Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He was at Freddy's, closing the restaurant like he usually do after his shift.

It was pretty late, the animatronics would soon be doing their "daily maintenance" or, at least, that's what his boss, Nancy, keeps telling him.

They always creeps him up each time he's on closing duty.

He can't wait to finally go home and sleep. This day was exhausting. It's often like that when they're celebrating a birthday, which is a recurring occurrence here.

This one was requested by a hairy rich father. He could feel how ridiculously arrogant and self-centered he was just by looking at him. And the man had paid a fortune for his sweet birthday girl. Myron, his name was, if he remember well.

You might think he greatly spoil his children. But it seems his cares was to be only on the youngest. Judging by what Angel told him, her step father was all over Ophelia, her step sister, and very harsh and despitful over her. He sounded like those lions that would kill the cubs of other males when they entered a pack, just to make sure that only their offspring survived.

But even with that, he sounded very protective over the phone earlier. Dominic thinks it's probably those kind of persons that, despite hating someone and would prefer to get rid of them, would be extremely possessive over them. Like some kind of hunting trophy. Yucky.

Speaking of Angel! He was quite euphoric of the idea of dating her. From the moment he laid his eyes on her, his heart couldn't stop doing severals somersaults. She was pretty. No! GORGEOUS! How could someone hate her!? She was truly an angel. Pun not intended.

The first impression was... a bit "messy". She had bump into him, trying to look for something to clean up the tomato sauce on her. He couldn't hear her well over the sounds of the kids' laughters, the band's playing and on how overwhelmed he was. So, he brought her close to the entrance, where they would be able to interact more easily.

He had then taken a good amount of paper towels and a spray bottle to help clean her up. It would have been a bit disrespectful if he had done it himself, so he gave it all to Angel so she could do it herself.

After that, they pretty much bonded. Her voice was- He couldn't describe how soft it was. She really hit hard on him, uh?

Unfortunately, their conversation would have to continue on another time, because Nancy had called him. So, he invited Angel to the Rocket House. It's cosy and there's always a new band every nights. It's perfect!

They had exchanged numbers before he joined his boss.

The emergency seemed to be a kid had thrown up near the ball pit and there was not enough towels to clean it. (Oups...)

He was now walking the hall. He pass in front of a very familiar box to him. He stopped and look at it for a second.

The corner of his eyebrows raised in sadness.

"Seb..." He thought with an old and painful melancholy and nostalgia.

///

"Are you sure you don't want to spend the night at our place? You two would be all alone at your house."

"It's ok, Ms. Madelyn. Our parents will come back tomorrow. And Seb needs to go hit the bed soon." They can hear the boy stating "I'm not sleepy!" in the backseat before a yawn left his mouth. Dominic give a look at his little brother. Clearly indicating the doubt he had to Sebastian's statement. The later close his mouth and reluctantly accept his fate. The older brother snort a little and turn back to his conversation. "But thanks for the proposition."

"It's alright, Nic. Maybe another time?" Ms. Madelyn asked.

"Maybe another time." He replied.

They had stayed silent for a few minutes before arriving at the brothers' household. The two boys got out of the car.

"Thanks for the lift again."

"Anytime. Say hi to your parents for me, okay?" She asked.

"Will do." He answered with a salute.

He turned his head to the little girl conversing with Sebastian. He notice the gummy nose still in her hands. "I hope for you that's not the kind of candy that ends up tasting old after a few days, Tham."

She looked at the said candy. "Mmmm. I don't know if I want it anymore. Here Seb, you can have it." Thamara said while handing the nose to Sebastian.

"I can!?" The boy said, looking at his brother for confirmation.

"Do you think you have enough place for it?" The 12 years old nodded to him. "Well, alright. Go on."

"Yeah!" The young boy said before literally gobbing up his treat. "That taste weird." He concluded with a face full of distaste and disappointment. Dominic hopes it won't hit him back later.

They all said their goodbyes before the two boys get in their house. The youngest goes to prepare himself for bed.

"Don't forget to brush your teeth before going to bed, Seb." Dominic said.

"Yes!" Sebastian replied.

Dominic goes to his room after looking if everything in the house was settle for the night. He took off his schedule in his bag to know witch class he has for the next day.

"Math? Nice!" He tell himself outloud. He place his bag for the day and lean on his bed to read a book after it.

A few hours later, the sixteen years old woke up at a knock at his door.

"I must have dozed off." He thought before going to open his door.

He is met by his brother who seems feeling sick.

"You're ok, Seb?" He asked, concern growing inside him.

"I feel weird." The youngest said. His voice sounded more.... "wobbly"?

"Wait. Let me check."

Sebastian came closer and the light reveal something that Dominic haven't notice under the shadows of the house.

"What-" He cuts himself, preferring to observe the source of his concern. The skin were sweating and starting to look... glistening? If that's the best description for it. But what worried him the most was the "bumps" that was spreading everywhere on the surface.

He brough his hand closer to inspect it. It was solid, but also felt... wet? Each "bumps" were of different colors too. It almost looks like... candy?

"How long since it started?" He asked his brother. Stress were starting to brew under his skin.

"A few minutes." The boy replied. He too were not faring well after noticing Dominic's confusion.

"Let's go! We need to go at the hospital!" Dominic urged.

"Is it bad?" Sebastian asked. His eyes were pleading for reassurances.

Dominic hesitated. "I hope not." He couldn't give anything better.

While they were speed-walking to the car, the youngest of the duo yelp and fell down on their driveway.

"Are you ok, Seb!?" He asked, rushing to his brother.

"It's gloopyyyy⁓" The boy whine while trying the best he can to stand.

Dominic looks down at the other's body. It looked weird. He lifted the shirt hastily and come face to face with a horrifying scene. His younger brother's stomach was completely falling down on itself. It was like it didn't had the strength to hold the upper body and had litteraly collapsed under the weight.

He understood there that there was really no time to waste.

He took the boy in his arm and put him on the passenger seat.

"Can you buckle up your seatbelt?!" He asked urgently.

"Yeah, I think?"

He rushed to the driver's side after that.

Dominic drives higher to the speed limit. Fortunately, there were no one else on the road. His thoughts were speeding as fast as the car in his mind.

"What's going on? What could have done this? Is it some kind of allergic reaction? What could have done that?" Questions over questions were running left and right in a confusing stressful dance of fears and anxieties. "Did you ate anything weird lately?" He asked.

"I don't know. Nwothing diffewent." His brother weren't of any help.

Could it be something from the restaurant? It's the closest thing they had ate- wait!

The nose!

Maybe there was something in it that was causing all this? Now, thinking about that, it does make sense with how his brother's look were alarmingly going toward like those candy statues. The thought wasn't helping his expanding anxieties.

He swivel the wheel briskly.

"Where awe we gowing?!" Sebastian asked, panicking more with the sudden decision of his brother.

"This may be some kind of reaction to that nose you ate! We're going at Freddy's to know what was in it!"

"Why?"

"The hospital would definitely want to know it! Trust me on this!" He rushed.

"O-o okay." The boy wobbled.

They stayed silent for a few seconds. "Don't worry! Everything is going to be ok! I promise!"

They arrived at the famous pizzeria in a record time. Dominic rushed to help Sebastian who had some difficulties to stand nor even walk.

They stood in front of the door, but it was locked. The oldest then repeatedly banged over it. "HELP! PLEASE! MY BRO-"

A silhouette were walking to them from the inside. They seems to be a tall woman in her thirties. "Would you please explain what the heck you are doing here at this hour?!" She outed in a firm and authoritative tone.

"Please, help us! My broth- my brother needs help!" He rushed. The woman seems to notice the second boy and had what looks like to be understanding in her eyes. "Get inside." She ordered. He complied and followed her.

"He- I think it's that nose thing he ate that is causing this." He started.

"Is he the birthday kid?" The lady asked in a commending tone.

"No. That was his friend, Thamara." He replied. He could hear a displeased "great" from her. "You know what's going on, right?"

She sigh. "Yes. Those gummy are made specificly for one person and only one person." She replied irritated. "If anyone else eat the nose. Well, this happen." She concluded while spreading a hand at Sebastian.

"What?! But that's mess up!" Dominic exclaimed, showing clearly his discontentment.

"They noticed it not long ago. They're trying to find something to solve it." She said. They were speed-walking inside the pizzeria.

"Where are we going?" The taller boy asked.

She didn't replied right away. Instead, she opened a door in the back and let him in before closing it behind her.

"ANSER M-"

"We're going to put him in that box over there." She interupt him.

"Wha... what?! Are you crazy?!"

"Do you want bugs to start eating him?" She said, looking at him with a cold and serious stare.

He shivered at it. "...No."

"Good." She openned the box. "Now put him in."

He stares at it for a moment. It was very fancy looking. Like those box in a candy stores with ornament spread over it. The youngest seemed appealed to it. Like the box was the other half of himself he had been looking for centuries.

"We don't have all night, you know." The lady said and he obeyed at her order.

She closed the box. "What now?" He asked her.

The lady pause a moment, seeming to think over it. She looks at him. "Now. I guess we'll just wait." She stated.

"WAIT!? I can't just WAIT! My brother his becoming a freaking CANDY and you want me to WAIT!?" He yelled while holding the front of her shirt. She took his arms and quickly turn him over. One of her hand were pulling his arm in his back while the other slammed his head on the table in front of him. "You try that again and I throw you inside the dumpster in the back!" She threatened. "Now. Do you want my help?"

He nodded. The best he can, at least.

"Good." She said and freed him. "What I meant by wait is I'll send a request to the higher ups, which can take a while."

"How so?" He asked. His frustration had diminished but not dissipated.

"The request would end up in their mail box where it would stay there until they decide to finaly looking at it." She said. She seems exasperated.

"That's really neglectful." Dominic said, deadpanned.

"Well, they're a big corporation with many restaurants and other entertainments. They can't just solve every little problems their individual branches are facing. Their words, not mine." She stated matter of factly.

"Urgh! This can be happening!" He let out. His anxiety were already boiling out of him. "Is there really nothing I could do here!?" He pleaded. His tears were rushing down his cheeks like a fountain now.

The lady stares at him for a moment. "Here's what we'll do." She pointed at heself. "While I try getting in contact with them," She then extends it at him. "you will work part time here." She proposed.

"What?" Dominic said, baffled.

"This could help tip the scales to our favour. If they know you are helping them gaining profits, they would be more lenient in solving this." She ended, tending her hand to the box containing his brother.

He look at it and then at her. "Can't I just.... sue them?" He asked, anger growing more in his heart.

"If you try to attack them, they won't give you any chances at saving your brother!" She firmly told him while pointing her finger at him. The strength it contained seemed to be able to pierce right through him. "I am serious, kid!"

"Okay! Okay." He accepted, dejectedly.

The lady sigh. "Right now. Just go back home. Tomorrow's evening, I'll give you an interview where we'll end it with some contracts to sign."

"What will happen to Sebastian?" He asked turning at where his brother were. The scene looked like a coffin ready for a burial ceremony. It sickened him.

"I'll put him somewhere in the pizzeria as a scaling display." He flinched at that. "You'll then still be able to talk to him. He won't be able the reply, though. But that would, at least, reasure the both of you."

Silence stayed for a minute.

...

"How long?" He asked.

"Mm?"

"How long before they could find something?"

"It's uncertain. It could be months." MONTHS!? His eyes widened. "Or years." YEARS!!?? His eyes widened even more.

The air has become heavier than it was at the beginning of this debacle.

He doesn't know what to think of this. His brother, the boy he promised to help and protect at all cost since the moment he had laid his eyes on him, was going to stay as a 'candy boy' inside a box at the display of everyone who will be walking inside this filthy establishment for who knows how long. He feels like threwing up.

He walks toward the box and stare down at the boy inside. "Seb. It's okay. It-it's going to be okay. Don't worry. I'll make it... better. I'll... I'll do everything for you. Trust me on this. Just... just be patient, ok bud?" He said. His eyes are irritated by the raw of his emotions and tears.

"Itch okway." The tween answered, sluggishly inside the box. They both stayed there staring at each other for a undetermined time. He wasn't sure if his baby brother could even see him.

Dominic join back the lady after that. They both walked out the room. While going at the entrance, the lady started to talk.

"Try to put your mind outside of it until your interview tomorrow. It wouldn't do you any good to spiral into it." She stoped at the door. "And this stay between us. We can't get anyone interfering with this."

"Got it." He paused, letting everything settle in. "Beside, I doubt anyone would beleve me." He said with a joyless laugh.

"I'm serious, kid. Don't let yourself fall over this. Keep hope." She said in response.

Dominic walked outside the building, but then stop. He turns around. "Why are you helping me? I don't even know your name."

The lady waited a little while staring at him. It felt a bit unsettling, but he couldn't care with how numb he was.

"Nancy."

///

That was two years ago.

Two years and still nothing.

He had started losing hope at some points, but his boss was always there to lift his burdens.

He couldn't say how much grateful he was of her.

Dominic putted his forehead and right hand on the box and closed his eyes like he usually does while facing the box. "Don't worry, little brother. One day. It all be over."

He heard a sound at his right.

A metalic one.

He turned towards it. Bonnie stood there, staring at him. He seemed almost.... sad?

They stayed like that for an unknown amount of time. Like they were in a trance.

RIIIIIIIIIINNNNG!!!!!!!!!

It was stopped by the deafening ringing of his phone. The young man took it and notice it was Angel calling.

Was she trying to confirm their date behind Myron's back? He let out a small laugh. "This girl." He said with a fond smile.

He walked outside to answer the call. He couldn't disturb the animatronics with their flirting after all.

This can't be right!?

First Sebastian and now Angel too!?

He can't deal with all this again.

He calls his boss.

The phone rang for a few times.

"Do you know what hour it is, Dominic?" Nancy answered in her usual bothered tone he was use to.

"It's happening again! Please! You need to help!" He replied in a rush.

"Wow, wow, wow. Cool down there, Dominic." She sighed. "What's happening again?"

"The Gumdrop nose! Angel ate it!"

"Who's Angel again?" She said, unbothered.

"My girlfriend!" He replied.

"You have a girlfriend? Since when?" She asked.

He breath a bit to cool himself down. "Since yesterday."

"Ok. And what do you expect me to do?"

"Do what you did the last time!" He answered, baffled.

"You know that it's not that easy, kid?" She asked.

"I know!" He said. His thoughts and emotions becoming more convoluted. "But we need to do something!"

"What you need to do, Dominic, is to take responsibility of that girl. You know what to do."

