Running • Iggy

Truth

They see you as a freak now, just as you deserve.

"Shut up." I sobbed weakly. "No more, go away... I don't want to be... I don't..." I pulled at my hair.

"What... happened?" Fang asked slowly. I opened my eyes to see him crouched in front of me. I reared back, hitting my head against the wall hard. Fang pushed himself away after seeing my panic, but didn't go too far. "Tell us what happened."

"I.. The... The words they just... They wouldn't shut up and I- Just, I...." I hiccuped. "No, no no... I didn't... I didn't mean to, I hurt you, I hurt people... No, no I didn't-"

"Citrus." Fang said sternly, but softly at the same time. "Just tell us what happened. Not anything else."

"The... The words. They kept going, even when I fought them off. I... I can usually fight them off, they go away after a while. B... But they didn't and it... It just... I didn't know what was happening, I just knew I wanted to destroy things." I looked at him helplessly. "Fang, what did I do?" I asked weakly. "I'm a monster. Fuck, I'm a monster... that thing in the mirror is what I really am, right? It's... It's always been me. No, no... No... I wasn't meant to..."

"Cee..." Iggy's soft voice completely knocked me out of my confused haze for a split second. The only thing that my brain could focus on was his voice. "Were you lonely?"

I looked up at him, his bloody cheek, his broken arm. I tried to compose myself, I really did. I tried to suck everything back in again. I tried. "..Yes.." I whispered. "It's so lonely." I held off the tears. "I'm alone. On an island. The water is black, so is the sky. I watched you guys float away, I couldn't follow. I didn't deserve to follow. I was happy, because you guys were happy. It's all I wanted, all I... I thought I wanted. I told Broghan I was fine with staying in the School. I told her I was fine with being left behind... but.." I felt tears roll down my cheeks as I lowered my face to the floor. "It's lonely. So lonely."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Max asked. Her tone was softer than usual. "Tell us something was wrong? Tell us you wanted to hang out or anything?"

"I did. So many times. Don't you remember?" I asked. "You were busy. And then I stopped, because I don't deserve it anyway." I stared at the sleeves covering my arms.

"Cee?" Iggy crouched down in front of me. "Look at me, sweetheart." He said gently.

"No." I shook my head. "I can't. I can't because I'll just sob again. I'm being a baby."

"Look at me." He insisted. When I raised my head, he looked perfectly fine. No injuries. "Max has a new ability." He softly brushed the hair from my face. I was shaking, I was aware of that now. "Perfectly fine, see?" He bent his once broken arm.

"I... I still hurt you." I whispered. "I still destroyed everything. I could hurt you worse next time, why are you looking at me like I'm still human? I'm an animal." I clenched my fists tightly just for the pain.

"You're Citrus." Iggy said quietly. "and I love you no matter what."

I broke. I flung myself into his chest, gripping at his shirt desperately as I cried, unable to even think a full sentence, let alone get one out. His arms were around me in a split second, holding me protectively in his arms.

"Please d-don't leave me." I cried quietly.

I was walking with Iggy and the flock in a completely white abyss, hand in hand with the boy. The flock began walking ahead of us and his hand suddenly slipped from mine as he ran to catch up. I halted, feeling my body hesitate as the abyss around me got darker.

"What do you want most in the world, Citrus?"
"I told you already, I want my family out of here."

"Please.." I whispered.