I do not own Glass, Split, or Unbreakable.

I do not own a horde.

The Light of the Casey

Me and All My Friends

"Casey?"

It could have been so much different.

"Hey, Kevin."

Should have been so much different.

"I hope I'm not too early."

"Nope. Right on time. Let me get my bag."

As she grabbed the colorful, knit, crossbody bag . . .

Ooh, very bohemian. Tell her it's my aesthetic now.

"Barry says he likes your bag."

"Oh. Well, thanks."

That's not what I said at all.

. . . Kevin caught a whiff of her dark hair . . .

You do know that human hair catches all the floating particles in the air. It's filthy.

Looks alright to me, Dennis.

. . . and thought it smelled nice.

"You okay, Kevin?"

"Yes. Thanks."

The day was bright and sunny, puffy white clouds drifting lazily across the hopeful spring sky.

"-uate soon."

"Really? What are you going to do?"

He couldn't think of a single thing he might do if he was in her position.

He had never had any hopes or dreams at all.

But that was okay. Because maybe Casey did.

"Actually, I was thinking of studying psychology."

Her pale cheeks pinkened a little, mouth turning up at the corner into a small smile.

"I want to work with people with DID. Help them better understand themselves and function as a whole, not split apart."

Oh, what a sweet child. Please tell her we would be so grateful for her to help others like us.

"Miss Patricia says she thinks that's a good idea. People like us need all the help we can get."

It was still weird for him, talking so openly about his alters.

Not having to worry about being judged for it.

He had never been this open and sincere with anyone before, except Dr. Fletcher.

And that had only ever been out of desperation.

"- can," Casey was saying softly now. "No one should have to feel isolated and all alone."

Kevin didn't have a response to this . . .

Anthropologically speaking, human beings have always exhibited a tendency to seek out the companionship of other human beings. Of course, so do many other-

Wait, Orwell, what-

. . . at least none that he could speak out loud right now.

They walked along, separate and together.

They were out together.

But not out together.

He was too old for her, over thirty to her seventeen.

Her having just started branching out into the world while him having spent too many years consumed with too many voices and people and trauma in his head to really look around.

But now, finally, finally, the sun he'd never even known might be there might be starting break through the clouds a little.

". . . college here for a while to get started."

And Kevin Wendell Crumb finally had his first friend.

First real friend.

Just a friend.

Of course she's just your friend, jeez. I mean, she really likes me. We've been dating forever, etcera.

And it was nice.

"Hey, do you want to get some ice cream?"

No, honey, are you kidding? It'll go straight to my hips!

Just a little, Jade.

Helado picante!

That'll give us ulcers, Rakel.

Hands stuffed in pockets.

Strolling side by side.

In the fresh afternoon day.

There were a few bumps and hiccups along the way.

"Hey, baby, how'd you like a lick of my lollipop?"

Grrr . . . Allow me to rip his throat out with my teeth-

Wait, just give us a second to see if we can . . .

His blood will taste righteously satisfying on my tongue . . .

. . . get by.

But for the most part, it was an easy, smooth afternoon.

See? It's okay.

Unworthy swine . . .

And at then end of it . . .

"Thank you for spending the afternoon with me, Kevin."

"Thanks for inviting us, Casey."

. . . she leaned forward and hugged him.

Not intimate or sexual or anything like that.

But friendly and caring and nice.

And sincere.

"I'm glad you're my friend, Kevin. I'm glad you're okay."

"We are too, Casey. Thank you."

But none of that ever happened.

Because as Casey's deep, dark eyes stilled the rage of the Beast and brought Kevin Wendell Crumb the courage to step into the warm Light of her presence, the sniper on the roof took aim.

Waited for the slightest shift in her stance to take opening.

And shot him right through the heart.

Casey?

And Kevin Wendell Crumb and all of the twenty-two other living, breathing, thinking entities housed inside his scarred, bruised, split body, died.

Casey?

And faded away from the Light of the Casey.

Well, I've come back to Kevin and Casey because frankly, I had to.

You know?

Anyway, thanks to blacklily725, Felicity Dream, The Mighty Gamersaurs, TheConjuringMind, Archel-Always, EagerCastle, and Gracious Guest for reviewing previously!

Thanks also to Aelys Liddell, Andressa Freitas, Archel-Always, Blue Kitsune, CL-SlayQueen, ChiaraKA, DontCountMeOut, FuzzyPinkStar, Gwynbear7, Itsabird, Jasper6509, Jazz'Cookie'Monster-5955, Jurassikuh, Kard666, Kaytey1996, Pamplemousse M, Natnat24, RedHood001, Ryu1417, Shehawah, StarReader2009, TheLifeStruggleIsREAL, Xkarra of the sandX, Yuu Valentine, , jessykunoichi, yukivampireknight16, Irenita55, Geekgirl127, Lsheart, augydoggy95, and NEDCL1 for adding your support this story.

If I skipped anyone, it was accidental and I apologize. You all and the silent readers mean so much to me, always. :D