Casey sat in the small office, watching Barry as he worked. Papers were strewn about the floor around him as he lay, and Casey smiled as Barry's scarf fell onto his sketchbook again, getting in the way of his pencil.
"The things I do for fashion," he muttered under his breath, and caught Casey's crooked smile.
He winked at her, flashing a wide grin, before pushing off of the floor onto his knees. He looked around.
"Have I really made this much of a mess, I swear sometimes I think I miss D-" He stopped abruptly, coughing into his hand, and Casey tried not to appear interested.
It had been two weeks since she had awoken in the tiny room below, two weeks since Patricia had pulled her up into their home, two weeks since Casey had fully seen the beast. He was there, she knew, lurking, and he would surface for a fraction of a moment every few days, to remind her he could emerge at any time were she to try to escape.
If it weren't for those moments, those times when her eyes meet that hungry, aching black, she would almost be content here.
She had met several of the alters, and each seemed overly anxious to make her comfortable, all aware and regretful of what the beast had done. Except Patricia, that is. She seemed, if anything, put out by the inconvenience, but was too well mannered to treat Casey badly.
She spent most of her time with Hedwig and Barry, when he wasn't at work. Hedwig loved to play even the simplest of games, and Casey's heart had swelled when she realized he likely never got to play with anyone. He was a nine-year-old boy in a man's body; it wasn't like he could head down to the neighborhood playground.
Barry was vivacious and charming, so full of life and happiness. She would catch him at times, looking at her with worried regret, so broken by what the beast had done, but he always shook it off with a vigor, determined to amuse her.
Still there had been times, with him in the others, when it seemed they almost let something slip. When Patricia's shirt was wrinkled from Barry leaving them in the dryer, just now when Barry looked at the mess he had made, as if they were trying not to mention someone.
Barry stood, stretching, "I promised Hedwig he could have the light in a bit, he wants to watch a movie with you."
Casey looked up at him from her chair, "That sounds fun."
He tweaked her nose as he passed, laughing as it crinkled, and Casey set down the book she hadn't even looked at and moved into the sitting room, waiting for Hedwig. Not five minutes later she heard him barreling down the hall. He vaulted over the back of the couch, and grinned at her happily.
"Hiya Casey! Did you see me? I went so high!"
Casey laughed, "Yes, Hedwig. You did." Hedwig often ran and leapt on things, showing off in all the ways a nine-year-old thought was cool, and Casey was always a little bit worried he wouldn't know his own strength and end up breaking something. he was, after all, using the very fit body of a full-grown man.
"So, what do you want to watch?"
Hedwig bounced forward, squinting at the stack of DVD's "Well, I started Nightmare Before Cwistmas but I didn't want to finish it without Mr. Dennis."
Casey's ears perked up. She had thought she had met or heard of all of the alters, but this was the first time she had heard that name.
"Does Mr. Dennis like that movie?"
Hedwig only half glanced at her, still intent on choosing a movie, "No, but he takes the light when I get sca-heeey. How did you know about Mr. Dennis? You're not supposed to know."
Casey cocked a brow at him. "You just mentioned him, silly," she said, keeping her tone light. Hedwig plopped back against the couch, groaning.
"Aww, heck. I wasn't supposed to do that. Mr. Barry isn't gonna like this," he looked at her, suddenly pleading, "Don't tell him, please Casey?"
Casey bit her lip. Hedwig looked so earnest, but her curiosity was getting the better of her.
"Tell you what," she said, smiling at the boy, "I promise I won't tell,if you tell me more about him."
Hedwig frowned a little and shrugged. "well, gee, I dunno. Mr. Dennis, he used to be here. But the others, they didn't want him and they pushed him back."
"Well why would they do that?"
Hedwig shifted, looking uncomfortable. "Said he was mean. too... Par-tic-u-lar." he sounded out the word, "Miss Patricia said he was dangerous."
A shiver raced across Casey, frightened there could be another dark alter besides the beast. "Was he?"
Hedwig sighed dramatically, like he was bored of the questions, "He would yell sometimes, yeah, and like, if we made a mess, or etc..." he trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
"But?" Casey prompted, and Hedwig dropped his hands in his lap. "But sometimes, when there were storms, or if Barry forgot to turn on my nightlight, he'd take the light for me, 'til I fell asleep." He mumbled it, and Casey's heart went out to him. A little boy who didn't have anyone to look after him. She leaned forward, snatching up Nightmare Before Christmas.
"Tell you what, how about I finish watching this with you?"
Hedwig's grin was huge, and Casey found herself laughing as he bounded forward to put it in to DVD player.
He crawled back onto the couch, curling up close against her, and Casey let her hand lightly brush against his head.
Hedwig hummed a little, "I like you, Miss Casey. You're nice."
Casey smiled, "I like you too, Hedwig."
He had fallen asleep by the time the movie ended, and stirred when she reached for the remote.
"Hmm..." It was Barry's teasing voice as he moved beside her, still tucked against her, "I could get used to this."