"I'm not the one in contact with the higher ups!" He outed, irritated.

"And what do you want me to tell them?" Nancy said with the same neutral and professional tone she had kept since the start of the call.

"TO MAKE A CURE!?" He yelp.

"Tone down, kid." She ordered.

He stayed silent. His boss were terrifying when she took this tone.

She sighed. "Alright, Dominic. Listen to me. And listen well, because I won't repeat myself. Is it clear?" He nodded. "Answer me with words, kid."

"Yes! Yes, it's clear." He replied and let himself listen to anything his boss would say.

"The cure is... still not ready. Don't ask anything! They're working hard to find something that can stay permanent." She paused. "It's already complex with your brother. Now you want to do the same thing with someone who is older and probably bigger than him? Someone you don't even know more than a day?" She concluded.

"What... what are you insinuating?" It's not what he thinks, right? It better not be what he thinks! It's just the stress talking. Nancy would find something. She always find something.

"What I am insinuating is that..." She waited to make him aknowledge how serious she is with what she's about to say. "You need to chose-"

"Don't say it!" He interupted.

"Between her or your brother." She continued, unbothered by his sudden replied.

"No."

"Dominic." She warned.

"No! I... I can't! I can't do this! You can't tell me to do that!" He repied. His repressed emotions ressurfacing.

She can't ask him to do that! Can't she see how he cares about them? How can she dare ask him to do something like that!? She's not doing this, right? He must have misheard her. That's the only thing that make sense.

His boss wouldn't do this to him.

Nancy wouldn't do this to him.

"I am serious, Dominic. You need to chose." She said after a while.

"You can't-I'm sure they can do something, right?" He said. 

"They don't have enough resources for two person, Dominic." Nancy reafirm.

"There must be another way!" He rushed, rilled in his anxiety.

Silence settled brusquely.

They waited a few seconds for him to calm down.

After a time, Nancy started again.

"There's no other way, Dominic." She concluded. Her tone showing not an ounce of doubts. She could hear him crying and sobbing on the other side. "You have to make a decision, Dominic. Family?" She paused.

"Or lover?"

She let him relax a bit.

"I'm giving you a day off. You don't need to be present tomorrow." She said.

He took a few second to regain his voice. "But... Isn't... Isn't there a birdthay tomorrow?" He asked, weakly.

"This birthday is smaller than the one we had today. We don't need more than half of our whole team. We may even need less than that." She answered him.

He paused. "I-" He took a breath. "I-I'll think over it."

"Ok."

They take another minute to settle.

 "I know you will make the right decision." Nancy concluded before ending the call.

Can he really do it?

He has to choose to doom one of the two people he love the most in the world.

How can he decide that!?

How dare he even consider to do that!?

"You need to chose, Dominic." Nancy's words resurface in his head. Can he really do what she asked him to do? Would that even be the right choice? "I know you will make the right decision." 

He waited a few second. He let it all simmer in his head.

Suddenly but surely, he could saw a car rushing towards the restaurant.

"That must be Angel." He thought.

He made up his mind about the choice he took and what he was about to do.

He hate this. But he has no other choice.

At least, he can have an off day free of Freddy's tomorrow. He doesn't want "this" to be his last view of Angel.

He's glad Nancy is there for him.

"Ready? Set! Go!!!" The announcer said, encouraging the kids to rushed toward the sweet girl looking treat in front of them.

After a time, he jogged toward his boss leaning against a wall the other side of the room.

"Hey there, Nance! How's it going over here? Enjoying the show?" He said, sounding joyful.

"You don't need to play this game with me, Franklyn." She replied.

"Ouuuh, someone's salty today?⁓" Franklyn stated teasingly.

"Quit it. I don't need your fake enthusiasm. Not today." She retorted.

"Well, it's my job." He said. "You still want me to do my job, right?" He add with a crooked smile.

"You're too good at your job sometimes." She stated.

"Oh! Come now, you're flattering me." Frank said haughtily. He seemed having a good day. "By the way. Where's the little boss? I haven't seen him anywhere today and I doubt he has school on Sunday."

Nancy sighed. "I gave him off today."

"An off day or an... "off day"?"

"Former."

"Oh! And why is that?" He asked, curious over this new twist.

"You know who that is?" She nodded towards the stage.

"I can't be sure which person you are referring to." He replied.

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Candy."

"Ah! I see." He outed with an overacted surprise. "And who is she to our little boss?" He asked, repeating her action towards her.

"Girlfriend."

"And he did it all by himself? Wow, didn't know he had the guts."

She sighed, again. "He called me last night about it."

"Not that gutsy then." He said. Leaving a small laugh at the end.

"Quit it, Franklyn." She ordered.

"By the way, how did you convince him?" He pressed, ignoring her threatening glare.

"Franklyn!" She turn to him. One of his eyebrows rose.

She sighed. "His little brother had an... "incident"." She said.

"And you use that against him? Wow, you're really cold." Franklyn teased, smiling at her.

"I had to do something." She replied, annoyed by his behavior.

"And where is this brother now, mmh? I doubt Nicky would follow any orders without any form of reassurances."

"The scaling display." She nodded towards the entrance.

Franklyn snickered. "You're even colder."

"That's not actually him." She stated.

"Mmm?"

"It's just a plastic imitation." She revealed.

"Oh! And where's the actual boy?" Franklyn asked.

She took a breath. "There was a birthday." She sighed.

"Which one?"

"The one that happened the day after Dominic's interview." She said, looking down.

"You're not just cold but cruel too. Ah!" He said, amused by the confession.

"You're not in your break, Franklyn. Go back to work." She ordered, ending the conversation.

"You're the boss Nance." He said and walks back to the stage.

She really doesn't like Franklyn.

He's annoying and an asshole. But she needs people with questionable morals like him in this job. She doesn't have to worry about dragging them into this cycle. It's less guilt to deal with.

And Nancy stayed there alone, laying again on the wall watching children and adults enjoying their day while she reminisce of her life choices.

In her eyes, all of them were bad ones.

Chapter Text

At the first touch of the light of the sun on his face, Rory literally expelled himself out of his bed like a dog at a ball. (Or like Dapup running at a ball, he would say.)

He rushed to his closet and drawers and hurried himself to get dressed. There had been a storm last night. He wanted to jump into the puddles and splash Mott by the same occasion. Rory hope his brother was feeling better today. Their mother had told him that the oldest of the two had got some food poisoning thursday morning and needed to rest for a few days.

So, he hasn't got the chance of playing with him since then. Or even seeing him!

Neither apologising for what he told him the day before.

Rory was quite upset with Mott for what he did to his friends. But their mother had suggested to bring him on her bed to calm down and talk about it. She told him she understand he was angry and that Mott could have been more careful, but that it was no reason to lock himself and refusing to eat for then disowning his own brother after he finaly got out of his bedroom. Especially when it was all an accident and that Mott was just wanting to be helpful. (Like he always does.)

Rory felt a bit bad after that. It's true that Mott couldn't have known that the Sea Bonnies would have died in mom’s big stockpot. But he had felt so... betrayed. They were his friends. He loved them! He even wrote and recited a poem for them!

Losing them was very painful.

After he had changed, he thundered outside his room.

"MOOOM!!! I want an omelette for breakfast!" He yelled.

His mother gets out of Mott's room. Maybe he's feeling better!? Maybe they could go play together today! "Have you seen your brother?" She said. Or maybe not.

"Nope!" He replied.

"Maybe he's at the clinic? He did have to go back for a second scan. I would have like he told me before going, though. And we were supposed to talk about yesterday. But he did look pale. His health is more important. Maybe latter." She mumble.

"Mom!" Rory yelped, again.

"Alright. What do you want for breakfast today?" She asked after a second of stunment at her boy's shout.

"OMELETTE! I want OMELETTE!!!" He answered.

"On it. Let's go." His mother said, walking toward the stairs. Letting some space so Rory could rushed down the stairs without being blocked by her. Like he always does.

She made his omelette while he sat on his chair, swinging his feet with barely contained excitement.

"The thunder was very LOUD! It was "SHBRRRR-BRRRR!!!"." Rory said.

"It was. I hope you didn't have a hard time to sleep?" His mother said while cleaning the pan.

"Nope!"

"That's good-"

"RIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

She was interupted by the ringing of the phone. She puts the pan down and walk to the loud device.

"Hello?" She said.

"..."

"Yes, it's me."

"..."

"No, he's not here."

"..."

"That's weird. I thought he was at the clinic?"

"..."

"Ok. I'll call at his friends' home to see if he's there. Have a nice day." She concluded before hanging up. She seemed... confuse?

What's going on? "Who was that!?" Rory asked his mother.

"Claudia from the clinic. She wanted to know where Mott was. Apparently he didn't show up for his appointment." His mom replied.

"Oh." He said.

He goes back to his meal while his mother start dialing a number.

"Yes, hello. It's Marilyn. I'm calling to see if Mott was at your house?" She waited while her interlocutor answered her. "Alright. Thanks again." She hanged up and dialed another number.

Rory tuned her out and finished his breakfast. Once done, and he had cleaned his plate, he rushed back up the stairs to brush his teeth.

When he went to put water in his mouth to rinse it, he heard a voice calling him.

"Rory!"

"Uh?" He putted down his glass and looked around.

He was alone in the bathroom. Did his mom called him? He could still hear her talking on the phone. So, who was the one calling him?

"Rory!"

He heard it again. Rory looked down and saw some... shrimp(?) in the glass he was still holding.

He squinted at it and gasped when he recognise it.

It was one of the Sea Bonnies.

They weren't all dead!

"You're here!" He yelled.

"Yes. Me and the others survived in the sewer. We were able to reach you with the power of love and friendship!"

Rory couldn't believe it. His friends was still alive! Mott didn't accidently killed them. They were probably sleeping and his brother assumed they were dead. This is good news!

"Ehem." The Sea Bonny cleared its throat to get his attention. Rory looked back at it. "I'm also happy to see you too, but my friends are still stuck in the pipes."

"Oh no! What can I do to help!?" Rory asked.

“Turn on the faucet. But plug the sink first so the others won’t be flushed again.” The crustacean requested.

"OK!" Rory replied and was about to do as demanded when a thought occurred.

"Wait here!" He said while he put down the glass on the counter. He rushed out of the bathroom looking for something.

When he found it, he rushed back in and holded his find, showing it to his friend.

"A jar?" The Sea Bonny questioned. Rory replied with a "mh".

"That's a great idea! Hurry up! They can't wait much longer!"

He rushed to turn on the tap. A strong shower of water spewed out of it, bringing with it dozen of other Sea Bonnies. Maybe even more.

"Okay, okay. That’s enough! You wouldn’t want the water to overflow the jar, would you?” The Sea Bonnies told him.

"Right!" He turned off the water and brought the side of the jar close to his face. "I can't believe you're here!" He exclaimed.

"Yes. And now, we would stay together, forever."

"The tank is empty, though. And mom looks like she'll be busy today." (Again.)

"That's ok. You could always bring us with you?" They said.

"Really!? You'll go outside and play with me!?" He asked.

"Really! What do you say?" They asked the boy.

"YES!"

"Let's go then!"

Rory ran down the stairs for the third time this morning.

"Mom! I'MGOINGOUTSIDETOPLAYWITHMYSEABONNIES!!!" He rushed out as he goes to the front door.

"Oh, Rory! Wait!" His mother said.

He turned around at her. She puckers her lips as if in deep thoughts.

"Ok, but go ask the Fairchild to come with you, ok. I don't want you to go alone." She told him.

He wasn't really alone. His friends was with him! But if that would make his mother worry less, he would do it.

"OK, mom! Latter!" He replied to her.

She goes back at her conversation. "Ok, Ron? Sorry, it was Rory. Where were we?"

"..."

“Okay. No, Mott is nowhere to be found. No one else has seen him since last night.” She massaged her forehead with her free hand. "It's like he just... vanished. I'm verry worried." Her voice started to crack a little a the last words.

"Vanished?" Rory thought.

"Come on! Let's go!" The Sea Bonnies hurried.

The boy finished tying his shoes (Usually, it was Mott who does that.) and opened the door. But before he could put a step outside, he heard his mom saying something.... curious.

"Do you think he was right about being eaten by Sea Bonnies?"

"Eaten by Sea Bonnies?" He thought.

"Hey, Rory! Playtime!" The hasty sea creatures urged him again.

"Oh right." He step outside and closed the door.

Time to ask Danny to go play at the park!

He can't wait to show him his friends!

"Stupid Emerick and his stupid fat mouth."

Rory was sulking in a clearing not far from the park.

He had spend some times at the latter with his friend Danny until a kid three years older than him noticed his Sea Bonnies.

The bully had then therefore perceived it as being an obligation to start calling the sea creatures names like shrimps or creeps. Even going so far as to call them weaks.

Rory had tried to answer back and defend his friends, but he ended up receiving the same treatment too.

It had gone at a point where the whole thing was too overwhelming for him and he had run through the greenbelt at the far of the park.

"I'm not weak and my friends are even less, hmm!" Rory pouted.

"Ignore him. He's just a wussy milksop." The Sea Bonnies conforted.

"But he was so mean!" The boy rebuted.

"Meh, don't worry about him. We're sure we won't ever see him again soon. We'll make sure he doesn't bother you again." They said.

"Promise?"

"Promise." The Sea Bonnies replied with a tone that sounded... shady.

"Weird." Rory thought as he brushed it off. "So, you won't really eva-por-rate?"

"We won't."

"Really-really!?"

"Really-really. It would need a big fire to get rid of us!" Rory gasped in horror at the divulgation. "A-And it's not like we would jump into one. So, don't worry."

Rory wiped away his tears. "Ok. If-if you say so."

He felt a bit better after that. He was really glad his new friends had come back. It was like they have never left.

This thought brought back the event of this morning. He hadn't been able to stop them during the whole day. The Sea Bonnies (and, fortunately or unfortunately, Emerick's statements) had helped him forgetting about it, if only a little.

But now that he was alone in a still a little puddly clearing, the thoughts were coming back stronger.

And with them, a feeling of worries, uncertainties and guilt.

"Do you think he'll come back?" He inquired.

"Who?" The Sea Bonnies answered nonchalantly.

"Mott."

"Oh, that guy! Meh, who cares. The onesie's probably out there bothering the fishes."

"But he wasn't there this morning! And he was sick for two days!" Rory said, lifting two fingers up at the end. "And don't say that! Mott is a cool older brother!"

