Dark Past, Darker Future

Chapter 5∆

Tears

Fabian's P.O.V

Rowan had me worried.

"Rowan," I say, finally having her attention. I run my fingers softly over the cuts and scabs and scars from previous cuts. "Rowan what is this... Please don't tell me you've been cutting..."

"And what other explanation would there be for it?!" Rowan snapped, jerking her arm away from me once again.

I hug her, reaching for her other arm. I roll up the sleeve on her left arm, biting my lip in worry when I see the cuts on that arm too.

"Why do you do this? What is happening to you at home?" I ask. 'And why are they making such a pretty thing scar herself?' I don't say that aloud, though.  She looks away, rolling her sleeve back down.

"I-i can't tell you." She said, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Why do you even care?!" She got up and ran out of the classroom, ignoring the teacher's protests.

She had a point. "Why do  I care?" I mumble to myself, before shaking my head and getting up, walking after her. Her cries echoes through the hallway and led to an empty classroom. I walk into it, finding Rowan sobbing in a lump on the floor.

I walk over to her. I sit next to her and make her look at me, caressing her face in my hands. My heart shatters just looking at her reddened, tear stained face. She averts her eyes, before closing them as more silent tears roll down her cheeks.

"I care," I begin, using my thumb to wipe away a tear that was making it's way down her face. "Because you are my friend. You're beautiful. You have a strong spirit, I can tell, but you can't keep up the charade all the time. You don't have to be strong for me. I'm here for you. With you."

I say, and she looks at me again, her eyes showing her broken spirit. This makes me wonder what goes on to her at home, even if she won't tell me. It makes me mad that somebody would do this to her.

"Really?" She asks, her raspy voice breaking from crying so much.

Instead of responding with words, I hug her, letting her sniffle into my shoulder. I feel her arms hesitantly wrap around my waist, and she leans on to me, eventually crying all of the tears there were to be cried. I place my hand on her head, rubbing her hair softly. I make a silent vow to protect her.

Rowan's P.O.V

Fabian sits next to me, having followed me to the classroom. He grabs my shoulders and turns me toward him, making me look at him. He grabs my face with his hands and I flinch, but he doesn't hit me, or kiss me. He instead rubs my face with his thumbs, wiping away my tears as I close my eyes to avoid him reading into my mind.

"I care," He begins, but pauses. 'Why does he care? Is he thinking of what to say right now? I knew he didn't care!'  My thoughts are interrupted as he starts to speak again. "Because you are my friend. You're beautiful." 'Lies,' My mind thinks. "You have a strong spirit, I can tell, but you can't keep the charade up all the time. You don't have to be strong for me. I'm here for you. With you." 'But I do have to be strong. For Ciel and Primrose and Reydan.' 

"Really?" I ask. I wince as my came out raspy and broke from crying so much.

I waited for a response, but instead of anything verbal, I got a hug from Fabian. I hesitantly hugged him back and he rubbed my hair. I hope he wouldn't take my trust for granted. The bell rang and I went to class, grabbing my belongings before heading to my next class period.

------After School------

I walked into the door quietly, slipping back to the room I shared with my siblings. Neither of my parents were home, and I knew that if I were still here when my mother got back, she would bring me and Ciel to the liquor store and make us help ferry home her alcohol.

I would be home alone for a good two hours, I knew, because my father would stay out late and my mother would be home by 4:00. I walked into the bedroom, and saw a note on Primrose's bed. I grabbed it and read it. It read;

"Dear Ciel, Rayden, and Rowan.

I am sorry for leaving you behind like this but I can't continue. We all know this was bound to happen to one of us, with the life we lead. Rayden, please don't give up. I know it's scary when Mother and Father do things to us, but you need to live. I don't want you to end up like me. Ciel, stay strong. You don't have to be strong around Rowan and Rayden, but please keep your spirits up. I know Rowan will tend to your wounds, as you will to hers and Rayden's. As for you, Rowan, I found your box under the tile. Please stop...that's how I ended up like this. Don't think I haven't noticed your bandages, or how jumpy you are when something touches your arms. Please stop, and stay strong. I want to know that you all lived and got a better life... The life we've always wanted.

                                                                                                                                                    - Primrose."

I froze, and immediately ran to the bathroom. I found my sister laying in a tub full of bloody water and an empty but closed pill bottle floating in it. I started to cry, running to the side of the tub. I noticed black letters scrawled on the label of the bottle and picked it up, reading the bleeding letters.

"For when I wish to sleep forever."

I started to cry even more, and drained the water out of the tub, picking up my light-weight sister and carrying her to her bed, folding her hands. I washed her and all of the blood up, and sewed her wounds shut. I hid the thread with makeup and placed the bottle next to her, and the note on top of her. I wanted my siblings to think she died a peaceful death, not one where she bled to death and eased herself out of the pain with medication.

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Hello my little butters. Here is an extra long chapter for you all! Sorry for not updating like I said I would. I can't update daily, but I will try to update weekly. Mostly once a week, maybe twice or more if I'm more productive. 

That's all for now!

~Wiittle