TENEBRIS ~ Young Justice

10 ~ Jaded

MOUNT JUSTICE
March 21, 16:01 EDT

The day was empty.

Everything was empty.

I didn't know what to do with myself.

Life in the Cave resumed without me. Nightwing and Malcolm were in the midst of formulating a plan to rescue La'gaan. Aquaman was apparently involved now, and I guess a few other members of the League were aiding in the search. Conner had been the one to deliver the news this afternoon, and somehow, a scoff managed to slip through my indifference during his explanation. Though an impulsive response, it wasn't my reaction itself that bothered me. 

One mention of La'gaan's name, and I was bombarded by an onslaught of intrusive thoughts. Some were about the way he treated Conner despite knowing it was creating a divide within the Team. A few were about his unsightly relationship with M'gann and how it was his only personality trait. Most, however, were about how much I wished the roles were reversed.

Why couldn't Artemis have been kidnapped instead? Why was La'gaan still alive?

They were too much. The battle to ward them off must have made my heart rate spike, because Conner eventually asked if I was alright. I chose not to respond, afraid I would say something out of spite that I could never take back. He'd departed on that note, leaving me to stare at the ceiling as the cavity in my chest continued growing.

I was a horrible person. La'gaan was still a member of the Team and in very real danger. Understandably, rescuing him was now a mission of the utmost importance. On the other hand, everyone's heartlessness to the other side of the situation completely vexed me, as I couldn't fathom how the hell they were proceeding as though nothing had happened. 

Another hour passed--at least, it felt like an hour. It could have very well been two, or even a mere thirty minutes. My phone was lying dead on the floor; I had knocked it off my bed at some point and never bothered to retrieve it. The comforter was twisted between my legs, bunched at the foot of my mattress. My wet hair had dried into a knotted mess, splayed out over my pillows. I was also fairly sure the hard lump pressing into my hip could be accounted for when I noticed my stuffed caterpillar was missing.

...what time is it?

My eyes lazily followed the trail of light spilling into my bedroom. Its orange glow gave me a general idea.

Day two. Two days have passed. It's been two days. It feels like... It feels like forever.

I lifted my right hand to study the tightly-wrapped bandage around it. The white gauze was discolored as a result of the old blood seeping through the dressing. A sigh slipped through my nose.

Do you plan to just lie here forever?

"Yes," I whispered aloud. My arm fell heavily onto my chest with a thud.

Get up.

"Why?"

You're hungry.

"No, I'm not."

My eyes fluttered shut as my stomach growled.

You should wash your hands. You're not going to heal if your hand gets infected.

"It'll be fine."

Get up, Adrienne.

I don't want to.

Get up, Adrienne.

I lowered my hand to the bed to support my weight as I slowly rose into a sitting position. My dreary eyes opened to find a pair of bare feet sticking out from beneath the messy comforter. A deep breath, then two, then four acted as preparation for the groan that escaped my chest when I swung my legs over the edge of my mattress. Goosebumps littered my arms at the loss of heat; it was almost enough to make me crawl back into bed. The forgotten blankets fell into a pile on the floor, and I kicked them out of the way before trudging to my bedroom door.