You must've blacked out after Bro left because, when you finally come to, the birds are chirping outside and the sun is just peaking through the buildings of Houston. Groaning in pain, you roll over to look at the time on the cable box. 8:24 A.M. Christ, John is going to be pissed. You weakly pull your phone from your pocket, far from concerned with getting up off the floor. You're thankful that he has Jazz Band this period. His class only started a few minutes ago. He should still be setting up. Your hand trembles as you press Send and put the phone on the floor, moving your head so your ear is pressed against the screen. You're almost afraid he won't answer, but at last you hear his voice.
"Dave, what the hell? I thought you wanted to work things out and you don't show? You're lucky I even answered."
You chuckle, though wince in pain as you do so. "Fuck, I'm glad you did... It's--" You cough violently, groaning as the pain sweeps through your body once more. "It's good to hear someone's voice..."
"Jesus Christ! You sound awful! Are you okay?!" John panics on the other line.
"Yeah, I'm okay... Just... Caught some nasty bug... I won't be in today..." It pains you to lie. All you want to do is break down and tell him your fate. You know better, though. Instead, you say, "I should be back by Monday. We can meet up then?"
"It's fine, Dave. I forgive you... Shit... Class is going to start in a minute. I have to go," he curses, the irritation evident.
"It's cool. I'll talk to you soon," you reassure him, but at this point, you're not positive that will become a reality.
"Okay... I'll call you later... I love you...?" He sounds timid and unsure. As much as you'd love to tell him that you're blossoming feelings for Karkat, you simply return the gesture and say goodbye before hanging up.
Speaking of Karkat, he's the only one who knows about the beatings. You need to talk to him, but that's going to require you getting to your computer. You need to hear his voice, and your computer works best. The thought of being with your beloved mentor gives you the strength you need to get to your feet. Leaning heavily against the wall, you struggle to your room, every step taking its toll.
Once you make it, you practically throw yourself down in your chair and take a minute to catch your breath before logging onto your computer and clicking on the video chat application. It takes several tries to steady your hand enough to click on the video call, finally letting your arm drop to your side once more.
He answers almost immediately and, once he gets a good look at you, he's out of his chair and yelling in an outrage. "I told you to go to school, didn't I?! What the Hell did I tell you?! What happened?!" He cries hysterically.
"It was because of John... N-Not because of school... I was g... Going to go..." You choke out, one hand holding your throat and the other holding your stomach.
"Dave... Christ... I should be there..." Karkat whimpers, pressing his hand to the screen.
You follow his movements, shaking your head. "He'd kill you..." You're thrown into a fit of coughing before calming yourself enough to hiss, "I don't want this anymore..."
He frowns, rubbing his thumb over the screen, assumably where your face is. "I know you don't... I wish I could help..."
You pause a moment, biting the inside of your cheek. Using the desk for support, you stumble over to your closet and open the doors. Shuffling through your clothes as quickly as possible, you pluck your robe from the hanger and return to your chair. Karkat quirks an eyebrow as he looks over the robe. "What's that for?"
You pull the rope-like tie from the loops of the robe and discard the article to the floor. Looking up at him hopelessly, you hold the tie up to him and whisper, "Teach me how to make a noose."
His eyes shoot open in alarm, his head violently shaking back and forth. "No no no. Put that down. Now. That's not the answer."
"You're the one who made the suicide club," you remind him tiredly.
"Not for you. For anyone but you. Dave, you can't die yet," he insists, tears filling his rusty eyes.
"If you won't teach me, I'll look it up," you tell him, your mind having been already made up.
He swallows thickly and pleads, "Dave, please don't do this..." But it was too late. You'd already searched up the proper way to tie it and had been in the process of doing so while he begged. His cries of misery are enough to kill you, but you can't live here anymore. This is the only way out of the abuse. You know it.
Once the noose is tied, you struggle to stand on your bed and tie it around your ceiling fan, Karkat's pleas growing in desperation. You slip the noose around your neck and look down at him, salty tears of your own already dripping down your cheeks. Your knees knock together, the effort of standing becoming too much to bare. "Karkat...?" You utter in a voice just barely above a whisper.
"Yes, my knight...?" He replies, his eyes red and puffy from crying.
"I love you," you offer as a condolence before stepping off the bed. In a split second, Karkat shoots up from his chair and cries out your name. In your weakened state, you hadn't tied the rope tight enough. Much to your dismay, the noose unravels and you fall to the floor, your head smashing off the corner of your desk on the way down.
Blood spills from the gash on your head, the room spinning more so than before. As you begin to fade in and out of consciousness, Karkat's screams of agony begin to fade. Your vision clouds and blurs, the heavy weight of sleep and the bittersweet release of death covering you like a shroud. You can faintly see Karkat at his computer, his face contorted in pain as tears stream down his cheeks. Then, for a split second, it seems as though he's looming over you in your room, holding you close and pleading with you to stay awake even a moment longer. This is the last thing you see before you succumb to the blackness.