it's a metaphor for consumerism, i think

chapter 4 oh its actually kind of serious now. sorry

The guards that had been posted by the cell had moved further down the hall, all except for one. They held up a rifle that was clearly aiming at someone, insisting they drop their weapon and surrender or something or the other. Badass mcgee on the other side did not, they simply shot the person right in the head. It was just a regular guy who turned the corner- nay, perhaps a ruffian, trying to blindly shoot shots at the last guard that was posted up by the cell. Of course, missing, and hitting the wrong target, because this is pathologic

"OW FUCK !!!!!!!" I reeled back from the bars before I could even register he had been there, clutching my ear where the bullet had grazed it. Just one step to the side and i could have.. i could- I pulled my hand back to see the blood drenching the glove, a panicked gasp in the back of my throat as the sizzling pain echoed through my entire head "OWWWW...."

"Shudkher! Come here!" Hands immediately came upon my head, moving my face to the side as Artemy tried to see the damage. I'd blush about it if I wasn't still mad at him and also really in pain. I shoved him away from me blindly, taking a few steps back with wide eyes as he stared at me, some semblance of hurt in his.

"Don't touch me!" I snapped back, anger reflecting in my face. Being petty was more important than being looked after, even when the blood was staining my clothes red. He opened his mouth to object, but the unlocking of a door interrupted us once more.

"Hey gang" a man I didn't recognize, with fuckin banger red hair, stood alongside what I could assume to be his lackey, the one with the gun. "Artemy, fancy seeing you here."

"Grief!" He sounded relieved, his eyes flicking from me to him "Come to break us out, have you?"

"Actually, I was told to break your friend here out, but I thought that I might as well get you as a two-for-one." He huffed a laugh, looking from Artemy to me before his face fell "What the hell happened to you?"

"He shot me :(((((((" i pointed an accusatory finger to the irrelevant man standing beside him, who looked a little guilty about it. No but he should if I got shot in the head then I would have died. and if I would have died I could have never cured Notkin, and if Notkin wasn't cured then he'd--

"MY SON. I GOTTA GO." I immediately started for the door, but I couldn't get a couple of steps in before my entire world started spinning before me, face hot with the flash of pain that came with being injured. Anyway, despite the stumble I got decently far before a harsh hand stopped me right in place.

"You're not going anywhere!" Artemy's voice was stern, and he pulled me back pretty roughly for a nice man. Ok maybe not that nice of a man he was mean to me less than 5 mins ago "You're coming with me and we're getting that ear looked at, okay?"

"Nooooooooooooo Notkinnnnnnn" I whined back, trying to pull out of his grasp. Maybe it was the adrenaline wearing off, but I did feel a lil ttoo sleepy to fight back🤫

"We can go to Notkin later." That was weird. Artemy sounded like he was underwater. No wait, everything sounded like it was underwater. Did the world usually sound so fuzzy? And god damn what is that ringing?

"Notkinnnnnnn" I slurred, trying to grasp in front of me. You know this grief guy also kind of looks like my son but older. I wonder if they are related. Who am i kidding probably not but thats none of my business actually.

"Grief, if you could-" and then there was nothing.

And then there was something again, just an indeterminate amount of time later. I couldn't open my eyes, it felt kind of like a big sleepy but except I didn't want to wake up. To be fair the quality of sleep one could get during a plague wasn't that good. I mean I did obviously sleep every night but like. You know. Whatever I was lying on was much more comfortable than grass anyway, shocking that there is something of a bed anywhere.