No More Sorrow (Anthony) (SLIGHT graphics!)

[Anty]

They had woken him again. He looked around the room, expecting him to see metal bars or a blank white room, but he didn't. He sighed, closing his eyes again. He opened one eye, watching them leave one by one until Evan was the only one left. "It's not your fault, Evan, don't blame it on yourself. But why didn't you let me do it?" he asked him in a soft whisper. "Everything would have been easier... I didn't want to be saved, and you know that."

"And you're not an idiot," with that his head fell sideways and he fell into a deep sleep again. Drool came out of his partly opened mouth, but he couldn't help it, mainly because of all the painkillers. He was dreaming soon, and he was a hyena again, but this time it was pleasant. He was chasing something, running and running, it was like he had eternal energy.

[Waddle]

Evan watched his friend, the smiled grimly to himself. "I knew you didn't want to be saved," he told Ant, even though he knew he wouldn't be heard. "But I did it anyway. Because you're my friend and that's what friends are here for. To help you up when you fall hard. This isn't like those silly icons that say best friend trip you again after you get up. This is real." He was talking to himself now, trying and failing to confort himself. "If I'd stood there and watch you kill yourself, how would I have lived with myself? Your my best friend, Anty. I refuse to let you kill yourself."

With that, a grim determination set deep into his bones. He jumped from the dresser and went to the scattered pills all along the ground. Finding the pill bottle, he began colleting them up. When he figured he had all of them, he walked to the bathroom sink. "I'll change things starting with this." He poured the pills down the drain, then turned on the water faucet to make sure they were long gone. He might have plumbing problems later, but it didn't matter. He tossed the bottle into the trash can and turned back to the bedroom. Walking out, he went into the living room and collasped into a chair. Unalbe to still his racing mind, he pondered and plucked at his usually intellegent brain. But he couldn't come up with a solution to this problem - not like normal. He guessed he would just have to make it right himself.

[Anty]

Around 2 a.m. that same night

Anthony had been asleep for hours, it was the nicest sleep he had had in... a long time. His blinked open, the room was pitch black. He got up, groping around for the light switch. But then he tripped on something, catching himself before he fell, he cursed for perhaps the thousandth time. He look through the blackness to faintly make out a pair of flip flops, they were the ones Evan had loaned to him a few days before. He put them on, shrugging.

He found the light switch with difficulty and looked around the room dimly. He hadn't smoked in 24 hours, a new record. But now he felt as if he was dying inside. He found Evan's lighter and a small pack of cigarettes on the bedside table, he quickly took them both in one hand. His hand found the doorknob of the apartment, he was about to go outside, then he stopped. Evan would probably worry about him all night if he didn't leave some sort of notification.

Setting the items previously in his hand down on the kitchen counter, he found a pen and napkin and quickly wrote a sloppy note that read "Going out for a smoke and possible a late night stroll. - Ant" He nodded in satisfaction. But where to leave the note? He decided the most simple of places: Evan. He placed the note on Evan's forehead, careful not to wake him. He grabbed the small items and opened the door quietly, wincing as it creaked open. But he didn't lock it, mainly because he had no key to get back in.

He stepped outside the apartment complex, breathing in the night air. He sat down on the sidewalk, lighting his cigarette, and stared across the road. The only noise was the occasional car, probably some drunk teenager. He closed his eyes, relaxing, the air felt nice across his face.

[Waddle]

Evan felt something tickle his forehead, but then it settled, so he didn't worry about it. Faintly, he thought he heard something, but his dreams were so pleasant... He retreated back to them. He was laying somewhere in the grass with his music playing from a stereo system, staring at an endless blue sky. Then he was racing the other coyotes in a test of physical endurance and speed. Then he was fishing on what looked to be the abandoned boat dock. Fishing? Why was he fishing? He didn't know how to fish...

This puzzle brought him into a semi-conscious state. The thing on his forehead ticked his nose and he sneezed violently. "What a rude awakening!" he said to the napkin indigently as it fluttered to the floor. He leaned down to snatch it up, and saw it had writing on it. He picked it up and read Ant's message, then checked the clock on his cell phone. 2a.m.? Kid must have been in desperate need of a smoke. Evan thought about joining Ant, but decided against it. He could see Ant through the tiny crack in the door. He settled back down in the chair and tried to go back to sleep. He couldn't, though. And this time, he had no choice but to get up.

