Breed and Burn: Faceless

Chapter 10 - Hurt So Good

Colour drained from Axel's face. He became as white and as still as a statue. Silence. Still shivering, Axel walked forward like the floor beneath him would give away.

"You know how we can get out of here?" Asked Axel. Breathing in and out to steady his nerves, he watched his breath grow in the air before vanishing. "You know why we couldn't breathe when we opened the window? We almost jumped."

Seven nodded. "I rememb'r ev'rything. Ev'rything."

"Get bent, Axel. There's no way in hell we can trust this airhead," said Thorne, scowling. Although he was still trying to hold up all his walls, his voice was shaking and his fingers were purple and numb.

"You really think we're about to leave you behind?" Trent gave him a look that told Axel no matter what he said or did they were going to remain just as adamant and stubborn. Axel couldn't help wondering what Sage would say in response to this and was secretly glad he wasn't here.

An idea struck Axel. It was dumb enough to work. Very cautiously and slowly, he crept over to Trent and gently gestured to Thorne to come over with a quick jerk of his head. Although Seven didn't seem to be paying any attention, Axel made sure their moves were slight and unnoticeable.

"I think we should talk about this- in private," he said underneath his breath, shooting a glance at Seven. Looking between the two boys, Axel nodded. "I have a plan."

"It better be a good plan. Just know we're not leaving you behind, airhead. We'll do the meeting thingy with the others and see what they think," agreed Trent quickly.

Also, in agreement, Thorne nodded. In a low voice, he said, "looks like we don't have much of a choice. So, who gets the honour of watching that airhead. Doubt anyone's going to want to stay with it alone now. They were already big enough wimps before"

"Not me," whispered Trent quickly with fear. "And Axel can't stay here either otherwise they're going to think the same as Sage did and the last thing we need is another fight. Where's he got to anyway?"

"Wimp," mouthed Thorne, rolling his eyes but he didn't seem surprised. Rolling his shoulders back, he folded his arms tightly together.

Axel wondered how Thorne managed to look so chill and collected even with the gradually dropping temperature and current situation. He must've learnt how to do that somewhere. Mentally sighing, he pushed the thought down. Trying to find clues about their past lives through their personalities was becoming a bad and obsessive habit. He had to focus on the present.

"Never mind him," said Axel, shaking his head. Right now, Sage would only slow things down. "Let him get over the shock. Will you do it?" He asked, nodding towards Thorne.

"What art thee guys whisp'ring about?" Seven hissed whilst digging its long, filthy fingernails into its arm and dragging them downwards. Its skin was so dry and bone-like it made a sound similar to nails scratching stone or a chalkboard. Saliva pooled in the back of his mouth. Panicked, it swallowed.

"Do you want a fresh one, man? Thought not," said Thorne, leaning forward so his eyes bore straight into it. "I'll stay. You." Closing the distance between himself and Seven, Thorne dropped his voice to a low but commanding whisper. His voice was as soft as terrible as thunder. "Listen to me because I'm not going to explain this twice. I am going to keep an eye of you whilst the others go downstairs and think about what you said. No offence Axel. But first, we aren't stupid. We need your saggy ass to prove that you do know what's going on."

"Allow me to bethink," it said, scrunching its face up in deep thought.

The whites of its eyes turned coal black. Axel had never seen his own eyes look so dead and lifeless for so long so when its eyes widened with thought, his arms and legs twitched with the impulse to run away. It looked horrifying. It made Seven look normal. Human even.