Beyond The Smoke

Chpt. 11 Luck

The icy cold water drenched my hands as I tried to rid the blood from them. As I was quick to learn, it wasn't easy. Eveline's sense of fun was brutal and maniacal, sadistic. Completely and utterly sadistic. One of my wounds had reopened in the midst of the night, leaving the blood to have dried around me. I'd have to change the damn sheets to the mat and everything, again.

Mike could not know.

I don't want him to see me this way, I don't want him to know what I do to get us by. I don't want him to see what a piece of sh.it I actually am, But most importantly, I didn't want him to turn out like me.

Finally, the blood was gone. I sighed, cupping my now clean hands under the faucet and splashing it to my face. It's only been three weeks, and I've already had most of my clothing thrown; they were useless with so many bloodstains, after all. The cut on my arm, the one that reopened, stung unbelievably bad. Though, I knew this was far from ending. I had to do one of the things I hate most.

I have to clean it.

So, I walked into the small kitchen we had, unlocking my alcohol cupboard and pulling out a bottle of vodka. Hey, working with these guys come with a slight advantage. Finally, I took a deep breath, and splashed some of the burning liquid onto the torn flesh. The laceration burned as the alcohol disinfected it. Taking a quick swig of the alcohol, hoping it would numb the feeling, I looked at the red skin that seemed to scream with rejection to the unfamiliar substance. Once the burning had subsided for the most part, I rubbed tentatively at the tender surrounding flesh to ease the ache. The small amount of pressure the wrap I applied was extremely helpful as well, and the bleeding had stopped. Once I'd completed my task, I tugged on a grey T-shirt and crawled under the thin sheet that covered my 'bed'. I had decided to sleep in the living room instead of the room Mike and I used to share because I didn't want him to wake up to see me blood covered and unmoving. That would probably scar him for life.

The rest of the night, I turn restlessly in hopes of getting comfortable. By the time the sun rose, my eyes stung and I was beyond exhausted. I was unable to sleep. I sighed and forced myself up from the ground as I do every morning, but it was especially hard today. Today, I had a battle with myself. There was something gripping me, weighing me down, keeping me to the mat. I won the battle, walking into Mike's room to wake him for school, but he wasn't on his mat. He was hugging his knees in the corner, rocking himself slowly with his earbuds stuffed in his ears. It appears he had changed and packed for school already, which surprised me. He hadn't noticed me yet, so I took this opportunity to watch him in his peaceful state for a few. It was calming, and I could hear his music slightly as it played to him. I guess he felt my eyes on him because he removed one bud, tuning to me and smiling slightly, but then it dropped.

"L-Luke...are you ok?" Mike asked straight up, concern littering his features. I looked at him confused. What was different about me from any other day that he could see? I mean, I'd gone sleepless nights before, he's seen it. He's seen me sick, hungover once as well. What was it about me this morning that had him concerned?

"I'm fine. Why?-"

"Please. You're not fine and we both know it. Something's off about you, I can feel it. I can't pinpoint it. It's not the bloodshot eyes, messy hair, panda eyes. None of those. Something's off." This had me puzzled for a moment. He could read people better than anyone, this proved it. He kept the analytical stare focused on me, trying to find what he was looking for.

"You don't have to tell me, but you can. You can talk to me." He said, eyes focused on mine intently with a sense of sincerity. I smiled and shook my head.

"So, you're ready for school already, huh?" I switched the topic which he frowned to, yet brushed it off.

"Yeah. I had a gut feeling you'd want to get the day over with quickly, am I correct?" Damn. This kid was only in sixth grade and he was able to ready me without me being in the room.