A few days had passed and Waylon had both liked and hated Eddie's miraculous recovery. Waylon didn't expect him to be up and walking around for possibly another whole weak. Despite Eddie's walking condition, Waylon kept him confined to his room. Eddie still wasn't able to do much and he tired easily. It also made Waylon very nervous when he thought of Eddie freely walking around. Having guards follow him everywhere was out of the question. It seemed unfair and surely Eddie would hate that. Enough guards were dotted around to spot Eddie if he tried anything around the main halls, so there was really no need for escorts.

Waylon was up on late night patrol. In addition to Eddie, he had the Walrider clan breathing down his neck. Their weekly "conversion" talks had become daily and they were starting to annoy both Waylon and the guards. Apparently, his clan "taming" an aggressive was something only they should be able to do with the blessing of the Walrider. They were getting more aggressive towards Waylon's barricade as well. Some members even tried to break in one night. Waylon had more guards than usual at the barricade, stopping anyone trying to enter the front door without permission. Waylon wasn't even sure what they were trying to do. Get in and find Eddie to "convert" him? Like Eddie would be thrilled to have his sleep disturbed only to be lectured by an unwanted guest.

As Waylon walked, his stomach grew more tense in a short amount of time. Something was wrong. Then it dawned on Waylon as he looked around the empty halls—no guards or other patrols.

"Where is everyone?" Waylon thought, looking around, until he noticed a familiar silhouette in the shadows.

"... Eddie?" Waylon asked, suspicion that he may have done something to another clan member. What happened to the guards outside his room? Why did they let Eddie out? Waylon had not given any orders to let Eddie roam.

"Yes?" Eddie answered from his place in the shadows near a wall. He wasn't close enough to possibly cause harm, but it still made Waylon nervous that he hadn't noticed Eddie even when he was so close. The minor tension in his stomach grew into painful knots.

"Where are the guards outside your room?" Waylon questioned.

"They left, ran off down the left hall." Eddie answered calmly.

"Shit! Something must have happened at the Walrider wall if they left Eddie." Waylon thought worriedly. He was about to sprint off to investigate when he remembered Eddie wandering around alone, in the night, with no guards watching. Waylon couldn't waste time walking him back—he needed to see the barricade, quickly.

"Eddie ..." Waylon started before he frozen momentarily under Eddie's unbroken gaze from the shadows.

"Just … go back to the room, please." Waylon asked, almost begging. He really didn't want Eddie out alone yet, especially right then. Eddie could do anything with the guards gone and people sleeping. Waylon looked at him momentarily, getting neither a confirmation nor rejection from Eddie. Waylon just stared before he bolted off, unable to wait around for an answer.

"Oh please don't make me regret this decision!" Waylon thought, nervous about the thought of Eddie left to return on his own. Waylon saw the huge grouping of his guards at the barricade accompanied by blood and bodies left and right. Some belonged to the Walrider clan, but the others were his own clan members.

"What happened?!" Waylon yelled as he ran up to the group. He quickly assessed the damage and calculated injured and dead guards versus dead enemies. He whipped around to one uninjured guard and commanded him to go get the "doctors" and alert them of the emergency. They weren't real doctors, but they had more medical knowledge then most patients and Waylon. The best "doctor" used to be a veterinarian at one point before being admitted by his family for his aggressive bipolar disorder. Despite the disorder, it never seemed to interfere with his work, just social situations.

One of the main guards got through the group to tell Waylon of the situation. Everyone was still on edge and in fighting stances, ready for more. The barricade was horribly destroyed and crumbling at the top.

"Walriders formed a mob and broke through. They killed the guards standing there on duty. Then either died or fled when the others started to swarm them after the noise. We don't know if they are getting back up or if it's over." the guard spoke quickly. Speed was key in containing these situations.

"Rebuild the barriers right now and get a small group to go hunt down more junk to block up this hall. If we still have some old barbwire in storage, grab ALL of it." Waylon ordered. The guard nodded and handed out the orders. Everyone began scrambling and rushing to get things back to how the were and piling more onto the barricade. Just as the orders were handed out, the doctors arrived.

"There are ten injured. Treat them here as best you can before moving them, take a few guards to help." Waylon said. The three doctors nodded, carefully moving those away to a clear spot in the hall to do a temporary fix of major problems so they could stabilize the injured before moving them to the small medical office. As minutes passed, it was confirmed that no second attack was coming. A new stronger wall was being built and more guards were being posted. Once it was over, Waylon had guards take the bodies to the forest to burn them. Burials were out of the question as they could still easily spread disease. Then Waylon went to the medical office for an update.

The results weren't good. Three died of their injuries, one seemed to have entered a coma from loss of blood and a head injury, and the rest were in critical condition. When fights happened, they were often heavy in casualties and injuries. These were insane patients willing to suffer pain, death, and whatever they needed to do to survive and kill their opponent. There was rarely any mercy or guilt between patients fighting. After one killed, there were no second thoughts or hesitance, like rabid wolves, they would kill one and attack the next one closest to them. Waylon sighed and rubbed his head. He suspected something like this would happen. So why did he allow it to?

