Delirium: Crash & Burn

Part XVI

Cole

I sat in the parking lot at the back of school near the disused gymnasium. My leg convulsed and tapped, I swung my head around checking if anyone was around. I was relieved to see my phone light up with an unknown number.

It was the dealer.

*The usual amount?*

I knew he was referring to how much of the drug I wanted, how much of it I needed. But this time I was only buying for myself. Harrison had backed out a couple of days ago and no longer wanted to use the drug. I told him it was a bad idea to go cold turkey and that he should be weening himself off them, but the stubborn streak in him didn't want to admit I was right, though I was.

But bare in mind it wasn't the usual kind of drug, that everyone in the school used, it was the best enhancer my parent's money could buy; it is that intense that it was terrifying. It was only available to certain people, me and Harrison being those people, as we were the only ones who knew about it. It made us invincible, it made us powerful. We first took it when Harrison's sister died, it promised something other drugs didn't, immortality and brute strength something both me and Harrison lacked at the time.

The sellers told me it was created by mistake, that it this thing was a lucky coincidence. The idea of it all twisted my stomach into nots making me want to gag at how dangerous it could be, but it didn't stop me from doing them. I quickly texted my dealer back.

*Half, just me this time.*

I sighed, I struggled to understand why Harrison wanted to change, why he wanted to stop, the drug made us better, it made him better, less weak, less kind, less stupid. He didn't know how different life would be without it. We were warned about what would happen if we stopped taking it but I wasn't sure if they were true stories or fabricated lies which conditioned us to fear the drug.

I opened the black bag which it came in, one needle one small vile of power. I tapped the skin of the drip of my arm revealing a wanting vein. The liquid winded through my body, latching onto my cells turning my bones to stone. I couldn't help but howl as the drug took effect. In the back of my mind I knew it wasn't a good idea but I was past making sensible decisions.

I staggered into the hall ways. My body always took a while to adjust to it, it felt like venom in my skin and my bones ached. I caught a glimpse of myself in the window reflection, it had already started working, my body looked indestructible, solid and thick. My thoughts slowed down and everyone appeared to be in slow motion like cartoons. My veins were engorged and prominent and appeared as though they would burst through my arms. My eyes were darker and my pupils were large, which was new. My skin was damp and glistened.

Between my admiring glances at myself I locked eyes on Evie who was marching towards me. The blood in my veins buzzed under the pressure of the drug, it was as though insects were crawling on me.

"Cole, do you have a second?" Her voice sounded slow and low, my neck snapped towards her. I noticed the questionable look she gave me before shaking her head of whatever thought she had. I was slow to respond but I eventually agreed and she took my hand leading me back out from where I came from.

We walked to the back of the parking lot where there were a couple of benches, Evie sat down. I remained standing over her, I liked the view. She looked up at me suspicious but there was a hint of fear in her eyes which caused me to smile. The power that I felt when I was on the drug was addictive. She cleared her throat intimidated by my imposing physical presence.

"Cole, this-"she pointed to me then back to herself. "Isn't working, I think both you and I know that."

I barked out a laugh, I knew she was going to say that. I knew she had something for Harrison, it was written all over her face at the party. Regardless, I had won the initial bet, I was still victorious. 

I retorted back quickly. "Whatever Evie but let me tell you a couple of things." My voice was low as I sat down next to her, I was surprised to see her shifting away from me. I shook my head in disbelief. Only a couple of weeks ago this girl could not get enough of me and now she's sick of me.

"First of all, you don't get to play guys like me, no matter who you think you are." She looked down at her hands refusing to make eye contact with me. "And secondly, Harrison is not who you think he is, I'd be very afraid if I were you, of both of us."

I stood up hastily feeling the bench wobble slightly at my quick movements.

"Is that a threat Cole?" 

Her voice was tormenting and she was brave. I couldn't comprehend who this girl was and why she thought she could test me the way she did. I snapped my neck towards her, my vision wavered I could no longer see clearly, I rub my eyes to regain my sight; I just assumed it was a side effect of the drug.

"Just watch it Williams." 

My voice was barely above a whisper and it still echoed in my head. I feared myself in that moment; it was a shadowy haze which took over my sight. I worried the drug was more than it claimed. I turned away from her and rushed away heading for my car. I started the engine and called Harrison in a frantic flurry.

"We need to talk. I'm coming over."

I didn't bother knocking I let myself in to Harrison's house, to my surprise he was sitting in the kitchen reading The Great Gatsby. I walked in through the French doors; Harrison did not stir or move. I tried to gently pull out a chair for myself but my hands grappled the material harshly throwing the chair to the floor. Harrison looked up at me then down at the chair which was on the floor on the other side of the room. 

"What the hell?" 

His voice wasn't angry, it was bored, tired and annoyed, he was used to my fits of rage by now but this time it was different I didn't want to throw the chair, my body just did it without my permission. I had always been strong but this was too much. I did it without consideration, without thinking as though I had no control over my own mind.

"Harrison the drug, the drug is- it's." 

My voice was shaky and unmanageable. I met Harrison's eyes; he scrunched up his face in confusion before letting out a ghostly laugh. 

"I told you. That stuff is no good." 

I did not appreciate his condescending tone. My bones rattled as my temper rose. He was weaker than I was now, he stood no chance. My ears rang with nasty thoughts. He had been hiding in his house for days and wouldn't face me like a real man. What made things worse was that Evie was going to choose him and I felt like he knew why. I hovered over Harrison as he sat down, I made my presence known to him, I enforced it over him. He looked up at me with a dull vacant expression. 

"Did you tell her to leave me?" The words fell out of my mouth. Harrison smiled slightly as he stood up, putting the book on the counter. 

"You said all was fair in love and war." He gazed outside through the window and sighed as though he was thinking of something. 

"You know you aren't good for her Cole, she isn't like the rest." I could feel my anger rising again my throat burned. 

"What do you know Cohen, you don't know anything!" I barked at him from across the room. I could not comprehend what he was saying to me. 

"I know her better than you do." 

His voice remained calm which only caused me to be more frustrated, my fingers twitched, I quickly placed my hands over my face before they could ball up into fists. I spoke through my hands which covered my face.

"Oh yeah and what exactly do you know about her?" 

Harrison turned around to face me, taking a long breath in before he spoke.