Gravedigger [Complete]

[loopmein]

Characters: Odd Thomas, James Sunderland.
Content: Weary but restless, Odd Thomas decides to spend some quality time beneath Cassiopeia upon the cathedral rooftop after writing.
Location: Rooftop of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Time of Day: Midnight.
Warnings: Spoilers and Silent Hill. Discussions of Heaven and Hell, and possible use of synonyms for

Comments

[captainpillows]

Another argument over nothing. Foolish enough to keep on, to keep his pride, James had earned himself yet another night, pillow tossed out after him, door slammed in his face. He never tried to get back in. Just gave it as a lost cause and wandered the halls of the Cathedral or wherever until he literally gave in to exhaustion. He knew his way around by now

[captainpillows]

It hurt. He stood there still, and then he crouched, staring at Odd. Genuinely worried.

"I'm sorry-" he echoes again and again, "Did I hurt you...? Please- I uh. We should get you some ice and- I'm sorry. I don't..."

His voice darkened again slightly, just the smallest bit.

"I don't know what came over me. I guess we're all just a bit sleep deprived."

Right. What a load, but it was more to relieve them of what they both already knew.

He bent to help lift Odd back to an upright position.

[loopmein]

...a voice that is all too familiar...

But she wasn’t here.

She wasn’t HERE.

“It’s enough, James.”

It wasn’t just the fact that Odd actually called him James this time, but the way he said it that was most disquieting. Never had he sounded so rasp, so exhausted, so sick to the very pit of his stomach that he coughed and hacked and choked as he leaned forward. The cold hadn’t bothered him before, but he was shivering.

Then he was back again, the same old Odd Thomas. Combing the back of his head, over the new bump, he blinked, as if wondering how he even got there. Disoriented, he blinked again, harder, staring at Sunderland.

“No, no ice. Don’t worry about me. It’s okay. I’m okay.” He wasn’t, and he certainly wasn’t okay with what just happened... but he assumed to be fine anyway, sitting upright on his own with a little bit of help.

[captainpillows]

It stopped James in his tracks. The hair on the back of his neck raising, skin chilling, prickling.

He backed away. Slowly.

"Odd... Thomas. I- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please- I-" Fear. He must be one of them. A monster that knows his sin.

Never forgive me. I deserve to burn in hell.

"So sorry... I have- I haven't been well."

Backing up, he felt the entrance finally with one hand, ready to flee the roof.

"I'm sorry..." It seemed to be the only thing he could echo. The only words that came.

[loopmein]

The fear was mutual. Odd Thomas was terrified-scared of how Sunderland reacted, but most of all afraid of himself. He had very little control over the words that came out of his mouth... not the first time that sort of thing happened.

But this time, it truly frightened him.

In a weak attempt to rise to his feet, Odd stood with a slight limp, unsettled while staring at Sunderland, caught in just as deep of a well of confusion and dread as he was. So much that Sunderland looked like he was ready to book out of there, almost too fast.

Bad idea. Thanks to the rain, the roof was slippery; if one wasn’t careful...

“James...” Again, saying his name in that same way, his mind numb. “Sunderland, please stop.”

Odd lowered his head, covering his face in his hands as his mind swelled in a fog, going nowhere. So tired, nauseated, dizzy. Something was there with him.

“I don’t know what’s happening to me.” It had been going on for awhile now, but it was the first time Odd finally openly admitted it.

[captainpillows]

"You- You're-" James stumbled, starting to lose his footing as the sky opened up and began to drizzle again. A new slick coating for the roof. Still, Sunderland remained stunned, it seemed. Taking clumsey steps backwards, away from Odd.

"What are you?" He lost his footing and slipped, catching himself on a small shelf in the roof behind him. Inching away, eyes stuck on his room mate.

Afraid to look away.

Aren't you Maria?

"No... Don't come near me-"

You said you took everything...

He wasn't aware that he was slowly moving closer to the edge- too distracted.

But you forgot that video tape we ma-

His shoe slid against the wet surface and over- and he felt his body tipping out into space. Out into nothing, arms reaching, hands grasping for something to catch himself.

And he fell-

No. Almost- He managed to catch the edge with his fingers, but those were giving way all too quickly.

[loopmein]

In spite everything, it pained him to see the way Sunderland reacted, but most of all it was what he said that stunned Odd: What are you?

Slowly, Odd looked up from his hands, frozen, shaking and not because of the cold. “I’m...” His throat tightened while he struggled to think. What are you? What are you?! He was Odd. Odd Thomas. Just that guy next door. Why he needed to be reminded of this, he didn’t know.

I just don’t know.

“I’m me.”

The odd one.

His mouth opened, but nothing more came out. His eyes widened when he saw Sunderland, not paying attention to where he was going; lost his footing and began slipping, slipping, and- Falling, and Sunderland out of sight.

“Fuck.”A new fear overcame Odd as he skid down the slope. That which clouded his mind almost dispelled entirely as he rushed to the gutter in time to catch Sunderland just barely clinging to the ledge

[captainpillows]

Feet dangling into nothingness, he struggled to hold on. Only when Odd caught his wrist did he seem to have some semblance of hope but-

Damn it it was just too slick-

He winced. And the only thing he could think-

The only thing he could do was mumble something, his mouth twitching slightly. It would have been funny but- even then. It was so surreal. He couldn't really get a frasp on the situation (or Odd's hand.)

