Henry tried to control his breath. He felt his heart aching, beating so fast the sound resonated into his ear. He looked around, but everything was pitch black. His wrists were bleeding, his bone ripping through the skin. The skin was pulled by the pressure of the air suction once the cockpit window was broken, tearing it up to half his forearm. If he didn't stop the bleeding, he would surely die.
Grabbing his uniform jacket, he bit it down and ripped it to shreds. The pain was unbearable. For once in his life, Henry was thankful for the company's poor quality uniforms since the material was so bad, that he managed to tear it so easily. He slammed his hand into the wall, hoping the impact would put his bone back in place.
As his wrists slammed into the metallic wall, Henry let out a scream. His eyes filled with tears. He felt like losing consciousness, but he tried to remain awake. He didn't know how much air he had so he decided to take advantage of it as much as he could.
He did the same for the other wrists, blood splurging everywhere, hitting him in the eyes and mouth. Henry cried like never before. He remembered his mom and how she used to cradle him in her arms before she died. " Henry" she used to say "the world is full of monsters so keep tight the ones that show you humanity ".
Simon never showed him anything, he thought. But it was the only person standing by his side as he buried his mother. He offered to take him on a ship with the promise of a future only to sacrifice him like a meaningless pawn in his bigger scheme.
Tying his wrists tightly with the cloth pieces, Henry kicked the chair he used to cover the closet with his feet. In those kicks, he let out all his suffering, all of his betrayal, all of the care he once carried in his heart for his best friend. He cursed his name and the day he befriended him. He cursed their years of friendship and all his sacrifices. He cursed Simon as if he meant nothing anymore and just as his affection for his friend shook and broke the chair did the same.
Henry saw a flickering of light, a crack in the foam between the margin of the closet and the broken chair. "Freedom" Henry thought. Just as bewildered as a hurt captive animal, Henry launched at the crack, tearing it with his bare hands. The adrenaline made the pain sufferable. The foam, which contained rubber and tiny shards of glass, caused Henry's palms to bleed profusely. The chemical reaction between the foam and his skin resulted in a slow, burning sensation that gradually melted away the skin on his palms.
As he dug his way out, he didn't even notice how his skin was melting. His only thought was freedom. Revenge. Peace. He thought of killing Simon. Pushing his face into the foam again and again. How the foam would slowly melt his face away, how bits of it would enter his mouth, destroying his tongue and throat. Silencing him. Putting an end to all his lies and setting the score straight.
Henry became euphoric as he could almost hear his pleading. How his last words would be " I'm sorry, Henry". Only then, thought Henry, only then they could go back to what they were. He would be loyal to him once again.
-Yes, said Henry to himself, a baptism. An exorcism of his sins. A rebirth of his pure form: my friend who saved my life once. Don't worry, Simon. I'm not giving up on you! I'm going to save you!
As Henry stepped out of the closet, he started to laugh in ecstasy. It couldn't be said if Henry's mind was damaged by his best friend's betrayal to that extent or if the toxic fumes of the foam played a role as well.
-Sit there and don't you dare leave. You've done enough as it is!
-WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TALKING TO, YOU DAMN CRIPPLE!
-I am not repeating myself, said Lancey locking Simon inside the tool closet. I already took out of my tools, but if you search good enough you might be able to find a screwer to stick in your neck, mate. I doubt you are that generous!
-You are all going to regret this.
-Simon? said Alice softly.
-Alice, baby, said Simon softly. Please let me out. I'm sorry for being a jerk. The crash stressed me out. You know I care about this crew, you know I care about you.
-Simon…
-No, Alice, listen. I know I hurt you a lot. Look, before landing, I'll give you a real baby. Just me and you love. I'll spend all the nights before we arrive on Earth pleasing you and giving you what you want. Please let me out, love!
-Simon…
-What, baby?
-I hope you find that screwer.
-What? Hah, that's rich. The cripple, the bitch, and the alien baby entered the room. WHAT A FUCKING JOKE! And I am the damned punchline.
-We should get back to Serena, said Lancey.
-What about the baby?
-I'm bandaged up. I'll sit by the door and hold him. Teddy is collecting the blood on the floor so the … baby will have enough food for a while.
-Oh, that's a great idea, said Alice cheerfully. Do you hear this, Ajal? You have a big family that loves you so much.
-Of course, said Lancey. Now let's go, sweetheart, Serena needs you.
-Serena? asked Teddy looking at her still lying on the table. Don't give up now, ok?
He sat on his knees, letting his head rest in the palm of her hand. He let out a soft sob.
-If you didn't want the kiss, you could have said so. No need to be so dramatic and rather die, ok? he said chuckling between sobs.
Serena's fingers moved slightly. Teddy raised his head hopeful, but she was still unconscious. At least she was alive.
-Thank, God.
-What the fuck happened here?
-HENRY? What happened to you?
-Where is Simon?
-What…
Henry raised the gun pointing it towards Teddy.
-Where the fuck is Simon?