"Think you guys can stay up and care for them?" he asked the doctors, who usually stayed awake during the day, but were now awake after only an hour of rest. They all nodded as they tended and monitored patients as best they could without machines or high tech gadgets most hospitals had.

"Thanks. I'll come back in the morning. If you need any extra help, you can grab a few guards and wake others." Waylon said tiredly. After he left, he went straight to Eddie's room, finding guards back at their post. He went inside and felt relieved when Eddie was actually standing in his room. Eddie glanced up from staring at the wall to view the new arrival. Waylon's heart froze a little. Eddie's gaze always felt intimidating—bright blue, yet cold.

"I just came to check on you. … I'll leave you alone, now." Waylon said, before turning toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Eddie asked, causing Waylon to stop and turn back to face him.

"Maybe do another patrol, or just go to sleep." Waylon answered, feeling nervous at the sudden questions. He thought that maybe Eddie was done, after some silence between them. He turned slightly to try and leave again before Eddie asked another question.

"Can I go wander?" Eddie asked smoothly. The question made Waylon's stomach do flips, but it wasn't the warning tenseness he got when in danger. Waylon didn't fully face him, avoiding his burning gaze to stare at the wall, floor, or ceiling.

"In the morning, you can wander, but you have to stay inside at night after dinner. You also have to tell guards you're going out before leaving in the morning, especially when going outside." Waylon spoke, his tone authoritative. He had to keep strict boundaries with Eddie and make sure he took them seriously. Eddie nodded with no rejection for the rules and looked back toward the wall. Waylon was about to leave when Eddie stopped him once again.

"Are you going to bed now?" he asked. Waylon was too tired at that point to do much else after all the commotion.

"Yeah." he said, pausing for any other possible questions. When none came he headed out, telling the guards of Eddie's new rules, and went back to his room across the hall to sleep.

Waylon woke early and headed out for morning patrol, seeing Eddie's guards were already gone.

"He must be out wandering." Waylon thought, heading off to his rounds checking up on the barrier and increased guards before heading off to inspect the others. As he approached the upper eastern side of empty halls, his stomach grew tense. Most in the clan didn't come up there, despite it being safe. It was a little ways away from the main area and patients tended to want to stick together, safety in numbers and all that. Waylon stopped and looked around, listening. Nothing—not even Eddie's form somewhere.

"Eddie?" Waylon called out. No answer. Waylon's stomach tensed more the longer he stayed in the area. Despite wanting to leave, he couldn't. If something was wrong he had to see what it was. He cautiously continued his patrol, looking carefully in rooms, still finding nothing wrong. He wondered if maybe the problem was somewhere else and started to leave the area when he was startled as he rounded the corner into Eddie. Waylon stumbled back in a hurry to get space between them, at least five feet. Eddie stood where he was, watching every movement Waylon made. After Waylon calmed down he realized the tenseness in his stomach suddenly vanished.

"Is Eddie stalking me until he can kill me alone, but gave up as soon as he was noticed?" Waylon thought, staring with a subconscious glare.

"What are you doing here?" Waylon questioned, doing his best to avoid spilling his nervous anger into his speech.

"Just, looking around." Eddie stated. Waylon realized the gaze he was under and the anger subsided into fear. He stood tall however, unwilling to show submission around Eddie. He swallowed harshly to bring up some courage for words.

"Food's probably ready in the dining hall down from the front doors to the courtyard. You should probably go eat." Waylon said, going around to head back toward the dining hall.

"Are you done patrolling?" Eddie asked. Waylon swallowed and turned to look at him.

"My rounds are done." he stated, turning back walk as calmly as he could down the hall. Eddie followed with the same pace, allowing Waylon to keep space between them.

Once at the dining hall, Waylon quickly got something to eat, gathering up the day's hunting party. Meanwhile he also watched how Eddie reacted in the normal crowd. It was a little entertaining to watch. Eddie would simply mind his business walking around, parting crowds like he was a shark swimming through a swarm of fish. He got his food without a problem before going to eat alone in his room. Waylon finished the last of his food with the hunting party and headed out to the forest.

"Eddie keeps following me. I think he's plotting something." Waylon said to his group of hunters. They were also guards on certain days in their schedule. He wanted the guards alerted to the possibility of something going wrong.

"We wanted to talk about him, too."

"He's very interested in what you're doing." two guards spoke. Eddie's unnerving behavior of stalking Waylon had been noticed.

"Yeah, I'm aware." Waylon said.

"He asks about you a lot too." another hunter said.

"He does? Like what?" Waylon asked.

"Whenever he hears you're on patrol, he asks where you went."

"We've been avoiding telling him. He really doesn't like it."

"Hmm." Waylon said, thinking about the situation.

"Do you want a few escorts to help on your patrol?"

