#sharp objects -

When he finally awakens, the storm outside is what Cronus hears first.   It was raining, hard, when he sprinted to Kankri’s hive in search of you.  Cronus knows Kankri as his moirail -- but also as a recently unpredictable, furious rival for your affections.

He groans, eyes adjusting to particularly unkind fluorescents.

Cronus: (Confused, in pain, and mumbling) What… where am I? Kan, are you in here somewhere? I… came to visit… you… Kan?

Kankri is seated beside you, on one of the hospital beds he’d stolen from school.  Though your wrists and ankles are firmly buckled, you do prefer it to the metal gurney you’d originally woken upon, those few, long days ago.  Cronus is strapped, unclothed, to an identical bed; fully bound.  Kankri is tenderly unwrapping your most recent bandages, exposing the wrongful destruction of your feet.

Kankri: Yes, Cronus! I’m right here.  I thought you’d come to visit us soon. Sooner than this, actually.  Though it’s not in my nature to be overly critical, I must say I’m a bit disappointed in you!

Cronus: That abandoned car, with the blood… they were missing… and you too! I thought, I mean -- shit my head hurts -- are… are the cops here?

Kankri: Now why would there be human law enforcement in the basement of my hive, Cronus? I know I hit your head when you rudely barged in here -- without even texting me first, might I humbly add -- but despite the blow, you must still realize how silly and unwarranted that sort of question is!  

You: (Attempt to address Cronus, with the intent of both warning him, and announcing your presence).

Kankri: (Interjects before you can utter a word.  He speaks to you directly, aware of your intentions) There’s no need for fearmongering, and you know that! Haven’t I taken good care of you these past few days? I’ve fed you, clothed you, bathed you, and, of course… perfectly tended to your new fins! They’re healing quite beautifully...

Cronus: (Slurring) Who are you talking to…? (He finally turns his head, braving the lights’ harsh radiance through a brutal headache.  When he sees you -- and then your “fins” -- his face contorts into an odd collection of abject relief; horror, sorrow, and revulsion).  No… no, no, no, no, no! What happened to you!? Oh, God, I was so afraid, I thought… (he shudders) that I might never see you alive again, and… and now you’re hurt… what… who did that to you…?

You: (Shakily state that you knew he’d come for you.  You’re sobbing quietly -- alongside a grim, throbbing heartache -- as you fully recognize just how much danger Cronus is now in).

Kankri: Alright, my dearests.  As important as it is to verbally connect with our loved ones, and thoroughly examine all avenues of conversation and detail possible, in order to truly understand a situation and therefore maintain a valid and lasting opinion on any given topic -- I’m afraid I’ll have to stop you two for a moment.

Kankri: You see, Cronus.  I know you’ve been dating each other for a while… you’ve told me all about your little relationship with them (he tilts his head toward you), and you seem happy… but I, too, enjoyed time with them -- before you did, actually… and during that time, and the past few days, we connected, more than I thought possible between any two respectively disparate beings! I know what’s inside my heart.  I know it’s true, and good, and pure.

Cronus: (Catching on, despite his desire to believe anything else) What are you… talking about? You did this!? I thought that… that I was just being protective… taking a shot in the dark...

Kankri: (Continuing blithely) However, what you have with them… well, I’m sorry, Cronus, but it’s a falsehood.  It’s not the same as what they and I share.  I love them.

Cronus: (With his wits steadily returning to him in dire straits) So you... what? Ran them off the road? Kidnapped them!? That’s not love, Kankri! I thought you supported our relationship! You’re my moirail… how... how could you do this!?

Kankri: Precisely.  I am your moirail, and therefore it is my personal responsibility -- and duty, in fact -- to inform you of the truth.  You can’t possibly love them the way I do.  Look at what I’ve done for them! They said they love the sea, and I gave them fins! The most powerful, symbolic freedom... I’ve given to them.  Now, they’re closer to what they love than ever!

