Family, Friend or Enemy?

[7]

The freezing droplets of water sprayed across my sleepless body, the cold swiftly ascending my spine jolting me awake with a start. Well, I think I'm awake. Darkness surrounding my dainty body, the sound of water dripping along the mossy walls. My heart seems to be beating rather loudly than usual, like someone was pressing a megaphone against my chest. Anxiety bubbling inside my stomach, I'm completely curtain that I'm awake. I shuffle my hands around me, making sense of my surroundings. Nevertheless every inch of wall and floor was moist and cold cement, I feel like a three year old once again. Hiding in the corner waiting for either Damian or dad to rescue me, however I'm fifteen now. No one is here to rescue me, I'll have to figure a way to free myself.

I stifled a sob, however there's no use when the only thing you can hear is your heart beat. I slowly began to curl into a ball again, just like how I reacted to Ned's death however instead of going into a trans my consciousness still surfaces. Remembering Damian telling me the best method to cope with any emotions is to count slowly from ten to one. I sealed my eyes shut, to be completely sure that I'm not dreaming. Ten - Nine - Eight - my heart rate slowly falls back into a rhythmic beat. Seven - Six - Five - my senses feels like they have been broadened, more connected to my surroundings. Four - Three - Two - One. "Do you always count yourself to sleep or something?" I scattered across the floor, by the heavens light. A dim light spread warmth across the tunnel making it less frightening.

Malix's brown eyes were wild, his eye bags sunken into his skull. His brunette hair spiked up in various places feeding off a Mad Hatter vibe. At the sight of him was strange, how in less than twenty four hours can someone look so ill? I glance at Malix once again, I've stayed up many times before however no dark circles formed around my eyes before. However once dad was on a mission in Shanghai, he didn't sleep for a week. Tony said that his energy supplier was coffee, so when dad arrived back home his eyes were bloodshot. Mum scowled at him to sleep multiple times, it got to the point where mum put sleeping pills in every meal of his. I wasn't mad about it however, the sight of Captain America sprawled on top of the dinner table drooling is a showstopper.

Retrieving a shaky breath that I didn't realise I was holding in, and leveling out an average point of calmness. I simply looked at him. The left side of his faint red lip tugged upwards creating a sinister smirk on his ill looking face, reminding me of someone that I was close to. However being stuck in a situation like this, I can't quite pinpoint why and how he reminded me of someone. I didn't want him to think I was a insufferable child so I replied. "No, it's a coping mechanism my brother taught me." Unexpectedly Malix started to laugh historically, outraged I threw the nearest object at his head. The object was a jacket, out of all the other items near me I threw a jacket. Which didn't really help stop the laughing, it just made it impossibly worst.

Fighting back the pool of tears behind my eyes, I clenched my fist. I could feel my nails sinking into my palms, allowing a river of blood to run across my fist. Suddenly noticing Malix immediately stopped with such force that it looked as if he was holding his breath. "Sorry, but that technique hardly works. Also what is the purpose, I know it's supposed to calm you down and cease into reality slowly. However how does it work, because I've tried that technique many times before and it has failed me." Absolutely flabbergasted I simply shook my head and replied. "Well your correct on the purpose, and to answer how does the technique work." At dismay I realised that I myself don't even know how that technique even works either.

"Well I don't know exactly how the technique works for sure, however I being successful at the technique and having positive results I'll give you my personal opinion." Malix comfortably settling for my little speech, I proceed. "I think the counting enables you to block out your surrounds, since you're concentrating on counting. Every third number you say should either steady your breathing or heart rate." Nodding and gathering all the information I gave him, he looks at me impressed. Smiling at my successful answer, I started packing for our next adventure into the tunnel.

Just like our pervious walk down into the tunnel, nothing interesting happened. Just a continuous path of concrete and moss, many times Malix would nudge me accidently however I suspect that he is either tried since he didn't get enough sleep, or that he want to get under my skin for fun. I would be a nice person but I hoped it was the latter, since we don't have time for stopping. We've wasted an enormous amount of time on sleeping, and I was the only one out of both of us to actually sleep. A wave of warmth caressed my face, excited of the sudden change of the cold air I pounced onto the cement wall. Taking note of my actions, Malix started searching for a way out.

Clank. I peer into the bustling street of people up ahead with pitchforks in hand, I panned across area for any other way besides homicide. To the right of the blood thirsty crowd was an abandon looking alleyway, a good sign that no one has recently travelled through there. I sink back into the tunnel to be face to face with Malix. I could feel his hot breath against my face, I pulled away before anything got weird. "About twenty metres out front of us is a busy street, however I was able to scout out an alleyway to the right of it. All we need to do is get into the alleyway without anyone noticing." With a smirk painted on his face, Malix rolled up his sleeves exposing his biceps. 

"Please. Sneaking into an alleyway without being caught is simple, come on next time give me a challenge." It was easy said than done, whenever we thought the coast was clear a random go byer would pop out of nowhere. I had to save Malix three times from being spotted, he got reckless by the attempts. I tugged him to climb back down into the tunnel. "Hmpf. Looks like someone was listening on your request for a challenge." Outraged, Malix straighten up and began to speak however I raised my head to pause him. "So your method of just running straight towards the alleyway isn't working because people are starting to pop up." Annoyance washed over Malix's face, I kept on speaking nevertheless. "Which means that the street will be plastered with transport. If we time it precisely, we can hitch a ride under a carriage. Once we're close enough to the alleyway we can simply roll towards it."

I thought that impressing boys were hard, however in one day with no effort I impressed Malix twice. Also apparently when boys are out shined by girls however still need to contribute they would simply nod, they're probably not even listening. I peer into the street once again, I could feel the rumbling of a possible carriage driving its way towards us. "Get ready, this is our ride." I whispered, as the carriage hung over us we clutched onto the metal. When the alleyway reared into clear view we dropped and rolled, we ran deep into the alleyway making sure not to be seen nor followed.

"Well look at this, we've made it here now. What do we do now?" I looked at Malix for an answer, unexpectedly he shrugged. "I didn't think that far ahead to be honest, I've never thought I would escape that place until you came." Despite the wall of anger that was building up, the last few words hit me like a train. Did I really change this guys life just by letting him tag along with me? I didn't have time to answer that until we were mobbed. I didn't completely process everything, all I know was that my reflexes to the better of me. I fling off my attacker, I was halfway down the alleyway until I remembered my companion was also being attacked. 

I sprinted back towards the fight, I'm such a coward. Why did I flee? My dad would dangle me above a eight hundred metre canyon, without hesitation. As I arrived at the scene, the fight was still going however we weren't winning. Malix and this female figure fought hand to hand while her companion lay moaning against the wall from my force. I wanted to cheer Malix on however I don't want to attract the attacker towards me, Malix took notice of me at the wrong time. Being distracted the attacker saw an opportunity and took it, she punched Malix in the face hard possibly going to leave a bruise. 

However it didn't end there, the attacker twirled Malix to face her and with a painful squeal escaping from Malix's lips she kicked him right in the penis. Also to top it all off the female attacker's companion stood up and rushed towards Malix, losing balance the companion fell to the floor. For some reason a pang of jealousy arose from my stomach, instead of three people sprawled on the floor, a new and unique scene stood before me. Malix and his female attacker were kissing right before my eyes, lips to lips. "Rainey?" The female pulled away from the kiss, how does she know my name? In disbelief the attackers pulled off their masks, I don't know what happened to my heart but it felt as if it was shattered. Standing before me were my two friends, Winter and Peter.