Subsist

Chapter Two

Chrona jumped against the small bed as her mother, pressed a white cloth to the left side of her daughters face. "Stay still." Nova insisted, her eyes squinting to see the tear of skin in the dim candle light. "I'm trying." Chrona replied and attempted to grasp the flat concrete with her nails. It was no use, Chrona could not keep still for two seconds. The burn of the alcohol caused her to lash out, and not being able to scream made everything much more difficult.

"I give up." Nova said grabbing the cloth and heading back upstairs. When Nova was out of sight Chrona let the tears fall. She couldn't bear to look behind her at the lifeless body of Ambrose in his bed. Fragile and cold.

Chrona could hear the bones breaking as Ambrose fell down each step, each hit breaking her own heart more and more. When she turned her attention back to where the stranger stood he was gone, as if he never existed. Suddenly there was silence. "Ambrose.." Chrona called out, her head still against the concrete. There was no response. Weakly, she attempted to lift her head up. Everything around her spun. She placed it back down softly and exhaled. "Ambrose.." She called out once more, her voice breaking into a sob. "Ambrose are you alright? Please tell me you're alright."  She sobbed softly. There was nothing. 

Chrona managed to get herself up to her feet after much struggling. She pressed herself against the closest concrete wall and took each step slowly. She had to use a hand in order to silence the screams that wanted to come out. She looked at Ambrose soaking in his own blood. His once blue shirt was purple and the khaki shorts he wore were stained dark red. Chrona stumbled down the last few steps and felt at his side. "Ambrose, wake up!" She screamed and grasped his shirt in her fists. "Ambrose, please." She cried she voice failing her near the end. She pressed her hand to where his heart should have been beating, yet felt nothing. She shook her head. "You can't leave me Ambrose! Wake up right now!" She screamed louder.

Sure enough someone could hear her. She hoped if someone could they would do her the favor of ending her life.

A cold hand touched her cheek. She turned her attention to Ambrose's hand and held it to her face softly. "Ow." He managed to get out. "I'm sorry." She replied, letting go. He kept his hand against his sister's face in attempt to comfort her. But nothing could comfort her at this point. Ambrose let out a painful groan and breathed heavily. Chrona turned on her knees to face Ambrose with a tear streaked face. "What's wrong?" He only shook his head.

"Obviously something is. What's hurting? Do you want me to get dad?" She asked.

"I'm already here, what's wrong Ambrose?" Axon's booming voice called from behind Chrona. She quickly sniffed away the tears and wiped her face clear of streaks.

"It's my shoulder, it hurts to breath." Ambrose replied and groaned once more. 

"It's going to hurt for a while, but you're going to get better. Do you need anything, I can go get you some water.." Axon questioned.

"Water sounds good." Ambrose replied.

"Alright, Chrona, watch hi-"

"I'll get the water." She spoke and stood up quickly. Everything still spun, but not as fast as before. She could at least walk a straight line without having to hold onto something. "You stay with him, I don't want to be near him." She admitted and quickly took off up the stairs.

She kept her eyes focused ahead of her while walking down the hallway and kept to her feet when passing the large front window of the home. She stumbled around in attempt to find some sort of cup. The moonlight that shown through the window was the only light she had. Her toes continuously hit against broken appliances, cabinets, and every few seconds her feet would end the life of some unlucky insect. 

The closest thing she could find to a cup was a bowl. Chrona turned the knobs to the faucet on high, but only a thin stream of water flowed from it. As she held the bowl she realized she was finally alone and once again she let everything go. 

Her eyes burned along with her nose as she cried silently. 

She didn't know how long she was taking and obviously they would understand because they too understood that the faucets weren't the most reliable. She laid her head against the granite counter top, beginning to wrap up the moment she had to herself. 

She held the bowl which was filled to the brim and turned. She screamed and dropped the bowl at the large figure before her. "Fuck!" She cried out as the piece of glass flew everywhere. She couldn't hold it back anymore, she dropped to her knees crying once more. "Chrona.." Axon sighed and walked over to his daughter placing a gentle arm around her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She could only sob more. 

"None of this was your fault. I want you to know that." He whispered softly. Chrona leaned into her father's arms and sniffed back the tears she so badly wanted to hide. "Ambrose is going to be fine, alright. Listen to me.." Axon said. "You couldn't of prevented this, none of this was-" He was cut off. "None of this was my fault, but who was the one who woke him up?" Chrona countered back. "I could have left him alone and went to fend the intruder off by myself, but no, I had to wake him up and now he's in pain!" She yelled. "This is all my fault.." She sighed. 

The silence concluded Axon had no way to counter because it was true. Chrona just shook her head. "I just want things to go back to the way they were before, when we didn't have to live like this." she whispered. "I don't want him growing up in this." she shook her head. 

There was silence for a long while before Chrona spoke again. "You better get him his water." She whispered. Axon gave Chrona a gentle squeeze and slowly got to his feet. He offered Chrona a hand; She kept her eyes averted down to the floor. Chrona could hear the cups being moved around in the top cupboard and sighed. "I was looking for those." She said lightly. The faucet creaked and slowly the thin stream began to fill the cup. 

"Are you going to come back down?" Axon asked looking to Chrona who sat in the middle of the kitchen surrounded by glass. "I'll be down later." She nodded. "Alright." He replied and started down the hallway.

"Dad.." Chrona called out. Axon backed up slowly. "Yes, Chrona?" She hesitated. "Do you.. uh.. can you.. you know.. uh..  teach me to hunt?" She asked bringing her eyes up from the floor to meet her fathers blue hues. Axon finally seemed to smile which was something Chrona hadn't seen in a long time. "Sure." He replied and started walking once more.

She nodded a silent 'thank you'. She was going to find a way out of this place one way or another.

Ambrose couldn't suffer anymore.

Ambrose wouldn't suffer anymore.

It was finally  time for a change.