Hey guys, this is Flower1815 here, bringing you a new chapter of MLTS. This one is shorter than the previous ones i've posted recently, but i still hope you can find the same enjoyment in reading it. Just a heads up though, i know i put the warnings in the summary but i am going to warn you now there are mentions of self-harm in this chapter. Anyway, thank you all so much for the support I really appreciate it, and I'll see ya all later! ;)
It's another stormy day in England. It's been raining for several days now, and the weather shows no signs of stopping. Hopefully, one of these days, the sun will finally get a chance to shine through again. But until then, the people of the town will just have to endure it.
A lonely figure climbed the steps towards his apartment. His coat and hoodie soaking wet from the rain. He carried four plastic bags, overfilled with groceries. Shaking himself to get rid of all the water still clinging onto him, he managed to toss the hoodie back from over his head; revealing his bright ginger hair into view.
Walking along the corridor, Matt stopped in front of an apartment door; not his own, but of his companion. Anxiously, he began to knock on it. "Edd? Are you there?" He called out, pressing his ear against the wooden surface to hear anything. But no answer. "Come on Edd. open up, buddy! It's me! Matt!"
It's been nearly a month since they got the dreadful news about their friend's unfortunate passing. And worse still, it was the last time since he'd seen his green hooded friend. Edd took the news hard. He locked himself in his apartment, and refused to go out. He didn't talk. Matt is pretty sure he hasn't been eating either, considering he never saw him go buy any groceries as of late. It worried him a lot.
Matt was helpless in this situation. He came by Edd's door every day, more than twice sometimes, to knock repeatedly, and call out to him only to be met with more silence; resulting in him going back to his own apartment in defeat. He'd tried everything at this point. He knocked on the door multiple times, so much so his knuckles were starting to turn a light shade of purple. He rang the doorbell to the point it broke. He called Edd's phone constantly, but it was never picked up.
"Edd? Please talk to me!" Matt pleaded through the door, still knocking. "Please? I just want to know if you're alright." He leaned his forehead against the door tiredly. He's been doing the same routine every day. Matt wasn't sure how long he can keep this up. How long Edd can keep this up. But for Edd's sake, he needs to keep going. They already suffered so much in the past. And now, with him gone…
Sighing in defeat, Matt backed away from the door; staring at it intently. He began to make his way to his own apartment. He was standing directly in front of his door, keys in one hand, about to open it when he hears an unexpected noise.
He stiffens at the sound, dropping his keys in the process. The loud buzzing noise echoed in his ears. But the weird thing, is that the source of the sound seems to be coming from the apartment left of his.
His apartment.
Cautiously, he tiptoed his way towards the door and pressed his ear against it. The sound was definitely coming from within.
Matt backed away, fearing a burglar might've broke in. Or maybe a deranged homeless person, making use of his friend's stuff. He retreated into his own apartment, dropping the groceries on the counter before grabbing a bust of his own face as a weapon, in case whoever was inside attacked him.
Shakily, he approached the door. The buzzing on the other side still loud and going. With a startling realization, Matt noticed that the spare key was still lodged in the lock. Somehow, whoever was inside found out about the key's location beneath the fire extinguisher.
Trembling from head to toe in apprehension, Matt turned the door knob. He paused, gulping and dreading what he may find waiting for him. He braced himself. Swinging the door open, it slammed against the wall. Matt let out a terrified shriek as he held the bust in front of him like a shield, waiting for the worst to happen.
"Hey Matt!"
At the sound of his name, he stiffened and did a double take at the sight before him. "E-Edd?" He was not imagining things. His friend is really standing right in front of him; currently vacuuming the floor. That would explain the loud noise he heard. "Is it really you?"
Edd chuckled, seemingly amused by his shocked reaction. "Of course, silly!"
Matt breathed out a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagged as he relaxed. Now the spare key in the door made sense, and he felt the sudden urge to laugh at his overreaction. "Oof, thank goodness!" He put the bust down, no longer having need for it. "You scared me for a moment there." He laughed half-heartedly, before it trailed off into an awkward cough as the reality of the situation suddenly hit him. This is the first time they've seen each other since that fateful day. Recalling his friend's reaction and all the countless days he had spent calling out to him at his door, worry instantly gripped him. "So… H-how- how are holding up?" He asks hesitantly, afraid of setting the green hooded man off by saying the wrong thing.
