Vic’s POV

Mike and I were looking at each other for answers, but neither of us had any. Jaime stood up and wandered towards the bunks. We were all really shocked and had no idea what to do. A few minutes later Tony came back.
I decided to question him, “Hey, Tony, what was that all-” He walked out of the bus and slammed the door shut, “about.”
Mike and I gave each other questioning looks and turned around to see Jaime walk in really confused.
“Himes, what happened?” Mike asked.
Jaime sat down and looked at us with his mouth open and raised eyebrows, “They kissed? I seriously cannot comprehend a thing that’s happening right now.”
“What?” I was shocked.
“I walked in and saw Noortje kissing Tony, but Tony pushed her away and kinda sorta got mad. He saw me and ran off.”
“Ok, but why did he run away?” Mike inquired.
“I don’t fucking know!”, Jaime threw his hands up, “All I know is that we have a missing Tony and that I had to calm down a crying Noortje.”
“She was crying?’ I whispered.
“Yea. She had no clue what she did. She’s all drugged up and can’t remember what happened. All she knows is that Tony got mad at her.” Jaime told us
I sighed, “Let’s just go to bed. Tony will be back… I’m sure.”

Reality was that I wasn’t sure. He was never the person to get mad and run away. Especially from Noortje. He was always there for her. But now? Now he walked away. Something bad must have happened.

Mike, Jaime, and I went to bed without saying anything. We were all tired and overwhelmed.

----

I was lying down in my bunk and was staring at the ceiling. I couldn’t sleep and had been thinking about the most random things, trying to ignore reality. I couldn’t believe Noortje had been raped. Why didn’t she ever tell us and when did it happen? She never came home looking beaten up when we used to share a house. And what’s up between Noortje and Tony? Why did she kiss him and why did Tony push her away?

I realised that I was not going to get any sleep soon so I got out of my bunk and walked to the front lounge. I was met with the sight of Noortje sitting Indian Style of the floor staring at a kitchen knife placed in front of her. I stopped walking and looked at her.

“Umm… what are you going?” I nervously laughed.
“It’s pretty isn’t it?” She said unemotional, not taking her eyes of the knife.
“Sure? What are you doing with it though?”
All she did was hum and kept staring at it.
“How do you feel?” I was trying to figure out if she was still affected by the medication, or if this was the ‘real’ Noortje.
“I don’t know.” She started playing with the handle of the knife.
I slowly approached her. I didn’t want to trigger her.
She touched the sharp point of the knife with her finger and a drop of blood formed.
“It’s so funny, that such a pretty thing can cause so much pain and death.” She studied the drop of blood intensely.

She started the freak me out, but I knew that calling anybody else would just wake it worse. Plus, loud noises would probably trigger her. By now I knew that the medication probably still had some effect, making half of her be in ‘dreamy Noortje world’. Ok, that might not be the best way to describe her when she’s drugged up, but right now I have no time to think of something better. I had to make sure Noortje wasn’t going to do anything stupid.

“Why don’t you give me the knife?” I carefully insisted.
She shook her head and picked it up, turning it so it reflected some of the moonlight shining in.
“Please just give it to me.” I said more sternly this time.
Instead she turned it so it was pointing towards her wrist, ready to make a vertical cut.
“Come on Noortje. I know this is not you. Please give me the knife.”

The knife neared her skin and I didn’t know what to do. If I were to grab it from her I would accidentally stab her because it was so close to her skin. But if I would leave her to it she would kill herself. All I could do was stand there hoping this was just a dream. All I wanted to do was scream.

Suddenly the bus door opened and a very tired looking Tony came walking in. He looked at me with a dazed face and then look at Noortje. His eyes went wide and he jumped over the her. He hit the knife away, slid to the floor and pulled her to him. Noortje remained in the same position and seemed unfazed.

“I-I am so sorry.” I stuttered, “I-I didn’t know what to do. She was t-there and I didn’t know w-what to do.”

Tony didn’t reply and kept his attention on Noortje. He moved her over so she was sitting against the couch with her legs stretched out in front of her. Tony placed one of his knees either side of her legs and grabbed her face.

“Can you hear me Noortje?” He said rather loudly.
She didn’t reply so he resorted to slapping her face softly, “Come on. Wake up.”
He continued slapping her and mumbling wake up until she finally moved a bit.
“What’s going on?” She murmured.
“It’s ok. It’s just one of the side effects. You were sleeping walking.”

Side effects? Sleep walking? Why didn’t Tony tell us this? It would have been fucking useful. At least I would have known what to do. Well, on the bright side I know what is happening next time. Next time. God I hope there isn’t a next time.

“Tony, I’m tired.” Noortje whimpered.
Tony nodded, “Let’s get you to bed then.”

They disappeared towards the bunks and Tony came back a few minutes later. He plopped down on the couch next to me.
“She’s asleep.” He sighed.
“Why did you storm out, Tony?” I asked.
“It’s nothing. Just leave it alone.”
“Jaime said he saw you and Noortje kissing.”
“Yep. That happened.” He growled, “It was her medication talking. And I pushed her away.”
“Is that why you left? I mean you ran out just after.”
He shook his head, “No. I said leave it alone!”
He stood up and walked straight towards the back lounge and locked the door behind him.

Well shit. I got one of my best friends to hate me.

Notes

What caused Tony to run out? And will Noortje be ok?

-DSN