A week had passed since Leo killed the streetwalker. Everyone was still talking about the streetwalker's death, and Leo tried his best to go about his days normally. He met up with Haily yesterday and was fairly hopeful since they had gone on three dates this week.
Today, Leo awoke gradually to the noise of the day starting for the others around him. His body ached and he felt his leg throbbing painfully. Leo so far had not gone to check on the pure mask, but not doing so was slowly eating away at his mind. Initially Leo had intended on going to check on the mask today, but he was starting to think that it might not be the best idea to be near it right now.
Being away from the pure mask's intoxicating influence was slowly eating away at Leo's mind. Just yesterday at the dump he lashed out at someone and was becoming increasing irritable. Realizing what was going on after that incident, Leo made up his mind to stay away from the thing for a while.
He wasn't sure how long the effects of this 'withdraw' would last, but he was very aware from having seen other slumfolk fall back into addiction due to the painful effects of withdraw. Leo was afraid of what would happen if he even approached the mask in his current state.
Instead, since it was his day off, he was determined to find Tom and see if he could go check on the pure mask for him. Though if Tom refused, he wasn't sure what to do. Leo's mind began to work out the problem as he got up and stepped out of the shelter.
Could he try to tell Cal if Tom refused? It was possible, but also Leo didn't want to subject his friend to the awful soul crushing presence of the mask if he didn't have to. Johnny was absolutely not an option; Leo only barely knew the guy and he was mostly just Cal's friend that hung around at times.
As he walked, Leo could feel his body growing cold. Shortly after he was sweating profusely and was practically sick to his stomach. Leo gritted his teeth and continued to walk, trudging along as best he could. Every few minutes he had to take a rest and stopped by sitting on the ground.
The feelings of withdraw were bad previous days, but this was a step up from what he had experienced before. Sitting down once more he looked around to see other slumfolk going about their days. Some of them were on their day off, others were rushing to their work as most places had begun their work hours.
He saw a couple of gang members walking around, their masks signifying themselves as members of the Folk, one of the major gangs in this area. They seemed to be moving with a purpose and paid Leo no mind as he watched them go down the street.
Another minute passed and Leo felt the symptoms lessen enough that he could walk once more. Leo sighed as he neared the mine, he knew that without Tom being with him it was dangerous to be alone with the pure mask. He didn't want to give himself any chances at touching the mask, fearing that if he did, he would soon find himself wearing it.
Now that he wasn't affected by the cursed things horrible aura, the only way he could really check on the mask was by retrieving it directly from its hiding place. Tom would at least feel its presence without needing to dig it out, reducing the risk of Leo trying to put it on.
Stopping at the entrance, Leo spotted one of the workers entering for the day.
"Hey, can you check if Tom is in today?"
"What do you need Tommy for?"
"Just tell him Leo needs to talk to him."
The worker looked confused, it's not every day a dump worker had need of a mine worker.
"Uh, yeah sure I'll send word." The man replied as he entered the mine.
***
Leo waited for two hours before finally he saw Tom walking out. Much of that time Leo was suffering the awful symptoms of withdraw that had been plaguing him all morning. In contrast the old man looked much better. He waved as he approached Leo.
"Hey Leo, long time no see, how have you been?"
Tom actually sounded happy and chipper, a far cry from how he had been last week. The shift actually gave Leo some whiplash. He hadn't spent much time with Tom, but he felt that he had a good grasp on who Tom was in that short time.
Leo's shock was apparent in his body language, and Tom began to chuckle. Tom sat next to Leo on the bench he had been waiting at.
"Y'know after that night I realized I wasn't done living quite yet. I was so incredibly relieved when you came back it really hit me that I didn't want to die. Once that switch flipped, I couldn't turn it back off." Tom said while looking into the sky.
"Anyways, enough about me, what can I help you with? I assume it has to deal with the you know what."
Leo nodded his head and sighed.
"It's like a drug for me. Hell, I'm even going through withdraws from being away from the damn thing. The rush of having it and power it gives, I just can't be near it alone or I'm afraid of what might happen."
Tom looked at Leo, and Leo could tell the man's face became troubled upon hearing his young friend's state.
"Well, that is an issue. I got a couple more hours of work but how about I meet you by the fallen statue and we can go down together."
"I appreciate it. And no matter what, you cannot allow me to put it on."
"Aye, I can manage that." Tom stood up and gave Leo a hand to help him up from the bench. "Anything else? I gotta go back in before they dock my pay."
Leo shook his head.
"Meet you in a few hours."
"Sounds good, I'll see you then."
Tom waved and walked back towards the mine.
Well, a few hours to kill... what to do?