Manifest Darkness (Sequel to Darkness Within)

Chapter 30- Deserve Better

Sean-

A knife. It feels like someone shoved one into my fucking skull. I lift my arms to massage my throbbing temples- but I can't. My eyes fly open, and I wince at the white light, but when my vision clears, several things are obvious at once-
I'm in a straight jacket.
Mark's not here.
I'm alone.
Well, not completely. there's a worker, a young guy, sitting in the corner, looking at me, a nasty grin on his face.

I look at the man, then move my legs to my chest. I rest my forehead on my knees, taking deep breaths. Slowly but surely, I begin to panic. I remember what had happened before I passed out, the crying, the pain; I just wanted to do it all over again. I wanted to take back everything I said, everything I did. I just want to be normal. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently.

Mark. The thought sends a physical pain shooting through my head, my chest. He...he must hate me. And he has every right to do so. Those words of comfort, those were probably just to make me feel better...he's too kind, even to those who don't deserve it. He deserved better.
Deserved someone who wouldn't try to kill him in his sleep.

I can't help it as a small tear slips down my cheek, but I sniffle and quickly try to wipe it away on my pants. I wouldn't cry. I had to be strong. But... what was there to be strong for?

Minutes, maybe hours go by, and I wonder what Mark is doing. I wish they'd tell me something, it's driving me crazy, more than I already am. I look up when I hear a crackle, my heart soaring- Mark. No, it's probably Janet, it wouldn't be Mark. Don't be stupid. My heart sinks.

"Hey, potato, what's up?" I hear a deep voice ask, and I almost sob in relief. "W-where did you go? You disappeared, I thought something happened..."
Mark is silent for almost a minute, then in a higher voice goes "Er, something came up."

"O-Oh.. okay." I reply quietly, but just loud enough so he could hear me. Nothing came up; he probably just didn't want to talk to me. He probably hates me. This is just Janet telling him to be nice. Yeah... just her telling him to be nice.

"So, er, how did you sleep?" He asks, and I frown.
"How do you know I fell asleep...? "
He's quiet for a moment, then quickly says "Uh, Janet told me!"

"I... oh. I slept fine." I mumble, making sure he can hear me, just in case. I hear Mark sigh.
"I'm sorry I can't come in to see you." He murmurs. "They won't let me in until they're sure it's 'safe'."

I sigh. "I don't blame them."
"Sean, no, don't-"
"Mark, it's okay. Really."
"I'm gonna fix this."

"How? How can you fix it?" I snap at him, but quickly apologize when I realize my tone. "I-I'm sorry, I'm sorry..!"
"It's alright, Jack." Mark says soothingly.

I open my mouth to speak, when I see something, like a shadow, flicker in the corner of my eye. I turn my head, but there's nothing there. Suddenly I feel another sharp stab of pain in my head, deep, and I gasp.

"Uh... Sean?" Mark asks, his voice echoing in the silence that had ensued.

"N-nothing, just my head. Headache." I say. The sharp stab faded quickly, but it's now replaced with a dull, steady ache, deep in my brain. "It hurts."

"Oh... maybe they could get you some medicine?" Mark suggested, keeping his voice a bit quiet, most likely for my headache.

"Y-yea." i say, looking towards the guy in the corner, but he's snoring, and with this damn jacket I can't move. The throbbing becomes steadily stronger. "Mark, it hurts!"

"Okay, okay, baby. They're coming with medicine, I promise." Right then, it felt like he was right next to me, trying to soothe me with his voice and with his words. I look around, and my heart sinks when I realize he isn't there.