"Oh, I'm fine actually." Edd responded. His voice held the same cheerfulness Matt was so used to hearing. In fact, nothing about him now would ever indicate the sadness that he once felt when they learned about their companion's whereabouts. "I went to fetch you for breakfast early this morning, but you had already left." He went on, still vacuuming the floor. "I made pancakes! They are on the counter if you want."
Glancing in the direction of the kitchen, Matt spotted a stack of freshly made pancakes; steaming with butter and syrup as the contents melted down over the sides. His mouth couldn't help but water at the sight. Edd's pancakes were always the best. His stomach voiced its opinion rather loudly, and Matt recalled that he hadn't eaten anything before going out. And so, he was more than happy to take the offer. "Thanks!"
He moved to sit on one of the stools by the counter, taking a fork and knife out the drawer, Matt began to scarf down the pancake hungrily. In the process, he couldn't help the hum of delight escape him. It's been so long since he'd last eaten one of Edd's infamous pancakes! He usually saves making them only for weekends or special occasions.
"Where did you go anyway?" Edd's question brought him out of his meal, and he glanced up at him.
Matt swallowed before answering. "Oh, I was just out in the market buying groceries. Nothing much." He answered, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
In that exact moment, Matt's eyes shifted and fell on the other end of the kitchen counter. His face contorted into a puzzled expression. Another stack of pancakes laid before him, neat and untouched. Syrup and melted butter coated its sides, but this stack was implemented with a fancy swirl of whipped cream at the top, and various blueberries were scattered around the plate. Matt tilted his head. Is it Edd's? Guilt instantly overcame him. Edd went out of his way to make breakfast for the both of them, even waits for him to come back for them to eat together; and yet he goes and eats his own stack without a second thought. Matt chuckled dryly. He did always say I'm absent-minded. He mused with a pang of sadness.
"Well that's great! After you finish eating you can help me clean up this place. It's a mess!" Edd's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Sure! No problem!" Matt responded through another forkful of pancakes. "But why exactly are you cleaning T- I mean! Cleaning the apartment for?" He couldn't help but ask. It was weird enough seeing him look so cheerful, much less finding him here in all places. Although he does not condemn Edd for being happy per say; but something just doesn't feel quite right here.
Edd's answer was enough explanation.
"For when Tom comes back, silly!"
Matt instantly chocked on the pancake he was so fondly eating before. Fist beating against his own chest to clear up his throat. He coughed, gasping for breath as he stared at Edd; disbelief was shown on his face.
"I mean, just look at this dump! It was a lot worse before I got here, I tell you that." Edd continued. Matt's shocked reaction went completely unnoticed by him. "But Tom can come back any moment, and I want to surprise him. Just imagine how glad he is going to be when he finds his apartment clean again!"
Now things were starting to make a little too much sense, and Matt wasn't sure he was ready to handle this. Suddenly the pancakes have lost their appeal, and they look a lot less appetizing than they were. The chunk that was still in his mouth felt dry, and tasteless; he swallowed the lump in his throat with great difficulty. His stomach churned with discomfort. His eyes accidentally wandered to the opposite end of the counter, to where the other stack stood.
Those pancakes weren't meant for Edd. But for him.
Matt felt his legs start to quiver. "E-E- Edd?"
"Oh! And I went ahead and bought a few bottles of Smirnoff for him. The original ones this time!" He kept on going. "Placed them in the fridge already, and threw away all the diet ones. That really was a stupid move on my part! I just hope he can forgive me…"
Matt pushed away from the counter, and stood up from his stool in shaky legs. He stared at Edd; weary, anxious, scared, but most of all, worried. He had no clue what to do in this situation. Edd is obviously in denial about the whole situation. Should Matt remind him of the truth, and risk upsetting him? Or should he just go along to spare his feelings? He cares so much about him, and his wellbeing; he really wished he could keep the pain away. But deep down, Matt knows that being delusional about the truth won't do Edd any good either.
Concerned, and yet determined, Matt stepped closer to his friend.
