FellPoth Short Stories and One-Shots

When One Door Closes: Chapter 2 (End)

... another door opens.

Chapter Warnings: Mild blood (marrow), depression, death ideation, swearing 

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Lotus groaned, the feeling of someone touching him bringing him back to consciousness. A dull red eye light formed, taking in the sight of... a green couch?

"About time you finally decided to wake up. Your broken ass was asleep for two days."

His skull lolled toward the voice on his left, finding another skeleton in green, gold, and black military-style dress with those orange-yellow stars staring right back at him. Behind them on the table was a small white box containing various first-aid supplies. Glancing down, Lotus was slightly embarrassed to find he was lacking his shirt, scarf, cloak, and shoes... though he was more concerned with the multitude of cracks and scars that were clearly visible without his clothing to cover them.

"So, you got a name?" the monster questioned, quirking a socket as he resumed changing a bandage on one of the smaller's ribs.

"Lotus," he croaked, warily voicing a question of his own, "Why are you helping me?"

"I just felt like it," the stranger shrugged, then added, "Was also curious why you were laughing before you passed out; most monsters wouldn't laugh after getting the shit beat outta them. Can't really answer if you're dead, though, so I patched you up. So, why were you laughing?"

Lotus smiled sadly, looking away as he scoffed, "Because my existence is one big damn joke. I'm the sad-sack, worthless, waste of magic pansy my parents always said I was, and my attempt to prove them wrong only served to drive home how right they were. I was getting my comeuppance in that alley and I found it poetic." Oblivious to his savior's grim expression, he continued bitterly, "I honestly believed you were trashing those goons so you could be the one to finish me off instead; collect the free experience and all that shit. And on top of all that... in what I thought were my last moments, all I could think about was how amazing your eyes looked in that lighting instead of something more practical or lifesaving because I'm a stars-damned idiot! That's why I laughed."

The taller skeleton went back to changing the marrow-stained bandages around his ribs without a word of response. Lotus assumed the conversation was over, turning his skull away to stare at the dark green cushions lining the back of the couch; he supposed it made sense, he said something really sappy and depressing... and perhaps a little creepy now that he thought about it. Even if he tried to explain the thoughts away as a coping mechanism, the guy probably didn't know what to do with the information.

He wasn't expecting it when the monster said, "I had no intention of killing you back there. It's more pathetic to strike at a target that can't fight back; there's no challenge. They were scum ganging up on a single weakened target, so I taught them a lesson... that's all."

Lotus turned back to the skeleton as he stood with the first-aid box in his hands and walked off to another room; he eventually returned without the box, posing another question, "Sooo... do you have someone I can call to pick you up? A name; a number?"

The smaller snorted, immediately regretting the action when it jarred his injuries. Once the pain subsided, he answered, "The only ones would be my parents... and after being gone for four days, they've probably already given me up for dust by now. Even if I did call, they probably don't give two shits about me returning outside of getting their punching bag back and crowing about how they were right. I ran away from that hellhole and I'm never going back; I'd rather dust."

Lotus shifted himself, shakily propping himself up on his elbows in an attempt to reach a sitting position. "What are you doing?" the taller monster questioned bluntly.