Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater
Sometimes Patty would wake up in the middle of the night. She would stretch, and lie there in the dark, rethinking the past hour's dreams and nightmares, fight off the bad vibes and scary heartbeats. She would go down for a drink of water, then creep back upstairs. But occasionally she would stop at her sister's door and listen.
There came the gentle tapping of fingers on keys, or a low murmuring as she spoke gently into her phone. Sometimes all Patty could hear were footsteps, getting louder and softer, louder and softer, as Elizabeth paced around the room.
Ever so often she would hear the light switch click and the room go dark, only to be switched back on after only a few seconds, followed by the harsh breathing of Elizabeth as she stumbled back to her desk and into her chair.
Today, she heard her sister cry.
"Sis, are you okay?" Liz sat up in her chair and swivelled around. Patty could see traces of mascara stain her cheeks like black tears.
"I-" the older trembled, and stood up. She glared.
"I'm fine." She replied, a little stronger. Then after a hesitant pause, she said a little more gently, "Go back to sleep."
But Patty would have none of that.
"I think I can help…" Patty opened the door a little wider and Elizabeth took a step back, her eyes widened in terror. Patty looked back. Although there was light in the hallway there were still corners of complete darkness and shapes obscured in black that Liz could see from her desk. Patty hurridley closed the door, but not before entering her sister's room.
"They're getting worse?" Patty said softly. Her sister nodded in a daze of fright, but suddenly her head cleared and she shook her head vigorously.
"No." she said. "They're not getting worse; they're the same as they were."
"But-"
"Patty, get out." Liz's voice trembled for the second time, her finger outstretched as she pointed to the door. "I'm okay, I can handle this."
"Liz-"
"GET OUT." She almost shouted it, spat it like a curse on her tongue even though she desperately wanted her little sister to stay. But she couldn't, could she? Even if she did, that never stopped the hallucinations. She would only make her sister restless, awake. Tired the next day. And she wouldn't allow that.
Patty walked back to the door, opened it quickly and shut it quietly. Liz sighed, slumping back into the chair. She tried to close her eyes.
"I love you." They snapped back open when Patty's muffled voice sounded through the door. "I love you." She said again, and the pattering of tiny feet faded into a closed door in the room beside hers.
Elizabeth burst into tears the second time that night.
This was going to be in 'Into Madness' but it seemed more appropriate as a short fic on its own. R&R appreciated.