Chapter Six : Past Crisis

Tuesday. It's Tuesday and the weather is terrible. Huge droplets of water are beating against my windows, making a deranging sound. It's five am and I can't sleep anymore. I fell asleep last night while the horror movie was still on. I guess it wasn't very captivating if I fell asleep.

No matter how hard I try to let myself sink again in the sweet world of dreams, it's not working. I can feel Dante moving and turning at my feet and I think he is anxious about the thunders roaring through the monumental silence which is filling the room.

I can hear the watch on my wall going tick-tock and it drives me insane. Too much silence! I decide to wake up completely and I step out of bed, pulling the curtains open. Such a depressing sight.

Once again, grey is present everywhere, making the Primdale Town look as monotone as it can get, sending a wave of melancholy, forcing the sky to cry and fight.

Not feeling like drowning myself in sorrow because of the spooky weather, I make my way through the piles of books laying on the cold floor until I reach the black speakers, pluging my phone in and searching for a song that could burst the mood. Soon after, Genius by LSD plays through the apartment, demanding me to sing along.

Seeing as it is bright and early, I take a quick shower, bouncing my head to the music the whole time.

After I dress for the new school day, I feed my baby and make myself some coffee. A little beep echoes through the music, meaning that I just got a message. An icon from Messenger appears on the screen and I see a handsome boy smiling while petting a dog as a profile picture. I don't know about you, but it looks a Hell of a lot like the new neighbour next door.

"I didn't know you were such a morning person." - from Cassius Kane.

I notice that I don't have him in the friend's list, so I hit the Add button. Why not?

"Well, person I am, morning not so much." I reply and I add a little tongue-out emoji.

"Then how would you explain your choice of music at this early hours? Personified alarm tune perhaps?" Cassius texts, sending a flirty emoji. I laugh a little and then I realise that the volume wasn't soo loud. So how did he hear it?

"Someone's got a pretty good hearing, I see."

"It just happens that I pay attention to the things I like, hence the good apparent focus on that song, which may I add, it's really catchy." It is indeed catchy.

"But how come you are up at this hour?" It can't be because of the song. I know my volume.

"Couldn't sleep, actually. And mom made pancakes, so I couldn't resist the temptation." Were they birds in previous lives or how do they wake up so fresh and in dire of cooking?

"Breakfast in bed. Now that's something you don't see everyday!" All the talking about food made my stomach growl, so I might as well eat something too.

"Yeah, I clearly don't." he adds an amused face and I smile, placing two bought waffles and some strawberry yogurt on a plate.

There's another beep after that. And then another one. I take my phone and notice another text from Cassius, saying "By the way, wanna go to school together?" to which I respond with "Sure thing :)" and then I glance to the other text, from Layla.

"Hey Cathia. I am truly sorry for my mother's behavior the other day. I don't have any excuses for who she is, but I would like to make up for that!"

"No worries, Lay. You did nothing wrong. And neither did she. She was just concerned. See you at school!" and with that, I close my phone and get back to eating.

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"Come on in, darling. Are you sure you don't want a cup of tea?" Sylvia asks me.

"It's alright, thank you. I just wanted to say hi." After Cassius asked me to go to school together, I decided I should go and salute Sylvia. She had, after all, taken my side yesterday.

I call a cab as I climb down the stairs with Cassius.

"How do you like it here so far?" I ask him.

"It's great, actually. My mom always told me stories about the life in Primdale and now I'm starting to see what she was talking about." His face looks relaxed and awake. Now he is a morning person.

"Have you made any friends from school?" I honestly think he did. He looks easy-going and well-mannered so I don't see why he wouldn't.

"Here and there. I already know some people from this town, somehow like family friends. You should meet them sometime." he offers and I am a little surprised by this. I don't know many people whom I can get along with, maybe because of my introverted and mean side, but Cassius is at another level. My gut tells me that he is an amazing person.

'He totally is. Just wait and see.' Once again, I stop in my tracks thinking I am delusional. Is my consciousness having double personality? 'Who are you?' I say to my mind. Great. Now I really am going crazy. Talking to myself...in my mind. What the lack of sleep does to a person.

"Are you okay?" Cassius's amused voice makes its way to my ears and now I feel slightly embarrassed for zoning out.

"Yeah, totally."

"C'mon. The cab is here." he motions to the yellow car in front of us.

The driver greets us when we hop in. He looks kinda strange. I mean, there's nothing physically wrong with the 40'something old man; he just gives me an odd vibe.

"To the Primdale's Highschool, please."

He starts the engine without any words and races the streets until we reach the highschool's entrance. When he stops, I still keep my hand locked on the handle of the door.

"Yikes, good thing you've got your moves like Jagger while driving." I say under my breath, but loud enough to be heard, and hand him the money. Once again, he doesn't respond. Maybe he thought I was being sarcastic. I was.