"But then he flushed us in the toilet." The Sea Bonnies retorted.

Rory recoiled. "Yeah, but. But he didn't mean to!"

"Oh no. He did mean it when he flushed us." They revealed.

Rory was surprise by what his friends was saying. Did his brother really did that? And why were they so petty about it? (See, Mott? He remembered the word!) "Wha... why would he do that anyway?"

"Because he's a milksop, of course. What else would he be?"  Was the less kindly answer they gave him.

"Hey! That's mean!"

"But it's the truth."

"Ub..." The boy couldn't find anything to rebute against them. Why were they so mean with Mott? Ok, yes, he had flushed them in the toilet, but that's no reason the say this. And in that way! Maybe if he helps them talk to each others when Mott'll came back it could convince them to stop being so anti-anti.... bad to one another?

"That won't happen." The Sea Bonnies interupted his thoughts.

"What?"

"That won't happen." The Sea Bonnies repeated, still with the same unbothered tone they had since the beginning of the conversation.

"What won't happen?" He asked.

"Us and him being "friends". That won't happen."

"And why not!?"

"He flush-." "I know that, but that's not an excuse to just... not talk and make it better?"

"Oh, Rory. Rory, Rory, Rory." They started with a patronising tone. "Not everything can be solved with talking. Sometimes, you need to act. Like, for example, when that fish was all "swimmy-swamming" inside our tank, we couldn't "talk it out" with it. So, do you know what we did?" Rory shook his head. "We got inside it. By the mouth and the gills." They huffed. "The wimp was all wiggling around to stop its fate. That milksop saw it happening. He even ran out to get a fishnet! HA! What a wuss." They ended mockingly.

"... You ate Fritz!?" Rory said.

"From the inside, Rory. Don't forget from the inside." The Sea Bonnies dared to add.

They....

His... his friends ate Fritz!? Now that he think about it, Mott never said anything about Fritz. He didn't either, he was too focused over the loss of his empire-in-the-making. That's just more guilt to add at the pile. He really should do something about it. He promises himself, once Mott is back, he would-wait...

"Do you think he was right about being eaten by Sea Bonnies?" The voice of his mother resounded in his head.

....

Wait....

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, waIt, wait!

What?

This isn't...

He...

Rory's mind was on haywire. He couldn't comprehend what the words were implying. He couldn't believe what it would mean.

Because, if that was the case, this would mean his.... friends had.... had.....

He looked down at the crustacean floating inside the filled jar on the ground. A pure feeling of dread and angst was leaking from his eyes. The fears growing more and more as he sprout out his conclusion.

".....

You....

Y-you k-ki...

You kil-killed Mott?"

"Oh, snap."

"You killed my brother!?"

"Now, now. "Killing" is a bit much. We would say we... " They paused a second as they thought of what excuses they could make. While they were at it,  Rory stood there, trying to coerce them into giving him the answer he wanted by harboring a terrified and intimidating glare.

"...made him useful, for once?"

The fury and terror that erupted of the boy would have melt an ice cream in the arctic as Rory launched to the jar and hold it close to his face.

"YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!!!?"

"He flush-" "You KILLED HIM!?"

"Tsk. Oh, come on! Don't be such a crybaby. He had it coming by being all "wussy" and calling us ugly. Just because of a fish!? He tried to kill us, so it's totally natural to do the same to him. It's basic karma. You should tank us."

"Thank you!!?? For eating Mott!? For eating the best brother I could have!!??" Rory said, rightfully upset.

"Well, you did say he wasn't your brother anymore." The Sea Bonnies added to the argument.

The boy paused, stunned.

"Don't worry. We're your new best brothers. Even better than that skinsuit."

Rory couldn't understand what was going on. His fri... These pest ate his brother. And they dare calling themselves his better brothers!?

"Wh... why would you do that!?

Wha-what... what are you? Why are.... what do you want from me!!??" Rory asked. He was feeling an amount of emotions he had never felt before. Nor never guessed he would ever feel.

This was a nightmare. And it wasn't getting better as the Sea Bonnies replied at his last question.

"You wanted an empire, right?"

Rory harshly threw the jar on the ground shattering it in a myriad of sharp little pieces glitting under the sunlights, letting the content drying on the dusty floor.

"GIVE HIM BACK!!!" Rory begged. His face turning red and heated as a hot sauce. The skin was crumpling strongly all over his face, letting tears welling up from his eyes that were too small to contain them more longer.

"GIVE ME MOTT BACK! GIVE MY BROTHER BACK!!!!!!! GIVEHIMBACKGIVEHIMBACKGIVEHIMBACK!!!" Rory shouted as he ran out of the clearing, abandoning his fiend behind to sizzle.

He ran through the greenery of the greenbelt, not knowing where exactly he was going. But it had no importances to him. As long as he was far away from these monsters, he would be fine.

Everything would be fine.

He kept on running, even when he got out of the woods.

He kept on running, even when Danny and his mother cried out his name.

He kept on running, even when he crossed the road.

He didn't hear the voices telling him to stop.

He didn't hear the car speeding towards him.

He didn't hear the scream of terror shouting behind him.

He only kept on running, even when a breeze pushed him further away and the car about to hit him screeched its wheels on the asphalt of the street when the driver violently pressed the brakes.

He just kept on running.

He only stopped when he reached his house's front door. Too overworked by his panic to manage to open it, even though it wasn't locked.

The door opened and from the other side Mrs. Tabor greeted him.

"Rory?" She exclaimed, surprised by the state the boy was in and by what could have happened to put him like that as he rushed inside and collided into his mother.

He hugged her like she would too disappeared to nowhere.

"Rory, what's wrong!" His mother asked. Her voice not lacking of any form of concerns.

"Mom! TheSeaBonniesateMott!Theyatehim!Theyatehim!He'sde-dead!Theykilledhim!The-theykilledhii-iiii-iimmmhuuuuhuuuhhhuuuuuu!!" He huridly sputted out, pushing his head against her torso.

He stayed positioned like this for an unknown time, crying the small amount of tears left in him.

After his sobs faded away, Rory lifted his head. And he saw his mother looking at him with worried eyes, pinching her lower lips with her teeth. She does that when she is stressed out and overwhelmed or doesn't know what to say.

Which lead Rory to one conclusion.

She didn't believe him.

At that, he pulled away from her and hurried upstairs.

"RORY!" His mother cried out as he locked himself in his room.

He jumped on his bed and let himself drifted by his misery.

He stayed laying on top of the mattress thinking of the many thought of betrayals, griefs and guilts his brain could craft.

Thoughts of why he had brought those shrimps into their home.

Thoughts of him being praticly the one who had ended his brother's life.

Thoughts of him never being able to apologize to Mott for, now that he knows more, trying to save his little brother that he had always loved and cared so much.

The few days after the "stupid-dump-shrimp-fiasco", like Rory prefer to call it, Mott has been declared as missing.

No one seems to have seen him beside Claudia the clinic receptionist. She claims to have seen the boy very late at night. Not long after midnight, to be precise.

Base on her statement, Mott was looking sick, see through even. But his behavior didn't shown anything alarming.

He acted like everything was normal. He even talked to her like he was just taking a nice little walk.

A nice walk in the middle of the night and under a torrential rain. There were even thunders, not the kind of weather where "Everyone should be outside" like Mott had told her.

The young teenager wasn't the only one missing.

A ten years old boy named Emerick had also mysteriously vanished.

"Well, stupid Emerick was just a stupid fat potato.” Rory thought, brooding alone on his bed.

"Should he really talk like that about the guy? He may be dead too. Flushed away like with Mott. Like "they" did with his brother. Why did he thought it would be a great idea to bring those shrimps in their house?

Mott was right! They were disgusting monstrosities!"

Knock, knock, knock!

"Rory... are you there?" His mother called the other side of the bedroom door.

"No!" He replied.

"Please. You can't stay locked up in your room each time you're at home. Dad is here, you know?" She tried.

He didn't give her a reply this time.

"I'm worried." She waited and then sighed when the boy didn't look like he would react more. "What would you like for breackfast, sweety?"

"..... waffles." Rory mumbled loud enough to be heard by her.

"Ok. I'll go prepare it. Come when you're ready, ok?"

"...... ok."

She walked away.

He didn't want to get out of his room. The only time he does, is to go in the bathroom or at school. The latter helps him thinking of something else than the empty spot in the house or the blight intrusive thought and guilt that was perpetually plaguing his mind.

And right now, he didn't want to get out. But the waffles were tempting. And his dad was there too. The man isn't often there because of his commercial airline pilot work.

He should get out, right?

What does Mott would think if he saw him?

At that, a small draft gently tapped him on the shoulder. And he heard his mother calling him down the stairs.

"Rory! The waffles are ready!" She said.

He stayed under his covers for a few minutes until they slid off half of his body by another, stronger draft this time.

It was now too cold for him to linger more. He stood up and walked to the window.

It was closed.

And locked.

Rory gave it an odd look.

The door slightly opened more.

Ah...

That's where it came from.

He must have forgot to close it and his mother probably wanted to respect his privacy.

That was nice of her. He should be more grateful of his mom. She always do her best for her kids, even when she has a demanding job and a limited amount of free times.

His brother would always help her with the house and him.

He had taken Mott for granted.

And look where this has led him.

He's not going to do the same with his parents.

Rory walked out of his room and down the stairs.

As he entered the dining room, his father walked in from behind him.

"Hey there, champ!" The man ruffled his son's hair. Rory had no will to put it back. There were always some that refused to lie properly on his head anyway. So who cares? "How's it going today?"

"Fine." Rory said, lacking the usual enthusiasm the boy has every single days.

His father looked at his mother. They both shared worried look to each other.

The boy sat down at his seat and started eating his waffle. It was fluffy and sweet, just the way his mother knows how he likes them.

Just the way Mott knows how he likes them.

Rory sighed.

His parent conversed to one another about various subject.

What happened at their work, what their neighbors were up to, school, things like that.

Everything beside the obvious lack of someone seated on one specific chair.

This wasn't fair.

Why should his brother be gone?

Why was he gone?

Is it because he said he wasn't his brother anymore?

This is stupid! Mott is his brother. He was always his brother and he always will be!

So, why? Just why!?

He repeated the questions in his head.

Although, an answer was never received.

After finishing his meal, he put his plate in the sink and forced his legs to lead him to the bathroom so he could brush his teeth.

"One tooth at a time. On the front, the top and the back. Don't forget the corners." The memories of Mott's instructions kept looping in Rory's head as he do the task as taught.

The phone was ringing. He didn't give it any mind, though. He re-entered his bedroom, but, this time, he didn't closed the door.

"Maybe I could go ask Danny to play with Dapup?" He thought.

With that in mind, he strolled to his closet and drawers and lazily get himself dressed.

Halfway through it, someone knocked at his door. Rory turned at them.

It was his father. But the man was breathing a drastically different vibe.

"Rory..."

The boy stared at his father. A silent dread was gradually clawing at his insides each passing seconds.

"... They found him." The other revealed.

Rory's brows furrowed.

"They found Mott." When the words came out, the lips of the man curled up. "They found Mott." The joy and relief could be heard in his voice. Infecting the room as the man's eyes leaked a few tears.

"What?" Rory let out.

"He's at the hospital. We're going there to see him. So, hurry up." His father said, waving his hand up and down for him to rush up.

The boy was stunned by the reveal. He stood there, frozen.

"Hurry!" The dad repeated and walked out of the room.

Rory stayed immobile for a second.

He then rushed to dress up.

While doing so, his brain finally let the words said settled.

Was it real?! Was Mott really back?!

But the Sea Bonnies said...

Let's forget these idiots. They were just a bunch of jerks.

Mott was back.

His brother was back and that's the only thing that was important. Not some shrimps messing up with him.

Yeah, that's what it was. Just a bad taste joke.

His brother was back.

And they'll all see him at the hospital.

....right?

Well, no time to waste. He'll see there.

The family rushed in the car and drove in the direction of the hospital.

Not a word was spoken during the whole ride as the anticipation gnawed at all the occupants.

Even when they arrives at destination, they stayed mute.

They waited in the waiting room for an undetermined amount of time until a doctor came to get them.

As the group walk in the direction of Mott's room, the doctor has told them that the teen doesn't have "all his colors" and that his memory was "a bit squishy". Rory doesn't really know about what they meant by that.

They also said that therapy was recommended, both physical and mental. And that he kept asking for humans anatomy books, for some reason. Or more like "humans body books" as the boy has said.

And finally, the moment has come. The three now stand in front of the door that would tell them what happened to Mott.

Stating they weren't nervous would have been a clear lie.

Rory gulped his uneasiness as his parents opened the door. When they cross it, they were faced with someone who definitely appears to be Mott.

"Mott!" Their mother exclaimed and hurried to embrace her oldest.

Rory wasn't sure of what he was seeing. During the whole journey from their house to this room he was submerged by conflicted feelings charging at each other. But the ones he had chosen to listen, was the most optimistic ones.

But right now, the only thing in his mind was... 

Confusion.

Mott was looking pretty pale. Too pale. His skin had taken a blueish tint and was almost see through.

But even with all this, this wasn't what was giving the boy this weird vibe.

Mott was acting... odd.

He was... smiling. But not the natural smile he was used to.

No, this one was... strange. Inhuman. Like plastics.

He just.... He couldn't describe it. But something was telling him that something was wrong.

Something wasn't making sense. Like you had all the peices of of a puzzle. The exact same form.

But the image that result of it was...

Just not it.

Like some peices were red, while others were blue or purple.

But the colors the image is supposed to have was, in fact, green and yellow. Colors that were fluidly spreading in all the canvas.

While this one was just all isolated in their own little squares.

Words repeated themselves in his head.

"This is wrong."

"This is fake."

"That's not Mott."

"That's not m̶̧̢̛̘̘̘̰͇̖̣̬̠͉͉͙͌͆̐̓͒̅̄̆̕͜͠ĕ̸͎̦͙͖̬͜ͅͅ!"

Rory was getting a bit scared of this situation. Of these... feelings.

Mott was there but it was also not him.

He couldn't comprehend what was going on.

"Hey, Rory! Come here." "Mott"(?) told him.

He didn't move. He just stares.

"Come on. Come here! I won't bite." "Mott"(?) asked again.

Rory gulped and hesitently walked toward his brother(?).

He didn't get too close. Just enough to be beside the teen(?).

Just enough to see something... moving.

It wouldn't have been alarming if it was just a hair or an arm.

But this wasn't it.

What was moving.

Was happening inside.