"I'm nearly done with the living room. The kitchen is mostly cleaned, except for the dishes, but we can do that later! Then it's Tom's room next." Edd was still ranting. His voice joyful, with a closed eyed smile on his face. "When we're done I thought we could, maybe, play some video games or something to pass the time until he comes back. I don't wanna leave in case Tom returns and we're not here to greet him!"
Matt approached him with apprehension. He raised one of his hands and shakily placed it over his friend's shoulder. He felt Edd stiffen at the contact. He did not turn around, nor did he stop vacuuming the room. Matt sighed. "E-Edd, you know as well as I do that…" He paused, trying to find the best way to break it to him without further harm. "That he- he isn't coming back."
The vacuum cleaner turned off.
Matt took a step back, withdrawing his hand away. He stared at Edd anxiously, waiting for the outburst to happen. Instead, the man in the green hoodie glanced back at him over his shoulder; still smiling. "Don't be silly, Matt. Of course Tom's coming back!" He told him, voice filled with optimism. Though Matt could tell it was rather forced. "Sure, he was upset with us when we last saw him… But he just needs some time to cool off, and before you know it, Tom's gonna be back like nothing ever happened!" He beamed. "Just like you said!"
Matt stared at him in dismay, sadness brimming in his blue eyes the more he observed his appearance. Judging by the dark bags beneath his eyes, he could tell Edd hasn't been getting a wink of sleep as of late. "Edd…" He tried to reach out once again, only for him to take a few steps back; his smile faltering ever so slightly.
"Just you wait and see! Tom's coming back, and everything will be alright again." Edd kept insisting, his voice wavering for a tiny fraction as he turned away from his ginger companion. "And then we can watch Return of the insane zombie pirates from hell 6: The final revenge of the curse! And who knows, after that we may go on more adventures just like… We once used to." The volume of his voice got increasingly lower as he went on, turning into a mere hushed whisper by the end.
"E-Edd, you're scaring me…" Matt shrunk back, genuinely unsettled by his friend's behaviour. "Please, snap out of it."
The man in the green hoodie looked back up at him, with a large smile plastered on his face. But what really got Matt's attention, aside from the creepy smile, was the fact that there are tears spilling from Edd's eyes. He was trying, and failing miserably to keep up the illusion despite Matt's protests. "What do you m-mean, Matt?" He asks softly, shaking his head. "Snap out of… What? Exactly?"
Matt gulped. A freezing chill spread around his insides with a sense of dread. He could feel his own eyes start to water the more he stared at his friend. This situation was rapidly running out of control, and Matt was in the verge or bursting into tears himself. He was only able to get a hold of himself just for Edd's sake. He is in more distress than himself, and he needs to be strong enough to console him.
He lurched forward suddenly, throwing his arms out and around Edd; enveloping him in a tight hug. Matt felt him stiffen in his hold, but he did not step away. "Edd, please, I know this is hard to accept… But you're gonna have to, sooner or later!" He sniffled, trying his damn hardest to keep himself from trembling. He held in the tears that were threatening to spill over, and he tightened the hug; at this point, he is unsure whether or not he is actually doing this for his own comfort or for Edd's. He buried his face in his friend's shoulder, afraid of uttering his next words loud and clear. "He is never coming back."
Edd clenched his fists.
"What do you know?"
Matt looked up, confusion replacing sadness. He glanced at Edd, and was shocked to find him glaring at him through glistening green eyes. "Edd?"
"You know, Matt, I never took you for being sceptical type. If you even know what that word means." He told him coldly.
The man in the purple hoodie flinched, and reared back; completely baffled by Edd's sudden change in attitude, and spontaneous rude demeanour. "I'm just- I'm only trying to help you!"
Edd shoved him away, breaking the hug. "I don't need your help!" He states confidently. "I know that I am right! Tom is going to come back."
"Please listen to me!" Matt begged, hardly containing his emotions at bay. "No matter how much you wish otherwise, he isn't coming back."
"Yes, he is!" Edd insisted.
"Tom's dead!"
Edd flinched for a millisecond, before glowering at him. "You know what? Since you're so discontent with the way things are, why don't you just leave?" He snapped. "The door is right behind you, and I can clean this whole place on my own. But when Tom comes back, don't come crying back to me hoping he'll forgive you!"