Cronus: You hurt them! Kankri, this is all wrong… it’s so wrong… (he turns to you) don’t worry, Baby, I’m gonna get outta here and go get help, I’m gonna get you out of --

Kankri: Though I do hate to interrupt you a second time, as interrupting a person is highly unprofessional -- and I am a professional, as you can clearly see -- I feel obligated to let you know that neither of you are in need of help from anyone but me.  I know how to help you both, how to set things right… I know just what to do to free you two from this facsimile of a relationship.  Then, all three of us can be happy together, in all the right ways; forever!

Kankri: You’ve always liked spending time in my hive, haven’t you, Cronus? Why shouldn’t you stay here with me, as my dear moirail, and you (he turns to you again) as my matesprit -- my one, true love…

Cronus: Kan… I’m in love with them… and… and you can stop all this right now, before (he swallows, dryly, eyes flickering to the various spectres of medical equipment surrounding him)... before it’s too late… before you do something you can’t take back!

You: (Fearfully whisper that you love him too.  Kankri doesn’t hear you, but Cronus does).

Kankri: (Speaking softly, as if to a child in the throes of a small tantrum) You don’t love them, Cronus, you’re simply infatuated.  They’ve seen true love in me, and in my actions.  They’ve seen what’s inside my pump-biscuit -- ah, pardon, I don’t mean to use language that isn’t fully applicable to humans, and thereby alienate you both -- they’ve seen what’s in my heart… they haven’t seen what’s in yours.  Not yet.

Kankri: Fortunately, they will! That will clear this all up nicely, and then we can move on with our new lives together! Just a moment…

He stands to tend an IV pole and pull a tray of cruel instruments toward Cronus. A standard ECG is positioned nearby.  Kankri quickly patches several electrodes to Cronus’ arms, lower stomach, and legs.  He conspicuously avoids the chest area.  

Kankri: I’ve performed several autopsies before, but never on living subjects.  Of course, this won’t exactly be a true autopsy, but I promise you, I’ll be as thorough as possible! (He smiles, as if to calm Cronus, who is struggling more fervently) Now, now… it’s alright.  It’s just a little pinch -- deep breath in! (He expertly inserts the IV needle into Cronus’ forearm.  The process is quick, and smooth, as Kankri’s had many opportunities to practice on you).  Deep breath out!

Kankri: … And we’re done!

Cronus: (Still half disbelieving) Kan, please...

Kankri: Now, I don’t want you to think that I’m going to give you painkillers or sedation until after the procedure is complete.  I’ll be monitoring your heart-rate with the ECG and my own eyes.  Though, given the area I must dissect, I won’t be able to promise an accurate reading.  There’s really no purpose in placing any electrodes directly on your chest, as they’ll simply be peeled away during the surgical process… still, I thought the gesture might be a comfort to you.

Kankri: (He lovingly sweeps Cronus’ hair back from his sweat-slicked brow) As I implied, you will be given a sedative and painkillers when I choose to sew you back up -- after they’ve seen, firsthand, what’s in your heart!

You: (Feverishly begging Kankri to stop, offering yourself forever if he’ll just spare Cronus).

Kankri: Don’t be absurd! We’ll all be together forever regardless, so there’s no point in you begging me to set him free.  Besides, he’s in good hands.  You should know by now that you can trust me to take care of my loved ones… here, let’s begin the procedure.  That will set you both at ease.

Cronus: (Trying to retain dignity through his tearful panic) What about blood-loss, Kan? I… can’t stay with you both forever if I die of blood loss… right?

Kankri: Oh, my dear moirail, I’ve got that completely under control.  The bags I have stored are your precise hue, not to worry.  (Fetches a glimmering scalpel from the tray beside him) You know you both need to learn to trust me more, or we’ll just have to relive these same difficult experiences over and over and over again!

Kankri: Now, time for the first incision! This is so exciting, isn’t it?