More specificly...

Inside the eye.

Rory got chills. He lean closer and squinted at "Mott's"(?) eyes.

He sees it again.

The boy recoiled.

"Rory?" The guy sited in front of him said.

"What's wrong, Rory?" His father asked.

He didn't answer.

He couldn't speak. He couldn't move.

Couldn't think.

Because this couldn't be possible.

This couldn't be real.

But being eaten alive by small little sea creatures from the inside couldn't be possible either.

And yet, it did happen.

And yet, these little creatures had actually eaten his own brother alive.

And it seems that, that wasn't enough.

It seems that the world had decided that wasn't enough.

Because what Rory saw in those eyes.

What he saw in those globulous wet eyes that this Mott now possess.

What he saw was-

"SEA BONNIES!" He sunddenly screamed.

"What?" His father said.

"Sea Bonnies!" Rory pointed at the Mott. "This is Sea Bonnies."

"What are you talking about?" His dad ask, perplexed.

His mother just looked at him, her arms still holding the Not Mott.

"This is not Mott! This is Sea Bonnies! They... they..."

"Pretending?" Not Mott said.

"Yes! No! Stop that!" He said.

"Sorry, I was just trying to help." Not Mott added.

"NO! Stop!" Rory pushed his hands on his ears. "Stop pretending to be him! You're not him! You're not Mott!" He yelped, tears starting to leak out.

"Rory, what's going on with you?" Mom said with a soft worried voice.

"It's not him!" He cried out.

Marilyn looked at her husband. Who give it back with as much confusion as her. A secret conversation was shared between them. "Albert." Was the only words coming out of her mouth.

The father come near his son. "Rory. Let's go. Let's get out of here."

"What?!" The boy ask, abashed by his father's words.

"This is clearly overwhelming you a lot. Let's wait outside the room, ok buddy?"

"Uh... but... " He stuttered.

His dad putted a hand behind his back and calmly lead him outside. He didn't protest.

When the door closed behind them, Rory turned abruptly to his father.

“That’s not Mott! Why nobody wants to believe me!?” He said, tears now flowing in full display.

His father really didn't know what to answer. “He's... He’s just looking a little pale? That’s all.” Rory stares him with a look of hurt and betrayal. Albert sighed. "It's ok. Don’t worry. I’m sure with time, everything will be alright.” He put his hand on Rory’s shoulder.

The latter lowered his head and stood there.

After a minute, he walked at one of the chairs nearby, sited on it and pulled his knees up, taking a fetal position.

He shutted himself out of the world.

He just couldn't continue at the moment.

He was too tired.

It was just too much for him.

He stayed there. Not a move, not a word.

Totally closed of to everything around him.

He didn't react when his parents switched place.

He didn't react when his mother sat beside him.

He didn't react when she hesitantly put a hand on his back.

He didn't react when she gave him a defeated look. Not like he could see it anyway.

He followed them with no complain when they decided it was time to go. He didn't tune in the conversation his parents had on the ride. He, although, registered that the impostor had requested other books. All related to anatomies, behaviors and any other kind of humans centered stuff.

He also retained that Ron (or more like Dr. T for him) had called earlier and had proposed to help pay for half the prices of the therapies. His parents had try to stay modest about it, but they still ended up accepting.

When they get home, Rory ignored everything, even Danny calling his name. He just walked inside, got to his room and layed his back on his bed staring at the ceiling. And all that without attesting a single word or sign of any attention.

His mind wasn't connecting with the outside world.

The only thing that appear to give him a reaction, was the cool but warm constant zephyr that was rubbing his hair.

The feeling it gave him was... strangely comforting.

Rory closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Time flies, and a month has already passed away.

His parents have been visiting the Skinsnatcher times to times. Mostly his mother, his father's job could not be avoided and someone had to put money in the family's pockets.

As for Rory himself, he hadn't gone to the hospital since the first time. For the whole month he refused to get there under any circumstances. His parents could have tried anything, he wouldn't bouge. But they mainly let him be.

On one of the nights he wasn't sleeping, he had heard them speaking about him. Something about a doctor suspecting he could have something in his head.

"They said he may have cap-grass cinde-rome. What is a cap-grass? Mott would surely know what it means. The real Mott! Not this stupid namby-pamby brother killer! Well, whatever cap-grass is, he doesn’t have it!" He had thought at that time.

When he wasn't enclosed in his room or at school, he was being babysitted by their neighbors, the Fairchild.

He had tried to tell them about Not Mott, in fact, he had tried to tell everyone about them. Even that old mean teacher no one likes.

But no one believed him.

They either pitied him or find him crazy or that he was just a kid with a lot of imaginations.

None of this was helping him. His friends were even acting all carefully like he was a small, frail egg. And his classmates would leave him alone during group projects.

It was all really frustrating.

He had gone to the edge of the greenbelt behind his house at times to hit a tree with Mott's baseball bat to release his anger. If his parents noticed anything, they didn't voiced it.

Rory was now at the entrance of his house with his dad. The reason behind this was that the shrimps pile was released today. And they were brought back at their house. He had screamed in his pillow the night his mother told him the news. She said it with so much enthusiasm and relief that he was going to throw up from the excess of sweets she was spitting out.

"Come on, Rory. Be a bit more bright. Your brother is coming back! It's a very joyful day!" His dad said.

The thing is, he didn't want to celebrate. This wasn't "joyful" at all! It wasn't Mott they were bringing back. It was a bunch of smelly little pests!

His brother will never come back again.

His brother will never take care of him.

His brother will never play with him.

His brother will never tell him bedtime stories again.

They had killed him.

And now, they're going to pretend to be him like nothing happened!

"Look, it's them!" His father outed.

"Great." Rory thought, bitterly.

His mother's car pulled into the parking lot of the residence. And soon after, she got out of it. Followed closely by a perfect replication of Mott. A strong breeze whistled beside him, forming what he felt like a wall between him and them.

He-they looked... healthier. Way healthier than a month ago.

It was crazy how the skin now looked like a normal human skin, instead of some translucent (He had look at the word one day. No choice, now that his living-dictionary was gone.) blue squishy stuff.

They also acted more human. More "Motty-esque". For everyone else, at least.

Not for him.

They would never ever be able to imitate Mott. There was only one and he wasn't here anymore.

"Hey there, Rory. How's it going?" Not Mott asked him.

His father budged him a little with his hand, trying to incite him an answer. "Fine." He grumbled.

"Hehe. Well, that's good." The faker replied.

An awkward silence shrilled around them.

The breeze was also shrilling too.

"We should go inside. It's getting colder and I need to prepare the dinner. It's your favorite." His mom said, the last sentence directed to the flesh bag.

"Miam. I can't wait for it." Said Flesh Bag respond.

They entered the abode (but rather "intruded" in the case of the Sea Bonnies, in Rory's opinion). The whistling spread throughout the house.

"You can go relax in your room, Mott. You still know where it is, right?" His mother told the shrimps as she goes to the kitchen.

"Yes. No worries, mom. I remember where it is." The pests replied.

"That is not your mom!" Rory heatedly said in his mind. The whistling of the breeze took a higher pinch at the same time.

"She now is." A voice said through his head.

Uh?

Did he heard something?

That was weird.

He noticed that the shrimps had gone upstairs during his stunned pause.

"Dang it!" He thought.

Rory dashed to his brother's room. The draft following him was giving him strength in his move.

He felt more confident as he got closer to the door.

Rory barged in the room.

"You!" He seethed to the other while clacking the door behind him.

"Hey, Rory! Coming to help your brother settle in?" They said with a smooth voice, arboaring a sweet smile. "How nice of-"

"Shut up! You're not my brother! And don't pretend to be him! You're not him!!!" He interupted them.

"Now, it's not a way to talk to-Ouf!" They got interrupted again as Rory tackled them on the floor.

He pounded and scratched the imitator as if his life depended on it. It may have been the case, even! The whistling draft encouraged him.

"Stop it!" They growled and grabbed harshly Rory's wimpy arms. The aggressed was now the aggressor.

"OW!" Rory yelped.

"What are you doing!? Why are you so aggressive with us?!" Not Mott said, dropping the mask.

"Let go of me! Let go! Let go! Let go!" He kept screaming and screaming while trying to kicked at the monster holding him.

But they pinned him to the carpeted floor.

"Quiet!" Not Mott order, putting their damp hand on the young boy mouth. The latter was quick enough to firmly close it as something had hurriedly pushed his jaw. The briny smell was sickening.

A heavy silence weighted.

Rory use the opportunity to grab his opponent's side with his newly freed hand. The "skin" had an unnatural squishy sensation.

"Urgh! Stop that!" Not Mott said, dislodging itself from the hold by retracting the skin under the hand inside their own "body".

"Urk!" Rory though. The simple fact it has just fluidly slipped out of his hold was nasty and disturbing. It was a definitive testimony that the being on top of him was unquestionably not human.

"I don't understand why you are acting like this? We're doing this for you!" Rory grab their neck. "Gnrrr. If you stop fighting and screaming, we'll stop holding you." They proposed.

Rory stopped.

They had just talked to him. In his mind!?

That explain a lot.

"Like I would listen to you!" He answered the Sea Bonnies.

"Remember that fat bully?" The statement stunned Rory. "We can do this to more people, if you want? Oh, I wonder who it could be? Mmmm... What about that neighbor's dog? Oh! What about its little master? What was his name again? Oh right! Danny!" Rory's eyes widen at the revelation. "So, what do you say?" They taunted. Their little smirk pissed him off.

The red haired put down his hand and stopped struggling. He still kept a fiery glare at the other one, though.

"Good." The amalgamation said, releasing its hold and standing up soon after. Rory does the same and quickly takes a few steps back, away from the disgusting mass of crustaceans.

"Now then-" They started, dusting its sleeves. "We should really rectify this behavior, Rory. We can't go on like this if you start creating a war where it isn't needed." They start walking towards the boy. He start backing off simultaneously. "Don't worry. This will be painless and would only take a day at most."

Rory's thoughts were speeding frenetically inside his mind.

He had to find a way to get out of this.

He can't ask for help to anyone.

His parents would thought this is just a normal siblings banter.

Other adults wouldn't take him seriously and his friends already think he is just overwhelmed or sick.

And he can't reach out to Mott anymore.

The Sea Bonnies reached a hand to him as the draft grew in strength and intensity, giving the air in the room a thicker, more stifling atmosphere. It let the action become more harduous, somehow.

"WAIT!" He shouted.

Not Mott freezes, but resumes its advance at a slower pace.

Rory step back and waited a second to recollect himself.

He took a breath and let the fears and nervousness out when he released it. "If your goal is to pretend to be someone, don't you think doing to me what you did to Mott can't work?" He started.

"I was able to find out, do you think my parents won't notice too?"

The imposter halted.

"...ah." Not Mott let out. Their "eyes" widen and their "mouths" opened. The agape expression offered a comical touch despite the situation they were in.

"I can always do it to them then?" They suggest.

"You can't just keep replacing people, doofus! It wouldn't be them, it'll just be you!" Not Mott lifted a brow. "I-I..." He closed his eyes.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." He thought.

He opened back his eyelids and glare at the other. "I can't be your brother if I'm dead."

At that point the imposter actually stopped what they're doing. "Really?"

"Neither if you try hurting anyone." Rory added for good mesure.

Not Mott start rubbing their "chin" as they thought about it.

"So, if we understand it well..." They began with. "If we both don't cause any troubles to each other, we could be brother forever?" They concluded.

"Uuuuuuuuhhhhhh...... yeah?" He replied. "Like hell I would see you as a brother." He thought.

"Just pretend then." The telepath's voice resonated in his head.

"Oh right, crap. They can read mind." Rory thought.

"We sure can." Not Mott retorted his berating.

"Ok, if I have to pretend, can you, at least, stop with the whole mind reading thing? Mott never did that." He stated. "You can't be him if you do that!"

"Alright, alright." They sighed. "No more mind readings."

They tended a hand. "Truce?"

Rory, defeated, reluctantly accepted and took the hand. "Truce."

Knock, knock!

They both turned at the door where "their" dad was.

"Rory! Mott! Dinner's ready!" The man said and walked away as quickly as he came.

"Alright, we're excited to see how our "favorite meal" taste like." The false brother said and walked at the door.

They stopped at the threshold. "We're really overjoyed you broth us here, little brother." They stepped out of the room.

"Yeah.... right." Rory mumble in his head. He let himself rethink of everything he had done in his path to have reach the point he now is.

The guilt and loss weighed heavily on his whole being, but no ears existed for his mouth to tell about them.

A cold, comforting touch was felt on Rory's shoulder as the last gleam of the boy's light extinguished from his eyes.

It's been seven years.

Seven years since this stupid game has started.

Seven years since he lost his brother.

He's tired of it.

Exhausted of it.

The first few years was hard.

But he got the hang of it after a while.

Since then, he hasn't been who he was like before all this.

No more running.

No more yelling.

No more energic behavior.

Just quiet and calm.

He didn't want to play much anymore.

Pretending is tiring after all.

Everyone around was worried. Confused. How does a little boy so joyful and playful, all lively and without a care, could become so silent and tranquil. So dull. And in such short time?

He was just so tired.

So sad.

So.... empty.

But he couldn't do anything about it.

He was powerless, useless in all this.

What was done was done. And he has to move on from this.

Like this was easy to do.

There was nothing to help him. To save him.

He could still go play with his friends. Could still be with his parents. Could still talk to them. He could still lives his life like any normal kids his age.

But how could he live?

How could he live when one of the people he loves the most was gone. Erased from existence in one night.

How can he keep at it? How can he be there? When Mott couldn't?

And why must he be the only one to know?

Why must he be so alone?!

His parents have send him to several therapists.

It helped. A little.

But he couldn't tell them about what the actual problem was. How could he!? No one would believe him!

But the sessions did gave him some resolves. An outlet. Something that he could use to go on.

And that's what he did.

He made up a small tombstone in his backyard. A bit further in the greenbelt. Hidden for no one to see.

He didn't wrote any name. Just in case someone find it and ask questions.

If someone would inquire him about it, he would just have to say it was for Fritz.

He would go everyday at the stone to talk to Mott and putting some flowers. It was the closest thing he had of his brother. Even though, some weird.... "feelings" was constently present around him.

He doesn't know what it is. It was always there. Since that day. He thought it was just a breeze, some draft of wind.

But it's kind of hard to see it as such when he wasn't in any "windy" places. He didn't mind it much, though. It was pleasent. Comforting. So, he just let it be.

