Total Dram: Liberation of the Slaughtered
((Chapter Three: Reflection Reflection))
((Authors Note: A pen... and I got an apple... P I N E A P P L E P E N.))
Cody honestly had no idea how long he was sitting on the floor sulking to himself. He had thought about the face of his friend endlessly. Haunting his mind much like he would be lingering in the water he died in.
Or at least, that's what Cody believed.
Cody wasn't much of a spiritual person, but he did believe in stuff like ghosts, spirits, and 'lingering energy' or whatever it was called. Others- such as Leshawna and Gwen believed a bit more than he did. Pessimistic people like Duncan didn't. Katie and Izzy... well- he couldn't tell. He had no idea what they would be like, and didn't pay much mind at all before he chose to never communicate with them again.
He wasn't even mad at them... he just didn't want to bother taking up their time.
Cody knew what he was doing was very, very unhealthy for himself. Obsessing and never getting any sort of help and therapy for what he and the others went through. He was sure the others had- at least for a little while.
However, he could- no- he just wouldn't let go.
Not when their friends memories were so far in the past already. Already being trampled by time as the world continued to revolve without them.
The brunette man stumbled to a stand before hobbling to the bathroom and leaning against the sink for support. He frowned- and brought his hand to his face- a grimace written across his face. He took in his appearance. A 21 year old like himself- looking disheveled and tired- like a working 30-year-old with children.
All of that stress and it wasn't even for the same reasons.
Cody's face was a bit sunken and he had dark bags under his eyes. Rather than sporting his typical beige red and green sweater-shirt and dark blue jeans; he rather just confided beige slacks and a dark blue sweater with red stripes. He just barely let his hair get longer- cutting it if it get too long- but the cut job was always shabby and barely neat.
All of the despair soon melted into an unknown frustration.
The water was running- and he didn't even remember turning it on- but the noise of it made him more and more frustrated. Gurgling and gushing from the source with reckless abandon- as if it had no restraint in the world. Free. Flowing down into the hole that would consume it and take it back to wherever the hell it came from. If not simply dirtier than it was before.
The blue eyed man grit his teeth before slamming his palm down on the porcelain of the notably unkempt sink- and after two hits done in a blind crawling rage- the sink lurched and made a gurgling noise- causing Cody to fall forward- grabbing the side of it for support.
He never was a heavy man, but due to already knocking it loose of it's plastered stability, the only way for him to go- was down. He collapsed to the floor, the porcelain sink hitting it before he had the chance to land on the tile floor. The water started to quickly sputter from the pipe.
Water came rushing at his face- the troubled brunette coughing and gagging before scooting back and trying to free himself from the soggy mess that was quickly consuming his floor.
Eventually... he stopped and froze- feeling a familiar pain in his hand.
Looking down, Cody saw that he had ended up leaving a deep gash in his hand after desperately trying to back over the porcelain that he had broken- a familiar crimson mixing with the clear water on the floor to make a murky scarlet mess. Slowly consuming the purer water with it's ugly red stain.
Blue shirt.. red vest.. sickly red stained water overcome with the lively fluids of the now deceased. Cloudy white eyes staring up at him from the depths below.
Cody started to breathe harder before sobbing. Everything reminded him of Noah.
He mourned Noah like he had been his best friend.
Though... Cody did admit he admired the other a lot, and even developed a crush on him- he never made the move when he had a chance. Because he was still insistent of trying to 'get a girl' before the slaughters started happening. Because that's the way he thought he had to be.
Cody perhaps did feel love before, but it didn't matter now that he had confided in his solitude and and took to the silence.
He didn't bother using the valves connected to the remaining pipe in the wall to shut the water off. Cody just desperately took in more oxygen before scrambling out of the room- soggy and distressed. He stumbled and staggered- grabbing onto the door for support as his shoulder rammed into it with a heavy thud.
