Chapter Text
Grian groaned; he had counted the stars at least 12 times now, spotted 9 constellations, made 8 of his own, and spotted 6 cracks in the walls.
He was bored.
If you couldn’t tell.
But being bored wasn’t enough apparently because now his body had just decided that now was the best time to start aching.
Now don’t get him wrong; he knows he wasn’t in top shape when they took him.
I mean he had just finished fighting when they took both him and Pearl.
But still, he doesn’t remember getting hit on the back but honestly, he doesn’t really remember a lot of his fights.
When Grian fights, he kind of zones out and lets his instincts lose and if he did want to know, he normally just asks Pearl, if she was there, or just let it go with a shrug.
He knows it’s not practical, but it works for him.
Maybe when one of those Watchers comes with his food next, he could ask for something for the pain.
He doesn’t think they would, but it’s worth a shot.
Maybe…
They didn’t do anything.
Which was expected, but a little disappointing.
Grian was still weirded out by the ‘kindness’ they were already showing.
It kind of just felt… wrong.
Grian was so used to just fighting them and throwing insults at them like you would a Frisbee.
But also, like a frisbee, it came back to him. But this time Grian couldn’t catch it like he used to; this time it hit him and his friends hard.
Grian sighed and laid down on the fake bed, in the fake room, surrounded by nothingness.
The only thing that brought Grian somewhat hope was that Pearl was with him. Even if he wishes she wasn’t, wishes she didn’t get dragged into this, wishes she had just let him be taken without complaint.
But Grian knows Pearl, and he knows she won’t let him or anyone she cares about go silently.
That fact is both Pearl’s best features and her biggest weakness.
Grian sighed; he hopes he can get out of here in time.
Or at least before it was too late.
—————
Pearl had hoped that her headache would’ve gone away by now, but no it didn’t.
And to add to it her back ached as well.
Now it wasn’t unbearable, but it was uncomfortable, kinda like trying to find a comfortable way to lay down but never being able to.
It sucks.
But Pearl’s had worse, and seen others go through worse.
So, she can’t really complain.
——————
Pearl takes it back; it is worse.
Her head and back ache so much that it hurts to move and every time she does it feels like she’s going to pass out.
It feels like her body is trying to explode.
Pearl took a deep breath and winced at the pain.
This sucked.
After a while of lying in agony, Pearl decided to try and move around.
Even though she didn’t want to, she also didn't want to just lay there and do nothing.
So up she got…
Painfully slow…
Once Pearl had finally got up and out of bed, she slowly but surely made her way to the bathroom.
The bathroom wasn’t too special.
It looked like a normal bathroom for all she knew. Normal tiles with a hint of purple (these things really like purple), a shower/bathtub thing, and a normal sink.
But, enough looking at the place, Pearl wanted to know what the hell was wrong with her.
So, Pearl walked inside and looked in the bathroom mirror.
Pearl sighed; she looked a bit scuffed up.
Her hair was a bit messy in the temporary ponytail she put it in. Her face was a bit dirty, and her whole body was pretty much scuffed up.
Her clothes had a few rips and tears in them, but nothing too major.
But that’s not what she came here for; she wants to know why her back hurts.
Pearl (Grian) slowly turned around and lifted her (his) shirt.
Grian (Pearl) winced at the sight that greeted him (her).
Her (his) back was red and there were weird bumps on her (his) back.
Grian (Pearl) reached back to try and touch them.
Not a great idea.
She (he) winced.
Grian (Pearl) didn’t know what was going on.
Then suddenly the bumps twitched.
They both saw white when they screamed.
They both saw red fill the room.
They both fell to the ground when an unknown new weight appeared.
And finally, they both saw black as they passed out.
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Fuck...
Grian’s whole body hurt like hell.
When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by red.
Red. Like how you would color a heart when you were young.
Red. Like how some moms like their lipstick shade. The same shade you may have hated due to the stain it left when you were lovingly kissed.
Red. Like the color of ripe strawberries and raspberries when the season was just right. The sweetness that was held in that small fruit was always a treat.
But this red was far from sweet.
It was more salty, like a pretzel or a bowl of popcorn.
But those things were good and fulfilling.
This wasn’t.
This red meant loss.
Most associated with death and or injury.
Both things are shunned.
What Grian saw was blood.
His own blood.
Out of the corner of his eye, Grian saw feathers.
White with a purple tint.
With much struggle, Grian stood and looked in the mirror.
There on his head and back were wings.
Wings that were coated in his own blood.
Wings that shouldn't exist.
Wings that belonged to monsters.
Wings that are now on him.
Wings that made him a monster now too... (???????????)
Grian cursed.
The one thing he hated and wished never existed.
He had become.
There was a click and a sound of shuffling, but Grian’s mind was too preoccupied to notice it.
There was a purple glow.
And Grian’s already unsteady legs buckled, and he fell unconscious.