He likes to pretend it's his brother following him. Guarding him.

It was the only front he wasn't tired of. The only one he was happy to have.

He was in one of his little talk with Mott's stone.

This one was like any others. But the boy was feeling less enthusiastic than usual.

"Today, at school, we had to race in P.E. And, yes! I did fell on my face. But at least I won fourth place!" He said to the stone.

"I'm sure you're still laughing at me even with that." He deadpanned. "Haha. Very funny." He add, sarcastically.

“Oh! And guess what!?" He purked up a little at his next words.

"Riley won first place again! They’re so great!” He looked down. He couldn’t stop his smile to grow larger, and his cheeks started to blush. “A-and no, they’re not a crush!” He added as an excuse, pointing at the stone. His reddening face didn’t made it convincing.

He sighed. “I’m sure, if you’re looking at me, you must be making that big, stupid looking grin on your face.” Rory stated, annoyed.

He huffed and looked at the ground.

"It's tomorrow." He morosedly said after pausing for a minute. His hands tighten a little.

"I'll be fourteen... I'll be fourteen while you'll still be thirteen." He glared at the grass.

Fourteen.

He's at the start of his teenage years. This felt weird. It already have felt weird when he hitted 13 last year.

"I guess... I guess it'll always feels weird." He whispered to himself outloud.

Time was passing. He was getting older. This past year, he has hitted one of his biggest growth spurt he had ever imagine. It probably won't be his last one either.

He had seen his reflection through the mirror this morning and had thought for a moment his brother had come back. The real one. He had feared for a moment that Mott was now haunting him, but no. It was actually himself.

Just little Rory. Who was now big Rory this time.

He couldn't believe it at the time, but right now, while he's sitting in front of Mott's gravestone, standing still in all its glory with faded blue hyacinths and forget-me-nots all around, he can't brush off the feeling of how he's growing to look like him.

He does still have his mother's features. Something his brother never had. But they do have the same father.

And the fact he had started to behave more like Mott, and especially since that pest has gone abroad, probably help a lot in that viewpoint.

He sighed at it. Acknowledging the fact that he'll never be able to forget his brother, no matter what.

Not that he wants to forget him.

But having your brother's face doesn't always help in your grief.

"I miss you." He lifted his head. "I wish you would be the one celebrating my birthday with me. Instead of this glorified fish bait." He waved his hand at nowhere.

"Speaking of them, they're coming back tomorrow from their medicine school. I'm not excited. I would have prefered they stayed there! Or just... be gone for once! And why medicine!? To be a doctor!? Is that even something you wanted to be?!" Rory rambled.

He sighed and putted his hands on his face. 

After a few seconds, he raised his knees to his chin and rolled his arms around his now quite long legs. "I was starting to feel a bit more like myself. Not like I would ever get back to my old attitude from back then." He huffed and waited. "I guess... I'm just use to be like this? The old Rory is gone." His eyes stares at the top of the trees in contemplation. "Gone with you."

Rory felt an "arm" wrapping around his shoulders.

He stayed like that for a moment.

His eyes goes back to the makeshift grave.

"Whatever. I've been playing this little game for years. I'm kind of an expert now." He told his brother.

The teen stood up. "It's getting late. Our parents are going to run around hysterically if I don't get back now. You know how they can be." He looked at the stone one last time.

"...I'll come back tomorrow evening. Or night. But... I hope you'll still come to the party." Rory asked Mott.

"Ok, bye." He lifted his hand. "Wish me luck!" He said as he started walking away.

He'll need it for tomorrow's party. He's not going to let "them" downing his mood.

No matter what, he's going to mettle it!

The next morning, Rory had woken up early.

He didn't want to receive an unpleasant surprise by a salty intruder as the first thing he'll get today. Especially since today was his birthday.

After his usual morning routine of eating breakfast, working out, jogging and finishing it all off with a well-deserved shower, he comes face to face with the height of his misery as he walks out of his room.

"Ah!" The thing stopped in their "wandering". "Hey there, birthday boy!"

Rory sighed. "Hello, Nemo."

"Nemo, uh? No more NoMo?" The newly named one questioned.

"It means Nobody." Rory replied and start walking to the stairs.

"I think it's also a movie, if I remember well." Nemo said, holding their chin as they reflected on it.

Rory paused to stare at them, still taking a deadpan face.

"Well, anyway. I have a new nickname now." They ended up with a grin.

"... Whatever." Rory went down the stairs.

"Eheh, teenagers." The intrudor let out and entered Mott's bedroom.

Rory gets in the kitchen, looking at his mother listing up everything for the coming party.

She was pretty good at it. Of course, it's her job! She always worked hard in anything she does. Even on getting her own event-planning company. Which would come to fruition in a few month. He was proud of her.

And he was sure that Mott was too, wherever he was.

"Ah, look who's there! The birthday boy!" His father exclaimed as he entered the room.

He huffed, satisfied by the man's salute. "Hi dad."

"How is our big boy today?" Said man asked him.

"Uh... " He whirred. "Not much?"

"Not much!?" His dad turned to his wife. "Did you heard that Mari?" He turned back to his son. "How can it be "not much"? It's your big day!"

"It's just a day like any others." Rory said.

"It's not like any other day when you have your birthday party at Freddy's." His mother inserted herself in the conversation as she finally settles down in her preparations.

Rory moaned, bugged by what the implications was.

"Next year, can we do it elsewhere than at Freddy's?"

"What? Too old for Freddy now?" His mother smirked at him.

"It's not that." He paused to think over it. "Ok, maybe it's that."

"It's not just that, but it sure is one of the reasons. Not the main one, though." He added in his mind.

"Yep! Our youngest is getting old. That's not helping making us younger." His father said.

"Oh, hush, you." The woman in the house sushed her husband. She looked at the teen.

After a moment, she start walking to him. She put her hands on both side of his head.

"My baby is becoming a beautiful young man." His mom fondly proclaimed, holding said young man in a way only a mother can.

"Moooom." The young man groaned.

She gazed at him for a moment.

"You look just like your brother at your age. Besides the hair color, the eyes, the freckles... Oh! And you're taller too!" She eventually outed and let down her hands.

Rory stopped, stunned. The last words hitted him more than he expected.

He huffed. "I look more like you." He tried to rebute.

"You're a perfect mix of your two parents." His mom started, pointing a finger at him. "And Mott looks a lot like your father. So, you do have some similarities." She paused to look up and down at him once more. "And these similarities had been becoming more and more frequent for a time." She concluded. Her tone was giving a contrasting amusement and concern.

Rory ruminates a bit over that thought after that.

"Are we getting to that party or are you all keep standing there all day?" And the parasite did what they did best, ruining the peace of his life as they intruded in the kitchen.

"Right! You can't be late for your own birthday!" His mom said, pointing at Rory again. "Our reservation last only an hour. Better go now!" She rushed to her list to look at it one final time before getting her purse. "Come on! Shop-shop!" She ended with while walking out the room. His dad followed her.

Rory then turned to Nemo. "Thank you." He sarcastically told them, eyes glaring them.

"Your welcome." They answered smugly. Rory rolled his eyes.

They both joined Rory's parents.

The party wasn't that much extravagant. He did ask for it to be this way.

He mostly spend time at the arcade with Danny and Ben. Meanwhile, his parents were conversing with the facsimile of a brother.

It was fun. He was able to put his mind elsewhere. But, came what it usually is tradition in a birthday party.

The cake.

The pastry wasn't what was dreading him. No, he was very enthusiastic at the idea of tasting its icing.

The thing that troubled him (beside the fake brother) was more symbolic.

You see.

A birthday cake symbolise the end and the start of a cycle.

It indicates you have passed another year of your life, and you're starting another one.

His thirteenth year is coming to an end. And his fourteeth will begin the moment he blows the candles.

Being done, it would also indicate he would accomplish something Mott has never achieved. And that scared him.

So, he wasn't too eager onto this phase of the celebrity. But he has to do it anyway. Like life was fair in the first place.

He is seated at the table. Surounded by his loved one (+ one abomination). They are all singing for him (his dad and Ben weren't good singer. But, to everyone's surprise, Danny was very impressive). And it's while all of this is happening, he psyched himself onto the inevitable.

The cake stand in front of him. Candles standing still like pillars, letting each of their individual flames dance in the airs. Rory close his eyes, focusing on his wish.

The later was though for years. One simple wish. The wish to have been able to apologize to Mott. To tell him he loves him and that he's a great brother. The presence was felt, sitting beside him. He was the only one to notice it. It was also the closest thing to the teen.

And at that moment, he felt more at ease. He smiled and thanked the presence for attending his birthday.

He blew his candles.

"And there it is. He’s older than Mott now." Rory thought, melancholically.

Everyone cheered him. And soon after, the cake was sliced for each of the guests. It was also soon devoured by everyone too.

Not too long after that, the hour was quickly over. His friends said one final happy birthday and their goodbyes. His parents gave him a hug (the umpteenth one for his mother). And lastly, came the pretender's time to bestow the personal laud.

They both stand face to face. Rory being two inches taller than the other gave him a small sense of superiority. The teen could hear a small snort beside him.

"Well. Happy birthday, little brother." Nemo said.

"Little, uh?" Rory couldn't resist the urge to point out. More giggle was heard.

Nemo huffed. "You know what I mean."

"Whatever. Just do your thing." Rory rushed the other.

The sac of shrimps embraced the birthday boy. It was cold. Nothing compared to any normal humans. Of course, it wasn't human anyway. Rory hopes they'll burn in a fire.

"I'll try to pretend to have not heard that." Nemo said within his mind.

"What did we said about mind reading?" The teen took no time in retorting.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Nemo ended the hug. "Now, I would like to stay for longer, but I have a train to take."

"You're sure you can't stay for one more day?" Rory's mother asked the fake.

"Mmm... I could stay the night, but I'll have to go early in the morning." They replied her.

Rory internally huffed at that. He walked out of the restaurant with his family and the intrudor.

This whole thing ended with a soft tap on his back. Rory was really grateful of it.

Two weeks after the party, the celebrations wasn't as festive.

In the middle of the previous week, a building in the city Nemo was studying catched on fire. Taking with it many lives.

It happens that Nemo was also in that building during the incident.

And they were one of the victims too.

Rory was intensely keeping his rejoicings at peace inside of him.

"Not now, Rory. You can celebrate later. When no ones is around." He kept telling himself times to times.

They were all at a funeral parlor. Photos of all the deceased were lined up on a table against one of the walls. Including the fake adult version of Mott.

Rory was staring at it for a time. Disgusted by the image.

This wasn't his brother. His brother never got the chance to get at that age. But he has to keep all those feelings of hatred and anger to himself. Everyone would see him as rude, crazy and, most of all, disrespectful. It wouldn't help anyone. It wouldn't do anything either.

So, he stood there, glaring at the picture. Hoping the monster could still hear his thoughts from where he was.

He must have done so for quite a while, because someone had stopped at his side. He turned his attention to this newcomer. It was a lady around "Nemo's age". Maybe a bit older even.

She has a slightly tanned skin and dark brown hair.

She was also looking sorrowful (obviously, its a funeral.), but she was exuding something more. Fear? Dread? Confusion? He didn't know.

"Are you his brother?" She said, still staring at the picture.

"Oh! Uhm... yeah." He replied, stunned by being suddenly talked.

"Figured... You do look the same."

"Sure." He thought.

A slow silence fell. She looks uncertain of something. Like she wasn't sure of what was in her mind would be appropriate to tell.

".... I saw him dying." She ended up saying.

Rory looked at her brusquely, eyes widening. "Really!?" He asked.

She slowly breathed. "... yeah."

The teen kept his eyeing. ".... and?" She turned her head at him. She frowned a little. "I mean.... how did he die?" He asked. "I-if that's ok with you to tell. You don't.... You don't have to if you're too uncomfortable with it." He rushed to add, realizing it may have sound a bit harsh and insensitive.

"..." She paused, thinking about it while her eyes were still on him. She looks back at the picture. "Everything was in flame." She started. "...And hot. We were all looking for an exit."

"People were panicking.... running everywhere. Some were rocking in a corner. It was intense."

Rory looked at her, worries in his eyes. He didn't want her to relieved what was probably one of her most terrifying experience she may have. But he couldn't stop the thrilled of knowing if the bastard had sufered. And also, be sure they were definitely gone forever. He subtly gulped.

"I was standing in front of Mott. He seemed.... more... I don't know. Dried? His breath was labored and he kept asking for water. He looked desperate. It was..."

"Scary?" He said, trying to help her with recounting her story.

"... yeah." She paused.

Rory looked away from her to stare at the photo.

"... He was.... sweating. And a lot. Of course, you would sweat in a fire but he... He was sweating so much it was like... "

"Like what?" He asked.

She looked at him. "... Like he was made of water."

"Sure he was! It's probably what's they're mostly made of." He thought, scorning the being. He refrained from showing it on his face.

"But that's not all." She added. Rory looked back at the lady. "He... I tried to... to helped him. He visibly wasn't feeling well and I wanted to calm him. But then..." She paused. "He started to...."

He stared at her. "To what?"

She took a breath. He could easily read the confusion and fear in her eyes.

"He started... to melt." She revealed.

"Melt?" He questioned, brows frowning in perplexity. He must have said it out loud because she quickly replied him.

"Yeah. Like an ice cream under the sun or a... like a stick of butter in a pan?" She said, looking genuinely taken aback by the whole event.

Rory was looking at her in an equal uncertainty. But in the inside, he was elated. In a pure sensation of ecstasy.

The thing was gone. Truly gone! Burned down and suffocated. He wasn't serious in his wish, but damn he felt good by it.

After both standing in front of the pictures for a while, the lady began talking again.

"My condolence for your lost and... I'm sorry if what I said was... inappropriate." She said.

"Oh no, it's okay. I mean..." He stared at her, thinking of what he would say next. "Thank you. For telling me." He concluded with sincere gratitude.

The lady nodded and walked away.

With the news of the crayfish gone forever, Rory was in a complete euphoria within himself. But he wasn't in an appropriate place to let it out.

He then so stayed close to his parents for the rest of the ceremony. His mother had burst into tears at the buryal of the ashes. It was heartbreaking to see her like that. More so since the one she was crying for was just not the actual person she was greiving for. That one didn't get any of it at his real dying time.

There weren't even anything in the urn.

He had stood there, gazing at the grave from afar. All the while, he had kept thinking about the same desires:

To carve the letters on Mott's tombstone so that the date would be the right one.