The sky looks clearer now than it did 10 minutes ago. The avalanche of students hurrying up to classes almost kicks me off my feet. I see some familiar faces. I see Cassius throwing his backpack over his shoulder, standing broad and tall.

Something makes me look over the corner. I see no one, of course. But have you ever got that feeling like someone is watching you, so, normaly, you subconsciously turn around towards the direction of their gaze? It might be the case here. Although there's no one in sight. I decide to let it go and enter the building.

"Hey, so, what's your first class?" Cassius asks nonchalantly.

"What better way to start a Tuesday other then with math?" I try to crack a joke so I won't fill in the melancholic surroundings.

"Ihm, point taken." he says and a little laugh escapes his lips.

"How about you?"

"Biology. I think we're going to dissec a frog today. I don't know how to feel about it." His face looks disgusted at the thought and I remember I had the same reaction. I almost cried when the teacher, Mrs. Harmony made me cut the little thing.

"If it makes you feel better, it is already dead." I point out.

"Yeah, not really helping. But thanks anyway." Well, I tried at least.

"Make sure you don't throw up. Been there. Not funny."

"Luckily, I haven't eaten much this morning." he says, but I know for a fact that he had at least five pancakes with chocolate topping. Sylvia is quite the talker.

"Yeah, right." I say through laughs. "Think of something beautiful. Maybe it'll work if you trick your mind." I say and wink, walking slightly backwards, facing him while I move in the opposite direction.

"I have something in mind." he admits shamelessly. I slowly shake my head and turn around, heading towards the math class.

""""""""""""""""""

"Hey Lay." I greet her when I near her locker. "I brought your bag. You left it at my place." I say and hand in her belongings.

"Oh, thank you!" Layla says and I can see that she is kind of embarrassed. "How are you?"

"I am pretty good. Can't wait for this last class to pass."

"Yeah, time passes so hard. And when you think it's only October." she nods her head disappointed.

"But when you think we're senior year, kinda makes you wanna take everything you can from this last year." Man, time flies, no jokes.

"I totally agree!" I can see that her mind is elsewhere, so I decide not to bug her.

Soon after, the bell rings and I salute her, marching towards Physics. Now that is a class where I am pretty useless. I've had a hard time thanks to Newton and that stupid apple. It all revolves around apples, isn't it? Both in Religion and Physics apparently.

The class went undisturbed, the teacher not paying attention this time. I could even munch on some Gummy Bears. Still a kid at heart.

After I leave the class, I find myself strolling towards the park. I get that feeling again. Am I being stalked?

'He's there.'

Okay, seriously, who said that? Is this some kind of weird magic trick or, or some witchcraft in which someone else gets the power of controlling my mind? Am I being possesed?!

'Kind of.' the voice in my head says and seems amused. I can't find any rational idea on what is happening with me. Maybe I should see a therapist again. Maybe is just another phase because of the tragedy from my past and my mind starts mixing the way it should work properly.

With the corner of my eye I can see someone shifting behind some trees. I feel the hair on my neck standing up still when I take the initiative to go and figure out who it is and what it wants. Again, I don't function rationally anymore. It could be a killer for all I know.

With trembling feet, holding the strap of my backpack as tight as I can and with an unhealthy curiosity, I make my way through the wet grass and puddled alley until I reach the massive structure of an old oak. I can see blood on the tree and a person laying down, coughing. A hood is covering their face, preventing me from seeing them.

I bend down as the voice in my head whispers 'Help him' .

"I'm sorry if I scared you, Cathy." says the person, with a raspy and dark voice, exhaling deeply as if it is painful to breathe. I take off the hood and now I can finally put a face and a name to my so-called stalker.

"Timothy?" It feels weird seeing someone from my past lingering in front of my eyes, half dead.

"Timothy! What the Hell is going on? C'mon. Let's take you to the Hospital." I say as I try to pick him up. But of course, being a 103 lbs young girl, with no muscular mass whatsoever really gets in the way.

"Listen. No Hospital or Police or Paramedics or anything else that could drag attention-" he starts, but my sarcastic self can't control herself.

"Pff right. Because you are soo good at not dragging attention right now! If you didn't want to drag attention you should have opted for a different image." I say and I regret it, because I can tell that something major had happened, 'cause let's be serious, he wouldn't be here covered in blood if it wasn't serious, I think, but when there's a crisis like this, I lose control over what I say. It just happens.

Timothy doesn't say anything; he just leaves his weight on my shoulder, searching stability.

"Okay, change of plans. I'll take you to my apartment." I suggest and this time he doesn't have anything to protest.

There goes the rest of the school day, maybe I'll have a stomach ache to explain. Don't be like me kids, stay in school!