Casey laughed and shoved him off. It was amazing to her how comfortable she was with the physical touch of some of these alters. Barry was a physically affectionate person, hugging her hello and goodbye, brushing a finger over her cheek, or her arm. It was warm, and friendly, and she never found herself flinching away like when other people tried to touch her. Some of the other alters liked to keep to themselves. Patricia's touches were always awkwardly motherly, and though Casey didn't care for them, they didn't frighten her.
She reached for the remote when Barry suddenly winced beside her, he was still a moment, then he blinked.
"Ugh," he rubbed a hand across his brow. "The beast said to tell you he approves of you and the boy. Hedwig's less irritating when he has a friend."
Casey froze, and her eyes turned slowly to look at Barry. His expression was still screwed up with distaste, and his eyes lit with regret when he saw her fear.
"Is he always listening?" Casey whispered it, as if it mattered.
Barry reached for her, settling her back against his side.
"No. He's not constantly listening, but he is always alert. I can feel him at the back," his palm tapped his temple, "Ready to be listening, if that makes sense. He leaves us be unless he has a message, or if he thinks we're trying to let you free." he sighed, letting his head rest against Casey's, "Oh baby girl, I wish it didn't have to be like this. I wish you didn't have to be here."
He sent her a sudden smile, curled almost smugly "We've liked having you here, doll. but we don't want to have to keep you."
Casey shivered a little, allowing herself to shift closer against him, "Is he listening now?" she asked quietly, Barry looked like he was thinking, then shook his head,
"No, honey, he's pretty far back."
"Where did he come from?" Casey whispered, as if keeping her voice low would keep him away.
Barry's arm was along the back of the couch, and he reached up with his hand to grab the red blanket thrown over the back and tug it over them.
"We weren't all here at once. At the beginning, Kevin, the one who actually owns this body, he was alone. Then," he paused, "then a couple of us arrived. In some ways I'm the youngest, I was almost last to show up, but I showed up older, ya know?"
Casey blinked, trying to pretend she understood, and maybe thinking she did a little.
"We were doing really well for a while, he, we" he corrected himself, "got ourselves a job, found a place to stay," he looked around the small sitting room, "the beast didn't emerge 'til almost a year ago."
"What happened a year ago?" Casey asked, her head resting against his arm, and she turned her face to peer up at his profile. He frowned, a look completely unlike Barry and for a moment she was afraid another alter had stepped in, but then he sighed, slipping down a little more comfortably into the couch, pulling her closer.
"You ask a lot of questions, babygirl." he flashed her a grin, but Casey's expression didn't budge. Barry sighed, letting his head fall back to rest against the couch.
"Would you think I was crazy, sweetgirl, if I just wanted to stay here? Like this, with you? You make it quiet, Casey. You make us almost feel normal."
Casey's smile wobbled, an unexpected tear slipping down over her cheek, soaking into his sleeve. She thought of her own days here, with this man who changed rapidly from person to person, each who she had come to look at as a friend. Each who made it easier to breath around.
"I know what you mean." She whispered, closing her eyes, letting her body rest completely against him. She heard his head move, knew he had turned to look at her in question. But after a few quiet moments he breathed out an even breath and settled back down, neither minding at all when they fell asleep like that, comfortable together.
casey bear... where are you casey bear... it's not nice to hide...
Casey awoke with a start, blinking out of the dream, the movement waking the man beside her. She stretched with a soft groan, looking around. Faint light peaked in behind the current. It was just past dawn.
"Well this is unexpected."
Casey jolted and turned to stare at Patricia. She rose primly and neatly folded the blanket.
"I'll make us some breakfast, little dove.' she lifted her shoulders pleasantly, and Casey waited until she had walked into the kitchen before grabbing the blanket back with a groan. Pulling it over herself she turned her face in the couch and went back to sleep.
"Wake up, sleepy head!" Hedwig bounced onto the couch by her feet, rolling her awake, "Patricia made us breakfast, but yours got cold."
Casey groaned a little as she sat up. Hedwig looked at her and snickered, "Your hair looks funny."
Casey's eyes flashed to his hairless head, "So does yours," she muttered, but Hedwig had skipped away before he heard he. She heard him in the kitchen, before he reappeared a few minutes later, walking with abnormal slowness as he stared at the plate and glass he held in his hand, trying to carry them to her without spilling.
"Oh, thank you Hedwig," Casey smiled at the sweet boy, standing to take them, when Hedwig suddenly froze, his eyes going wide.
He convulsed, the plate and glass slipping, landing with a horrible crash as the man's body grunted and cracked into a tall, terrifying figure.
The beast stared down Casey, and she was frozen on the spot.
"I, wasn't" she stammered, not understanding why he had come. She wasn't trying to escape.
It stalked forward, and Casey's heart burned as it beat frantically. It stood over her, eyes rimmed red, black with something darker than anger.
"The day is coming."
His voice rumbled out, shaking into Casey and she trembled back from him.
Hands caught at her, clutched her, tightened until needles of pain shot through her arms and he lifted, squeezing, until her feet barely touched the floor.
"The day will dawn glorious, and I, will take your body and make you mineee." It was a snarl, a hiss, and Casey was suddenly pressed against him, teeth scraping her mouth in an ugly kiss. Casey screamed in horror as his blood dripped onto her lips.
