-- no, no, no, he wasn't supposed to be doing this anymore.
the cracked concrete ceiling started back at him impassivly. The abandoned building didn't care if he lived or died. There was something wrong with his body but he was too panicked to feel it. Just the warm sticky bloodsoaked denim. He stated back up at the ceiling again, tried to ignore the way his knee was bent.
That mask that had been following him around was clutched to his chest like a teddy bear. He let go, heard it drop to the side. Plastic thunked against the drywall scraps.
Ti.m winced, grabbed his phone. Yeah that sounded about right: the million unanswered calls to Bria.n going back months ago, a few to his therapist. The safety net that was burning up in front of his eyes just like Ro.sswood --
He was near Rossw.okd, could feel it in his chest as he dialed the last thread in his safety net. An old buddy.
"Aren't you too young t'be taking a smoke break with the adults?"
"Shut up, I need the fresh air." He'd scowled as he kept his eyes on the trees. He'd been here longer than Marc-Jake-Steve, knew the nurses enough to get special favors, especially since he'd stopped running away after the new meds. (They were saying he could get out soon, maybe try for his GED)
"Still looking for your imaginary friend?" Jake muttered. Saw him turn a bit, scanning the trees as well.
Tim spared a glance away from the trees to see the sunlit shiloette of the cabbie hat.
"Dunno, you still chasing after your bird god?"
"Hey, at least mine has a face."
"Dont think a beak counts as a face either, man."
Jake had laughed at that, patted his shoulder.
In the present, with eyes on the bloodied concrete block he'd gotten his leg smashed in with, he pressed dual on the old number.
Clinging to the last thread of safety and hope with each ring of the phone.
They hadn't kept in close contact. Last time he'd called had been a few years ago, A.lex had been working on that movie and he'd called Marc to celebrate, something about acting tips and finally making friends who weren't tied to the hospital. They kept in touch as much as their separate lives could allow.
"H-- hey. Marc. Marc, right? It's, it's Tim. From-- uh. Y'know. Hey, sorry it might be late but ... Y'free? I'm -- I'm in a bit of a bind." Tried to keep the edge of panic out of his voice.
The mask stared at him blankly.