His words genuinely hurt Matt, and he felt painful tug in his chest. "Edd please!"
"Get out, Matt." He demanded as he turned away from him, crossing his arms. "You already caused enough damage."
The ginger haired man stared at him in dismay. He was torn between insisting or heeding his words. But considering how upset Edd is, he opted for the latter. Defeated, Matt began to head out. When he reached the door, he shot one last glance at his friend over his shoulder, sad to find him still with his back turned to him. He sighed and left the apartment, silently closing the door behind him and leaving Edd to his own devices.
The man in the green hoodie breathed out a sigh of relief, attempting to calm down his troubling thoughts and rebellious emotions. With Matt gone, he can now go back to his task of making Tom's home presentable for his return. It's the least he can do for his eyeless friend, after what he put him through.
Once he made sure everything was set and done in the living room, he pulled the vacuum's plug off the socket, and moved to his next destination. Tom's room. Walking along the corridor, Edd fumed quietly. "Stupid Matt. What does he know about Tom? Can't even get his fricking name right at the best of times! Why should I listen to him? I know I'm right! Tom is fine, and he will come back! Why is that so hard to believe?" He ranted, grumbling under his breath even though no one is around to hear him. His heart clenched whenever he remembered his eyeless friend. Although it hurts, to Edd; it was best to keep on remembering than to forget him entirely and pretend he never even existed. He should know… Edd regrets what he did, but the memory was simply just too painful to keep. But he won't make the same mistake twice. He owes Tom that much.
Finally, he reached the end of the corridor where he stood before a lone, blue door. Swiping his troubles and thoughts aside, Edd grabbed the door handle. Hopefully his mind will be too distracted with his current task to think of anymore problems. But as he twisted the knob, and opened the door with a resonating creak, he found himself growing anxious at the sight he was met with.
The room is a mess. Absolute shambles!
Dirty clothes were scattered all over the floor. Many bottles of Smirnoff were littered around the room, some of them are even shattered. The mattress had large gashes running along its surface, the stuffing and springs from within are poking out in tufts. The bed sheets were piled in the far corner of the room in a messy bundle; as if they were tossed away in a careless fashion. The pillows were shredded, barely even scraps, with clumps of feathers lying around all over the place. One of the wardrobe's doors was barely hanging on its hinges, while the other door had a chunk of it missing. Some of the drawers were missing from their cabinets; and although the window blinds were close, a little bit of light from outside shined through the broken gaps. The only thing that's remotely in good condition at all is Susan, leaning against the wall in the corner; but only because the base had already been through so much and looks better in comparison to everything else.
Edd stood by the door, completely frozen, as he took in the scene before him with wide eyes. The fact that Tom had forbidden them from ever coming anywhere near his room was starting to make sense to him now; and he wasn't sure that was a good thing. Not taking his eyes off the scene, Edd subconsciously began to feel the walls for the light switch. The room is absurdly dark. His fingers flipped the switch on, but nothing happened. He repeated the motion a couple of times before adverting his gaze away from the room to glance upwards. The lights are busted.
Edd gulped. Making sure to keep the door open with the light from the corridor shining behind him, Edd took slow, and weary steps into the ominous room. The atmosphere he found hanging around in the air felt suffocating and full of dread. It made him nauseous.
A resonating crunch sounded when he took another step. Glancing down at his feet, Edd found various shards of glass scattered on the floor; presumably more broken bottles. Upon closer inspection, Edd took notice of long scratch marks decorating the walls and floor. Odd. Considering Tom never had any pets, nor did he like Ringo enough to let the cat freely wander around his apartment.
Looking around the creepy room, Edd didn't even know where to begin. The vacuum cleaner laid uselessly next to him. It will take a lot more than that just to fix this mess. Maybe the bathroom is in better condition. He decided, heading for the door positioned to his left.
Oh, how dead wrong he is.
He attempted to open the door, but it wouldn't budge beyond a small gap. Edd then tried to forcefully push the door open, but to no avail. Getting frustrated, he started to slam his own body against the door to slam it open. After a couple of attempts, he managed to burst through only for his breath to hitch in his throat, as he gasps at the sight.
Blood.
Blood was everywhere.
