They shared rooms; it was more ECONOMICALLY SOUND but it left no room for the likes of him to fend demons off himself. It allowed for things to which, he PREFERRED to never see the light of day to have the ability to show themselves. HIS BUSINESS WAS HIS BUSINESS; why share such things with those you did not DEEM as friends (what truly is a friend? What are they?). Its not their business. Its not their concern.
& yet, even so, the chilling sweat that managed to dress his brow, labored breathing & wide, terror-filled eyes would bring the concern of anything who saw the pillar of his UNSHAKABLE demeanor crumble. GOTTA GET UP—GOTTA DO SOMETHING—PREOCCUPY—FIND SOMETHING—ANYTHING. & up he was, another night ROBBED from him like many others. 2:32 illuminated from the side table, almost blinding him with minimum effort. Fingers seemed to be UNABLE to pinpoint just how far the clock was to turn it away—forget it. What does it matter. The drawer opened on his side; the sound of him RUMMAGING through it bounced off the quiet walls in the room he shared.
As it started & dragged on for what seemed like FOREVER, it stopped. He found what he wanted; the distance to the window from his bed was not too far out of his walking range. He could make it; he WILL make it. Gripping the box ever tightly, body pushed itself to stand; the vacant hand used the tips of fingers as a guide to make it over to said window & not trip on the way down. One bed—the second bed—a covered ankle all the way to the windowsill.
The window pushed open & finally the boy took a seat. A CHILD that, one could argue, lived the short lifetime of a MAN. The box opened with one thing coming out of it, taken in between fingers & brought to lips. To the side of the box was something more defined. That too, was needed. Up to lips it went.
The one lone light was more than enough for he to find the tip of the stick that hung from his mouth. INHALE DEEP—YOU’VE DONE THIS TOO MANY TIMES BEFORE UNTIL IT NEEDS THE LIGHT NO MORE. Quick was his mouth to fill with smoke; the light extinguished—it has done its duty. A long DRAG taken; stick removed & out came the white smoke. The reason for the window to be open was for the scent to not linger in the room. It was meant to not WAKE the party asleep almost next to him.
Yet, whether it rose the other from sleep now or not was the LEAST of Kai’s concerns. He’s up now. He’ll be up until evening tomorrow—maybe—who knows. Whatever, doesn’t matter. A nightmare won’t slow him down.
