Theives Like Us

17

(A/N~ this chapter should probably have a trigger warning sooooooooo here it is.)

The trio were part way into the forest, Crash in front then Rhyan and Birch in toe.

"Do you even know where we're going?" Rhyan asked. "Because I'm not walking around here for fun you know?"

Crash growled. Rhyan had been yapping away for 5 seconds and he was fed up of her already.

"Crash ,man, she has a point. Where are we going?"

Crash stopped suddenly and growled out something sounding vaguely like "Chaos."

"Yes." Said Rhyan, "this is chaos." Birch giggled at her response before coughing to cover it up.

"No. This is a quest!" Crash sighed. "This," Crash jestured to the three of them, " is unnessary and useless."

"This is perfect." Birch murmured under his breath.

"What was that?" Rhyan quipt. She didn't trust Birch one bit. Not since she spotted him watching her in the bushes.

"Ummmm... i said my man Crash is right?" Birch murmured.

"Are you asking or telling?"

"Leave him alone. He's nervous!"

"So are Noah and Oliver! But you still bullied them!!"

Rhyan and Crash were at eachothers throats. When Birch intervened.  This was going better that he thought it would he would be pleased with Birch's work. Although Birch wanted to please him, he still wanted to look out for Crash.

"I don't think it was Crash. He wouldn't-"

"No one asked your opinion." Rhyan turned and started on Birch. She hated him with a passion. "Crash would. I saw it, picking on my brothers. You weren't there. Becides I recon it's you- the traitor I mean. Spying on me before the mission... Creep. Dirty little-"

•~*~•~*~•~*~•~*~•

Crash couldn't remember much when he fazed in and out. It was part of his little... issue. PTSD as Chiron called it, an issue as Crash called it. All he knew was that when things became stressful he blacked out and couldn't control what happened, often resulting in tears or more than naught a sevear telling off.

This time what Crash remembered, was scared brown eyes tearing up a little. Birch was fragile and Crash didn't want him to break.

Crash heared his name being called and looked in the general direction of the noise. Birch was pulling on his arm pleading. Crash couldn't quite hear him he was more focused on the slight strain on his arm. It sent small burning and slightly stinging sensations down his arm.

The thing in his hand felt warm- squidgy. Like mildly warm playdogh.
It moved a little, something hard and bumpy wriggled against his thumb and fore finger. He wanted to squeeze harder.

He squeezed again and again. The thing wriggled more and the clawing up his forearm began to become desperate and sloppy.

Crash could hear Birch mumbling soft words at him. One thing birch said stuck out at him. "Your acting just like him."

Crash squeezed harder out of anger. He was not like him. He would never be like him.

That was when crash looked up at the squidgable thing in his hand. A sickly purple and blue face gasping for breath.

Crash let go instantly, collapsing on the floor in a heap. He grabbed handfuls of dirt and remembered what to do. Breath deeply. In for 4,out for 4, in for 4,out for 4. He started threading his fingers into intricate patterns.

In his perpetual vision he could see Birch rush to Rhyan as she gasped for breath and looked over to him.

"I know given your situation this is going to be a bit difficult," Birch spoke softly to Rhyan, "but can you put your back to him. Please. It's just-"

"I know." Rhyan was already turning herself around so he back was to Crash.

Crash continued. In for 4,out for 4, in for 4,out for 4. He shut his eyes. He had managed to stop this time. Last time Marcus Humwell was black and blue and the time before that... Eell that was what  started his whole issue.

"Soooooooo Bandicoot, what way for chaos?" Rhyan asked as Crash started to rise.

"Honestly? I'm not entirely sure..." Crash gulped. Rhyan was talking to him after what he done.

Rhyan started to speak. Her voice was raspy and rough still. "Well good job someone did a little research before this leaving camp then isn't it? The land of Chaos in several Greek myths refers to the void." Rhyan started. Judging by the look on Crash and Birch's face they didn't understand. "You know the initial 'gap' created by the original separation of heaven and earth?" Crash looked like he understood a bit more, but Birch looked scared.

Birch eyed Rhyan from a distence. She was a lot smarter than she looked.

Rhyan kept her mouth shut and a distence between her and Crash this time. She thought they were okay. She knew he thought she was a traitor but she didn't think he'd actually try to kill her. Not yet at least. She didn't know much about him, but she knew that wasn't him.

Not really anyway. It was like he couldn't hear properly and his eyes had changed.  Instead of there usual merky green hazel colour they were empty and lit with flame. Actual flames.

"Soooooooo.... where are we going to go for the original gap?" Birch asked.

"Well I was thinking chaos and what's more chaotic than being lost in a maze of mythical beasts and mayhem?"

"Literally nothing."

The trio set off in scilence once more before Birch broke the silence. Rhyan looked weary. If Crash snapped at Birch she wasn't sure if she'd be strong enough to stop him. She wasn't sure if she'd want to stop him.

"Where would the 'initial' gap be?"

"Under Olympus."

"Why?" All eyes snapped to Rhyan. "Well why under Olympus? Olympus isn't heaven or hell for demi-gods or mortals so it wouldn't be the gap."

Birch looked at Rhyan. She really was good.

"The tree of Tumult...." Crash whispered. He'd only heared story's of corse but that didn't matter so much.

"What's that?" Rhyan asked.

"The tree of Tumult was a tree-"

"Hence the name." Birch glared at Rhyan for inturupting.

"A tree that held the voices your most hidden thoughts, truths and lies. It used to be the only thing separating the punished souls and those in Elysium."

"It's not used anymore. It was deemed too dangerous." Crash stated. "Make you go mad.... Show you ghosts...." Crash snapped himself out of his daze before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"Well looks like we're going to take a little trip to the under world."

A/N-  So I've never written a character with PTSD so if you have any advise, experience with PTSD or little things that please let me know. They will be much appreciated. I hope you enjoyed and as always vote and comment.

It's Christmas!!!!! Yay!