Compos Mentis

Draco Singi

All I can see is darkness then suddenly a hellish screech and a jolt of pain rushing through my body. I squint as my vision returns, though still severely blurred. Before I can speak a word I feel the familiar slap of a bloody hand on my face, though it was different than before, this slap was fueled by anger rather than fear.

"WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR DAMN PROBLEM?! Y-YOU A-ALMOST KILLED ME! D-DRACO! Y-YOU...TRIED TO K-KILL ME!"

"I know this voice. It's my best friend and partner. But... what was he yelling about? I hadn't tried to kill him. I would never have done anything like that."

I could see clearly now. And I could feel again. There's a pain in my right eye. The pain, like a thousand tiny knives slicing through my cornea all at once. I try to focus on Neros' words while trying to compose some of my own.

"W-what the hell happened," I ask in a pain-induced high.

Neros beats his hands against my chest and begins to break down into tears.

"What even are you anymore?!' He asks as he falls back to the floor.

I drop to my knees in an attempt to comfort him. I wrap my arms around his beaten and battered body as I calmly embrace him.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

~

Much time pass as we stay there motionless and worn, trying to overcome our injuries, physically and mentally. Exhausted and in pain the two of us find a way to fall asleep, holding onto each other in fear of what might happen next. As the night turns to dawn Pepper nudges against our shoulders, frantically attempting to check if we're alive. I open my eyes to see a warm ray of light shining in. I try to move from the puddle of blackened blood, but am stopped by Neros who is still asleep and clinging to my arm in fear.

"Neros? Wake up, buddy... It's okay."

My friend wakes up to show his eyes vibrant yet soft green eyes.

"Dr-Draco?"

" I'm here bud. It's okay. Now Come on. We've got some cleaning up to do." I say while gently tugging at him and looking around the study.

I regain what little strength I have and lift myself off the floor, before picking up Neros and carrying him to his room and laying him on his bed.

"Get some rest, man. I'll take care of the study."

He groans in response and rolls over. As I walk out of the room and back towards the study. As I walk through the doors it looks even worse than I remember. Two broken bookcases either side of the room, blood stains and scorch marks every other step, charred books and tomes scattered across the floor, and Neros' favorite lamp... somehow still in perfect condition. I swear that man has a ward on that lamp.With a slight bit of hesitation, I begin to pick up the books and shelf debris from the floor.

"This would be easier if I had one of those stones Neros always carries around..." I say to myself.

At that moment I decide it's worth a try, as I make my way back to Neros' room to see if he's awake so I could consult him on borrowing his rose quartz. But when I reach his room his blankets are strewn about the room and there's a trail of the tar-like substance leading to his bathroom door.

"He couldn't have gotten out of bed on his own let alone walk to the bathroom, not in the state he was in."

I try to open the door to his bathroom...

It's locked.

I bang on the door.

"Neros! Neros! Answer me!"