"No, if he sees me getting escorts he'll know he's been effecting me, or he might lash out at others in frustration. I'll handle it myself and give him some strict guidelines the next time I see him." Waylon said. The others agreed and understood Waylon's choice, but Waylon could still see the worry in their eyes. They didn't exactly have a plan for what would happen if Waylon died. Who would take over, or if there even was anyone able to take over.

They all hunted until close to dinner time. They managed to gather a large basket of fish and fill a small container with eggs. The hunters killed a large group of deer which would provide venison for the clan as well as extra meat to be put on the meat drying racks for emergency food storage later. During dinner, Waylon noticed he had not seen Eddie since he returned.

"Very odd." Waylon mumbled.

"What?" one of the guards sitting next to him asked.

"Have you seen Eddie?" Waylon asked.

"He's been patrolling on your route. We've been carefully following him, but he's really slippery." one guard across the table said.

"Is he just patrolling, or doing other things?" Waylon asked any guards nearby listening.

"Just patrolling, he never entered any rooms or took anything."

"As far as we know. He gave us the slip a few times and we had him out of our sight for at least two hours at one point." one guard admitted, unhappily.

"Damn." Waylon breathed, looking down at his food. He was feeling too sick to eat his chopped, baked goose with salad and berries.

"Are you sure you don't want an escort?" the guards asked, worriedly.

"Yes I am sure. I think I'll go on early patrolling." Waylon said standing.

"You've barely touched your food. Are you okay?" a guard asked.

"I'm fine, just not very hungry." Waylon lied, heading off.

Out in the halls, Waylon realized the cause of his sickness when thunder and lightning lit up the sky through a window. Despite his high health when compared to others, he still suffered some engine after effects. Storms, especially with lightning, made him vulnerable to attacks. Hallucinations, stomach sickness, and horrible migraines crippled him under the flashes of light. He avoided the halls with windows, walking cautiously down the dark corridors. He stopped and took a deep breath when his stomach tensed.

"Eddie!" he yelled behind him in anger. No answer. Waylon's impatience was very thin at that moment. If Eddie didn't answer he was going to be locked back in his room.

"Eddie I know you're there and I am not tolerating your silence!" Waylon glared down the dark hall. Still no answer came. Waylon's stomach dropped and he swallowed back his fear. He wasn't safe, his gut told him. Fear was not good on his ill stomach.

"I'll follow the halls and begin going back toward my room." he thought, heading off at a careful, steady pace. The thoughts of what Eddie did during his hours alone that day sprang into Waylon's mind.

"What if Eddie was setting up a secluded room in secrecy to start his bride project again? Beginning with me." Waylon thought in his pounding head. He slowed to a stop as he hit the halls with windows, lightning severely effecting his health. He drew a few deep breaths, but his stomach was twisting painfully with knots and illness. He had to get back, but his body wasn't cooperating. He leaned against the cold wall, putting his burning head against it and holding his stomach. The warning knots disappeared as footsteps picked up, coming down the hall. Waylon looked over, expecting a worried guard coming to his rescue, but found Eddie walking toward him instead. He was moving a little faster then his elegant, steady pace and making much more noise than usual. Normally. Eddie could sneak up on a church mouse if he wanted to.

Eddie stopped when he saw Waylon, pausing to carefully examine him. Waylon felt extremely uncomfortable as Eddie's gaze slowly crawled over every inch of his body.

"Darling, are you alright?" Eddie asked.

"I'm fine." Waylon lied, unable to hide his sickness. Eddie examined him slowly again, looking back down the hall to the dining room before looking forward and stepping closer. Waylon's body tensed as Eddie got too close for comfort.

"Eddie stop!" Waylon commanded. Eddie paused for a short moment, watching Waylon. Eddie looked down the hall again, toward the dining hall.

"Is he making sure no one's coming to help?" Waylon thought, the grip on his spear tightening. He wasn't afraid to hurt or kill Eddie if he tried dragging him somewhere.

Eddie looked forward again, watching Waylon. A flash of lightning made Waylon jump and look away in pain. He realized what a mistake he had made, hearing Eddie's footsteps come even closer.

"Eddie, stop right there! Don't move!" Waylon commanded firmly, hearing the footsteps stop. Waylon took a breath of relief that Eddie was still following commands. At least Waylon still had some sort of control. Maybe if he showed enough dominance, Eddie would realize Waylon wasn't prey he could handle anymore. He had to be firm in his commands and orders. If Eddie was taken too lightly, he would walk all over Waylon, possibly leading to a cruel and gruesome death in a dark room. He had to face Eddie, but who knew how close he was.

Could he even face him? Was trying to establish a dominance over Eddie going to even work? Eddie possibly saw Waylon as some delicate housewife, not a man with a spear in his hand, ready to defend himself. Leaning against a wall, sick, wasn't helping his "dominant" image. He had to stand tall and face Eddie. He decided he had to take it slow first and simply look at him.


please comment. =]

whats Eddie going to do?


shortfangirl:

so we do. cX and mmmmaaaayyybbbeee, after some horrors first.