Close Friends Stick Together

Minxy and the rest of our team ran inside the building, with her friends trailing behind, and went to the left door.

"I can't believe I'm stuck with the whore...," Minxy muttered under her breath.

I ignored her and continued forth. Walking further in, we took in our surroundings. The cabin was dark and gloomy with the smell of rust in the air. The furniture seemed ancient and dusty. The floorboards creaked under our feet, other than that, it was quiet.

Too quiet.

"AHHHH!" a toe curling scream ripped through the silence followed by rapid crunches of decaying wood breaking. Alarmed, we turned around to find a hole in the floor.

And one of the girls was gone.

"Damn it!" The other two yelled. Then * * *  "You better find her." Minxy demanded.

I simply nodded in response and started * * *

"Don't just stand there! Help me out!" Suri yelled, focusing back on the rocks ahead.

And with that, * * *. I smiled and ran the other way.

"What are you doing!", she yelled.

But I ignored her words as my main concern was getting away from them. My heart was racing. My sweaty hands making it difficult to concentrate. I ran into a dead-end. Crap. I turn around and saw Minxy, Suri and Fleur in front of me.

Looking into each of their eyes, I saw the anger that it contained. Staggering back with my left hand over my mouth, I fell on the ground, surrounded by them. The same people that took everything from me.

"You're nothing but a * * *."

"Stop it," I pleaded. They drew closer around me.

"You * * *." Minxy added.

"Shut up..." I whispered covering my ears with my hands. They started to lunge at me.

"* * *” Fleur said ***.

"I said shut up!" I yelled.

Tears pooled in my eyes and I clenched them tight, waiting for the torture to end

"Adagio!", a voiced yelled above me.

I opened my eyes to see Sonata hovering over me. I blinked as a drop of blood trailed down my cheek. She was bleeding * * *

"Get up and run!", she said through clenched teeth.

"Aw, look who it is. It's Addy's dumb little sister. * * *" Minxy said with the sharp object in her hand.

My legs felt immobilized. All I could do is look at her in terror as she endured the pain for me. The blood soaked her and my clothes and the lashes on her back were deep.

"I..." I trained off not finding words to say.

* * * I could hear Bolt & Redheart gasp as Aria fell limp on me.

"* * *"

It's my fault... The wounds on her back was torn through the skin and some muscle. I felt like I was going to puke.

"This is my fault for not being able to act. This is what happens when someone has to save me." I whispered

Fortunately, * * *. When we were finally outside, the other kids looked at her and gasped seeing the blood all over my shirt.

"What happened in there?" The teacher asked first. I ignored him and sat on the ground. They all bombarded me with questions, but I just couldn't hear them. All I could see was Sonata on the verge of death because of me. * * *

* * *

When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back in my room, laying on my bed. I guess I passed out. I got up stretching my aching body and headed towards the bathroom so I could wash off all the dried blood on me. Sonata's blood.

Once I got to the bathroom, I stripped and sunk into the bath. I wanted to go see how Sonata was doing but...

"* * *"

I doubt that she would want to see me. * * *

I sighed as I was getting out and putting on my pajamas. I opened a locker stuffing my ruined clothes in it. I was about to shut it when a small metal object caught my eye. Taking it, I shut the locker and headed back to my room.

I walked fast back to my room and slammed the door shut. My heart was pounding and my wrists ached. I needed to cut. Making sure nobody wasn't in the room, I sat down and rolled up my sleeve. With shaking hands, I took the blade and slid it gently across my wrist, watching the skin tear and the blood bubble up. I winced at first, but once the pain subsided, I sighed in euphoria. But no matter how good it felt, the sight of those girl words kept replaying in my mind. I laughed bitterly and brought the blade down on myself again with more force. My skin seemed to be devouring the blade as it cut deeper into me.

"Damn it..." I whispered to myself with tears welling up in my eyes.

If only I listened. If only I was stronger, then...

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

I gasped as my body was forcibly spun around by tugging on my blood soaked arm. The razor dropped from my right hand as I looked at his angry countenance. Aria...

"I said, what the hell do you think you're doing!?" she repeated tightening her grip on my arm.

The blood began to pour down onto her hand. I glared at her.

"None of your business,", I snapped trying to pull my arm away.

She looked taken back by the harshness in my voice but replaced it with an emotionless facade.

"Do you think harming yourself will solve anything?", she asked coldly. I snorted.

"You're right. It doesn't. Harming myself like this is only temporary. It won't solve anything." I laughed bitterly and added, "I should get it over with, shouldn't I?"

My eyes widened at the stinging pain in my cheek. I stumbled back and clutched it looking at her, who pulled back her hand.