The dried crimson liquid was coating the white surfaces of the bathroom tiles, the sink, towels, shower, the curtains; pretty much everything. Edd glanced around wearily, taking a shaky step into the bloody bathroom. He felt as if he just stumbled upon a crime scene from a horror movie or something, and at this point he was half-expecting the killer to pop out and pounce on him at any given moment.
More crunching noises sounded from beneath his footsteps. Edd raised one foot, to see shards of glass scattered on the rug and floor; blood coating their edges. His gaze drifted upwards to look at the sink, and was surprised to see his distorted reflection gazing back at him from the confines of a shattered mirror. Its glass fragments were scattered over the sink in a bloody pile, along with dull, and rusted razors.
Edd carefully picked one of the razors, and lifted to his eyelevel for a closer inspection. The blades are tainted with dried specks of blood, and the edges are crusting brown with rust.
He gulped, a shiver running down his spine as he backed away from the scene. Surely there is a reasonable explanation for all of this? Maybe Tom was trying to shave one day and accidentally hurt himself… and broke the mirror… which hurt him more… which then resulted in the bloodied state of the bathroom. That's reasonable, right?
Edd tried to come up with various possible scenarios that could explain his findings, as well as sooth his ever-increasing worries for his missing friend. This shouldn't be hard! After all, it's not like Tom is secretly a murderer, or that anything serious is going on with him, right?
Little did Edd know, he isn't that far off from the truth…
(Meanwhile...)
Gripping the sides of the porcelain seat tightly in his hands, Tom hunched over and hurled out whatever contents still resided in his pitiful stomach. The taste of bile was familiar to him by now, and his throat ached with how often this seem to happen. A comforting hand gently patted his back. "There, there… Just let it all out, buddy." Paul tried to soothe him, looking awfully uncomfortable with the situation and not really sure how to handle this.
To say his situation is lame would be putting it lightly.
It hasn't been that long since Tord left the facility, a week and a half at most, and the Red leader had been correct in his assumption about Tom's condition. The eyeless subject was undergoing through a severe alcohol withdraw. He could barely muster up the strength within himself to do anything. Ever since it started, Tom hadn't left the confines of his quarters. Not because he wasn't allowed, but simply because of his constant lack of energy, and weakness in his limbs. Tom once tried to take a walk around the halls, taking advantage of the Norsk's absence in the base, only for him to end up on the tiled floor; curled up into a ball, on his side, in the corner of a corridor with his own arms wrapped around his abdomen, moaning with pain.
Pat had found him and helped him back to his quarters, deeming him too unfit to leave unsupervised. It was degrading to say the least.
Feeling his stomach subside, Tom slumped back; panting for breath. "Feeling better now?" Paul asked, earning a silent nod from his head. Effortlessly picking Tom up, Paul carried him back to his bed. The Brit did not voice any complaint, nor did he make any sort of fuss. He is far too tired to fight against the humiliation of being carried around like a baby. Good thing Tord isn't here to tease him, at least. The Norwegian man would never let him live this down.
Being placed down upon his bed, Tom turned to lay on his side and curled up; hugging his knees to his chest.
"Do you need anything else?" Paul offered, staring at him with concern. Unable to speak, Tom simply shook his head in response. "Pat will check on you soon, alright? You should try and get some rest till then."
Easier said than done. Tom rebuked silently, a spasm rippled through his body and he clenched himself tighter. If he had trouble sleeping before, the withdrawal was a constant hammering against his skull that won't ever let him rest. He watched the Red army Commander leave, the door sliding close behind him, and Tom was once again left alone.
Miserably he nuzzled against his pillow, in a weak attempt of gaining some sort of comfort. His ragged, heavy breathing echoed in the room; the air felt smothering hot and Tom was sweating profusely. His mind is fuzzy, and unable to focus. Tossing and turning in his bed, he tried desperately to close his eyes, rest, and escape the surging pain that wracked his body with so much intensity. But every time he did, Tom would be haunted by the horrific nightmares that continuously plagued his mind. Bodies being torn apart in savage, and horrendous ways by his own hands. It was a hard dilemma. Either he remains awake through the withdrawal, doing absolutely nothing but lay down in pain, vomit, and wait for time slowly pass by. Or he goes to sleep and re-visit his worst fears. What do?
