Fade

Chapter 4: Cutting

"OH SHIT! NO REDHEAD DON'T DIE ON ME YOU'RE MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS MOVIE!" Raine yelled, which caused Aurora to laugh as she did.

The three main characters, who Raine had dubbed Redhead, Bookworm, and Scar Dude were being attacked by some three-headed dog.

"Bookworm has issues. Being expelled is better than being fucking killed, right?" she said to Aurora.

The Lumin nodded then pressed the pause button on the DVD player. "Sorry, have to go to the bathroom." She left the room and went into the hallway, but instead of finding a bathroom, she waited until the moment she was out of Raine's view and thought of the bathroom they'd been using on Terra instead. Light surrounded her as she transported there.

She wasn't there long, only grabbing the razor on the counter, then going right back to Orlumen. She found a bathroom quickly and ran inside, locking the door behind her and pulled her dress above her knees. Grabbing the razor she cut at her knees, knowing they were the easiest parts to cut. She allowed the white blood to flow and tried not to wince at the stinging, and she felt a little bit better since she was suffering like the Shadows she'd killed. She kept cutting away at the raw skin until it was all covered in Lumin blood. She moved farther up her legs. She noticed that the cuts were slightly darker than her normal Lumin skin as she grabbed a nearby towel. She hoped the cuts wouldn't be too obvious. She soaked the blood up with the towel until the cuts stopped bleeding and kept cutting away. Her legs were getting irritated and she heard Raine knocking on the door.

"Li, you OK? Are you sick or something?"

"No, I'm fine. Just on my period," Aurora replied, nervous. The last thing she wanted was for Raine to find out. Plus, that excuse could explain any blood.

"Okay, just making sure..." Raine's voice trailed off and Aurora heard footsteps moving away.

She decided that she'd better stop for now to not arouse suspicion and cleaned up the rest of the blood as quickly as she could.

Shit, where do I put the towel? she panicked, realizing that a bloody towel would not exactly be the most inconspicuous thing. Getting an idea, she thought of the room in the orphanage she used to live in and was transported there in the light that surrounded her. She tossed the towel onto the nearest bed — her own old one — then transported herself back to the bathroom in Orlumen. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and went back to Raine.

"Sorry I took so long," Aurora gave a small smile.

"Don't worry — it's fine. Periods suck," Raine laughed. "I would know."

Aurora hit the play button and the movie started again. After a little bit, Raine leaned her head on her. Aurora smiled and leaned her own head on her girlfriend's.

An explosion sounded from the DVD player not long after, causing them to jump. The two girls watched and saw a boy with a burnt feather in front of him.

"Explosion kid! Yes! I forgot about him!" Raine said, laughing.

"But now we have to deal with Redhead being a dick to Bookworm."

"Redhead, I take back your status as my favorite part of this movie. Explosion kid is taking it from you!"

"Um, Raine, why is Turban Dude running around like this?"

"T-TROLLLLLL IN THE DUNGEON! Thought you ought to know," Turban Dude fell onto the ground and all the kids started screaming.

Raine started laughing and fell to the ground. Aurora laughed too and tried to pick her girlfriend up but ended up falling over herself in laughter.

"SIIIILEEEENCE!" Weird Old Guy yelled.

This caused the two of them to break down into even more laughter. Aurora rolled in what ended up being Raine's direction, and they accidentally kissed.

"Oh, I — uh — sorry," Aurora pulled away, blushing in embarrassment, but Raine pulled her closer.

"No, don't," Raine said before pulling Aurora close again.

They kissed again, this time intentionally, and Aurora's hands ran through Raine's hair. It felt so right, and yet...

Aurora pulled away. "No, I — I can't."

"Why not? Do you not like me like that? Like I like you?" Raine asked, worried.

"No, it's not that. I do like you like that. It's something else — it has nothing to do with you. I-I'm sorry Raine," Aurora got up and walked away, tears falling from her eyes. She glanced back only to see Raine's confused look.

Bookworm screamed in the movie, but it was cut off as someone — Raine probably — paused it. There were quiet yet frequent footsteps that neared Aurora, who tried to hide in the first room she found. She saw Raine race by, but double back.

"Li, I know you're hiding. I need you to talk to me."

Aurora didn't move. Raine couldn't know why she wouldn't let them get too close.

After what I've done, I don't deserve Raine. She deserves better.

"Li, come on out, I just want to talk. We don't have to do anything but talk."

Can't let her know. Must push away. Can't —

"Li, I found you."

Aurora opened her eyes, having just realized she'd scrunched them up tight. "I don't want to talk."

"Please, Li. I just want to know why."

"I can't tell you."

"Li, I'm worried about you," Raine's eyes were wide with worry.

"I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both," Aurora said, though she was pretty sure it was more like won't.

"Li, please tell me. I just don't want to see you hurt. Tell me you're not hurt and I — I'll drop it."

"I'm not hurt," Aurora lied, her face not giving a single hint that she was lying.

"If you say so... do you want to finish the movie? I think there's a slice of pizza left too."

"Sure, we can do that. Split the pizza slice?"

"Sounds good."

The two girls walked back to the room they had the DVD player in. After ripping the pizza slice in half (and failing to make the pieces even), they settled down to finish the movie. Aurora could tell that Raine didn't believe her excuse, but for now, that didn't matter. For now, they could just pretend that everything was okay.

But it's not. It's definitely not.