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Let me tell you, carrying someone way more massive than you up the stairs until third floor takes time. And patience. And a lot of power from God.

Arrived in front of my apartment, I try to find my keys in my backpack using only one hand. After what felt like decades, I finally found them and opened the door.

I place Timothy on the couch and go to the sink to get a glass of water which I hand to my guest. Dante sits near the table as if ready to attack. But his eyes also hold a fragrance of fear.

I rush to the bathroom, taking out the First Aid kit. The young blond-haired boy in front of me places the glass on the table. I reach his side and unzip his hoodie. He takes it off and I cringe at the sight of raw flesh being torn apart like some sort of huge wild animal caressed his frame, just a few inches from reaching the bone. I surely can't fix this with some band-aid.

My first instinct is to puke, but I don't afford that kind of luxury at the moment. I take some sterile material from the aid and place it on the bleeding wound, pressing down as hard as I can. I try to tie it there for a while, to stop or at least, decrease the bleeding.

"You don't have to look so constipated. It doesn't hurt as bad as it looks." Timothy tries to reasure me, but right now it is not a good moment to discuss whether it hurts or not or how bad it feels. It could feel as a bee sting and I still wouldn't let him bleed to death.

"Shut up, I'm thinking." I voice out, mostly for me and my mind.

And just like that, anxiety hits me when I hear a knock at my door. I contemplate whether I should answer the door or leave the person hanging. Well, that depends on who's my other uninvited guest.

"Stay here." I inform Timothy.

"It's not like I can go somewhere, giving the situation." he answers. He's got a point.

I slowly march towards the door. I already know it's Cassius. No one else ever comes to visit. But how do I manage the situation?

I decide to go with the flow.

I open the door and he greets me, handing me a notebook. My notebook.

"I saw this laying on the floor in front of your apartment. I figured it was yours." he says and he then glances inside, after hearing Timothy cough.

"Sorry, I didn't realise you were...busy." Cassius adds, some sort of embarrassment crossing his figure.

"No, it's not-" I begin, but he cuts me short.

"It's none of my business. You don't have to explain anything." At first his eyes look cold, but then something behind me catches his attention and the cold stare transforms into a concerned one.

"Is that blood?" he asks and I turn around to see what he's seeing. Timothy's wound started bleeding more intensely, causing droplets of blood to stain the floor.

As I am about to find an excuse and make him leave, his face looks like it's contemplating what to do.

"I can help." I stay silent, a little confused by this turn of events.

"I'll be right back." Cassius announces and gets inside his own apartment.

Meanwhile, I rush to Timothy who now looks paler than before. I still don't know what the Hell happened or why would he come to me for help, but I know that now it's not the time to play good cop-bad coop while he is losing himself in red, hot liquid.

The front door smacks open, revealing Cassius holding a bunch of things. It looks like a little walking pharmacy.

He motions for me to lock the door, so I do.

"You need to take off his shirt. And I will need some hot water. Also, you'd better lock your little furry baby inside your room." I obey wordlessly, following his orders.

"Do you know what you're doing?" I finally ask him.

"Believe me, I'm not sure. I took some First Aid courses a while back. Plus, this is not something that an ordinary doctor might be able to pull of." His words confuses me, but he looks soo concentrated that I can't bring myself to interrupt him.

For someone soo afraid to dissec a frog, he surely has a high resistance to blood.

I bring the hot water and he dips some sterile clothing inside. After I remove Timothy's shirt, some other wounds can be seen on his chest. They are not as bad as the one on his left arm, but need to be taken care of aswell.

Cassius places the cloth on his arm and Timothy winces from pain. He looks like he might pass out so I lay him straight on the couch.

"Can you pass me that green bottle, please?" my neighbour asks. I look for the green bottle in the box and hand it to him. He opens it and it makes a little pook sound. It has a weird smell, like swamp, and its color it's muddy. It doesn't look very sterile, if you ask me.

"It's a disinfectant made from plants. My family had an acquaintance that runs a natural bio-pharmacy. It is powerful enough to clean the wound precisely; but it hurts like Hell." he explains after he'd seen the look on my face.

He takes some of the solution with a pipette and drops a few drops straight into the wound. Timothy roars in pain and I cringe at the view, feeling my stomach twisting just at the thought of the unbearable pain.

Cassius, then, takes a black glass from the box which is filled with a red cream. It kind of reminding me of mexican spicy food, perhaps because hunger find its way to my mind at the most inappropriate times, and I can see Cassius taking some amount of the substance and rubbing it between his fingers, finally applying it near the wound. The sound it makes when it comes in contact with the torn flesh is toxic for my ears. I can see how it burns, cauterizing the skin.

I can see Cassius taking a needle and disinfecting it. He passes some thread in the little hole of the needle and starts sewing the lesion with beautiful precision, looking calm and assertive.