Bugs Bite

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Ghosts And Accusations

Haze. Voices. Light. Color.

Black out.
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Pain. Haze. Voices. Light. Color.
More voices.

Black out.
_____________________________________

Pictures. Static. Complete with noises. Plucked from his own life.

Mom. The sight of her mangled body. Her silky voice.

Pain. Hot, parching pain.

Black out.

______________________________________

Darkness. Only a voice. His mother's voice.

(don't let the bed bugs bite)

Light. Bright, blinding shades. A silhouette standing there, head down.
Indistinct talking.

Black out.
_______________________________________

Realization. Coherency.

She's gone.

Darkness, the voice again-

(don't let the bed bugs bite)

--light, too much to bear, the silhouette, the talking, more distinct this time

I am . . .

Fading. Haze returning.

Black out.
______________________________________

Tears.

Blurry white coats, bald people

(doctors)

--and behind them, the silhouette. The man in black.

I am . . . always there for you . . .

On his brain's curtain, Mom. Her soothing words.

(don't let the bed bugs bite deary)

The realization, striking hard.

She's gone. She's dead.

(D-E-A-D)

Uncontrollable crying.

This time, there was no black out.

_*_

The man in black stood there, his form appearing almost . . . crunched. A defeated air to him.

'You . . .' Avish grated. 'You . . . could have saved her.'

Repercussive tears tumbled down his shredded cheek. It burned. Oh, didn't it burn?

'My friend,' the man started, but Avish would have none of it.

'Shut . . . the fuck up,' he moaned. 'You killed her, you fucking demon. That's . . . what you are, right? I see -'

A turbulent chain of coughs. The man in black looked concerned. Or, as it appeared to Avish, feigned concern.

'I see right through you,' Avish managed to creak out.

'My friend, you should not be speaking in your current stage. I will return some other time.'

'No,' Avish said, resentment radiating out of his tone. 'You stay. You fucking stay and . . . and listen. You fuck. You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?'

The man was not spared a moment to answer.

'You always fucking know . . . don't you? You knew when Dad would go berserk, you were there. You knew what would happen. Mom . . .'