"Fine time for a fat joke, Odd..." It was some sad, desperate attempt to hold onto something. Anything. Something that reminded him of being home and safe. Something that reminded him of goofing around... The vague feeling of 'it will be okay'.

But his hand slipped free and he plummeted to the dark alley below, his landing met with the sound of a crash, glass breaking, something crunching.

[loopmein]

All thoughts considering, it wasn’t a joke: Sunderland really was rather heavy. He wasn’t that much bigger than Odd, either, which didn’t help. If it were Harry, it might’ve been easier to keep his grip, but Sunderland-

Oh... you idiot.

Sunderland’s wrist slicked through Odd’s fingers. Everything seemed to slow down, yet at the same time Sunderland fell like a stone. For a moment Odd just froze, his hand still outstretched for where his roommate had once been.

It was difficult to tell whether if Sunderland still breathed or not from this distance. Horror took a firm grip on his heart as the weight of guilt made his blood run ice cold. This was all his fault. If only he hadn’t said anything, none of this would have happened.

Quickly but more cautious due to the rain, now pouring down hard, Odd side-stepped across the rooftop. He slipped into the tower, and practically flew down the stairs, skipping several steps on his way down as he sprinted for the doors and made for the street. With no breath to speak, Odd could only silently

[captainpillows]

For what seemed like an eternity, his world was black. Head throbbing but that let him know he was alive. James didn't really move, he was winded and in pain, not to mention his head was spinning with the impact.

Lucky him. He'd fallen straight into a dumpster. Though it had not broken his fall entirely. He couldn't move his shoulder, and he was almost certain he was bleeding in some places.

At last though, he managed to form some sound.

A low groan and slurred curse.

He lifted one leg, attempting to move, but he was greeted by a shooting pain in his ankle and along his back and shoulders.

"Help..." It was strained and barely audible.

[loopmein]

Having seen where Sunderland fell into, it didn’t take long for Odd to find him. Even with the quiet, feeble help he sounded, Odd was already getting there. The cold rain felt like needles stabbing into his face. A painful reminder of what had happened, but it at least grounded him to what was going on now. No more slipping away into that fog that confounded him still.

Without a second thought, Odd hurdled into the dumpster. Convenient that the lid had been open at the time to save Sunderland any serious injuries. Just looking at him wasn’t enough, though-that fall was likely to have broken something.“Are you...” At the risk of sounding really, really stupid, Odd bit his tongue and decided on an even better question. “Can you move, James

[captainpillows]

"Owwww..." He groaned, shifting slightly. It was obvious that he could indeed, move. But he was in a fair bit of pain.

"My shoulder- I can't uh- ah. Odd." He lifted one hand, at least there was that.

"Get me out of here..."

It was very clear that he was still disoriented, still, at least his spine wasn't damaged. Turning his head revealed a dark stain seeping through his hair. Probably a concussion.

He's in no shape to be running around, but at least-

At least he's alive and not too seriously injured.

[loopmein]

Relieved that he hadn’t been successful in killing off Sunderland, Odd nodded sympathetically. Any kind of response had been choked up in his throat that, initially, all he could do was nod.

“I understand, sir...” Odd affirmed, taking the hand Sunderland had lifted and put it over his own shoulder. He helped roll Sunderland onto his side and hoisted him up, allowing himself to be support if he needed it, which, considering Sunderland’s condition, he most likely did.

As they both stood, Odd realized they were going to need to slide to get out. Sunderland had already taken enough falls.

Getting a proper foothold over the edge of the dumpster, Odd steadied the both of them. “We’re going to get out, sir, but you’re going to need to hold onto me.” He said this hoping that Sunderland could trust him enough to do that.

[captainpillows]

There was no hiding the broken cry of absolute pain as Odd moved and lifted him, though he tried to choke it back down, biting his lip.

Once he was up, he was alright, though his ankle was throbbing and his shoulder was limp. It was clear that he had probably dislocated it.

No bones were sticking out anywhere, that was a good sign. At least.

Right-

Getting out. That would be a problem wouldn't it? He didn't have much of a choice, so he simply held onto his room mate, clutching his shoulder as hard as he could manage.

"Alright.." he winced. Everything hurt.

[loopmein]

While loathe to the idea of carelessly dropping another few feet, they didn’t have much a choice. Either way it wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience for Sunderland. Judging by his expression, he wasn’t doing too well, either. They would have to take care of that later; anything was better than being outside at this hour. If they didn’t have the cold and everything else to worry over, there would also be the crab parasites, to which Odd was also loathe to think about at this time.

Once Sunderland seemed ready, Odd lifted the two of them over. They were both about the same size. However, Odd was mostly composed of muscle and thus didn’t have much difficulty with landing, or with outright holding Sunderland at his side.

God, and what next? When would the sky just start falling?

“Sorry... about that.” Odd breathed, realizing how sorry the both of them were.

[captainpillows]

The landing still earned a muffled hiss of pain but for the most part he just tried not to think of the pain.

Slumping against his friend's shoulder he muttered something incoherent, bobbing his head slightly.

"M'sorry Odd..." it seemed to be an ongoing mantra with him. Sorry. So sorry.

Always sorry.

The only thing that was left was to get inside and tend to his injuries. Even as his eyes slide shut he wasn't entirely out, but the whole world was still swimming and throbbing.