The Day Before The Meltdown...
"Ah", he's gasping for air and swallowing down a hiss but it still feels good, the feeling is euphoric even and it helps him clear his head.
It stupid to turn to something like this to calm himself and vent too, rather than screaming and yelling at everyone because he was pained and felt betrayed he'd rather punish himself and fell good in the process.
He finally understood how those criminals in the documentaries felt.
It was really nice.
Quick slashes that left clean cuts, pretty good for a first time cutting, and it doesn't even surprise Rix, he was probably due for this a long time ago.
Shutting himself off and going quiet, staring off into space to keep all the bad thoughts away could only do so much, now he's been betrayed by the people who he expect to have his back and the relationship between both parents is straining. Cutting is definitely the least of his problems, if he weighs them properly.
He's panting as he drags the blade across his skin again, a longer cut this time, horizontally, going up to his elbow, mirroring the cut on his left arm and he's pulling the hem of his shirt into his mouth to muffle any sounds he'd make.
He'd be going to rehab soon, so he'd leave home with a bang.
Leave everyone half dead and go to a mental institute to hide or just kill himself afterwards but then he'd have to kill a classmate or two, Robin included and maybe the teacher and Mr Darren too, the man was a bit dense. Danielle would forgive him later, maybe when she was older and could understand better. Mother could also be reasoned with at a later date and Dani would definitely help him with that when it comes to.
He's distracted and the stinging sensation on his arms bring him back to reality, wincing when he realises that he's been slashing his arm even more than he'd planned, ripping into his sleeve and tearing it up.
There are jagged lines littering his wrists and arms, up to his elbow joints, ranging from thin to thick and clotted with blood from his cutting.
His arms are looking more like geometric art than his arms but he likes it like that. It's nice.
He's not even reacting much to it, going numb already and he's reaching out to the sink to drop the bloody blade and picking up a new one to cut into his bare thighs.
The water in the tub is already pink with blood and he's been in the bathroom for a while so he decides to stop, making only a few more cuts on his thighs before pulling the plug and letting the water drain so he can take an actual bath and bandage up his legs and arms, no point I letting his mother see anything.
The blades are broken in half and tossed into the bin with bloody guazes, he's the one taking out the trash so he'll take it out tomorrow, but he's pushing them towards the bottom of the bin just to be safe before stepping out of the bathroom and heading to bed.
—
"You little-", Rix is cackling now, almost like Robin and Andy is quick to intervene.
"Please, sir, lets just get him home", the teacher sneers then goes quiet and Rix scoffs, muttering out some insults too.
Andy is scared, he's never seen Rix like this, no, he'd never seen Rix react to any of his classmates teasing, taunts or insults, he had no idea it was all just boiling and stacking up inside the boy, just waiting to burst out.
In all honesty, Andy had expected a fight breaking out between Rix and Robin but stabbing one through the mouth? Andy had never expected that, he'd have even lost if he bet on it.
"Sorry", Andy murmurs and Rix stares at him, a sneer on his face, the same look he'd directed at their teacher and Robin often, in fact their entire class even.
It was after a minute that the trio realized that the taxi driver had stopped halfway, waiting for them to finish with a deadpan expression that he used to mask amusement at the prospect of new gossip.
"Get moving, gossip monger", the teacher snarled and the man startled and got moving, driving the remaining way to the Richard's home that was almost at the end of the town and stopped in front of the property.
Rix is dragged out of the taxi with little difficulty, he'd gotten quiet and now had that lifeless look in his eyes again, probably the adrenaline fading and that weariness returning as the approached the door.
Mrs MaryAnne answers the door and gasps at the sight of her boy being escorted back with his arms tied behind his back but the look on Rix's face is now relaxed, relieved even, at the sight of his mother.
"Get this thing off my hands. I want to hold my mother", he snarls and Andy rushes to release his hands while the teacher scoffs and turns to face the woman at the door.
"Fucking bastard", Rix hisses and punches Andy straight in the jaw once his hands are free.
"Richard!", MaryAnne screeches and moves to pull Rix far from the boy cradling his face but Andy holds a hand up to ease the woman.
"It's fine Mrs Darren. I deserved it. I'm sorry, Rix, for everything", Andy winces as he speaks but Rix looks at him with a cold expression from behind his mother.
"It changes nothing, Anderson. I'll punch you again if I could. I'll do it again and again", Rix's tone is cold and uncaring and MaryAnne has to fight a shiver that threatens to run down her spine.
The teacher sighs and shakes his head, turning to look at Andy, then back at MaryAnne.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am. But expect cops here soon, maybe later in the evening. I think I'll send an Email but to you instead of your husband. Have a good day", the teacher gives a small bow and is taking his leave with Andy in tow.
"Rix?", it's Danielle and Rix's expression softens even more.
"Yes, Jewel?", Rix is smiling, even when his eyes are red from crying and still teary.
"You're crying, Rix", she points out and Rix breaks down, hugging her close and cries silently.
"Don't hate me, jewel. They don't like me, no one likes me, but I know you do", Rix manages through sobs
"I can't hate Rix. Rix is special", Dani is trying to wipe his tears, using her jacket to wipe his nose too, while MaryAnne watches, confused and sad.