Reality: Block C

Chapter 4: Questions

Ethan's POV:

"How did it feel watching them die?"

I look at Daniel, completely and utterly horrified. "The fuck kind of psychopathic question is that!?" I huff, trying to focus on anything other than the image of D in my mind.

"I'm sorry Ethan, I'm just curious. I haven't watched anyone die before. I didn't think you'd get so weird about-"

"-you just asked me to tell you how I felt when I watched the person I was...still am in love with, died. They were murdered. Right in front of me and you thought that it would be a good idea to ask me that fucking question!?" I yell. I close my eyes and breathe, ignoring the faint voice in my head fuelling my want to commit violent tendencies. "It...it was like...a car crash. You know it's horrible, you feel awful, you know you should look away. But you can't. You can't tear your eyes away from the tragedy happening in front of your eyes because you can't help but feel connected to it..." I wipe tears from my cheeks and try to rid my nostrils of the blockage. "The difference here is I was connected to it. It wasn't just a feeling. They were...more than the love of my life. They were my best friend. The reason I felt okay to smile again. And within a millisecond their head was in pieces on the ground. I wanted to look away. I wanted to look away and believe it wasn't real. But I just. Couldn't."

I'm practically sobbing. Harsh, burning shrieks ripping through my throat, leaving me gasping for breath.

Before long I feel arms wrap around me, pulling me into a nearby chest and holding me close.

I know it's Daniel, he's the only one here. And I appreciate his concern. But I don't care. I know I didn't have to answer, but it was still a fucking stupid question to ask.

And yet, despite my anger at him for asking the worst possible question...

I can't bring myself to push him away.

Instead, I sink into his embrace, letting myself be comforted as my tears wet his shirt.

"I'm really sorry about asking Ethan. I didn't think you would react like that."

I sniff as I grip his shirt in my fist. "You're a dickhole. A complete dickhole with shit for brains."

Daniel laughs and holds me tighter.

"Yeah, I know. Hey, how about I distract you by going into the nitty gritty of my death?"

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D's POV:

"So did you feel your heart stop beating?"

I look to Taylor, my eyebrow feels like it's about to vacate my forehead. "How the fuck do you come up with that question after talking about my boyfriend's old friend being alive and Risperidone pills that a likely to be bullshit?"

Taylor shrugs. "It sounded like we were done with that conversation. I figured this would break the ice."

"Asking if I felt my heart stop when I died is an ice breaker?"

"When we live in a place where everyone has died it seems appropriate."

I sigh, thinking about how to answer. I end up just shaking my head.

"No?"

"Getting your brains blown out at point blank range is a pretty much an insta-death kind of situation, Taylor."

"Fair."

I just nod to acknowledge the fact that she spoke.

"Well I did. Just before that mother fucker shot me, it stopped. Felt a split second of cold then saw the barrel of the gun and the next thing I know I'm in this shit hole. I got out Australia to go to a con, got shot in America and then get shipped into a bloody mental institution in Australia. Funny right?"