2p!America x Reader: I Don't Fear Death Ch.29

Sore.

Your whole body, well, nearly your whole body was extremely sore from the incident two days ago. You had spent the whole day and that night with Al and the others as they helped you in every way possible, well, more like Artie trying to help in every way possible. Al was there just to be there, as if he wanted to do something but couldn’t think of what.  Though it wasn’t like you didn’t like him being there, you actually enjoyed every second that he was there by your side as you carried on random conversations so the room you were placed in wasn’t so quiet.

The room wasn’t a very colorful one, just plain gray with a gray bed with gray sheets with a gray floor and ceiling. Artie had suggested you go to his room but Al nearly killed him for suggesting it so you had ended up in this one, a one that hasn’t been occupied for a long while. It was extremely dusty so Artie had placed it upon his shoulders to clean the room to where it nearly shined as Al carried you around to any place you had asked to be.

But by every passing hour the soreness of your bruises would bite at you, making you flinch at every slight movement making Al feel the need to stop carrying you just so you would feel hurt. You wanted to disagree with him but with the pain that you kept feeling made you just go along with him as he would just sit you down, on a chair or on ‘your’ bed, but he’d never leave, he’d stay by your side.

You had stayed in ‘your’ room for hours with Al, talking with joy and happiness that shouldn’t be heard from a girl who had been beaten just earlier that day and in pain from the wounds, that confused Al yet intrigued him like always at how you always looked at the brighter side of things. You may be affected by a situation for a little bit, that’s only normal, but not long after would you just smile like you do and give such reassuring and happy words.

Al enjoyed being around you, that he admits though wished wasn’t true, it’s selfish of him to try and keep such as girl like you because this strange feeling called ‘love’ tells him so. But again he would deny, there is no thing as love, or at least in his world because look at you, you’re life was full of love. The two of you weren’t meant to be, that’s what he’d say, and he’d completely lock away those feelings since he was still locked that your feelings were false. Yet why is he still here, by your side wishing to always be like that, and allowing you to manipulate him in such a way even if you didn’t know it?

Why? Even when Francis had, surprisingly, made you dinner along with Matt who had brought in some dessert Al stayed, though you could feel the waves of jealousy come off him as you so kindly accepted their offer with such thankfulness. Francis, the one who didn’t care about anything, Matt, the one who didn’t want to do anything, came together and actually made you something that was actually looked very delicious, which took time, care, and work. You didn’t just affect him; you had affected everyone in this household for the better.

You ate the food slowly as Francis and Matt sat down in a chair nearby Al felt the need to leave, but that need grew as Artie popped in with a pink wrapped present with blue ribbon that he said was your Christmas present that you had missed since you weren’t here. Al watched silently as he angrily glared at the present. But everyone was surprised at what you had found inside; it was a beautiful snow globe that had ‘snow’ on the bottom but what really got to everyone was the angel inside that was seemingly made out of pearl. The angel inside of the snow globe had beautiful wings and (h/l) hair as she carried in her arms a large basket that was filled with a brown colored dog, a light neon blue cat, a red little bear and a dark purple bird. And when you looked at the bottom you found out it played a song, so you twisted the knob and instantly a sweet music box sounding song played. Artie had gotten this gift custom made.

Seeing the beautiful and meaningful gift, easily noting the symbolism and was very thankful and a bit flattered as you thanked Artie multiply and comment on how beautiful and perfect it was. Artie was squealing with joy as Al felt himself reach his limit, he pushed himself off his place on your bed next to you and walked past Artie with a glare as he left. But you being you, called out to him making him pause just a moment to hear you out. You had asked him if he was mad that he had nothing to give, Al didn’t say anything though it was true, and you easily saw that and you said sweetly to him, “Al, the only present I want from you is for you to stay by my side. That would be the best gift I could get.”

Hearing your sweet voice Al had come back and sat next to you, closer then before, as you laid your head on his shoulder with a smile and thanked everyone again. But even as the others left the room Al continued to stay with you until you had fallen asleep.

