Being different, being a freak was not cool, not good, no matter how much Johnathan tried to make it seem. Zombie boy. Freak. Fag. Words that kept getting thrown at him again and again. Will worked on another zombie boy. This one had dark green skin with a showing prominent burn peeking out through a torn jacket. He should be sleeping. He had school in a few hours. Sleep wouldn't come. Will worked on the shading of the fangs, they didn't all have fangs but this one did. Over time the zombies looked better but also worse, most realistic if that was possible. He had a box full of them hidden in his closet. He didn't draw them in the daytime, he knew that Johnathan worried about him, especially after everything that happened with the Mind Flayer.

Sometimes, it felt like he wasn't really gone, even if he thankfully no longer switched between the real world and the upside down anymore since the gate was closed. At least he had been spared that. He focused more on his shading even though it was a bit too much, he liked the motion. The almost harsh jerking motion before he moved to another section. There were often more shades area than normally colored areas. Blood too, both black and red. Sometimes covering almost the whole page. His fingers paused in mid-motion as the feeling of something slimy slid down his throat.

It wasn't real. Not anymore he hadn't felt that since the gate closed. His eyes burned and he swallowed harshly, he wasn't going to cry. He wasn't a baby. He could deal with this. They were just memories. They weren't real.

That's what he thought about the mind flayer.

He was gone. Will was safe. He brought his hand down to the burn in his side. It still stung a little bit, though not as much as it used but the pain reminded him that the mind flayer left. He was gone. He was gone.

He got up from his soft bed and made his way to the window needing a distraction. Thick snowflakes were falling on the ground landing atop more snow. If they lived in a more fair-weather place he might've hoped for a snow day, unlikely here. He hadn't noticed when the snow started. He likes the cold. His palms grasped each other and his fingers trailed over his arms and then down to the burn on his side again. It was getting colder. Every degree it sank made him think more and more of the mind flayer. He was gone. He was gone.

He heard a sound behind him like a loud click and turned around with a gasp only to find Johnathan standing there. He looked tired if the yawn he was in the middle of was any indication. His hair was messy and he seemed to be squinting at him. He must be pretty tired.

"Will are you okay? It's 4 in the morning." He hadn't known exactly what time it was but he knew better than to mention that insomnia had become his fast friend. Will nodded though he didn't think his older brother believe him.

"Just had to pee, got distracted by the snow on the way." He said pointing to the snow outside, fat flakes still falling silently. He heard the clicking sound again a few times while he was pointing before Johnathan briefly looked outside a brief relieved look settling on his face before focusing back on him, squinting even more. Did Johnathan need glasses? He hoped not he wasn't sure their mom could afford it.

"You sure you're okay?" Will knew one way out of this conversation and he used it to his full advantage. He passed Johnathan quickly and muttered.

"Fine, just still need to pee." When he got back, thankfully Johnathan was gone but Will froze as he realized he had left the zombie boy picture in full view. He left Johnathan there with it, because apparently, he was stupid. But strangely it looked untouched. It was in the exact position he remembered leaving it in right next to the edge hanging off slightly. Will frowned as he looked at the door. It was in full view on the desk. Maybe he decided not to talk about it? Maybe he was just going to let it go. Maybe he was just too tired and hadn't realized it was right there.

There was something wrong. He could feel it even though he had no idea what it was. He froze as he realized there was a candle on his bedside table. Jonathan had been in his room and had left a candle. He only did that when-

Will ate up the distance between him and the light switch in moments and flicked the switch.

The loud clicking, that's what Johnathan had been trying to do. He had been trying to turn on the lights, he looked up at the light. Nothing happened. The power was out. It sometimes happened when a lot of snow fell. But he could see his bed, blankets, and sheets just the same as always. He had been fine drawing, he could see just fine, he hadn't even noticed. No. No. No.

He could see in the dark. He could see in the dark. Like a freak. Like a monster. Even now. No. No. No. He curled in himself bringing his knees up to his chest and cried.

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