But he decided on not doing it.

This is not Mott's actual stone, after all.

Later that evening, after the ceremony has ended some hours ago (They did not stay the entire duration, having left an hour before the end), Rory had got out to the greenbelt in the back of his house to give his brother an actual funeral.

He deposited a white orchid in front of it.

"They're gone." He said after not doing anything other than standing there staring down at the stone for an unknown amount of times. "Your killers... are finaly gone." He choked out, voice shaking at the end as a single tear leaked out from one of his eyes. He fell silent, not knowing what else to say.

It was done.

This game.

This suffering.

This loneliness.

This charade. All of this has finaly ended.

He could finally let out everything he had kept in him. Locked in his heart, unable to share it to anyone else.

He was free now. Free from all the chains that he had no choice to keep on him from so many years.

His walls were so thick, he was scared he could never be able to break free from them.

But at the simple look of the tombstone, the actual one that the rays of the setting sun were shining to, letting it sparkled like it never has before, his cell fell down.

The lifted pressures gave him a peace he desperately wanted, desperately needed. He embraced it with open arms.

Tears were slowly flowing one by one from their eyelids. Small sobs he could barely contain skittered out of his mouth.

The dam has broken.

A cold air wrapped around him like a blanket or a hug. It felt weirdly warm and comforting.

Rory didn't mind it, though. He let his knees hit the ground, and his body leans toward the stone.

And after all these years, he finally let himself cried for his brother.

Chapter Text

The kid ate its dad’s corpse.

Chapter Text

The day advence in a neutral and peaceful way as it usualy goes.

The sun's shone upon the ground, momentarily obstructed by clouds times to times.

Children play around at different games. Only limited by their own imaginations. Competitions among siblings could be heard by the parents chatting to each others on nearby benches.

The crickets are singing. Butterflies glides to flowers to flowers. A raven can be seen perched on a tree branch, looking down to a group of people harboring expressions that were contradicting the scenery.

One of them march solely despite being surrounded by supporting peers. Connor would have preferred to be at home, lying on his bed. Instead, he has to go out and walk with these people constantly giving him pitying and condolences looks.

He doesn't care. Doesn't care about them. Doesn't care about their empty apologies and fake sympathies. They were only moldy hypocrites. And he was the worst of all of them.

"Every day of your life, you tell me how you're the best and I'm nothing. That I'm a loser."

He looked down on the pavement, trying to shake away his thoughts. A moth laid there. It's teared wings lamely flapping up and down by the winds. It's body still, intact. Immobile like it was just napping there, taking a sun bath. He step on it and continue on his path.

He may not want to be outside, but he can't let himself not to do so. Not today. Not with what this gathering was about.

Because this was nothing less than a funeral.

And not one like any others.

This one was his younger brother's.

Tobes would really be annoyed by that. And he can't even complain about that. Anyway, it's not like he was there to whine, right?

...

Right...

"Don't act like you care."

Connor stopped at the funeral home's gates. He shook his head and turned it elsewhere to refresh his crumbling thoughts a bit.

He stared at the other side of the road. A lady was seated at a boba tea parlor.

"Weird place to put that." He thought.

Said lady suddenly stopped sipping her tea and turned her head at him. She then started to give him a shining and bright, uncanny smile and waved at him.

He frowned at her. “Weirdo.” He mumbled. The lady giggled, like she actually heard him and was finding him and his situation amusing.

Connor turned and walked in the lesser sweet parlor.

There were more people than he thought. Some even were students from Toby’s (and his old) school.

They were whispering among themselves about trivial stuffs.

“I heard that Mr. Dillonhall got suspended for psychological abuse and neglect.” Insignificant student #1 said.

“Those are just rumours.” Another, more bored one, replied.

“But he did get suspended!” The Insignificant one added with fervor.

The Bored teen rolled their eyes. "Sure." They said.

Connor tuned out the useless conversation. They were all. They weren't of any importances.

Why were they here?

Toby didn't have any friends! Not after- what was his name?

Right, Manny.

The guy wasn't there!

Does he even know about Toby? Would he have come if he did?

"Whatever. You only care about yourself and how you think you're the best at everything."

It doesn't matter. Now is now. He has to think about more important issues. Like being the perfect representation of a responsible young man. A responsible older brother.

"He has to be good. He has to be great. He has to be better.

Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better. Better.

B̷̬̲̭̫̜͉͉̥̟̩̍̓̓͐͆̂ḙ̷̞̲̯͍̘͕̜̱͆̓̊̈́̀̄͛̍̋̽̍͗t̴̛̹̯̾͗̀͆̓͒̏̑̀̕͝ţ̷͚͔͎̭̗̠̲̣̥̠̞͕̉͐ͅe̷̛̩̬̦̼̝̋̐̉̔̔́̈́̕r̶̡̡̤̣̮̂́̽̈̅̐̈́̅͘͘.̵̬̳̤̟͉͓̠̲̤͎͐̉̏̀́͜ ̴̢̛̣̞̳̱̭̟͖̱̹̞͙̮͂̂̿̈͆̉͘͜͠͝͠Ḇ̶̧̢̨̞̹̬̱̊̎̐̃̐͂̽̕̕̕͜͜e̶̢̥̟̘̼̯̞̙͗̓̿͛̿͆̽͛͛́͌ț̶̨͕͕̰̪̫̳̠͊t̶̜̖́̂͗̓e̷̥̪̯̰͋̅̓͗̎̈́̒̇̔͠͝ͅŕ̴̨͍̭̝͕͖̀͒̈́̏̆̔́͆͊̑̐.̵̨̨̧̡͔͙̰̝̲͉͕͖͚̇͆ ̸̟͕̞͈̺̫͓̲͎͉͖̀̍̉̅̌̈̿̎͑͠B̶͈̍́̌e̶̖̗͈̙̺͈͚̦̍͊̊̇̓͘̕͝ẗ̸̡̝͉̠̭̭̟̩̫͓̘́̾̇͛͑̆̒̃̑̃̚͝t̴̬̺̰͚̰͈͔͔̹̤̙͍̻͍̳͐ȩ̵͉̝̝̱̠͔͖͈͕̈́͑́̑͗̐̑̂̈́̀̃͝͝r̸̼͚̯̉̈̀̀̿̽͗̏̃̔͘.̷̣̜̯̮͇͎̳̤̩̃̆̄͑̌̈́̑̈́͜ͅ ̵̞͖̾͛͑B̴̤̜͙̜͚̹̪́ę̷̨̩͕̘͇̗̪͇̻̏͗̍̔͛̊̉͘ţ̸̻̝͇̙̳̱̲̙̉̆̏̋̽̆̅͊̀͑͂̌̂͂́ͅt̶̯̱͖̝͍̜̱̯͍͗̓é̷̺̻̺̺̟̜̝͖͍̟̼͜͠ṙ̷̨͇͍͇̣̺̫̀̉̽̊̋̎̂.̶̖̱͇͉̻͎͉̥̝̫̙͇̝̜̬͆̽̍̎̈́̉͗̈́̀͊̈́͗͘͝ ̴͔͖̮̹̞̼͎͂͆͋̾͝͝B̷͎̯͙͓̲͎̞̼̼͎̞̲̙̍̀e̵̩̔̑͌̎͐͂t̶̬͎̙̦̖̟̪̺̣͓̘́͐̈̑͗͆̇̏̾ͅţ̸̘̯̗͍͔̰͍̟̆̊̓͗͝ͅe̷͖̗̓̈́ṟ̴̡̛͕̤̠̦͍̹̙̀̃̏͊̂̌̆̎͗̔̓͒̚.̸͎̱͇̜̤̼̗̼̫͔͌͗͗̏͒͛̑͆̔͌̽̚͝ ̸̛̛̬̎̾̓̐̐͆͆͜B̶̖̮̗͍̣͍̉̄̍̐e̴̥̗̤͚̔̆͐̀̃t̵̛̪̞̖̟̜͂̈́́̍̌̈́̆̀̀̅̓̕t̴̨̙͓͙̟͔̪̳̟̬̞̃͒̇͛̅̔̍͝ē̸̡̛͎̹̟̭̓̐̑r̵̛̜͖̤͋͋̇̐̎̽͛̈̓̓̂͝.̵̼͈͉̈́̈́̋̚ ̸̨̢̛̛̘͙͕̲͈͚̱̥̌̿͆̓̓̎͘B̵̧͎͚̙͚͋̅̏̇̇͑̓̿̾͐̆͋͝ḛ̶̘̞͙͙̱̺̣͕͖̯̼̼̪̈ṯ̵̣̜̭͍́̍͘̚ṭ̸̡̻͍̼͉̮̩̗̖͍̱̩̈͂͆͂̂͆̓̐ȩ̴̡̛͊̈̀̌̏́̌̇́̈̈́́̒̽r̴̯̗͇̙̎̂̈́͒͆̇̈́͝.̶͚̬̋̑͋̄̾̅͝ ̴̨̢͚̹̅̅͗͊͒̊̎̚͜B̸̧̛̺̞͎̗̮̖̯̳̝͉̱͖́̓́̿̒͆̆͑̓̒͘͜ę̷̨̣̫̲̭̘̥̘̦̪̬̂̽͗̈́̀̈́̎͜ť̵̨̢͖̗̥̭̫̥̞͈̝͇̻̇͒̈́͂̽̆̃̾͐͠͝͠ͅt̴̢̧̰̭̻̦͖̘̲̺̟͓̥̄́̃͑̌̌̈́̂̀̈́ȇ̵̢̬̪̔̑̍͝r̷̢̛̋͆̅̅̎̓͌̅̊̑̊̈͐.̴̡̪̱͕͍̘̦̥̗͐͂̋̒̄͗̏͐̽̅͗ ̵̧̢̡̺̰̹͈̫̹̯͎͛͊̑̈́̾̿̒̿̆́͝B̴̨̼̻̱͙̓̎͑̓̏̈́́̽̎̋͑̅̋͘ȩ̷̲̻͕̈́̇͋t̵͙̼̾̈́̃̅̊̀̐̈͐̈́͊t̴̡̰̬͎̺͚̯̮͔͑̿̌ë̴͈̦͕̭̬̼̣̱̥̜͓͙̰̯͈́̃̇̊̃̒̽̔̍̐̾̾̆̀͝r̷̨̛̺̦̼̱̫̥̦̖̬̍̅̇̒̈́̊͗̋̏͗̍͑͘ͅ.̷̼̙͖͙̙̱̖͈̖̀̔̀̎̽̇̕͠ ̷̨̛͙̹̰̀̽̀̄̈́́͑̿̚Ḅ̷̥͉͗̏é̸̡̢̛͙̲͕͍̞̗̙̝̗͕͊̿̀̈́̎͂̐̏̅̒̆̊͘t̶̜͕̱̭͇̏̈́͗̅̆̈́̾t̷̛̛͙̋̐́͐̄̄̈́̈́̑͋̚͠e̸̡̥̞͉͓̤͚͔͎̠̳͛̊̌̃͒̋͆͆͆̕ͅr̶̲̲̪͒̓.̶̢̪̯̠͔͖̙̄̽͒̿̃̑̅͂̿͘͝ ̸̧̨̛̬̥̞͈̩̪̓̑̾̾̍̽́̓́̑͘͜͠ͅB̵̝͊͌̎ȩ̵̡͇̻͚̟̩̝͎̝͙̺̲͖̋̌̈́̓̎̊͊̉͛͋̓̂̓̕͜t̷̛̞̜̩̙̪͕̪͎̜͈͎̘̓̀̈́̈́̔͂̔̌͘̚ţ̵̟̀͐͊̅̉̀̍̃́̇̂̕ȅ̴̲̟̭r̸̲͎̬̪͕̱̩͛͜͜.̸̫̈ ̴̗̥̹̝̊̽̏́̍̎̄̔Ḇ̶̨̧͉̫̰͔̪̘͉̤̐̿̋̈́̀̋͌̎̚͝e̸̢̖͓͇̟̰͎̓̈́̌͆̈͗͆̂̊́͂͊͠t̷̳͖̜̗͖̯̬͊̽̀̅͒͌̊̈́̒̃͘͜͜͝ẗ̴̝̹̠̩̬̝͓͎̱̈́̊̎é̴͎͔͈̲̻͔̜̈̀̔̐̄̈̎ṟ̵̢̼̝̗̥͗́̓͝.̷̻͂͛̂̍̿͂͊͠ ̵̲̂͌͗̃͊̉́͛͆͒̒̕͝B̷̪͚̖̠̯̳̆͜è̶̪̣̬͖̠̮͎̜̯̉͗̿t̴̯̬̣̥̘̾̌̉̔̋̆͐̈́͐͂̈́̕t̷͍̱͛̒̋̐̍e̷̡̨̟͙̗̫̲͓̲̅̑̌̓̅̋̓͗̋̐͋̄̋͘͝ŗ̶̻͔̻͓̘̥̯̟̯̈͂̂̕.̸̧̧̛͉̻͔̪͔͒̂͌̈͛̎̅̒͋̅ ̵̨̨̢̛͙̻̳͎̬̞̱̺͙̼̝̫̊̆͗̀͝B̷̤̹͈̮̻̯̼̑̆͑̀̅͋̑ͅë̵̡͙͈̤͓̣̘̱͉͔̹̬́̂̍̾̐͑̀͊̃̚͠͝͠t̸̠̦̙͗̊̌̒t̶̡͖͍̬̦̹̫͇̓͆̆͒́̔̏̒̽̈̕͝ͅe̸̡͕̻͌̍̃̔̔̿̏͒͒̕̚r̶̛͕͕͇̔̄̈͝.̵͍̖̗̊͒̍͝ ̸̛͕̣̤̟̟͕͂̓̊̾̅B̶̢̟͙͚̩̞̠̣̟͗͗̾̀͐̀̊̍̂̅͝͠ę̴̨̺̹̩̹̩͂̓̀̎̂̂̊t̸̡̡͕̮͓͓͊͜ţ̴̡̩̜̱̯̘̩̻̮͕̰͕̙͝ͅe̴̻̼̮̤͉̪͙̮̰͛͋̄̓͗̈́̓̀̔̂̽̍͠͝͝r̴̙̰̤̲̼͈̝̿̉̌̾̿̒̑̐̌̂̎͗̕̚.̸̧̛̠̠̙̫͕͓̗̮̆̊͜ͅ ̸̮͈͙̫̭̘̘̳̈́͂͛͜B̸͔̰̬̏̆̇͑͋͊͆̋͛̂̀̈́̓̓͝e̴̢̺̱̙̿͋͌͗ẗ̵͚͕̪͇͈́̽͝ͅt̸̨̨̢͉̳̗̠̬͓̥̥̺̘̯̹̽͐͊́̏̄͗͐͆͐̿͋͠͠e̸̡̪̓͗̕̕͜r̵̥̀͆̀̃̒͌̿̓̇.̷̨͇̝̣͎̻̫͓̜͉̙͕͕͇̓̏̏̂̀̔̈̄-

"No, you're not, Connor. You're not the best, and I'm not the best. You only think you are because, for some reason, you and Dad think you're so great. So pathetic, is more like it."

