[https://i.postimg.cc/cCxYHKmN/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time.gif]
Eske was still sleeping when Nona awakened. She left the bed, careful not to wake him up. The morning light came through the window and fell across Eske's face as he lay on one side with an arm thrown over his eyes. He looked so peaceful that Nona could only stare at him in amazement for a moment. She realised how foolish it must seem if someone saw her staring like this. So, she quickly moved away from the bed and went into the kitchen. She made herself some coffee and sat down at the table, drinking it slowly. But only for a short time. Something was off. Something was wrong.
Her skin felt cold, and the hair on her arms stood erect. She felt her neck getting tense, and her breathing became heavier and slower. She could hear the wheezing sound inside her chest growing louder. A sense of panic began rising within her while she could taste the rusty burning metal on her tongue. Her eyes wandered around each corner. She was waiting for it to happen.
She had this burning hitch on her forearm. The same arm with her tattoos. Nona couldn't resist the need to scratch it until the point where her skin was covered in blisters and the flesh burnt until it melted. She could see her skin ripping and curling around the burn, drawing a pattern of death tissue where it was supposed to have numbers.
Nona couldn't touch it anymore as the pain completely paralysed her. She didn't know what to do but didn't want to scream. He couldn't see this. It would hurt him more than her. But the pain was excruciating, to the point she fell on the floor holding her arm and let the agony translate into a resounding scream.
She didn't hear his step running to the kitchen. He kneeled beside her, holding her by the shoulders: 'Baby, what's wrong?'; his voice sounded alarming.
She was crying, moaning with pain, but she didn't fight it and ended up showing him her arm.
'Baby, what's wrong? Is your arm? Did you hurt yourself?'
'It's burning!'; she was able to grunt. 'It hurts so bad!'
'How bad? You want some ice?'; he looked at her arm, and there was nothing wrong besides some redness caused by scratching. He held her wrist firmly: 'Does it hurt when I touch?'
'No.'; she replied calmer: 'What did you do?'
Eske brushed the skin of her arm and asked, concerned: 'And now? Better?'
'It is gone...'; she mumbled, feeling foolish: 'It was melting. It was...'
'Does it still hurts?'; Eske asked again, still keeping his hand stroking her arm: 'Do you want to go to a hospital? Have it checked?'
'No, I'm fine. It was just...'; Nona paused her words. She couldn't tell him it was a time event. He couldn't know: 'I think I was still sleeping.'
'You sure? Nona, I never saw you like that.'
Nona tried to smile. This was better. Better if he didn't know.
He smiled and put his hands on hers: 'But you are okay, right?
'Yeah, I'm okay.'; she stood up off the floor: 'I need to take a shower.'
'You want me to prepare breakfast?'; he shouted while she closed the bathroom door. Nona was still holding her arm. It didn't hurt, but she felt as if she had lost something.
She turned the shower on, and she saw her reflection in the mirror while the room filled with steam. Her face was bruised. She had a deep black eye and a fresh lip cut, and she was crying, holding her round belly. Her arm was burned in such a way she couldn't see anymore Eske's and her's initials, nor the numbers that would lead her to Pi. 'What the fuck is going to happen to me?'; she mumbled, scared to herself.
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Her reflection slammed the mirror with the palm of her hand, and she could hear herself begging: 'Help.'
She undressed her t-shirt and panties and got under the warm water. While washing herself, the hot water poured down on her back, slipping around her waist and circling her left scar. But all the water couldn't clean the palate of her tongue, the burning rust. She coughed violently, the black particles insisting on burning her throat. There was no doubt about it. The time event was not yet over.
She heard someone breathing against her neck, a voice she hadn't heard for a long time. 'I told you, you would be better with me. I know how to take care of you when you are a good, good girl...'; the smooth daunting voice felt like needles piercing the back of her mouth.
Nona felt pure terror and unadulterated disgust. She turned the shower off and ran to the toilet, retching whatever was inside of her.
[https://i.postimg.cc/05zgw0th/0307-The-Ava-Incident.png]
'Nona, what's wrong?'; Eske's voice was as cleansing her every pore. He brushed her hair away: 'Okay, baby, this is not normal. We are going to the hospital. You might have food poisoning or something.' Nona coughed one last time and cleaned her lips with toilet paper: 'I'm fine. Is nothing.'; she looked at him with tears in her eyes: 'Can you hold me?' He didn't even question her as he saw the swarm of black particles returning to her lips. Nona was panting, and Eske had that disappointed gaze she hated: 'Why you didn't tell me, I'm here to help you. You need to call me so you don't get hurt. That's the deal, baby. Please, don't do this alone.'; he said with tremendous sadness. 'Don't keep me in the dark.' 'Cats.'; she whispered the lie. 'I really need to work on that.'; he held her tighter and clicked his tongue: 'Do you want help with the shower?' Nona smiled: 'Yeah, I can't feel my legs yet.' 'A cat does all this? Retching creatures!'; he tried to joke. 'Yes, cats.'; she nodded, tired
Now talking in #TGTCTT
Evil_Kitty ([email protected]@rth) has joined #TGTCTT
<@Iknowaguy> And it was a tie. Sorry to disappoint.
<@Iknowaguy> Why was it a tie? I can’t force her
<@Iknowaguy> Still waiting for her to call.
<@Iknowaguy> I mentioned it yes
<@Iknowaguy> I am unsure what you want me to tell you
<@Iknowaguy> I know. We will convince… somehow. I’m open to ideas
<@Iknowaguy> Do you have any suggestions? ideas?
Evil_Kitty ([email protected]@rth) Quit ("")
<@Iknowaguy> That is really not cool Vihann!!!
[https://i.postimg.cc/6q9LFb4w/The-Girl-who-could-taste-time-2.gif]