Scaring The Crows

Chapter Seventeen

I stood silently, glaring into the mirror as I washed the blood from my hands. Transfixed by my own reflection instead of the redness washing away from my skin. My cheeks were stained with tears and my voice hurt from crying and screaming. My eyes were sore and dry, there were no tears left. I could barely move. All I did was tremble softly. No way could I bring myself to look at the blood anymore. I turned the tap on and scrubbed when the blood had gone, my hands merely red from washing them so much. Some dry blood crusted around my forearm to which I scrubbed away quickly. I watched the last of the water swirl down the plughole as I turned the tap off and sighed.

I didn't really feel like talking to anyone. Honestly I didn't really feel like doing anything. Breathing was a challenge, and I just wanted some alone time. I knew that everywhere would be full of people, wanting to ask me questions, so I carefully pushed the door open that lead to the staircase. I held my stomach and slowly climbed the flights of stairs; my back killed, I was exhausted, but I carried on nonetheless. Finally I reached the roof and I stopped to catch my breath. Being heavily pregnant wasn't easy at all.

Carefully, I sat on the edge of the roof and looked around, holding onto the barrier. It was nice and quiet up here but it made me have full access to thoughts I'd rather forget about. I just sat there alone, crying and shivering. I felt broken. My emotions were all over the place and every piece of hope or good news was now irrelevant, even the baby. I shuffled where I was sitting and wiped my eyes with the back of my sleeve. I just felt like I'd sit here crying forever. I'm not even generally pessimistic, but now it was the only way to describe me.

I wanted to be alone. I couldn't handle people at the moment.

I could hear someone coming up the stairs and I tried to turn away, but I couldn't. Before I could barely think Ivy had sat down beside me, dangling her feet off the side of the building. I gulped as she stared out into the distance, her red hair moving with the wind. She looked cold but she didn't shiver, so I assumed she was a type of person who didn't feel the cold, or one who didn't show their emotions easily. The latter seemed the most likely. "What's wrong Kristie? You shouldn't really be up here in your state"

"Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I have to stay in bed all day. I know Jonathan wants that, so I stay out of his way, but at the moment I really don't want to!" I shook, tears welling in my eyes again. Ivy rolled her bright green eyes.

"Kristie. Calm down and tell me what's wrong. Getting stressed and upset is not the best idea" she sighed, looking at the buildings. I noticed how she never met my eye contact.

"Look. So many things have happened to me since I've been here. I'm only here because of this stupid baby and because I remember Jonathan. I've been beaten up by my brother, whilst pregnant, been chased around this asylum by Jonathan in one of his weird moments. My fiance left me, I've been gassed with fear toxin and I've been to the brink of insanity and back again!" I sniffed.

"I know. I heard about it. Honestly, worse things could happen. The world is dying Kristie, global warming and such. My babies, I hear them crying for me for help" she sighed, caressing a tiny flower next to her.

"Who cares about some stupid plants. My life is literally crumbling around me and I can't take it anymore. If it wasn't for this baby, I'd probably be dead by now" I sighed, holding my stomach. "Jonathan would miss me though, I guess. And everything that's just happened"

"You think your life is bad? Take a look around you. Stop being such a whiny little bitch Kristie!" Ivy growled, storming off back down the stairs. I could hear her loud footsteps. With wide, shocked eyes I stared straight out before bursting into tears again. I figured, after I composed myself, that I was being a bit self-obsessed. I staggered up and followed her down the stairs, clutching my stomach. I got about halfway before I had to sit down. I was exhausted, and pregnancy didn't help it. I slumped against the wall and sat on the step, just thinking to myself.

I should apologize and maybe offer to talk to her about her problems. You never know, I could help her with some gardening after I have the baby? Sounds reasonable enough. Well, for me it does.

I stood up carefully with a slight cringe and walked down the rest of the stairs, still caressing my belly and whispering to myself. Maybe I was crazy. Looking around, everyone stared at me silently. Harley looked up at me. She was sat against the wall like a crumpled rose beside a cell, her eye swollen and purple. Tears filled her eyes. I felt her pain.

I figured that Ivy would probably be in her cell or in the main room. I walked down to the living room and looked around, my eyes settling on Bane as he sat reading the latest edition of the newspaper. He'd hang out here when he wasn't busy running the city. "You haven't happened to see Ivy have you? I need to apologize to her" I asked. He shook his head.

With a sigh, I guessed that I could always ask Jonathan where she was. He knew everything about everyone here. I walked down to his office and found the office door ajar slightly. "Hmm" I frowned. I slowly pushed the door open and blinked at the sight. Ivy and Jonathan were making out. It was only when I began to cry that Jonathan broke the kiss and looked up, fixing his tie.

"Kristie...it's not what it looks like. I promise" he shook, pulling away from Ivy. I stumbled out of the room and sobbed, a mix of sadness and anger rushing through me. Not now. Not with everything that's happened.