It had been a year since the accident, but Vlad was still not himself.
He still guffawed when he laughed, and he still ate his favorite blueberry waffles.
But he was no longer the same.
More nights than not, Vlad could be found brooding in his room. Or the door was locked and he would stay like that for hours, not answering a single knock or greeting from his family members.
This was how it was for months. After he came home from the hospital, he stayed to himself.
Anastasia thought he was just trying to deal with the trauma of being hospitalized by his best friend's invention.
That was part of it, but oh.
Did she believe there to be so much more.
While Vlad had always been cynical and pessimistic, he was never cruel.
Now, he was cruel. And sinister. And vile.
He was almost monstrous.
She could understand being angry. Whether it be at himself, or at Jack.
But what caused him to be so..?
Horrifying?
She missed the days when they were younger when they'd play in the rain, give each other piggyback rides. Then they'd come inside to a blanket that was fresh from the dryer and watch Scooby Doo on the television.
But now, her brother wouldn't even talk to her, let alone watch a kids cartoon with her.
The worst was when he laughed, alone inside his room.
It was different from his guffaw. It was low, and built up until the sound reverberated throughout the whole house.
It sent chills down her spine, just like the abandoned house down on Raven Road.
That's when she heard it. The laugh forced its way inside her head, forcing her hands to clench in her hair as she held her head.
Mom will be home soon.
They'll take care of it then.