Infection".
And he got up. And tries to go away. And they, seeing how awkwardly he tightens his lame leg, recoiled from him even more.
They did not ask him, why? They were lost in conjectures, but it never occurred to them to talk to him. Didn’t they consider him a person too? Did he feel like a man himself? Same as these people? They were like in another world, as if behind glass, and he had no desire to break this barrier and become one of them. Their attitude towards him did not jar him, did not upset and did not excite. Arel would probably feel the same if a homeless dog banged him on the street. So what? He would immediately forget about it. These people were just as distant, alien and not worth the attention for him now. Just a given. It would be foolish to react to the dog; he was just as indifferent to the humiliation of these people. He did not consider anything; he simply did not notice him. So, he did not care what happens to him and around him.
And Arel suddenly felt uneasy. He must wake up! Wake up!Wake up! And it was not freedom! Imaginary freedom! It was a captive! And he is not Nikto! He is the prince of Arel! Prince Arel, who thinks, makes
plans and takes offense at people, because they are not indifferent to him and he is one of them! And he does not want to be different anymore!
“I want to be myself again!”
And he screamed.
Hard hands shook him, what was the strength in them! The iron bars of the lattice are expanded, if necessary. This is Nik.
“Arel?” – he asks in a calm, everyday voice, he has long been accustomed to the fact that Arel often jumps up screaming at night.
And as confirming that everything is as usual, Arel jumps out of bed, despite the dizziness, which makes it darker in the eyes.
Nikto fits to the side again, tucking the mutilated half of his face into the pillow, but does not close his eyes. His eyes glitter in the dark, and he watches Arel light the candles, fumble around the table, rattling the bottles.
"What are you looking for?"
"Food!"
"?"
"I feel bad! I need to eat! I need to put myself in order! I … I do not want, do not want to become like you!"
Nikto is yawning.
“I see,” – he says indifferently. Another Arel nonsense, well, he has long been accustomed to this.
"Heck! There is nothing here! Nik!"