"..."

Connor closed his eyes. He took a deep breath.

...

He let his mind cleared from the filts.

...

And he released it all.

...

....

"Just happy thoughts." He thought. "Just happy thoughts, Connor." He breath in and out once more.

Right. Who is he kidding?!

Why would he let himself be drown by "happy thoughts"?

It may be a recommendation his therapist gave him. And he should listen and try their advice.

But right now isn't the day for that!

Today.

Today was one he should let the gnawing guilts bite little bits of himself.

Today, is one to let his brother's "win" be shown.

"Then you won't even know what to do with yourself except go cry in your room."

Right...

...

His brother was right.

He has been doing just that since the... that day.

///

Dad got a call from school. Toby wasn't there.

He wasn't at home either!

And since he was too tired by the night of work he had, the man had called Connor to ask him if he know about the youngest whereabout. The tone wasn't pleasent to hear. It sounded more like an exhausted worried parent. Which was what dad was!

And has the oldest, it was his duty to find his brother. He already had an idea of where the young man would be.

"He and his stupid kid's game. I know it's called Hide-and-Seek, but is it necessary to play it in a city-size version of it? Couldn't they'd done it after school? After my job?! Like we've talk this morning?!" Connor thought, sighing at the end.

The young man arrive at the local Freddy's. He parked the car close to it. Well, as close as he could be. With the parking lot obstructed by an ambulance, police cars and tapes, it was a hard task.

“What happened here?” He thought.

Connor walked closer, crossing at the same occasion Mr. Harbor’s (or Dan, like they all called him) sights. The man’s stares could only be described as mortified, confused and regretful.

"Connor... I’m so sorry.” Dan said, shaking his head weakly. He looked terrified.

Connor stopped bruskly. “What’s going on?” He asked, perplexed by his ex-boss' face and words.

Dan’s mouth keeps opening and closing. Lost in his voice, he can’t utter more. The man’s eyes landed onto a stretcher that was rolling out of the restaurant. An occupied black bag was lying on it.

Connor stared at it. The hairs on his skin stood up. “Who’s that?” He asked.

Dan looked elsewhere.

Connor's nerve bristled. “Who’s that, Dan?!” He asked once more.

"..."

The named one stayed silent.

“Dan!” Connor shouted.

"..."

No response.

Connor, annoyed by everyone's childishness, grunted and speed-walked toward the stretcher.

“Connor, wait!” Dan tried to reach a hand, but the man was unsuccessful.

Connor crossed the tapes. The more he was getting closer to the stretcher, the more dreadful he was. He didn't like the feeling.

He was stopped by one of the present paramedics.

“Let me looked.” He told them in a stern voice.

“Mister, I would ask you to stay aside-“

“I want to see who’s in this bag.” Connor ordered, interrupting the other.

The paramedic sighed. “Your name?” They asked.

“Connor Billings.”

The paramedic shared a look with their colleagues. They sighed once more. “Alright.” They stepped aside. “But be careful.” They add in warning.

Connor nodded, his fear wasn’t satiated. He came closer to the stretcher.

Closer to the bag.

Closer to the body.

The other paramedic sighed, like they were preparing themselves for something. Something bad. Something wrong.

They unzipped the bag.

///

This smile.

This stupid, genuine smile.

He wanted to see it, but not like that!

...

Why?!

Just.... why?

What's the reasons behind this?

You know it.

There was no sign!

"Because I'm still playing and I'm going to win it if it's the last thing I do.

I'm going to beat you, Connor. You just wait and see. I'll be the winner and you'll be the freaking loser! It's going to be the best day of my life! Do you hear me? Best. Day. Of. My. Life!"

Is he stupid? Of course he is.

There were signs.

The way Toby acted.

The way he looked.

His pale skin, baggy tired eyes, frequent mood swings.

The feeling of wrongness.

"Sure, you'll beat me."

"Because I'm still playing and I'm going to win it if it's the last thing I do."

"It's going to be the best day of my life! Do you hear me? Best. Day. Of. My. Life!"

It was right there. All of it! Right in front of his eyes.

And what did he do? Telling him to take a free day and rest. Right after confronting Toby and arguing with him.

Talk about a good big brother.

"Don't act like you care."

He's just...

How does the French say it? Oh right.

"Connard".

He's a "Connard".

Connor the "Connard.

He couldn't even do a competent job.

Whatever people may say, he's not what they think.

Responsible.

Smart.

Strong.

So relyable.

Can't do no bad.

Such mature young man.

He's none of that!

He was pretty immature when he was younger. (Still is!)

Always having a tantrum when things didn’t go his way. He always needed to win.

Maybe that’s where Tobs gets it?

Yeah, of course it is.

Who else could it be besides Toby's useless older brother.

He had failed since the start.

And kept at it since then.

Always in need to be better to his brother.

Always fighting him over some trivial things.

Instead of supporting the youngest, what did he do? Fight! Fight! Fight!

...

His competitiveness got the best of him.

Like it always does.

He's the strong older brother. Better and stronger than his little brother.

And that's why he has to protect him.

He's the oldest. He must provide for the family so there will still be a family. So, a good job he must get. He must be good. He must be great.

Great! Great! Great! Great! Great! Great! Great! Great! Great! Great! G̷̢̧̛̛̹̤̫̭͙̭̺̼͕̹̭̐̽̏̽͂̉̽̆͝r̴̡̛͖͇͚̻͕̮̘͎̱̺͓̺̈́̅̀̀̀̅̈́̓̍͗͐͒̚̚e̶̞̦̣͔̟̰͔͈͕̝̻͜͝ͅa̴̢̧͇͍͚͕͑t̵̨̢̼̥̹͍͕̊̊̃̈́̿̀̈́͘̕͝!̴̢̭̘͖̉͛́̚ ̵̧̨̛̼̩̮͖͇̭̪̦̩͇̹̪̌͊͒̒̎̈́̈́͘͜͠Ġ̷̨̨̛̱͉̉̒̈́̓̉̈́̋̒́̐͘ŗ̵̜̙̮͕̱̦͖͓̳̲͚̩̲͆́̇̋͑͂͊ͅę̶̛̛̣̻͇͕̰͚̫̭̽̍̋̐̀́̋̎͆͛̂̕͝ͅą̸̰̲̄̅̉̒̒̿́̎̎̀͒̃͗͘͝ṯ̶͙̞̯̲̥̩͐͑̎̓͌͝͝ͅ!̸̨̢̫̰̦̩͚͈̹̼͙̈́̈́̐͆͆̌̃́̃̐͝ ̴̗̻̞̜̟̌̓̄̒ͅG̴̨̥̯̦̠̭̤͗̃͒̿ŕ̷̡̯̰͎̗͓̟̪̲̬̋̌̚͜ẹ̵̘̀̔͌̏̚a̸̺͍̘̟͕͒̆̏̿̉̆͋̈́͒̀̚͝ţ̴̣̟̤̥̖͊͂́̃̈̈̊̋̾͆̎̈́͝͝!̴̡̢̣͕̘͚̺͙͍̲͓͒͝ ̵̖̪̲̼̇͊́̄̾̀͒͝G̵̜̗͔̩͋̈́r̸̙̬͗̀̐̔̅͝e̴̛͈͍͖̣͈̞͙͚̔̌̑͌̊̀̒͂̃̂͋͜͝͠ą̴̡̧̞̮͈͙͖̻̞̩̫̭̼̂͐͛͒͝t̴̨͎̯͇̬͓̟̗̣̖̳͓̦͍̘͊̀͌̿̽̏̉̓͝!̸̙̠̘̺̺͉̻̅ ̸̢̜̜̫̩̮̪̹̻̘̫̺͔̖͔̚G̴͖̤̓̓̃͛̿̊̆͛̔͜͜͝͝r̸͉̣̞̅̔ȩ̴̙͎̖̤͌͋͌͆̐́ä̴̢̧̯̪̦̙̙͙͖͇͎̎̔̐̈́̏͊̇̀͘t̷̢̢̖̯̟͖̮͉̔͂͐̇̎̊̃̄̄̂̌͒́̚͜͠!̴̧͚̠͓̺̿͗̍̏̇̄̃̿̃̽̃̋̃ ̶̧̛̖̜͕̣̝̲̪̫̟̻͖̹͑͊͊̀͆́̐̄̀̄͝G̴̣̮̖̺̀r̵̹̻̱͚̙̦͛͗͆̈́̍͌͠ḙ̸̛͌̔͑͐̽ͅą̵̧̜̩̳͚̦̉̇̃̎͌͊͗͜t̶̝͉̙̳͙̓̀̉̉̈̀̄̌̈́̈́!̷̡̝̠̦̑̂͐̕ ̷͍̳̫̪͔̥͇̺͊̅̉̾͐̿̔̇̀̃̿̀͒̀̚͜G̷̢̤̱̰̩̮̜̙͚̞̬͈̙̜̃͂̈̃̈́̚r̴̻͇̩̥̯͕̪̭͕̪̹̂e̷̛̖͓̮͋͆̇͊͒̋͋̓͋̂̇̈̐͠ǎ̵̢̫̲̭̲̭̘͈̙̗̼͖̊̈̍̑͗̅͐̏̉͗̂̕͝t̴̜͉̱̲̘̼̜͉̪̝̗͍̥̼͗͂̈́̑͗͗̿!̸͖͆͐̑̏̓̈̓̎͂̋̍̈́̕͠ͅ ̴̢̨̡̢̛̟̙̲̟̣̎̏͒́̆͋̎̿͜ͅG̴̡̧̺̜̞͙͎͔͚͇̠̟̽́̇͑̔̊̀͘͘͘ͅͅr̴̠͙̭̜̥̤͈̪̲̎̿͗͋̀͒̈́̓̆͘͜e̷̻̱̍̿̽͛̋̈̕͘ą̵̧̠͙̗͎̥͔̞̑̅̋̓̄̒̀̌͘̕͜͠t̶̨̧̢̙̮̟͕̭̼̼͌̓̃̿̔͒̕͠!̸̧̬͉̮̖͖͉̠̖̻̰̘̹̙̻̐͐̐̆̚ ̸̨̢̢̧̘̣͍̩͉̰̪̻̀͒͆͌̍̔̌̅̆̽̄̚͘͠Ǧ̵̛̳̠̱̦̐̀̚̕ř̵̘̩͓̭̩͎̗̣͌́̓͛͋̂̉̕̚͜͠͝ẻ̴̡̯̦̳͎͈̣͍̦͈̫͖̫̐̄͂͛̈̃̒̔̅͝a̶̡̝̲̻͚͓̳̜̹̋͑̊̓̍̊̍́̐̈́͘͝ͅt̷̲̦̙͙͗̾̑̀̂̕͝!̵͈̞̥̓̌͑͗̒̑̈́̓̋̓̚͝͝ ̷̥̰̫̱̹̝̝̲̝̗͛̒̂̿͑͋̓̅͂̋̕G̴̨̘̫̦̮͉̜̦͈̰͍̿̔̎͘͝r̴̭̳̈̏̆̾̀̓̐̈́͑̽̀̓͝͝e̸͉͙̭̬̩͇̻̔̀̈a̴͓̐͂͗̿͊͜͠͠͠t̷̩̦̝͚̘̜̯̦̫͙̜͔̠͔͚̍̔͊̀̍̾̑̂̒̊!̸̰̳̖̱͎̘̥̣̮͎̯̈́͜ ̶̛̫̯̝̣͓̄̈̒̄̏̍̀̽̈́

Their dad can't do that. He doesn't have the strength anymore. So, the job ends on him.

Connor must be good.

And that, sometimes, can be tiring.

And, sometimes, when he needed an out, Toby would end up being the target of it.

Nothing very outrageous. Just some words to rilled Tobs a bit. 

Because his youger brother got it easier. Because Toby was the youngest and thus, didn't have the responcibilities Connor had. And Toby was just so easy to mess with, seeing he was highly competitive.

And so, he pissed him up, because he was pissed at him for being better.

At least, that's what he thought at the time.

And then, he got busy with college and his job. But he would still tease Toby. They also wrestle each other. Typical brothers behavior. Toby was old enough to take it. He was getting better too! Almost beat his older brother. Before his health started to fall. Before Toby started to fall.

It wasn't always for these reasons, though, right? There was an ulterior motive. Not just stress relieve. He isn't sure anymore.

Was it really worth it?

"...."

And he taunted him.

Push him to try his best.

Push him to grow up and toughen up by being all smuggy and "better than him" to show him life won't go easy on him.

Life isn't nice.

Life is ruthless.

Mom going away is one proof of it.

He wasn't good enough for her to stay.

It may seem like a bit mean. Ok, it was mean. And that may also makes him look like a jerk, but it's the only thing he find that work. 

It’s the only thing he knew.

It's the only thing that seems to make Toby reach out too!

It's the only thing that seems to make Toby gets out of his stupid hole!

But trying to let a rabbit get out of its burrow by litting up a fire won't garentee the said rabbit will get out.

Alive, at least.

But he did try to be more encouraging to his brother.

He had revealed he had gotten a job at Toby’s birthday. Or more like a "real job" in Connor's words.

In his mind, he thought it meant: "Hey, look! Your big brother isn’t a child anymore. You can rely on him. You don’t need to do everything alone and, I don’t know, prove anything?"

His little brother didn’t seem to have taken it that way, though.

And six months ago, Toby had become more distant and obsessed over his new job at Freddy’s.

More competitive.

That must be due to Connor's unbeaten scores on every single game the restaurant had.

