Off The Wall.

Cutting A Nerve.

It's been five days (I wish I had the hours and minutes, but I lost track a at one day three hours and nineteen minutes) since Gerard as I went on our "bonding walk".

And he hasn't said a word since.

I talk to him, of course; not only is it required, but I've made it my mission to get him to talk again, no matter what it takes.

In the past couple days I've asked him about many things that made his cheeks burn red, told him stories about things that would scare a grown man, and screamed at him so loudly that I couldn't talk for the couple hours. A little extreme? Others may think so. But I don't.

I need his voice.

So, here I am, sitting in the cafeteria across from Easter and Kai.

Easter was humming to herself, occasionally giggling or gasping at something a demon said to her.

Kai was cutting his chicken pot pie into even squares, trying so hard to not mess up. When he finally accomplished his mission, he sighed in relief and smiled down at his plate.

I poked at my own pot pie, not able to find my appetite. Jesus Christ, what was wrong with me?

"It's Gerard."

My head shot up so quickly that it cracked, and I looked around. Who said that?

"I know," Easter said, looking ecstatic. "They told me."

"Told you what?" I asked. My eyes were so wide that it hurt, but I couldn't close them. My instincts told me to be angry, but I couldn't. I was frozen.

"Gerard, he's it," Easter said, leaning back and crossing her arms. A small smirk rested on her face.

"He's what?" I asked as my heart started racing. Easter began laughing, so loud it hurt my ears.

She had to tell me. I had to know. I needed to know.

Anger bubbled underneath my skin, so hot and raw that it actually hurt. How dare she not tell me.

"WHAT IS GERARD?!" I screamed as I threw my plate full of food across the table. I heard it break as it hit a wall, but I didn't care.

Easter kept laughing, and I realized that a few of the staffs members were craning their necks to see what the crash was about. I forced my grimace into a (probably painful-looking) smile as I said,

"Just some plate difficulties here, nothing major." They looked at me questioningly but decided to let it go. They all went back to doing their staff duties, and I sighed in relief and exhaustion.

I sat back down and took a few deep breaths; a technique I had learned from a past physiatrist that hardly calmed me down.

"Easter, I know you don't always like me-"

"I like you. The demons don't." Easter corrected. I acted like I didn't hear her and continued talking.

"-but it's very, very important that you tell me what Gerard is."

She blinked at me with her doe-like eyes.

"I don't choose what to tell you." She said simply. I looked at her in confusion.

"And why not?" I asked. She glanced around the room before whispering,

"They have to approve what I say. If they hear me, they'll..." Her voice trailed off, and I didn't encourage her to go on about the demons and their wrath. I just wanted to hear about Gerard for fucks sake!