The next day Al had brought you home and had stayed with you throughout that whole day, too, never once leaving your side except for when he cooked you food. Yes, you had found out he could cook, and cook well too, but he made you vegetarian food. There was that one time when he made you breakfast when he grumbled a bit when he saw some meats in your freezer which you apologized for, though Al felt as though you didn’t need to. He had watched over you as you drew, read, talked, watched TV and he would always assist in giving you more ice if needed for your more obvious bruises until night fell when he left, saying he’d be back tomorrow morning so he took it upon himself to grab your spare key before leaving, which you didn’t mind.

You had thought it was so sweet of him to stay with you all day as you recovered; the one you loved so dearly taking the time to take care of you, a dream made real even if he doesn’t accept your feelings. He was so kind to you, making sure you were alright even if he barely spoke a word as if he was worried he’d say something wrong or something he’d regret. But either way, him being there with you was the best thing you could ever as for. Everything was so amazing, so happy and nice; it was as if the world was in its rightful place again.

Now, today as snow lightly fell to the ground you walked slowly down the street as you blew into your hot cocoa that you had gotten from the new café that was pretty close to your apartment building. It had opened that morning and you wanted to be the first one to buy something and wish them all a success in business so you had dealt with the pain and went out. Your bruises didn’t hurt as much as they had yesterday or the day before but it still caused you pain if you moved too quickly or worked, physically, too hard.

You gave a small hum as you neared the entrance of apartment building, everything sounding so silent and calm as the morning sun was still in the earliest stages of rising. As you entered you greeted the man at the front desk with a smile and a nod before pressing the elevator button. When the elevator came you entered, pressing the button that had the number 6 on it, and the elevator started moving upwards. When the elevator opened up you felt a sort of weary air that brought a sort of chill to your spine.

Trying to shake off the feeling you walked to your door and took out your key from your winter coat pocket but when you pushed it into the key hole and turned it you realized something…It’s already open.

You’re brows knitted together in confusion. You pulled back your key and place in back into your pocket before cautiously and gently grabbing a hold of the knob. The dread feeling was once again slowly creeping up your back as you felt something was terribly wrong. You hesitated as you oh so slowly twisted the knob so quietly before ever so gently opening the door. The feeling of anxiety gnawed at your heart as its beating moved up a level.

Now the door was half way opened, you silently peaked in wondering if you were just imagining things but you chose not to ignore the feelings that crept around you. You took your first step inside of your home before silently closing the door behind you, not even considering locking it, and slowly walked down the halls as the appalling feeling growing stronger and stronger by every second and every step. In the back of your mind you could hear it saying that you’d regret it if you keep going while the other part of your mind said that you had to figure out what was going on.

You did your best, and succeeding, in keeping your footsteps as silent as the world seemed to be. It was way too quiet for comfort as you looked around your home, as if the world was daring you to make the first sound. Then slowly stepping into the kitchen you saw nothing out of the ordinary but you gave a slight shiver as the creeping feeling stalked over you. You were now worried, now a bit scared, and a little confused…What was going on?

But you instantly found out why you felt the feeling when you stepped into the living. You instantly regretting coming in as your beautiful (e/c) eyes grew wide as your pupils dilated and your breathing came to a halt. The dreading feeling has exploding inside of your heart, dragging it down to the depth of an endless black hole, when you saw the absolutely horrifying scene before you. Within seconds you started to shake like crazy as the tension that had reached your hand crushed the cup of once hot cocoa, spilling what seems to you to be ice cold liquid to the floor.

You wanted to scream, wanted to cry, but it was as if time had stopped and all you could do is so desperately try to understand why this happened, why such a horrifying thing happened, and stand there because your legs rebelled against moving.

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Then time started moving again.

You gasped in air before choking a sob as tears wielded up in your eyes. You instantly dropped the cup that once held hot cocoa and placed your hot cocoa covered hands near your mouth as you choked out whispers of the same words, “No, no, no, no, oh please don’t let this be happening, please no, no, no, no, no.”

Your tears grew larger to the point where they blurred your vision, but the image before you still seemed all too clear, then, finally, your tears broke loose and you yelled out with a sob-filled and ear piercing scream, “VANESSA!!!!!”

That was when your legs moved, you pushed forwards with speed you never knew you had but what you really didn’t want to see was that there was another person, alive and breathing, but with a freshly bloodied weapon and oh so familiar red eyes…Al was right there watching as he held his now red stained bat in his hands with a face of remorse, shock, and heart break as he saw you …