B̷̡̡̧̘̮̩̳̞̭̱̘̪̰̼̝̜̪̙̈́̃è̵̻̥̼͉̩̣̀̋̿͆̄̕̚͝t̸̡̻͈̖̬͔̩̲͇̊̂͋͝t̸̛̫͉̖̮͚̤̫̲̆̍͋͐́́̊͂͑̓̍͠͠e̸̛͇͉̟̔̀̽̈͂͗̎̇r̵̛̩̜̹̩̘̞̩̗̳̣͇̺̺͚̞̖͑̇̇̈́̒̉͘̕͜͠ͅ!̴͕̑̌̏̃̅̽̉̀̆͋̌̋͛͒̃̚ ̵̧̧̘̩̜̙̦̠͔͙͉͕͉͆̐̄̃̅̍͛́̈́͘B̷̡̨̢̦̳̯͙͎̰̞̞̭͔̟̞̣́̄̌̈̈́̇̓̅̈͊̔͆ȩ̶̡̢̛̲̺̬̟̜̒̿͒̀̽́͌̚ţ̷͔̖̳̝̦̰͎͚̭͇̙̟͋̀̏͜t̵̮̬͇͈̫̭̑̌̄̽̈́̐͛͘͝e̶̯̺̋͐̎͑̈̅́̚̚͘r̸͈̻̙̩̼͍̙̊͐́͒̐͆̾̉͘͠͝͠͝͝͠ͅ!̷̧̧̨͚̼͓̮̲̤̗̄̈́̆̂̄̐̄̽̔̽͐͒͘̕͜ ̴̡̡̛̪͋̂̓̒̇̎̋́̃́̕B̵̪͂̀̓͋̐̾͊̓͆̂̄͝é̸̢̜̗̗̯̩̠͇͓̞͎̣̙̞̱̱̰̈̏̓̃̌̾̏̈́͆̑̆͐͂̄̈̚ṫ̶̡̛͍͇̝̯͚̤̱̫̓̿́̋͌̈̓̆́t̵̡͚͕͚̞̮̙̮͕̺̻̑́̎̑̄̈͛̚e̶̢̛͉̣̫̤̖͔͕̖͑̀̈́̓͋̃̕͠r̸̨̧̨̨͚̖͔͕̩̟̠̝͚͈̼̄͐͐̽̚͜͜ͅ!̷̥̪͍͖̹̔̍̉̋̈́͐̍̈́́̿̏͠͠͝ ̴̢̜̭̟͇̫͔͕͓̥̼͓̻̤̦̮̺͋̓̌́͗͆̌̀̃̋͜͝

"Do you even know how stupid you always sound about being the best at everything?"

People were now moving.

Uh?

Did he tune out the whole thing?

Wow, Connor. You didn't bothered to even listen to anything?

...

That's fine. It's... fine.

Didn't have a speech anyway.

Some of whom were present were walking to the body. To Toby.

He stood up and followed the flow.

People were still looking at him with the same stares.

"Keep your nosy eyes elsewhere, ingrates!" He thoughts, vily.

When he stopped at the coffin, a familiar view greeted him.

The pale, gaunt face of his dear little brother.

"The make up couldn't hide everything it seems." He thought.

The smile wasn't there anymore. And will never be.

His brother.

His little man.

The one he promised himself to protect after seeing the smaller boy keep falling while learning how to walk.

After caring for his injuries.

After helping teaching him how to ride a bike.

After he won their first little wrestling.

Connor's heart twisted from inside. A small imperceptible tear carved a path on his cheek.

“Toby...

You closed yourself to the world.

And the only things you let yourself peaked at is what push you to keep these walls.

But I didn’t help either, haven’t I?" He confessed to Toby in a small voice.

"...

I'm sorry.” He choked out.

A bit of siblings rivalry never killed anyone, right?

Well, that's a fucking lie!

That's fucking Bullshit!!!

"I'm sorry for your lost." Connor gave a slightly startled flinch at the sudden apparition of a girl. She looks to be the same age as Toby.

He looked at her quizzically.

"I'm Tabitha." She said, tending her hand at him.

He took it. Not after giving a second of hesitance. "C-Connor." He sobbed. That's very professional of you.

"As in... Connor Billings? Toby's brother?" The girl said after retrieving her hand from the handshake.

"Yeah." "The one and only bastard." He thought after replying.

Tabitha nodded and stayed silent. She looked at Toby.

"We started hanging out after a P.E. class." She started after a few seconds. "We were both on the bench. Mr. Dillonhall had let me sit down after I gave him a medical note. He's kind of a douche."

"He always has been like that. He thinks being ruff would help the kids to perform better." He said. "You're just like him." He thought of himself, bitterly.

"He... I pull him out of the pool that day." Tabitha revealed.

"What?" Connor's head turn to her at that.

"He said he was... " She paused. "He said he wasn't trying to drown when I confronted him about it."

"And you believed him?" He asked. His tone was calmer that he expected. "Better not make a scene." He thought.

"I'm not sure. But these kind of situation are tricky. Mess up once, and you may never be able to help."

"He's well place to know that." He berated in his mind.

"He was clearly troubled. I tried helping him by suggesting some ideas, like therapy or other stuff in the like. He always refused them, but he never pushed away me nor my help." She said.

She was silent once more.

They stayed like that for a while.

Swiftly, Tabitha interrupted it. "That day... I called him... To get some news.

He sounded... done.

Ready to end... things."

She paused.

"He told me I was a good friend." A small tear crawl down her cheek, accompanied by the whisper of a sob. It was brief and weak, but Connor could feel the pain and heaviness in it. She brought a hand to her face and wiped out the tear, and a bit of her make up with it. He looked away, not knowing what to say nor do.

"I'm glad to hear that." He let out after a time.

Tabitha nodded.

"I'll leave you alone with him." She said. "My condolences, again." She turned and, true to her words, let the brothers alone.

Connor looked back at Toby's pale face, void of everything.

"Oh, Toby.

You're wrong.

Or more like, you were right.

Your brother isn't better.

He's a total failure.

Here's the proof, he failed you." He thought.

He knew something was wrong. His brother had look so pale. So skinny.

So frail.

He should have stayed. Call for a day off.

He should have been there for Toby.

But nooo. He had to go out.

He had to go to work.

He had to provide for the family.

And now...

Now here’s the price he has to pay.

Here’s the consequences of his incompetence.

He lost his family.

He really is a shitty brother. Could he even be called one at this point?

Was he even one?

The ceremony has extended outside.

They were all walking toward the place where Toby....

Where the body would be burried.

For all the walk, he stayed close to his father.

The man's face wasn't giving any emotion. But anyone who would look at it would know, by the exhaustion, the eyebags and the rifts on his cheeks, that he was ravaged by pains and regrets.

Connor had faced the brutess blows of it.

He looked at the man at the corner of his eyes.

///

A hand slamed at the table.

“You stayed connected with her and you didn’t say anything!?” Connor yelled, baffled by the news he just received.

“I didn’t keep contact with her, she contacted me herself!” His father replied, just as much rilled up.

“Still! You could have said something!”

“And how do you think it would have gone, uh!? How should I have done it!? Should I had let my sons know that their mother left because she didn’t want to be one!? That she couldn’t be a mother!? What does a child would feel about that? Wouldn’t they feel left out?! Unwanted?! Do you think I would let the both of you think it was your fault that she left? Especially Toby!!??" The older man said. His emotions exploding around the room.

“…” Connor didn't say much.

“But… I guess... I guess that doesn’t matter anymore now, right?" The father added on. "Because I still… Because he still felt left out... " He stopped, letting out a sob as he did so. "I abandoned him and now he’s…" His eyes glisten. Tears seem to grow in them.

“…” Connor's words still couldn't be outed.

“My baby’s gone.” The man sobbed once more. “My little boy is gone and it’s my fault.” He started to cry.

“…” Connor stayed silent. It was the first time he was seeing his father so vulnerable. So broken.

He never thought this man he admire so much could break so harshly. He knew he could crash, get hurt. But he always stood back up, even when he looked so exhausted. He thought he saw the lowest his dad could get. Seems he was wrong. Once more.

 
And now. He couldn't say anything. He doesn't have the strength anymore.

His dad walked to the couch and sat down on it.

Connor, in his case, didn't know what to do. He stared at his father, debating on his next action. Nothing came over it.

In the end, he walked, feet dragging on the floor, to his bedroom.

He closed the door behind him. It was soft, but it still shook the walls, causing a picture to fall from its drawers.

The young man took it from the floor. After turning it over, he noticed the picture was one of himself, Toby and their father, in a time where things were better. Happier. Stabler.

A crack had formed on the glass.

Crossing the face of the youngest.

///

Connor remembered that too well. Not has much as the other one. The worst day of his life. He looked back at the front, and let the ceremony continue.

They buried him.

He was gone.

Deffinitely now.

He would never see his face again.

And that was just...

Connor doesn't know what to feel anymore.

He stood at what was now the last resting place of his brother. Of Toby. A boy who probably never had a true happy day. Who was he to know anyway? Certainly not his brother.

How could he be one?

He read the tombstone.

𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂: 

𝓣𝓸𝓫𝔂 𝓑𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼
𝓡𝓦𝓠𝓕𝓢𝓕𝓐𝓢𝓧𝓒  

𝓜𝓪𝔂 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓹𝓲𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝔀.

Connor blinked.

"What?" He muttered. He brought his knuckles to his eyes and rubbed them.

He looked back at the inscription.

𝓗𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝔂: 

𝓣𝓸𝓫𝔂 𝓑𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 
𝓧𝓧𝓧𝓧 - 𝓧𝓧𝓧𝓧  

𝓜𝓪𝔂 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓽 𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝔀.

Did he just made that up? It was just... Why was it...

He really need sleep now.

Someone stopped beside him. They were close, but a space just large enough for one person was in between the two.

Connor didn't need to turned. He recognised her right away.

A silence stayed among the two. It wasn't awkward, but it wasn't comfy either.

“Why did you leave?” Connor said after a minute. He looked at his mother, expectful.

The woman took a light breath and released it a second after. “Tell me, Connor. What is better for a kid?" She paused. Connor didn't respond, knowing it wasn't an answer that was meant to reply. 

"Not having a mother?" She turned her head to him. "Or having a not happy mother?

One that, each time she looks at you, she can't feel anything a mother should.

She still loves you, but she can’t love you…. like a mother should love their child." Her stares goes back to the stone.

"How can she take care of her child? How can she be a mother, when she can’t even feel like one?”

Connor didn't said anything right away. After some thinking and pushing, he opened his mouth.

"Why did you do it like that then? Wouldn't a 'goodbye' have been nice to say?" He queried neutrally. She kept her lips stuck to each other.

It's not like she was the only one to have done so.

Toby hadn't tell him goodbye either.

It seems the people he cares for never thought of it. Or didn't thought it important.

Would his dad do it too?

“Do you blame yourself?" His mother outed suddenly, interrupting his thoughts.

“What?" He said, head turning at the woman. She was staring back at him.

“Don't blame yourself. If you need a scapegoat, blame me. I'm the one who abandoned you all." She requested.

Connor stood frozen.

“You weren't there. I was! I was the one who should have done something! I was the one who should have been there for him! Encouraged him! Supported him! ...But what did I do? Nothing!

Besides being a total jerk!” And a total failure.

His mother stood there. Their eyes fixing each other. He kept it long enough for the message to land.

She nodded lightly. "Alright." She breathed out and looked down at her feet.

He looked down at the grass too. He can't even act properlly in public.

What a pathetic hypocrite.

“Toby's name was your dad's idea." His mother said.

Connor doesn't speak nor think.

“I could see the love he has for his little boy the moment he put his eyes on him.” She added. And he still couldn't speak.

The two stayed a moment in front of someone they once thought they knew.

One mother, leting tears falling down silently.

And one brother, words and thoughts kept inside, drowning by the guilt and unfairness.

They separated to opposite direction, the gesture giving one clear soundless goodbye.

The ceremony had ended.

Some attending had left, but others had stayed.

Connor could see most of them, mostly relatives, around his father. They were exchanging some words it seems. He couldn't tell. He couldn't see his mother anywhere.

He was by himself in a corner. The "Connor's corner" he had called it. It was suitable.

Some of the other people present were forming small clusters among themselve. They weren't a lot. Just a few. Two or three if any. He hadn't bothered to care.

One group in particular were composed of two individual. While one was the girl that who had, somehow, befriended Toby, the other was... Was that Reggie?

It is!

It is that red-head, who seems to have those constant weird thoughts about a fire and the like. He never really understood the guy's things, but hey, he was sympathetic and always encouraging him at getting the highest scores at Freddy's arcade games.

He wonder if the guy did it to Toby too.

The red-head looked pretty involved into what he was saying. Connor couldn't help himself but to listen.

"I know I’m not the only one who saw that shadow! I asked everyone who came at Freddy’s, and some confirmed to have seen it. The actual honest one! Not those who were clearly messing with me. They weren't a lot, but they still exist! And do you know what they all have in common?" Reggie fervently said.

"...What do they have in common? Beside looking through a mirror?" Tabitha asked.

"A mirror? What?" He shook his head like he was in some kind of cartoon. "Whatever. What they all have in common is that they all played the game."

"…" Tabitha looked skeptical.

"I’m not crazy! I know what I saw!" Reggie added.

"Yeah, I know. I trust you, but... " She sighted. "Toby saw it too and now he's... " She trailed off.

Reggie looked down.

"I'm just worried, ok?" The girl added.

"I know. But I'm telling you, he did have a weird looking shadow following him around! Maybe that's the cause of all this-"

"Stop!" Tabitha interrupted.

Reggie closed his mouth.

"Just.... " She sighted. "Just stop.... Please." Tabitha plaided the frizzled one.

"...Sorry." Reggie said, eyes staring down in shame. A look of guilt could be seen exuding them. Connor doesn't understand why, but this guilt seemed to come from something else.

Tabitha sighed.

And Connor's mind was in shamble.

"A shadow? What? Toby was seeing a shadow?" He thought.

"Neither of you... see my shadow?"

"A shadow, idiot. Do you see it or what? Can't you answer a simple question?"

He did! But Connor didn't listen, has usual. Why would he? He didn't even saw the damn thing! He just said "You got problems, Tobes" and that was it. And that day, his little brother tried again, didn't he? It would explain the teen's weird behaviour. He had blame it in lack of sleep. The younger one was looking so bad.

He has to know more. No, he needs to! If it's his only chance to found out what happened, and also, atoning for everything he did to his brother, he must try. No matter if that's the last thing he does.

In one swift and erratic move, Connor speed-walked to the two teen, focussing on the frizzly red-headed one who appears to know everything about that shadow.

The young man holds Reggie’s shoulders, having a desperate and almost manic expression on his face, making the younger one staring at him with fright.

"Tell me everything you know about this shadow."