Jordan stuffs his fingers in his ears at the noise. His breath was becoming sharper as his PTSD was starting to kick in again. He could remember that day still. It started with, what he presumed was, his mother's singing. Then flashes of lights and screams and loud popping noise. Jordan began rocking back and forth again, curling into a tight ball, his hands over his ears
(Side note: The song Kale was singing was Fire on Fire by Sam Smith.)
Kale abruptly stopped, caught off guard by their tearful reflection in the window. They swore at themselves before the clock chimed for tea time. They returned to their room to quickly throw water on their face. "I can't let people see me like this… I should probably apologise to Jordan.."
(Oh ok. I'm listening to it now. It's a good song)
Jordan chokes as the flashes intensify behind his eyes. He looks up into the barrel of a gun.
He jumps and sits up with a harsh yell. He breaks into tears and hugs his knees. He could still see the bodies beside him. He touches his forehead where, hidden in his hairline, there was a bright white scar. He flinches at the sound of a distant pop and blinding pain
Kale heard a harsh yell from down the hallway and instantly ran towards it. They found Jordan in tears and felt another knot form in their stomach. "Is everything okay? What happened? Did someone hurt you? I swear I will beat up whoever did, no one touches my friends."
Jordan looks up with a feeble smile, "It's nothing don't worry about it. I'm surprised you came running. Usually others are like, 'Damn. It's that crazy cry baby again." He chokes and coughs on his sobs. He rubs his forehead again
"It's obviously something if you're getting upset about it. It's to do with your past." They hesitantly sat at the foot of Jordan's bed. "And of course I came running, as I just said, you're my friend now."
The word rang in Jordan's head and his eyes contract, "No. It doesn't matter to you. You should have just ignored it." He was now feeling a bit guilty.
"Sorry but 'ignore' isn't in my vocabulary. In case you haven't noticed I know things about everyone in this building, and you don't get that kind of knowledge from being ignorant." They smile softly. "If you don't want me prying into your life then I wont, but I am here if you need to talk."
Jordan was silent but sits up straight and pulls back his bangs. They parted slightly along the bright white scar, "I was shot in the head at the age of five. Please don't call me Harry Potter."
Kale pressed their fingers to their lips in thought. "Wrong type of scar but okay. Why were you shot?"
"Wrong type of scar?! Excuse me?!" He barks, dropping his bangs, "People can still live with a bullet through their head! I'm living proof!" Jordan didn't hear the last part of the question.
"I meant- Never mind, sorry." They averted their gaze to the floor. "Why were you shot?"
"I don't know. I was five. They got my mom, dad, and my mom's sister. And then tried to kill me but… Like I said. Do NOT call me Harry Potter." he snarls, playing with his pant leg absently.
They shrugged. "I wasn't planning on doing." Kale quickly reached out to push Jordan's bangs away with their hand, and stared at the scar with curiosity. "It's remarkable how you survived that, it must have been a quick procedure to remove it with little to no internal damage."
"I had a bit of trauma but that was quickly fixed. I have a plate over the part of my skull that is smashed by the bullet." He keeps his hand up near his bangs but doesn't touch them. He flinches a bit at the contact.
"I see why the trauma has stuck with you, no child, no person, should ever go through that." They remain fascinated by the scar, since they've never actually seen a scar up close before.
Jordan was silent. He looks down at his hand. He shrugs, "I can still remember it as if it just happened."
Kale rubbed the back of their head with a soft chuckle. "That is usually the idea with PTSD." They smiled. "I wish I could help, but I'm no doctor y'know, all I can offer is my support."
Jordan looks up, "Support. Well that's the first." He looks back down again with a small smile. He pats down his bangs again over the scar
Kale huffed, crossing their arms. "Don't make me think twice about being nice, I'm not there for just anyone y'know. Only Jay and you."
Jordan's smile doesn't fade. He sighs, propping his head up on his knee, "So. We are escaping tonight?"
They mumbled, glancing away from Jordan. "I think it's worth the shot."
"Literally." Jordan whispers, He was finally going to end it. The torment.
"I heard that." They hissed, not wanting to look at Jordan.
Jordan sighs, "You know it has to happen."