Tom was alone.
He'd been alone for 2 weeks.
He'd been untreated for 2 weeks.
The only thing that could be considered 'human contact' was when someone shoved food through the door. He knew he shouldn't have let himself get attached to them.
Now they're gone. It wasn't his fault.
It couldn't be.
It is so your fault, said a familiar voice.
"Oh, you're back from you vacation I see." Tom whispered as he scooched up in the corner.
Oh shut up, I'm not your friend.
"It sure seems like you are. You are here when I'm alone, and I can talk to you."
I fucking hate you. They do too. You haven't seen the other two in a while, they probably forgot about you. God you're worthless.
"Tell me something I don't know."
Huh. You are so painfully pathetic that you don't even give a shit about them. That is awful. You are disgusting. They didn't fix you because you don't deserve it. You're in pain right now and that is how it should be. It's a start on what you should do, since you did it to those kids.
"...yeah."
The voice disappeared.
The cold from the floor seeped into his bones, his bed having mysteriously disappeared one night. He was stuck in the corner, his ankle sending waves of pain every time he moved even slightly. His breathing was raspy and slow, his nose being so messed up he had to breathe through his mouth. Everything hurt. Why did it hurt so much?
Tom jumped as the small metal door at the bottom of the real door screeched open, a tray clattering against the floor. Some bread, jerky, and a achingly small cup of water.
Same as last time.
It was all the way across the room, too. Was it really worth it? All the pain just for some food? He ate yesterday, and he knew the human body could go weeks without food.
But he wasn't human.
Not even close.
But he was so thirsty. And tired too. Maybe..maybe just a minute of closed eyes. Just a real slow blink. Then he'd go get the food.
Tom let the wave of tiredness crash over him, the pain dulling out just enough for him to drift to sleep.
...
It had been two weeks, and Eva was almost fully healed. Tord had been by her side for everything, the surgery, the rehabilitation, all of it. All his attention was on her, she was his best friend after all. He only ate when she did, mostly just forgetting to. Slept when she did, all that. Now she was pretty much fine.
After Eva had berated him for spending all his time with her, she sent Tord down to his lab to do some work so he wouldn't get fired. Tord hadn't been in there since...the incident. A thin layer of dust covered everything in the room, including the work on his desk.
What was I even working on before? Tord thought as he blew most of the dust off his things. As he shuffled the papers around, he caught a glimpse of something that reflected the light. The goggles.
Oh.
Tord then realized he hadn't thought about Tom at all. Maybe that was a good thing.
Maybe not.
His plan still needed to work though. Could he do it on 682? No, 682 was here since before Tord even knew about the Foundation.
It had to be him.
He was sure someone had checked on Tom since he left. Right? It couldn't hurt just to make sure.
Tord took one last look at the prototype on his desk and shut the door, taking the familiar path down to his room. It was a relatively short walk, which was easy on Tord, taking into account he didn't sleep much back then.
Back then? What the hell am I talking about? It's been two weeks, there is no 'back then'. Tord scolded himself mentally. A short while later he reached the room and opened the door with a creak.
That thing needs some damn WD-40.
He entered the dark room. No one was there, which was sort of odd, considering that there was till much to be discovered about...him. He flicked the lightswitch and the small area flooded with light. Tord noticed that the light in the cell was off, which irked him some. The light was never off. He found the light switch to the cell near the window, and flicked that as well, illuminating the cell. He scanned the cell for any movement, any reaction to the lights.
No movement.
Tord's eyes quickly landed on a dark blob in the corner. With another second of staring, he finally recognized it as Tom. Was he dead? Tord sniffed the air. Something pungent tinged the clean, almost hospital like smell the Foundation possesed. Was this a prank? Some sick joke pulled by Tom to get back at him? If it was, Tord was going to be very mad. He held his hand tentatively over the small button that opened the cell door, debating whether he should go in or not. Tom could actually be crazy, developing madness in the short time between Tord leaving, and Eva entering.
No, that's...that's completely irrational. But I don't even need to go in there. I can see him from here. He's fine, probably just tired.
Tord scanned the room once more, noticing that there was no bed.
It probably got dirty form...Eva's blood. And they took it to clean it. I'm certain I just happened to walk in while it was away. Tord mentally reassured himself of the facts he made up. He faked a small smile, even though no one else was looking. He took another glance at Tom, how he was huddled up in the corner like he was going to freeze to death if he didnt. He was still. Tord couldn't see the way Tom's chest heaved as he struggled to breathe, couldn't see the small cuts and bruises lining his face and body.
Tord strode confidently out of the room, turning off the viewing room light and shutting the door.
He failed to notice the small puddles and droplets of blood surrounding Tom as he left.
*in the same weird tone as the vine guy who watching the girl vape at a party*
wOw.
i feel like i've been gone for long, but it's been like...a week.
today was the first day of school, so bing bong expect slower chapters lol
aLso i got into the invader zim stash again, so if you wanna see some of my art or shit follow me on insta arty_beans
shameless plug, i know
so yeah
take this you gremlins
-trashbag