Usually he wouldn't mind going through pain. It keeps his mind busy; focusing on something else other than the primitive urge that fluctuates within him at random intervals. It may not be ideal, but it does its job, and Tom learned to put up with it, and maybe even enjoy sometimes. It's a reliving sensation. But this pain is nothing like a stab or a cut. It was agonizing. Now, whether he prefers withdrawal over shifting it's a different story. It's been a long time since the last time he–
Another spasm travelled through his body. Tom groaned, and curled up tighter on himself. His situation is hopeless by every definition of the word. He continued to pant heavily for breath. His chest rising and falling excessively with his respiration. Through his half-closed eyes, Tom's blurry vision could make out the small, flat circular disc on his bedside table.
The device Tord had given him.
He never used it; highly distrusting the Norwegian man and his intentions. Tom placed it away from himself, swearing through stubbornness that he'll never use it out of spite. But the withdrawal was getting to him. Tom reached his arm out, gingerly grabbing the device and bringing it over to him. "This, is a special device that I personally invented to help users gain a peaceful sleep, undisturbed by nightmares." Tord's words echoed as Tom looked over the tiny object in his fingers. "I created it for my own needs, but I figure you need it more than I do."
In his agony, Tom shrugged and decided to give in. What's the worst that could happen to him at this point? Nothing would ever compare to his nightmares, and not many things faze him anymore. His only concern, was the fact that Tord stated he had created the device for himself. Tom shudders. I swear, if I put this on and dream about some sh#tty hentai, I'm gonna kill that commie f#ck next time I see him!
Not having many options left, Tom placed the device into his ear; doing exactly as Tord had instructed. Feeling the tiny switch on its surface, he flipped it. He tried his best to accommodate himself on the bed, but the constant pain surging through his body was a bothersome problem. Getting comfortable, Tom did not bother in going under the covers; he feels warm enough already. Closing his eyes, Tom buried his face into the pillows, and waited for his fatigue to do its work and put him to sleep.
Being so used to this scenario, Tom was half-expecting the bloody imageries of his recurring nightmares to pop up and make him jolt awake.
Instead, he was met with a rather startling sight.
But in a good way.
A tiny speck of light glimmered in the distance, growing brighter and brighter until it enveloped him completely. Tom was sure if he had any eyes, they would be burning up right now at the light's intensity. The harsh glare of whiteness that blinded him progressively faded away, revealing a clear blue sky above him. Tom blinked in confusion. This isn't his quarters. But then again, this isn't some dark alley for him to shred people in, so there's that. He suddenly found himself laying on solid ground, and something tickled the back of his neck and hands.
Sitting up slowly, Tom was greeted with a huge, lush green meadow; stretching far over the horizon. Flowers of all kinds bloomed all over the place. A passing breeze flowed by, rustling the grass blades as it came and went. A large lake loomed ahead, the crystal-clear water glistened with sparks of sunlight on its still surface, and a large willow tree stood at the edge.
Tom stared dumbfounded at the beautiful landscape he found himself in. He was laying on top of a blooming hill, overlooking the scenery. The cool breeze brushed against him, ruffling his hair just slightly while also refreshing his warm skin. He clenched his hands over a patch of grass, feeling the blades and dirt in his fingers. This feels so real!
Tom stood up in shaky legs, looking down at the hill as the sun shined above him. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes as he felt the wind blow on his face, and stretched his arms out before plummeting forward. Tom rolled down the grassy hill, the flowers softening his fall as he continued rolling until he no longer could, and came to a stop at the very bottom, where he laid on his back; panting for breath as he stretched his arms out to feel the grass and flowers around him. The sensation was so realistic, Tom could've fooled himself into thinking this as reality and not a dream.
