Short Story: "I Am A Good Person, pt. 2"

 (Based on my PC, Carter Shannon. You can read about him under "My PCs")

They all wanted to be there for him, and that was the best thing Carter could have asked for. He sat in the chair, and Addison rushed to his side, holding his right hand. He held it tightly, just so he could get the shaking to stop. Lumi walked behind Carter and placed a hand on his left shoulder. Annie was standing beside Ki, trying to be supportive, despite the fact that Carter knew she was going through hell right now after Makoto. But she was here. And that was all that he could have asked for from her. He looked at Ki, their proverbial father, who, even behind his mask, Carter could tell was staunch in his stance from the other night.

Abraxas won’t hurt you, Carter. I won’t let him.

Void stepped up to him, her bracer out, ready to take the payment. Carter closed his eyes, paid, and leaned back as Void stepped forward. There was a sharp pain.

And there he was.

He was huge - tall and broad with hands that could honestly probably crush Carter in a split second. The purple and black skin around his eyes was cracked, like Carter’s was, but his cracks were a pinkish-white, like Carter’s skin.

They stared at each other. Carter’s mouth felt dry. There were so many things he could have said. So many things he wanted to say, but couldn’t have said because he didn’t know how… Because he was scared. Abraxas was the only thing that ever really scared him, and here he was.

So, Carter stood up. “I… only have one thing… to say. I have people… who love me… and I am a good… fucking person…”

Abraxas’s jaw worked, like he too was wondering what to say. “I’ll give you one thing… You’re not a coward.”

And then he was gone, swept up in Ki’s shadows.

Carter collapsed back in his chair, near sobbing, and turned into Addison, holding her like she was the last thing keeping his head above water.

 After he had a moment to calm himself, a moment to hug his friends who had become more like his family, they took the elevator back down to the lobby of The Company, and…

There was a party.

The room was filled with people Carter knew, people he’d called friends for years now. Every eye in the room swung to meet Carter’s and they were all beaming, and they shouted “SURPRISE!” with such a force of joy, it nearly knocked Carter backwards.

Kor stood there, holding a cake that read, “Congrats on Getting Your Demon Out of Your Head!”

I have people who love me…

Carter felt new tears pressing at his eyes and they rolled down his cheeks as he laughed in disbelief at this - all of this, for him. All because they cared enough about him.

I have friends...