House of Compassion Volume 1

Chapter 13: Painful Reunion

HoC Theater room, night before inauguration

Rayne: Welp I'm here, um where's Clarice?

Marney looked at Rayne with a confused expression.

Marney: Wasn't she with you guys?

Lorena: Yeah but she left to help set things up she said

Marney: Welp, I haven't seen her since she was with you guys earlier

Rayne looks at the ground with a worried expression, remembering Clarice's strange behavior before leaving.

Lorena: Is everything okay Rayne?

Rayne changed her worried look as to to worry the others and responded.

Rayne: Yeah! I'm good! Anyway imma go look for Clarice ya both finish everything up will ya?

Marney: Sure thing, good luck

Rayne leaves the theater room and walks down the halls carefully listening for any signs of Clarice.

Rayne: Where are ya!?

As Rayne passed through the bathroom she heard a loud hit, as if a wooden bat was being smashed into someone's stomach and then she heard a familiar voice, with a cracked tone to it.

Clarice: Why must I be so stupid!? What makes me think anyone would care for a surfboard with personality issues... Of course they would prefer someone more, a leader... Someone better... I should be used to it by now...

Clarice cries as the loud noice was heard 3 more times and then it stopped.

Clarice: I should head back... Before they start asking for my useless sorry ass... But I think I went a bit too far...

Clarice keeps crying as she stands and vomits on the sink.

Clarice: Crap... It hurts more than usual... I should put on more make up, I look way too pale they'll start asking...

Rayne was petrified by what she heard, her hands shaking in anxiety as to what she just witnessed, a side to her friend she had never seen, this sent shock throughout Rayne's body, but as the friend she is she stepped in.

Rayne: Hey! There you are!

Clarice jumps and drops her makeup kit.

Clarice: Ah! Rayne! Wha- What are you doing here!?

Clarice tries covering up her face and starts breathing heavily.

Rayne: I was worried so I came lookin' for ya, are you okay?

Clarice keeps her hand covering her face as she slowly picks up the makeup kit.

Clarice: Yeah, I'm alright! I just had a bad stomach ache, maybe it was the food from earlier! But I'm okay! Just retouching my make up!

Rayne with a worried expression replied.

Rayne: I see, but why are you covering your face?

Clarice freezes for a bit not knowing what to do or what to say.

Clarice: Well um... I'm just um... Putting my make up! Yeah! I wouldn't like to be seen without it!

Rayne was sceptical about what she just said.

Rayne: Clarice, ya know I'm here for ya, ya don't have to hide anythin' from me, after all that's why I'm here, to listen to ya and to help ya, if somethin' is botherin' ya then say it, ya know I will not judge or criticize ya, cause I'm ya friend and that's what I do