Break - Eric Divergent

Chapter 17 - Part 2

Sucking in a heavy breath of air that causes me suffer as I feel like a brick is forcing its way, pushing down on my lungs, I rest my head back onto the floor with my arms crossed over my stomach as I sense Eric's presence disperse thankfully.

I decide to take it short, show breaths as I haul myself up, bearing the agony as best as I could through gritted teeth until I manage to just about sit up.

Still clutching my abdomen, I take in my surroundings, firstly searching for Eric. It takes a while as my vision is faded black around the edges and shapes appear distorted.

Finally though, my eyes pry him swaying side to side against what I think is a table but the smooth curves on it make me think otherwise.

My hands tremble against the ground trying to feel something that isn't just the floor and eventually I feel something. Cold and hard: metal.  My hands climb up the metal pole and I feel that it's a bed so my fingers claw at the bedding, jubilant.

Seconds pass that drift into what feels like minutes and as I become more resistant to the pain, I challenge my capacity to see its potential and fortunately it doesn't end as I pull myself onto the bed, finding reassurance and comfort in its softness.

Moderately, my eyes shut, relieved even more as knots previously formed in my head loosen as I rub my temple.

I concentrated on my breathing warily, seeing how much I could take in without feeling like my lungs had been punctured.

Randomly, I felt bubbles building up inside me, fizzing up inside me and rising up my throat. I clutched my hand over my hand to muffle a laugh that popped out.

Why was I laughing? Maybe because I’d never thought of something like this happening ever and in a way, it seems a little pathetic. Another burst of laughter left my mouth and this time, I bowed my head in my hands. Heat evaporated off my cheeks and onto my hands. Wow, I was actually boiling.

More energy built inside me and escaped as laughter except this time, I laughed a little too much that I felt muscles in and around my stomach pulling so naturally, a hand went to clutch the painful area and my head lowered into my chest.

Why does it have to hurt to laugh?

“What?” Eric’s voice startled me as I felt my heart skip a beat. My body jumped slightly and my head shot up to see Eric.

“Hm?” I say confused, tightening my grip on my stomach strangely. He walks closer to me, cracking his knuckles and releasing an uncomfortable vibe that made me shiver like pins and needles were crackling all over my body.

“Why do you have to be so difficult?” his remark takes me by surprise leaving me speechless so I just shrug, still confused however because I don’t see how I’m difficult.

“What do you mean I’m difficult?” I interrupt him just as a sound leaves his lips. As he kneels before me, I pull my bottom lip between my teeth to shut myself up, not once leaving Eric’s eyes that were full of mystery.

“Well...” he begins removing my hand from my stomach so he can have my hand to himself. Selfish bastard.

I raise my eyebrows urging him to continue when he doesn’t.

“You’re incredibly annoying”

“HOW?” I feel my voice raise in a high pitch.

“Exactly my point” he sighs dropping my hand and standing up again.

“What do you mean?” I stand up also, crossing my arms across my chest. Only now do I actually realise how tall he is in comparison to me.

“What do you mean what do I mean?” his voice escalates. “I mean, how am I annoying?” I reply because thinking about it, I honestly don’t see how I am because I stay out of peoples way most of the time and when I do get social, I try to fit in and think what would other people do seeing as they have so many friends; I don’t be me.