Sweat ran down my cold cheeks, dripping down to the scrithing, dry earth below.
I watched. I watched as Jason was taken away by the damned beast, crying out for help. And I... I just stood there.
Grinning.
Crap, snap out of it Zero! I said to myself, trudging myself back to reality. What the hell did I do?
"Z-Zero..." The earpiece cracked. It was Jason, by the mouth of the insect.
No. Not like this. Not this way. You can't Jason. No. Don't make me feel even worse than what I'm feeling.
"Z-Zero, listen..."
"No. I can't." I said, turning my back towards Jason and the worm.
"T-take the bag... and run." He said, caughing out blood. "Bring Alex and Amir back."
...
"I-I guess I'll be seeing you... on the flip side huh?"
"Jason enough!" I howled, the words carrying with it the anger I felt.
"H-hey, take care of Alex for me." He wheezed. "M-My baby sis just gets too rash sometimes."
"Jason." I said, trying to cover up my pent up feelings. "I killed you."
"Heh, n-not the first time mate."
"And I... smiled." I muttered. "I freakin' smiled Jason! What in hell did that mean?! I was actually so damn happy that it wasn't me that got stuck up in that goddamn situation that you're in--"
"Zero!" He shouted. And this time I heard it loud and clear even without the earpiece. He held his hand up high, and gave away a thumbs up.
"I forgive--"
Crunch. A drop of blood splat across my face.
I turned to the worm, and as I saw it's jaws grinding, every inch of my body screamed death to the worm. But the bloodlust isn't enough. I told myself. I never can overcome this cowardice inside me.
I gritted my teeth, and with my head held high, I roared to the top of my lungs to instill this feeling as a scar within my mind. Echoes bounced off buildings after buildings, resonating all throughout the streets of New York City.
The black clouds thundered along with me and my anger, bringing down a cloudburst of heavy downpour. I'm so sorry Jason.
I grabbed the bag with the crystal, and made a run for it. This is all I could do. I told myself.
I ran. I ran as fast as I could in the pouring rain. To anywhere, just not here.
Even with the immense pain I felt by my leg, I ran. If I can't run, then I'll walk, if not, limp, crawl, anything just to get away.
The clouds stirred a storm, and brought down heavy rain as I limped past the still streets, the sound of thousands of water droplets roaring along inside my ears jarring me. My vision got blurry; just a vague image of the gray buildings and asphalt. Blindly running just to put a distance between that monster and I.
And then, I realized. I need to go to Alex. She needs me.
And I started changing course.
What about Amir? I told myself. Surely you're not about to leave another one behind, right?
I stopped in my tracks, and buried my face low as I gritted my teeth. As the pouring rain brushed up against my hair and clothes, all that I could think of was:
Honestly, I'm too fucked up to care.