He released her, crumpling backwards as Casey collapsed, gagging and shuddering, desperate to wipe him away from her, hands too afraid to touch her lips.
Barry unfolded from the floor, eyes landing on the food mixed with broken glass on the floor, eyes flashing to Casey in alarm.
"Oh, he was here wasn't he," his voice dripped with worry and he came forward, reaching for her. Casey scrambled back,
"Don't touch me!" It was a screech, and hurt flashed across his face before he tried to push it away.
"Oh baby girl, did he hurt you?" His eyes were afraid of the question, and Casey felt sick anger rise. Anger that once again she had been gripped powerless, pressed against, lips polluted with something too sick to call a kiss.
"What did he do, Casey, please, how can I help?" Barry was kneeling just beside, and she knew how hard it probably was for him not to reach for her, he was so physically expressive it was second nature but he held his hands back carefully.
"He's going to take me." words laced with tremulous anger and Barry blinked, not understanding. "My body!"
She screamed the words in his face and watched him crumple, watched him fall into that broken, horrified man who had cried for her after she had first faced the beast.
"No," he was shaking his head, tears falling, hands reaching like he couldn't stop them, "no, babygirl, no."
Casey let him touch her, hold her, pull her so tight against him it almost hurt and she cried at his tears, at his horror as it mocked her. She wanted to tell him it didn't matter. That she would survive. That you could go numb to anything. You could replace pain with thin red lines that meant that you were alive.
She wanted to tell him that nothing could hurt her anymore. That nothing could be done to her that hadn't already done. She had faced monsters.
But this was a beast.
And she was terrified.
She shuddered into him, tears threatening to build, to break into to sobs, and she clung to him, wishing it would work, that his arms would bring comfort and her tears would wash her free but they wouldn't come. They fell but wouldn't break free. His arms held but could not protect.
She pushed against him, just barely, but he moved back instantly, carefully, watching her face.
She sniffled, wiping at her flushed cheeks and red eyes. "Can you stop him?"
She knew the answer before she even asked, but she watched him anyway, watched his gaze fill with shame and his head shake.
"Sweetie, I wish with everything that I could. but I'm not strong enough. Most none of us are, he could break through us if we tried, and hurt you worse because of it."
"Barry." Casey spoke slowly, and he looked at her, confused by her simply even tone. "You said 'most'"
Barry blinked, and gave an almost subconscious shake of his head. "No, I meant none. There's none of us left who could fight him."
"But there was someone." Casey whispered, but it was laced with a desperate edge, and she rose to her knees, clutching his shirt. "Barry, is there anything inside of you that could be strong enough?"
Barry's hands covered her fists in his shirt, not to pull her hands away, but to squeeze them gently. "Casey, I, we don't know, there was-" his brown pinched and he sighed, coming to sit beside her.
"There was an alter, Dennis. He was the first. He came when Kevin was very young. Kevin's mother was not kind," he scoffed suddenly, "I can't lie to you sweetheart, she was cruel to Kevin, hurt him. Destroyed him piece by piece, and he was so young. When Dennis arrived, he stood over Kevin, protecting him. Taking his pain. He protected all of us for a long time. Was by far the strongest of all of us."
"What happened to him?" Casey breathed when he paused, afraid he might stop, but he just took a breath.
"Dennis was strong, Casey, but he took so much hurt, it broke him. He was dark. unstable, the rest of us moved on, learned to life what lives we could in the light, but Dennis always had a streak through him, of anger, of need. He frightened some of the others, the ones who weren't there towards the beginning, who didn't see everything Dennis did to make sure they weren't harmed. He stood in the way of so much pain," Barry whispered it like a mournful prayer.
"When we found work, found a home, we thought it was a new chapter for all of us. We could live. Breath. Be free. But one day at work some teens got into trouble with Dennis, and it spiraled. We were afraid, worried that he would break and do something dangerous. He had a temper. Had poor control. We couldn't trust him with the light, like we can't trust Kevin. It took all of us, but we pulled him back, we shut him out. We thought we didn't need him anymore. that we could protect ourselves, even from him."
Casey didn't know tears were falling until Barry lightly brushed them away, giving her a sad smile.
"It wasn't long after we did that that the beast emerged. We had a few short months of warmth, then he just came. We don't know what he wants or why he's here. He would take the light but we could never see through. Waking up and finding you here was terrifying." he whispered.
Casey shifted, laying a hand on his arm.
"Barry," her whisper caught in her throat, "you need to bring Dennis back."
Barry looked at her, alarmed. "He's, he's gone, Casey, and even if he isn't, he could hurt you, like the beast, or worse, I, we can't do that."
Casey's fingers tightened in desperate panic, "Barry please, you said it yourself he was the only one strong enough. He might still be. He's my only chance. Barry, please."
Barry's hands suddenly cupped her cheeks, and he brought his forehead to rest against hers.
"I'll try, baby girl, I promise I'll try."
His lips pressed against her forehead softly, before he stood. Casey watched him leave the dimly lit room, before giving into the sheer exhaustion within her and she slumped against the floor.