He stretched for a moment, then opened the door. He pulled it back and left it just slightly cracked then sat down beside Ant. Without a word, he plucked the lighter and a cigarette from Ant, lit it, and put it in his mouth. Drawing a deep breath, he took the cigarette out and blew an unimpressive smoke ring into the air. He hoped Ant would catch up on the half dare, and maybe play along. But, with a glance out of the corner of his eye at Ant, he doubted that he would want to play games.

[Anty]

Anthony nodded to Evan in greeting, "I suppose you got the note." He took one last puff at the cigarette, then he threw it into the street, watching it as a car ran over in putting out the tiny flame. He was about to say something more when his hand went instinctively to his mouth as he coughed, and he coughed, and he coughed. It was a painful cough that shook his whole body made his throat feel rather raw. He removed his hand as the coughing subsided, but there was something on his hand. He looked through dark dark air and saw a handful of blood, his eyes widened, surprised.

Then it happened again, he coughed up more blood. He jumped to his feet quickly, feeling as if he was going to be sick. He stumbled backwards, running into the side of Evan's apartment. "What the-" he stopped, he knew Evan had been trying to curse less these days. His shoulders shook violently as he coughed again, but this type he threw up into the dewy grass. He slumped to the ground, leaning his back against the apartment, then he wiped his blood stained hand into the wet grass.

[Waddle]

Evan jumped to his feet after Anthony, unable to see what had frightened his friend so. He watched Anthony race around to the side of his apartment and heard the sound of retching. He pulled a face as his own stomach started doing gymnastics. Blocking out the noise, he ran into the apartment, grabbed a towel off the counter and soaked it in the sink. Trotting back outside and around the corner, he handed his friend the towel, smiling sympathetically. His nose wrinkled as he smelled the vomit, but he instead changed to breathing through his mouth. It was lucky the smell wasn't too strong, or he would have been able to taste it. That thought made him almost want to throw up too, but he regained control of his stomach.

He crouched down in front of Ant and asked, "What kinda crap you be coughin' up?" He was still breathing through his mouth, causing him to pause after 'you'. He scratched the side of his jaw, realizing he needed to shave pretty badly. He would do that later.

[Anty]

Anthony took the towel from Evan, he wasn't really sure what he was supposed to be doing with it, so he wiped his hands on it and handed it back to Evan. He didn't normally throw up much, though he reckoned it was the overdose on analgesic, it had still freaked him up. He thought about the question and decided to answer it truthfully, "Blood. Probably some kind of mucus from smoking most of my life, too. and some cereal from earlier today."

Anthony noted to himself to try something else later, he didn't like overdosing much, maybe suffocation. Yes, he would like to try that. "Is anywhere open at this hour? I'm starved," it was awkward time to bring it up, but he really was hungry. Plus, he was still wearing pajamas, but he didn't care much about that either. He stood to his feet, giving one more shuddering cough, then he sighed. "I'd really like a giant cheeseburger," he trailed off in thought and his mouth began to water. The last meal he had had was breakfast, which seemed ages ago.

[Waddle]

Evan held up the hardly used towel and gave Ant a look. "You're supposed to, I dunno, clean your face with it." He tossed it back at Anthony. "I refuse to take you anywhere with vomit caked on your face!" Blood? He sighed inwardly, but kept up a cheerful outer appearance. He was good at faking faces, even for his best friend. Actually, especially for his best friend. He laughed that coyote laugh again.

"Surely there's somewhere," he said. "The Silent Rose should still be open. They usually are. If they arne't, I'll chew them out for you." He took the towel back out of Ant's hands, not noticing if it was used again or not, and ran back into his apartment. Tossing the town on the counter, her grabbed his wallet, cell phone, and keys. Locking the door, he pulled it shut and found Anthony again. He had never been to the Silent Rose, and he was excited at what they might find there. "C'mon, then, slowpoke!" He started up the street at a swift walk.