Birthmarks and Bruises

Trauma

A few years back, Felix' aunt had passed away, peacefully, in her sleep. He had been upset about it for well over three weeks, and his friends sent him flowers. Lilies, to be exact. He remembered because Daniel was the one who sent them. They had died soon after, but it was a nice gesture nonetheless. Felix wasn't there when she died, nor was it painful for her. Hell, he wasn't even that close to her.

He couldn't have even began to imagine what pain Marcus was in. Even Daniel, when he woke up... who was going to tell him, anyway?

Felix was struggling to breathe, yet again. God. This was hell. Everything was so much worse than he thought it'd be.

"I'm sorry." Was all he could choke out towards the general direction of Marcus and his unconscious younger brother, who he squeezed tightly. He was sobbing into the fabric of Daniel's shirt with brisk, unsteady breaths being gasped between each cry.

"We should get them out of here" came Andrea's quiet, disturbed voice from behind him, her eyes wide and tearful, refusing to look behind her.
Felix stared at her, confused for a moment, aware of the fact that he had completely desensitised.
To put it simply, he couldn't believe it. Everything looked like a set from a play, the bodies like props, his friends like actors.
Andrea's blue eyes pierced back into his, shimmering with tears, bloodshot.
"You won't speak to me...?" she croaked, digging her nails into her bare arms, where goosebumps had already started to prickle up her skin. "Felix, I'm sorry- I know I should be more upset, and it's my fault-" she stuttered, drawing into herself, hunching her shoulders, hot tears spilling down her flushed cheeks.
The only thing Felix could think to do was pull his friend into a hug, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the noise around him. Andrea's frantic sniffles and Marcus' despaired sobbing. He paid no attention to the pain from his chest, everytime he breathed,
"Of course it's not your fault."
Felix ignored Andrea's bloodstained hands staining the back of his hoodie, he tried to block out the rasping of his own breath and choked sobs forming at the back of his throat.

Obviously, he wasn't as close as his best friend was to the twins, but it still made his heart ache to see Marcus, hunched over Daniel's body, holding him tightly as if he'd lose him too. They were both covered in gore.

Felix sniffed, realising he had been crying only when he brought his hand up to his face, finding his fingers laced with salty tears. Gently and carefully, he detached himself from Andrea, pointing to the other side of the room.
"You're right. We should probably go." Felix breathed, in a small, wobbling voice. "But we... need to find a way to, know..."
he almost looked behind him before snapping his head back to the front of the room.
"We can't just... leave him here..."
Well, what can we even do in this situation...?
Andrea nodded, already moving to confront Marcus, each step she took unsteady like she was struggling to stay balanced. Felix watched her struggle to find the words to explain her point. Marcus was still sobbing, his body wracking with every wheezy cough. The redhead was afraid he'd cut off the circulation in Daniel's arm if he gripped to it any tighter. Marcus nodded, Andrea flashing him a shaky smile as she tried to keep her own composure. For a guy who'd just seen his own brother's arm ripped off by some kind of demonic entity, then watched helplessly as he slowly bled out, he was holding himself together pretty well. Maybe the grief hadn't fully hit him yet, either.
Felix swiped his hand carelessly over his eyes and cheeks, trying his best to rub away his tears. He figured it was more from the shock of it all, and the stress, rather than the actual pain of the loss.
That would come later.
If there was one thing he didn't like when he was upset, it was other people moping with him and surrounding him in a negative environment. Felix figured this was different. He wouldn't be able to wipe it from his mind.

Minutes later and Marcus was on his feet- trembling and unsteady, but on his feet. Maxine had Daniel practically slung over her shoulder, insisting that he would be fine with her and promising his brother that no harm would come to him under her control. Felix kept a sharp eye on her nonetheless.
"So..." Andrea began, her voice hushed as she lowered her eyes. "Do we bury him..?"
The silence of the room was gut wrenching, Felix feeling a pit of nausea and dread building in his stomach. Marcus began to shake his head slowly, words failing him and tears streaming down his reddened cheeks.
"Marcus." Maxine began, softening her voice to the best of her ability. "It's either that or we leave him to the foxes."
Andrea stifled the urge to throw up, her mouth dry and unable to swallow.
"I just-" Marcus choked, his voice cracking with every word. "I don't want to believe that he's-"
Maxine exhaled slowly through her teeth, glancing back towards the body.
"Look, if you would like, I can do it." She offered, grimacing. Marcus protested.
"He's my brother. If we have to bury him I wanna do it myself." He answered. Felix could see how hard he was trying not to overwhelm himself.
"Okay. I'm sorry for your loss." Maxine replied, placing a hand gently on his shoulder, as if that was all the comforting she knew how to do.