He laid there on the meadow for what seemed like ages, appreciating the scent of flowers, quiet setting, and cool breeze. Butterflies would occasionally flutter by his eyes, going from one bloom to another as they gathered around, some even landing on him. Tom continued to stare at the sky, taking deep breaths as he took in the smell of fresh air he hadn't felt in days. He spotted a couple of doves perched on the branches of the willow tree not too far away from him, before unfolding their wings and taking flight. A sense of tranquillity washed over him. Tom folded his arms beneath his head. Real or not, there was no doubt that he was at ease here. No voices tormenting him. No psychotic commie to piss him off. No people to maim. No monster. No problems. Tom could finally rest in peace here. Tom smiled, sighing contently as he slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he was disappointed to find himself staring up at the bland white ceiling of his quarters. Tom groaned in a mixture of annoyance and disappointment. And here he was, thinking he had somehow escaped this dreadful place and found peace. Tom flipped off the switch on the device, and plucked it off his ear. He stared down at the device in silent contemplation.
He was startled out of his thoughts when the door slid open with a resonant hiss, and Patrick strolled in the room.
"I'm sorry! Were you sleeping?" Pat asks worriedly, carrying a tray with him. "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you."
"It's fine." Tom grumbled irritably.
Patrick stepped closer to him, carefully placing the tray over the bedside table before sitting down at the edge of the bed. Tom watched as he changed his bandages and cleaned his wounds, his fingers still fumbling with the tiny device in his hand.
When Patrick was finished with his bandages, he moved to the other side to change his IV bag. "Can I ask you something?" Tom spoke up, after several long moments of silence.
Patrick stared at him in surprise. "Of course."
"What can you tell me about this?" Tom questions, showing him the device held in his hand.
Pat narrowed his eyes and leaned closer to inspect it. Wordlessly he silently asked the Brit if he could take the device from his hands for just a mere moment. Tom nodded, dropping the tiny disc in the Polish soldier's hands.
"Ah, I see… This is creation #276, The Dreamcatcher. One of Red leader's most prized and cherished creations." Patrick evaluated the object. "Where did you acquire this?" He asks, shooting him a look of suspicion.
Tom glared at him, crossing his arms. He was not in the mood to be challenged. "I did not steal it, if that's what you are asking. Tord gave it to me before he left." He argued defensively. "But what does it do?"
"Did he not tell you?" Pat inquired curiously.
"All he said was that it is meant to help users get a peaceful rest without any nightmares." Tom told him. "But I want to know exactly how it does it."
Patrick hummed deep in thought, scratching his chin. "Well, basically as the name already insinuates, the device fends off nightmares by replacing it with good dreams." He explained. "But it doesn't replace it with any sort of good dreams. The device has a tiny holographic laser that goes into your brain, diving in to your deepest desires and bringing forth to your subconscious."
Tom blinked at him deadpanned. "Speak English!"
"Your nightmares are replaced by your dreams, and your dreams are your greatest desires." Patrick told him bluntly, handing him back the device. "Whenever you use the Dreamcatcher, you will dream of whatever you want the most."
Tom stared back at him numbly, watching as the Red Army General replaced his IV bag, and handed him a plastic cup with the special drink Tom grew so fond of. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" He asked the Brit.
Tom took a sip of his drink, relishing in the sweet taste. "No thanks." He grumbled.
"Alright, you should rest up a bit more." Patrick advised him. "I'll tell Paul to check on you later than usual, so as to not disturb your sleep. Okay?"
Tom nodded, waiting for him to leave the room already. When the door hissed shut, Tom fell back on his bed, staring at the ceiling deep in thought. So the device shows him his greatest desire whenever he dreams? Tom knows exactly what he desires most in this world, and even if it's not for real, he will take it over his nightmares any day, easy.
After hurriedly finishing his drink. He placed the empty cup aside and quickly placed the device back into his ear. Tom turned on the switch and closed his eyes, anticipating sleep. Funny. Mere hours ago, Tom was absolutely against the idea of sleeping, to avoid catching glimpses of his terrible actions. Now he wants it more than anything. Beats laying down all day staring at the wall at least. Tord gave him the device, and Tom will sure as hell make some good use out of it.
He drifted off into sleep once more, and he found himself back in the beautiful meadow; watching as the sun began to set down over the horizon, and lighting the entire sky in orange and golden hues.
So what did you guys think?
Tom's dream is meant to be up for interpretation, so tell me, what do you think is Tom's desire when he dreamt of the meadow? I promise i'll try to make the next chapter longer. Like i said, no Tord this time around but don't worry, he'll show up again real soon so just be patient. Leave a review telling me your thoughts, i hope you guys enjoyed it!
See yah!