‡† The Unseen †‡

21 † The Return †

Raven didn’t stop walking. He knew if he heard Devon's voice, heard the guilt and the strain and the desperation for understanding that would undoubtedly be there, he wouldn't be able to take it.

But then Devon called his name.

Softly. Trembling slightly.

"Raven."

Raven paused. He blinked.

Then it all crashed again.

His mind spun, all with the haunting memories and voices and yells and cries that had him drained throughout the past week. Seance's cries and fits, Laurent's accusations, Devon's frustration and anger and hatred. All those emotions directed at him by the three people that mattered. The three people he tried to smile at. Genuine smiles.

And what did I gain in return? A screwed up mind.

Raven couldn't take it. Couldn't stand and listen to Devon's voice at the moment. Seeking solace, he instantly turned, ignoring Devon's calls and slipped away to the back of the school, a secluded spot where he could breathe.

He thought back at all he'd been thinking through, all he'd been passing through.. but now that he'd returned to school, he felt like this was all too..

Shallow.

High schoolers are shallow.

He sat on the cold concrete, knees drawn to his chest, eyes staring blankly ahead at his bag that was sitting in front of him. The world around him blurred, sounds muffled, as if he were underwater. Time passed, ran, barreled through, until all he was thinking was rain.

I need rain.

Rain is a representation of all broken things that didn't hide—things that screamed. Like Devon and his seen bandages. But I can't with Devon right now.

I need rain.

"Raven?"

He looked up to see Kaya approaching, Devon trailing behind her. Devon's eyes were downcast, guilt no more hidden, now etched into every line of his face.

Raven took it into notice; the fact that Kaya's company could bring out emotions and paste them on Devon's face and posture permanently. Unlike his.

Kaya's good for him.

Kaya nudged Devon gently.

"Hey, man," Devon began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm... I'm sorry. For everything I said. I didn't mean any of it."

Raven's gaze found and remained fixed on the ground. The words echoed in his mind, each one a dagger to his already wounded heart.

"You don't count! You never did!"

Raven blinked away the voice that had now been ingrained in his head, along with the others, twisted into a full punishment regimen for him.

He didn't say anything.

Devon stepped closer, squatting beside him. "Please, Raven. I was.. in a bad place. I.. I-I didn't know what I was saying, and.."

I know, Devon. That's just the thing—I wish you meant it. Because then, the fact that it still hurts like a bitch would make sense.

Devon reached out.

Raven flinched instinctively.

I.. probably should've stopped myself from doing that.

Devon's hand froze mid-air, pain flashing across his face.

Kaya knelt on Raven's other side, her eyes filled with concern. "Raven, are you.. sure you're okay?"