The Oddities of Grand Marquis - Book 3: Elegant Armageddon 🪼✔️

Thirty-Seventh

That was the first time I think ever slept as good as I did. When I woke up, though, Mom wasn't there. I felt that familiar panic and bolted out of the room. When I started to go down the hallway, I heard my parents talking.

"You need to stop helping him, Genny."

"How can you say that?"

"Look at your arms. I'm not saying don't help-help him, I just mean... Max..."

I was standing in the doorway as Dad looked up from the table.

"Am I bothering you?" I asked.

"No..." Dad said, seeming confused.

"Then why are you telling Mom not to help me? Are you A972 again?" I growled.

Dad looked hurt and pissed off at the same time. "No... Max, it's not what you think-"

"Then what do I think, huh? Now I'm too clingy because I don't have a baby in my stomach to mess with my hormones without my control? I can't get comfort because I'm too old for it?! Because I'm a boy and we should be stronger than this?! I'm not man enough to take care of this by myself?!"

Dad got up quickly and grabbed my arm, pulling me to him. I made this weird noise and started trying to fight him, trying to get away. I didn't need pity! My dad is stronger than he seems and since I couldn't get away I started attacking him, scratching and hitting and kicking and I even bit him. He didn't budge.

"Stop it." He said calmly.

"NO! You're not real! You're making fun of me! You don't care what I've been through! You just think I should be able to handle this myself because that's how men act! It's not funny! IT'S NOT FUNNY!!!"

"I am not laughing at you, Max. Son, you need to calm down for a moment so that I can talk to you."

I struggled a little more when he squeezed me hard, making me gasp as I lost my breath for just a second. I went limp as Dad knelt down and pulled me into a ginger hug.

"Will you please calm down and listen?" I nodded. "I am and would never make fun of what you have been through. I would never make light of the tortures and trauma that you have gone through, but you're becoming delusional. You haven't slept in weeks and all you've had are nightmare after nightmare. You're mentally and physically exhausted and things are just declining into chaos. When I told your mom not to help you it wasn't regarding what you're going through, it was in regards of what happens when you try to sleep." He pulled away from me to look up at me. "When you close your eyes, you have nightmares and when you do, if anyone tries to help you during that time, you go into hysterics. You hurt people..."

My eyes widened and I looked over at Mom who was at the dining room table watching us calmly. In front of her is a bunch of medical supplies and on her arms are scratches and bruises. I started to shake, realizing the damage I've caused.

"I'm sorry..."

"We know, son; we aren't blaming you... Have you gone to see Mars or Kasai? It's been a while since we left the facility..." I shook my head. "Then let's go see them."

"NO!" I screamed, pulling away. "No! I can't see them! It's all my fault they are there!"

"None of this is your fault, Max." Mom said from the table.

"If I wasn't friends with Mars then we wouldn't be there and if I hadn't fought with Dad about the car then I wouldn't have gotten taken and... I..." I started hyperventilating, everything and nothing all at once crowding my head. "I... if... It's all my fault! My son is dying and my friend is in a coma! I keep hurting everyone! I just... I can't..." I put my hands over my face as I sobbed again, sinking to the floor. "What is wrong with me?!" My mind was being thrown in a million different directions. Everything and nothing was crashing down on me. I was having a complete mental breakdown. "Why can't I think straight?! Everything is coming and going and smashing into my brain and there's just so much! I'm scared and angry and upset and... and... and"