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Pain flooded their mind once Cash woke up.
They were dazed for a while, knocked out from pain and pain alone, red flooded their vision and every breath they took spread scorching heat throughout their entire body. They screamed for oxygen, but all they breathed was dust for awhile.
Cash sat, unable to think about anything other then survival for a long time, or just a few minutes, everything felt like years right now. It wasn’t until the dust settled and their senses finally returned was when they could vaguely think, wonder, observe.
They had no idea how they had survived. Through some wicked pity? A punishment? With the pain still roaring through their body they could assume only bad things. Cash looked numbly at the moon, imagining it as a cruel eye, finding amusement in their sorrow.
Cash didn’t want to move, but they knew they have something to check first. Although they were perfectly fine with dying, their own survival worried them, they needed to know if Elder Mind had survived as well.
They slowly moved out from under the rubble that covered them, taking their time as to not cause even more damage to their body. Cash stumbled to stand, mind strangely numb as they began making their way across the wreckage, searching for any sign of Elder Mind.
Cash saw where Elder Mind ended up quickly, It was easy to see the scarlet spill under the cold moon.
Elder Mind was dead, body buried under a grave made up of the remnants of the House of Reflection. The wood Cash once delicately placed like puzzle pieces to make this perfect house, now destroyed and stained with nothing but death and bad memories.
They had adverted their gaze from the pitiful sight, the great Elder Mind, a strong Spellbinder, a formidable fighter and leader, reduced to this. They couldn’t bear the sight, the smell, the sound of his dripping blood, it was too much.
They made their way down to the base of the hill, mind numbing more and more with every step. They decided they needed to go to the bus station, and they refused to think about anything else, bus station ringing in their mind many times.
Cash sat down and waited, a man was laying on the bench next to them, but they were in too much pain to care. They stared at the blood dripping down their arm and to their fingertips in distaste, but made no move to wipe it off.
“Jesus, what’s a kid like you doing out so late? Do you need help?” asked the man next to them, voice gruff.
“I am fine.” Cash choked out, forcing their voice to work.
The man didn’t respond for a while, contemplating before shaking his head, “The bus lines don’t open until morning. You're going to have to wait a while for a ride.”
Cash hadn’t known this, and simply stood up to leave, they weren’t going to wait until morning, they'd rather walk, “Thank you, then. I will leave.” Cash replied quickly, before walking in the direction to home. They heard the man calling after them but they didn't respond.
The more Cash walked the more they felt like a dead man—or person—walking. They took more and more breaks, fighting for air once again, and they were somewhat worried they might just drop dead on the sidewalk. They pressed on though, and they finally found themselves in a more familiar area right as morning hit.
Though Cash still got lost despite somewhat knowing the area, and it was mid-morning when they stumbled up to the front door of the Whitlock’s residence. Inside they heard chatter, some laughs, though not as lively as before. They hoped someone else didn’t get hurt as well, or the family was still shaken up from the events of the week.
They slowly tapped their knuckles against the door, and listened at the chatter turned to silence, then walking. The door opened to a narrow eyed Niara, whose eyes soon widened in shock.
Cash believed they passed out on the spot, though it was hard to remember.
★
Cash woke up this time, in a bed, it was dark in the room and they were supported with pillows, mostly in the rib area. Their body didn’t hurt as much, and now they're warm, and has been placed in a comfortable bed.
About three days have past, and they’ve been put in Brynn’s room to heal, despite their protests. Even if they felt bad for taking up Brynn’s room, this bed was a lot more comfortable then the couch, and was a lot more private.
They’ve been told that some of their ribs are fractured, and they’ve fractured their left leg, and sprained their ankle. Brynn had desperately wanted to take Cash to the hospital, but they didn’t have proper registration and identity, whatever that meant.
Cash gently placed their feet on the ground, it was early afternoon, they’ve had yet another one of Ben’s hand-me-down sweaters, as the other one had been badly stained with blood and somewhat torn. Turns out Ben doesn’t really like sweaters, and he had several from a holiday called Christmas, and he just gave Cash a lot of them. Cash was pretty sure Ben just felt bad for accidently leaving them almost-for-dead.
Cash slowly made their way up, careful on their sprained ankle and made their way to the door. The house was quiet, so they presumed that everyone was at school, and Brynn at work. They haven’t gotten everyone's schedules down quite yet, but they’ve gotten used to the bumbling of the house, and the silence that befalls once they’ve left. They walked into the Livingroom, and was shocked to find some one was there.
Julia sat in wait.
“Good afternoon, Cash,” said Julia, looking at them expectantly. “I heard you needed some assistance.”
Cash could only stare for a moment, apprehensive, “I’ve been… healing,” they said slowly, they haven’t been alone with Julia in quite literally ages.
“I’m not here to interrogate you, Cash. Someone—” she spat the name out with distaste, “—wanted me to make sure you’re healing properly. Since you can’t get proper medical assistance.”
“You know the knowledge of healing?” Cash used to knew so much of her.
“No, but I’m the smartest person this someone knows.” Julia got up, walking up to Cash. “Sit down and take off your sweater, I’m going to check your ribs.” She then walked off, to go grab something probably.
Cash didn’t take the command lightly, taking off their sweater, now wearing only a simple t-shirt, and sat down on the couch. They were apprehensive about Julia’s arrival, and wondered how much convincing it took for her to assist them.
Julia soon returned, holding a bag. “Alright, I’m going to check your ribs out first. It will be mildly painful. And if not mildly painful then very uncomfortable.”
“Alright…” Cash frowned, leaning back once Julia loomed over them.
Cash winced when Julia put her hands on their ribs, but she was being surprisingly gentle, and whenever Julia found a fracture the pain was over quickly and she moved on. Cash had expected her to purposefully put them in pain, but it was quite the opposite.
“You have four fractured ribs. They are healing nicely but they are at risk of infection and misplacement, so I will have to get you antibiotics.” Julia stood back up, finally finished after what felt like forever. “Brynn has been doing a good job providing for your healing process. You’re lucky you have someone who can care for you.”
Julia’s eyes were cold when they looked into them, they swallowed the wrongness building in their throat, “thank you,” was all Cash could say. They wanted to say so much more.
Julia had spent a few hours just running Cash through various tests, they did every demand obediently, and listened to every word Julia says, not wanting to anger the already furious women.
★
Afterwards, Ben, Merv, and Drake had returned from school, bringing Agnes and Niara with them. Cash had retreated to their room, a little sore from the testing, but Julia had told them that she’ll return with antibiotics, pain killer, and some other medicine that had such a complex name that they’d forgotten what it was called.
They laid in bed as the sound of chatter ringed back into the house, it was annoying at first, but now they felt wrong without it. The apartment had very thin walls, and with Brynn’s room being in the middle of Ben’s room and the Livingroom, they could hear practically everything. But it wasn’t annoying , the sound was more akin to rain pattering on a window, which is another sound they’ve found they really enjoyed, especially when they’re safe and warm under a roof and a blanket.
Cash heard a knock at the door, and not wanting to disrespect anyone, they got up to open it.
“Hey, do you want to hang out with us in Ben’s room?” Drake asked, weirdly hesitant. Drake was never hesitant, at least when Cash saw him.
Cash observed him for a moment before responding, “Sure.” They stared at each other for a moment, before Drake began making his way down the hall.