"Don't you dare act like this is a joke." she growled. "Death is never an answer to your problems." she said approaching me. I back away from her until I was against the wall. "How would Sonata react if she saw you acting like this? She's already lost her family. She doesn't need to lose what's left of this family." she said with pain in her eyes.

Family… that's the first time I've heard her say that. * * *

"What... what would I do? I... don't want to lose anyone else." My eyes widened.

"It's selfish to commit suicide. It only hurts the people around you." she said bitterly.

"...You're right. I'm sorry.", I whispered.

She was right. I couldn't leave her or my new family who have done everything to help me.

"I'm so sorry.", I repeated shamefully with tears running down my face. Next thing I knew, I was engulfed into a warm embrace.

"Come on... You need to go to sleep.", she whispered into my ear.

I nodded silently as she carried me to bed. Once she set me down, she started to walk towards the door.

"Wait!" I exclaimed.

She turned back to look at me.

"Will you... stay with me tonight?" I asked shyly.

She looked surprised at my request but gave me a smile and went back to me. Slipping under the covers, * * *

There was a wall of * * * in front of me. On the other side was a body that nearly looked like a corpse. Her body laid there torn to pieces. It was mangled with limbs barely attached. Blood gushed out everywhere from her sickly pale body. Yet, she looked up at me. Her skin sagged from her face.

Will you * * * to save the ones dear to you?

I sat straight up from my bed, drenched in sweat. Looking to my side, I noticed that Aria was gone. Covering my mouth with my hand, I ran out the room and down the hallway.

"Adagio! Are you okay?" Bolt said watching me run in his direction.

He tried to stop me, but I merely pushed past him and ran into the bathroom. Falling to my hands and knees in front of the toilet, I started to convulse and puke my guts out.

"What's going on Adagio?" I heard from outside.

"I don't know. She just ran in there. We should probably go check on her."

"* * *?" Bolt asked.

I swear I could feel her glare.

"Fine." she mumbled.

I sat in silence as the door creaked open and two figures walked in.

"Adagio, are you okay?" she asked getting closer to the stall I was in.

I said nothing as I tried to control my breathing. I heard the footsteps stop somewhat behind me.

"Adagio, I'm  coming in." she said as she slowly pushed open the stall door.

I turned my head slightly in see her shocked look as they saw me sitting on the ground with vomit on my mouth.

"Adagio...?" she said carefully bending down to reach my level.

"...You're not doing what I think you're doing, are you?", she asked carefully.

I looked at her puzzled until I saw her face take the form of the one from my dream. Turning around quickly, I started heaving again.

"* * *" she whispered.

She held my hair away from my face while rubbing my back. When I was done, she picked me up and sat me on the side of the tub. With a washcloth that she grabbed, she started to wipe away the vomit on my mouth.

"So we're you doing what I think you were doing?" she asked putting away the dirty rag.

"What do you mean?" I asked in a hoarse voice.

"Were you... throwing up on purpose?" she asked slowly.

I looked at her shocked. I was going to ask why she thought I would do that, but thinking back to earlier... of course she would be suspicious of me.

"No that wasn't it!" I exclaimed. "I just... had a nightmare is all."

"Oh good." she sighed in relief. "Besides, * * *." she said smiling at me.

I smiled. At that moment, Bolt walked in carrying a glass of water and medicine. "Thank you." I said taking it.

He nodded.

"Oh! I forgot to get something..." Aria mumbled under her breath and walking out.

"So, about yesterday..." Bolt started.

"What about it?" I asked looking away.

"You... passed." He said quietly.

"Huh?"

"The * * * exam I mean." Aria clarified. "But how?" I asked with a small sad smile.

"* * *" Bolt explained.

"Great, now you should probably head back to bed." he said getting up and stretching out his hand towards me. "It's Friday, but you still have to rest tonight and I'm sure you would want to see Sonata first thing."

He finished pulling me up. He left and as Aria was about to do the same, I saw * * *

"Here." Aria said handing me a book. "This is for you."

"Um... Thanks." I said taking it.

"Oh yeah! Breakfast should be ready first thing in the morning so make sure you meet me and Redheart in the cafeteria soon." He said with a grin before running off.

Walking back to my room, I laid down on my bed and looked inside the book. On the first page, was messy handwriting.

Adagio,

There are many ways to cope with the rough things happening or has happened to you that does not involve harming yourself. * * * or you can talk to me and we'll figure it out together.

I'll be here for you.

-Aria

Skimming through the rest of the book, I looked at all the blank pages. A journal? Maybe we can keep our thoughts in here. Was that her plan? Taking a pen from my desk and going the next page, I wrote whatever came to mind.

"* * *"

Closing the book, I laid back on my bed.

What would I do without you?

I'll be here for you.

We'll figure it out together.

I like you just the way you are.

I groaned at the realization and put a pillow over my burning face.

I've been such a fool...