monotone.

"Are you okay?" queried Iris.

"I'm really worried about Moira," admitted Ruby.

"We all are. I'm worried about Misery too," answered Frank.

Just as they finished their lunch, a loud thunder clap echoed through the house.

"Misery's awake," said Skull Boy.

Everyone went silent, not daring to take their eyes off the disheveled hair of the stressed out banshee. She was still so tired from all the screaming, but was hungry too.

"Here, Misery. Have some lunch," Ruby offered, gesturing for her to sit down, and pushed a plate of food over to her spot.

"Thanks," she said hoarsely.

Tears were streaming like a fire hose down her face. She was just so stressed and sad. She loved Doom. Doom always joked around with her, pretending to tackle her and pounce on her, and it would make her laugh. A legitimate, heart-felt laugh. But now that Doom was losing someone so precious to her, all she felt was pity and fear. What if Doom never recovered? Despite it, though, the human part of her decided to give in and eat the food.

"Something wrong, Misery?" queried Skull Boy.

"Everything," she croaked.

"I'm sorry. Would you like me to give you anything else?" wondered Skull Boy.

"No thanks," she croaked, just as a lightning bolt hit her in the head.

Her skin was now charred from the heat, but she didn't even say the usual "Ow." She just sighed, and took a few more bites of her lunch, before lightning hit the plate and burned that too.

"Maybe I should just go," she sighed, getting up from the table and heading off to the stairs again.

"Do you at least want some water?" called Iris.

"No, thanks," she croaked, her voice showing evidence of her returning need to cry.