A dream
That is what it all was, a dream.
Izaya glared at the disgustingly white ceiling of the room, cursing at himself for falling so deep he was starting to feel human.
I have to do something.
I'm sure the work has piled up now.
Izaya tried to move his arms, but they remain immobile like the rest of his body. It was slightly dark in the room other than the little stream of light flowing through the slightly opened door. Izaya just somehow knew that there was a sign of life in that light. His eyes were closed, but were very much alive behind the lids as they moved from left and right.
That sound… footsteps?
At this time of night, there shouldn't be anyone walking around.
Izaya tried to focus his hearing, but soon realized that it was impossible after the dream he just had moments ago. A chill ran down his spine.
What–? Those sounds are like…
It sounded as if some crazy maniac was chained to some heavy metal bars and was making its way to the room Izaya was staying at. The eerie scraping of chains on the floor caused something raw to stir in Izaya. The chill never left his body. He could feel everything. Fear racked through his entire being.
I can't move!
Why can't I move?!
Someone…
Despite having his eyes closed and body immobile, he knew that the creature has opened the door and is just making its way next to his bed. A weird sensation racked through Izaya's body. His mind was reeling in panic and was shouting for him to get up and run; however, even with the desperate pleas of his mind, his body would not move.
Get up you stupid body!
There's someone there!
Get Up! Now!
The sound of the chain scraping on the floor got louder.
Louder
Louder
Someone…
Louder
Help?
He felt his heart stop as the screeching stopped, the sound just next to his bed. He stayed still, hoping that whoever or whatever it was after, it will not notice that Izaya is very much alive and awake in his dead, unmoving body. Izaya waited, the tension creeping up to the smallest nerves in his very bones the longer it stayed silent.
All of a sudden, his heart began to beat again. Izaya realized that it was morning as he just opened his eyes and the bright light from the window came running into the room like a child waking his or her parents on Christmas morning.
A dream
That is what it all was, a dream.
"Izaya, you–! You're finally awake." Izaya's eyes took a bit longer to focus, but when they did, he saw the very worried, yet still cheerful face of his medical friend.
"Here's a glass of water." He was about to say that he was fine, but when the water was tipped to his dry lips, he suddenly felt parched. Izaya drank the living water as he felt the thirst began to abate. He collapsed back on the bed before he looked at Shinra.
"If you're wondering how long you were out, I'd say about 2 weeks." Izaya grimaced. He has a lot of information collecting to do. Shizuo must have had the two weeks of his life. Not to mention, Namie must be fuming that he left her to do his job, if she did do it which is highly unlikely. Izaya reached out a hand to Shinra in a silent request. The doctor looked at it before smiling at him. The smile did not reach his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Izaya." Suddenly, Izaya felt a slow creeping feeling of sleepiness knocking its way to his windows of consciousness.
I don't want to sleep.
That thing will come back for me.
I'll die…finally?
"Sleep" was all he heard before falling into a dreamless sleep.
The next time he woke up, he was feeling much better. His body no longer ached nor did he feel any physical pain. He also found out that he can sit up already.
The door opened. Izaya did not look at the door.
"How long…?"
"Too long, that's what!" Izaya flinched.
That voice… no, it can't be… Please do not let it be…
"So you finally decided to wake up, flea…" Izaya felt himself tense mentally, but he was surprised when he assessed that his body did not register the adrenaline he felt every time he and this person interacted in their daily chase.
All of a sudden, Izaya lost his voice. He shook his head.
"What–!"
"Ah, Izaya! You must be feeling better." Shinra entered the room, followed by Celty who was strangely wearing her pajamas.
"Shinra" His voice was sounding very raspy as though he had a cold.
"Congratulations, Izaya! You've just returned from a 4-week coma, well, vacation of a sort." Suddenly, Shinra's voice was too energetic for Izaya's tired spirit. He felt an unexpected and uncharacteristic anger bubble through him and he grabbed the glass on the side table and threw it on near his friend's feet.
"Oi, flea! Just what–!?" Shinra raised his hand as Shizuo was just about to make his way to hit Izaya.
"I know. Don't worry. Yagiri-san did her work during the time you were resting." Hearing that, Izaya felt slightly better. He became aware that his hands were clenching the white, antiseptic-smelling blankets so he relaxed and let go, albeit with some difficulty.
Izaya heard some tapping. His phone vibrated.
「Are you…」The message said. He nodded with uncertainty.
"Izaya, I recommend you stay here, but I'm sure you'll want to return to Shinju–" Izaya felt a familiar anger quickly rushing through his human mind and he screamed.
"I'll die before going there!"
"But, isn't Yagiri-san working therein your apartment? As well as the…" Shinra trailed off. Izaya thought about it.
"Alright" Izaya opened his phone and scrolled through the contacts.
"Namie, this is an order from your boss. You will stay in the office until I get back or you will stay at home to complete organizing the things I've missed since my absence, whichever. I don't care! Just remember the security code if you decide to leave." All this while, Izaya was staring at Shizuo.
It gave him a weird feeling that Izaya was staring at him right now as he told this Namie about the security.
"What are you looking at, flea?" Shizuo was slightly surprised when the tiniest smile appeared on the informant's face, but he could have just imagined it since it was gone within a second.
"Okay, I've fixed that problem. For the meantime, I'm staying here."
"Ah, but my dear Celty and I have some–" Shinra was cut off by a jab to his side.
「It's fine. Rest in this room until you're back…」There was a silence as the dullahan left the room, followed by a whining doctor clinging to her waist.
"But, I'm right here…" Shizuo heard Izaya whisper in a frail voice. He moved the chair slightly and sat on it. Shizuo looked at Izaya before he spoke.
"What did you get into now, huh flea?" He saw Izaya's hand clutch the white sheets again. Shizuo thought he would never see the flea get so angry enough for it to show in his actions.
"Oi, flea! Answer me–" Shizuo stood up and looked at Izaya who had his head down. The bartender tried to get his attention, until he saw…
Fear