Cronus tries to contain his screams as Kankri makes two large, initial deep slices.  Blood gathers to the surface of each cut, extending from Cronus’ right and left shoulders.  The thickish purple fluid dribbles down his sides, and greasily smears Kankri’s hands.

Kankri: My, you’re juicy, aren’t you? Fortunately, highbloods can handle far more physical tests like these than warmer-hued beings can.  Ah, not to suggest that you aren’t human, Cronus -- just that you’re a special case!  

You: (Crying out to Cronus, trying to soothe him against the intense pain.  You tug desperately at your bindings, hoping to escape and find help.  The braces around your ankles cause excruciating discomfort as they jostle each unhealed, mangled “fin.”)

Kankri: Time for another cut! This will be a long one.  You’ll likely experience what feels like extreme heat as I run the knife down your navel.  Don’t fret, I won’t cut too far down!

Cronus: (Delirious with the searing new torture, he speaks to you) Hey… hey… don’t cry… it’s okay, it’s going to be okay! I’m… (he breathes through his unintentional groans) not doing so bad… it’s not so bad…

Kankri: That’s the spirit! Now, I’m going to peel back the tissue, utilizing this scalpel (he snatches a new one from the tray and gazes at it fondly before turning back to Cronus), break a few of your ribs for the sake of visibility of the target organ, and, well… see what’s truly in your heart.

Cronus: (Trying to remain conscious) Oh, God… God… please…

Kankri: It’s not time to sleep yet!  

You try to shatter your hands, and rip them from the cuffs, but it simply doesn’t work.  No matter how hard you endeavour, you’re helpless to save Cronus.  Still, you keep pulling and pulling at your restraints.

Kankri fulfills his threats.  He shifts between callousness and utmost, loyal care as he strips Cronus’ of various membranous and muscular tissues.  Then, peaceful and focused even within the chaotic din of your protesting screams and Cronus’ worst wails, Kankri uses a heavier instrument to snap four of his moirail’s ribs.  Cronus is gripping his own cuffs now, trying to stay awake despite wanting, more than anything, to become oblivious.

Kankri: Wait… hush now.  Something is wrong.  (Blank; in shock).

Kankri: I can see everything… (he steps back from Cronus’ heaving, exposed viscera, and suddenly focuses all his attention on you).

You: (Strain to see Cronus, but with only a side-view, your comprehension of the most extreme damage is limited).

Kankri: Maybe it’s… oh, no… can you see it? You can... can’t you? I’ve made a mistake… (beginning to panic, he presses his hands against parted, lax lips, accidentally staining them an ominous purple).

You: (Shake your head.  You don’t know what sort of sudden trance Kankri’s in, but you softly, slowly ask him to untie you.  It’s as if you’re speaking gently to a deer, dying on the highway).

Kankri: (Nods, and steps toward you, unstrapping your wrist restraints) This wasn’t supposed to be the result… I didn’t know…

You: (Ask him what he’s talking about, distantly, as you realized Cronus’ cries have dimmed far too much).

Kankri: (On his knees, stunned, and very small) See for yourself.  (He points toward Cronus, without turning his head even slightly).

You use your freed hands to release your twisted, oozing feet.  Your struggles have reopened recent wounds.  With trembling effort, you prop yourself on your knees until you can finally see all of Cronus.  

You’ll never forget the sight of your boyfriend, carved open and violated in a manner too pure to be enacted with true malignancy.  He’s still breathing, and his voice is reedy from screams that seems to echo in the air; haunting it. Haunting you.

Kankri: (Flatly) He’s not dead, is he?

You: (Mutter “no,” and prepare to fight Kankri off with all your, unfortunately, diminished strength if he pursues you.  You’re sliding from the bed, tumbling and crawling…)

Cronus mumbles, in a trance not unlike Kankri’s, but you can’t make sense of his words.  He sighs, and then all you hear is Kankri’s voice, following your slow, distressed ascent on the stairs.