Just as he managed to make it out of the room, the brunette found the nearest wall, and slumped against it before sliding down and landing on his bum with a graceless plop. Struggling to breathe and bat away the tears in his eyes, he shakily brought his hands to his face and covered his baby blues- desperate to get the feeling to stop. Torturous. Torturous it was.
He held back guttural sobs, and desperate inhales- trying to control his racing heart with whatever grace he possibly could have convinced himself he had left.
Though, predictably it was to no avail.
Cody huffed and covered his face- eventually bringing his speeding heart back down a a slow pace once more.
He looked down at the light tile floor, becoming saturated with water and be couldn't bring himself to even go and turn the water off. Not yet, at least. He just needed some more time.
He always needed more time.
After a moment he persuaded his shaking legs to carry his heavy body, and he stumbled to the dining room- darkened and barely used. He flopped down on the chair in front of the dining room table, thinking about the first aid kit nearby. He needed to grab it for his bleeding hand.
Just as he looked down, trying to keep in mind the very reason he stumbled this way to begin with- his eyes fell down on a small glass plate that he kept at the center of the table, and his eyes landed on three small silver rings, a couple small trinkets in the shape of animals, a some other teeny tiny odds and ends.
Hesitantly, he reaches his arm out, grabbing the dark silver rings, his chest tightened.
Noah always did have weird accessory choices, but it made sense for him. Something simple. Something that was comfortable and lacked too much design.
Some people could argue that it was boring. Or plain. Though, it kind of was the point.
Touching one of the rings, Cody sighed and closed his eyes- before he just leans his head forward- closing his eyes again.
He was too to keep his eyes open, despite the dread of falling asleep again. His body didn't give him a choice. Maybe it was because of the blood loss. Or maybe it was because of all these intense emotions that were pulling Cody in every direction except the way he wanted to go.
Throwing him around the room like a catch ball. Much like catch- the ball was dropped, and missed more times than it was caught. What would his life be if he didn't have to worry about an inconvenience around every corner. Even if it was small, or tasteless.
He didn't fight it anymore.
Falling asleep- he felt the same cold, clammy hands on him again. The feeling of drowning was more expected this time, but his heart pounding in his ears kept him from panicking. It didn't feel like he was JUST choking on water. It felt like too many sensations for him to follow all at once. Everything was drowned out as he concentrated on those same hands from his last dream.
Knowing who he would see- Cody opened his eyes- wearily and tiredly... he looked forward, seeing the suspended form of Noah in front of him again. Staring at him with those clouded empty eyes and somber expression.
Cody didn't freak out this time even if he wanted to. No.
He was too tired to scream and struggle, or cry. Instead, he stared forward at Noah, and giving into his lack of energy, he closed his eyes again. The sound of water was relaxing this time. Even if his lungs were screaming. Cold, but warm at the same time.
However, Cody didn't feel this sensation of grim relaxation for long. The cold hands traced down to Cody's hand.. and opened it. Noah seemed to be in search of those metal rings that Cody currently had on his hand. The ones that used to belong to him.
The ghost of Noah seemed to try and say SOMETHING. Anything. Though, the only thing that came through was a distorted gargle and confused- or otherwise frustrated expression.
Cody watched him tiredly, barely processing what he was seeing. Though- as soon as Noah touched the things on Cody's hand- something about such a phantom touch felt more and more.. somewhat alive.
The rings on his fingers started to feel strange. Emitting a weird feeling as Noah touched them.
Though, just as something started to happen- a loud, ruthless knock on the door started Cody back into the world of the aware once more. Pausing only briefly before continuing again. The knocking growing more and more impatient. Cody snapped up with a start and looked around. Surrounded by the darkness of his home once more.
Despite his somber mood- Cody felt a feeling that he wasn't quit used to anymore. Intrigue. He felt some sort of confusion and a fueling feeling of... he didn't know the last feeling.
Maybe it was sort of like an epiphany.
Though he didn't know what the epiphany could have possibly been. Ironic...
With a deep grunt, Cody stood and walked over his water soaked carpet toward the door and prepared to open it.
