⚘ Synesthesia ⚘

Chapter 4 ⚘

Chapter 4 of 11:
The End

Today was a washed out reddish brown. It's was dark and dreary, with a hint of some sort of emotion. Mostly it was a mix of anxiety and distress. Come to think of it, maybe it was more of a faded maroon color.

Avery hadn't heard from Ryder in over a week, and he was starting to really freak out. He had sent tons of messages and left dozens of voice mails, but there was never a response. At school, the blue-haired boy had neglected to show up aside from one day, but when Avery tried to question him, he deflected Avery's attempts and just avoided the brunet all together.

Avery just assumed that Ryder had his phone taken or something had happened at home. He really hoped that wasn't the case, because that would mean Ryder was in trouble. Not the kind of trouble that bad grades give you, it was the kind of trouble that left kids bleeding in alleyways on dark nights.

Avery decided to go over to Ryder's house. He needed to know what had happened to his best friend. He was praying it wasn't as bad as his mind wanted him to believe.

Avery shook his head, trying to get rid of his nerves. Ryder's house really scared him. Normally, even in the most dreadful places, Avery could still sense some sort of color, but here at Ryder's house, it was all black. There was no trace of any kind of tint, not even any light greys or whites. Avery took one last breath before walking up to the door.

Avery really did hope that Ryder was okay, because Avery had some news to share, and it wasn't necessarily good.

Avery raised his hand to knock on his best friend's door, but he put it down quickly.

What if he can at the wrong time? What if him coming over only made Ryder get hurt worse?

Thousands of questions were swarming through Avery's mind, making it a difficult task to just knock on a door. Avery took a deep breath, he knew this was for his best friend. He needed to know that Ryder was okay. He had to make sure that Ryder was still there, because if he wasn't, what was the point of even being here?

The black Ford truck that belonged to Ryder's dad wasn't in the driveway, which offered some comfort. Avery guessed Ryder's dad was at a bar or some club. According to Ryder, he was always either drunk or gone. Or both.

Avery swallowed and gave three quick knocks. After a few moments of waiting, nobody answered. Avery was about to knock again, when the door swung open to reveal Ryder.

He seemed to be okay. There were no bruises that weren't already there from the last time. Avery cocked his head to the side. If Ryder was fine the why didn't he answer? Why would he do that?

Did he want Avery to have anxiety?

The air was no longer maroon, but a dark orange color. How could Ryder do something like that? Avery's face contorted into one of anger and he opened his mouth to confront his best friend.

Ryder, already knowing what Avery was going to say, held up a hand. "I can explain." Ryder said. Avery frowned, but motioned for him to continue.

"It was my dad." Ryder said, pulling something out of his pocket. Ryder held up a cell phone that was cracked in various places. There were multiple scratches and marks, that pretty much guaranteed that the phone wouldn't work.

Avery started to feel the blackness, that he often associated with this house.

"I gave him my phone to hit, instead of me." Ryder explained. Avery gave a slight shake of his head.

"And it worked?"

"He was really drunk." Ryder swallowed. Now Avery wasn't sure if he even wanted to tell Ryder his bad news.

"Oh." Avery said. His hand beginning to twitch- this was another nervous habit of Avery's.

The two boys were left in silence. Sometimes silence was okay, but lately quiet had been violent for Avery. He was desperately trying to find something to say, so that the noiseless torture would end.

"Why did you come here?" Ryder asked. Avery looked up from his shoes, and silently thanked his best friend.

"I hadn't heard from you." Avery said. Ryder nodded, seeming to accept the answer. Upon thinking about it more, Avery wondered why Ryder never even bothered to see Avery- why he never even tried to let him know that he was okay.

"Why didn't you come see me?" Avery asked, feeling a very familiar grey color creep up his neck. Ryder shuffled his feet a little bit and looked everywhere but Avery's eyes.

"I couldn't." Ryder said. "And I still can't. This conversation right now could get me in trouble." Avery blinked. Him? Getting Ryder in trouble?

"Why?" Avery asked. He was starting to feel a familiar metallic taste on his tongue.

"He said if I went to see you before he came back then he would hurt me again." Ryder explained, biting his lip. Avery looked at the area around him, feeling purple with a burning sensation in his lungs. He was getting hints of red and blue on his tongue and it was all a little overpowering.

"Where is he?" Avery asked, his voice in a whisper. Ryder shrugged.

"He left about a week ago." Ryder said.

"When will he come back?" Avery asked. Ryder swallowed and shook his head.

"Can we not talk about my dad?" Ryder asked. Avery nodded, the metallic taste on his tongue intensifying. Avery had to resist the urge to start tugging at his hair again.

He really should go. If Ryder's dad came back and saw Avery, then it would not end well at all. Avery really needed to tell Ryder something but he couldn't force himself to speak.

He didn't want to put another burden on Ryder. Ryder had so much to deal with already, without Avery and his issues. Keeping something like this from his best friend made Avery feel grey and cold, but he had to do what was best for his friend. He didn't need to hurt Ryder further.

"Maybe I should go." Avery said.

"I'm sorry Avery, but I don't want him to hurt me again." Ryder said. Avery nodded. He was surrounded by blacks and greys that were attacking him and seeping into his lungs. "I'll try to see you soon." Ryder said. "Maybe he'll come home within the next few days and I can sneak out."

"Yeah." Avery hated that neither of them brought up what they knew to be true. Ryder was going to get beat up. Even if Ryder had never spoken to Avery. Neither of them were that naive to believe that Ryder wouldn't get hurt. Especially since he had been spared last time.

"What color is it here?" Ryder asked. Avery looked over at his friend.

"What?"

"What color is it here?" Ryder repeated. Avery frowned.

"Black." Avery said, shutting his eyes. "Like coal. Sometimes I can maybe see some grey." Ryder nodded.

"I get that feeling too." Ryder said. Avery frowned. Nobody should have to feel like that at their own house. Especially if they were going to be there for extended periods of time. Avery sighed and made a move towards the door. He needed to get out, just in case Ryder's dad came back.

"I don't want you to get hurt." Avery said. Ryder nodded in agreement.

"Me either." Avery took one last look at his best friend before walking out the door. The parting definitely wasn't one out of a movie, but then again, Avery was never very good at goodbyes.

"God?" Avery asked, once he was safely away from Ryder's house. "I'm not quite sure if you're there, or if you even care, but if you are, please let Ryder be okay." Avery spoke. He hoped that there was some sort of God. All he ever knew was the demons that tortured him.

"Amen." Avery added as an afterthought. He hoped that maybe that word sealed the deal and that Ryder wouldn't be hurt to bad. Or at all for that matter. Avery sighed and continued his journey home, hoping his prayer would work.

Because quite honestly, if it didn't, what would that make God?