It's like the only company I seek is misery all around
It's like you're a leech
Sucking the life from me
It's like I can't breathe
“Rae,” Finn tried to speak but the frog in his throat made it come out as a quiet croak. He cleared his throat, and tried again, “Rae.”
Rae’s head twisted to him. Her eyes were tired and any happiness that Finn might’ve once seen had disappeared and in its place was fear, worry and a troubling darkness that he sadly recognised.
“I found something in your room….” He whispered.
Rae’s eyes opened wide, fully alert this time. “What were you doing in my room?”
“I was getting you some clothes, like you asked.” His eyes narrowed and his mouth turned into a disgusted frown.
Rae stared at him with obvious distain, eyes blank and lip bit. Finn returned her look, challenging her silently on her attitude. She held the stare for a couple of moments more before shrugging and returning her gaze to the disinfected floors of the hospital waiting room.
“Why do you have a book like that in your room?” He asked, practically spitting ‘that’ out.
Rae’s head whipped back to Finn, fire burning in her eyes.
“It’s my own private fucking business,” she hissed, “you had no right.”
“Maybe not,” Finn replied just as curtly, “but when my girlfriend fucks off and leaves everyone behind then I can’t help but wonder as to what are her reasons.” He paused, unsure of whether to say the words that had been etched into his brain ever since he’d held the book of darkness in his hands. The very book of darkness that was buried wrapped up inside a t-shirt within his bag. “Especially when she has a history of going between light and darkness.”
Rae sucked in a sharp breath and Finn knew immediately that it was the wrong thing to say. Even if it was the truth, he knew that Rae tried to run from her inheritance of the bleak darkness that followed her. It was an unfair blow, and he knew it.
“You fucking dickhead.” She shouted, jumping to her feet.
“LANGUAGE,” shouted the receptionist across from them.
Rae didn’t give Finn a second look as she stormed out of the waiting room, Finn hot on her heels with his bag swung over his shoulder. He followed her until they stood outside the hospital, Finn’s heart racing and Rae seething as she paced.
“I fucking hate you. You, acting as if I’m the one in the wrong when you’re the one who’s been doing God knows what with your fuckin’ ex-girlfriend.”
Finn groaned, running his hand through the mop on his head.
“Now you’re trying to move the focus from you onto me.” He spat, standing his ground.
He pulled his bag off and reached inside, his hand rummaging around until he found the incriminating object that slightly burnt his hand to touch. It was hot, and everything within him tried to stop him pulling it out of the bag but he did it anyway. Quickly glancing around them, he was glad to find that nobody was to be seen and he unravelled it from the t-shirt and shoved it in her face.
“What the fuck is this? Why do you have some sort of fuckin’ book of dark shadows under your fuckin’ bed?” He growled.
“I just found it and it must’ve just ended up there.” She insisted, eyes on the floor.
Lie, Finn’s instincts screamed at him and he ground his teeth. “Tell me the truth,” he challenged her, “are you going dark again?”
Her eyes returned to him once more, ablaze with anger. “No I’m fucking not – you clearly don’t fucking trust me. Y’know, I don’t even know why we’re together anymore. Not when you’re the biggest ass I’ve ever met…”
An ambulance arrived but they both ignored it, only shouting louder over the sirens.
“…always think you’re in the right, that you have to fuckin’ save me from whatever mess I get into next. Maybe I don’t want to be saved, maybe I like the darkness. What you gonna do…?” Her voice faltered as she realised what she’d said and her eyes widened in shock.
Finn watched her with steady eyes. He opened his mouth to respond but he was distracted by Archie shouting for them as he stepped out of the ambulance.
“Archie!” They both yelled at the same time before running to their friend’s side.
Finn noticed a boy lying on a stretcher in the ambulance, being lifted to the ground. Archie’s eyes were moist from crying.
“What’s going on?” Finn asked, urging his friend to explain.
Archie reached out for the boys hand, clutching it tightly before letting himself be rushed forward by the paramedics.
“Its happening again!” Archie shouted back to his friends, before disappearing inside the building.
Finn let his mouth tear open before turning back to confront Rae on what was happening but it was too late. She was gone.
