Peter was doing ok for a while; he became determined to succeed at college and put all the drama with his family behind him. That was until one day when he received a call from his mom which shook him up. He wouldn't tell Elio anything about it apart from, 'she said they found me.'
'Who found you?'
Peter shook his head. 'But they're not real, Dad says they're not real. Mom's just losing it.'
Elio said nothing but sat next to Peter, gently stroking his shoulder; feeling way out of his depth.
'When she loses it I lose it. I don't want to see all that shit again,' he said, subconconciously touching the scar on his nose.
'You won't,' Elio rassured him, kissing the scar; Peter clung to him; shaking, almost like a child.
He became erratic after the call; not sleeping again, having nightmares when he did sleep; and kept talking about a blue light that he kept seeing everywhere.
'Didn't you see it?' he demanded of Elio one evening.
'No, there's nothing there,' Elio replied. 'You're starting to scare me.'
Peter sat on the bed. 'What if she's right?' he asked. 'What if it's all true and we're not going crazy?'
Elio said nothing, growing more uneasy by the minute.
'Mom said it's because of grandma, that she made us part of some ritual and they're after me.'
'Why would your mom tell you that?' Elio said, sitting down.
'To warn me, so I know what I'm in for.'
'And what's that?'
Peter shrugged, then took out his phone, passed it to Elio. He'd opened a photo of a page from a book, a passage near the bottom highlighted; mentioning a 'male host.' Uneasy chills passed down Elio's spine.
'Where did you get this?' he asked, passing the phone back.
'Mom sent it, it's one of Grandma's books.'
'She told you that?'
Peter nodded.
'How do you know she didn't just buy this book and highlight it herself?'
Peter looked away. 'I told you about that dream didn't I? The one with the strangers in the attic, and Mom chasing me?'
Elio nodded.
'There was a picture of me up there, set up in this triangle carved on the floor, my eyes were crossed out.'
'That was a dream Peter,' Elio said gently.
His roommate huffed, getting annoyed now. 'So what about the video then, you saw it! Have you ever seen a seizure like that before?'
Elio swallowed, feeling as though he was watching a mental breakdown happen before his eyes.
'I heard that noise just before it, Charlie's clicking thing, like something was trying to- get in.'
'Like a possesion?'
Peter shrugged. 'Says it needs a male host.'
Elio watched him. 'I think you should talk to your Dad, just tell him what's going on-'
Peter shook his head. 'Don't say that Elio please, I need you to believe me,' he said, taking his hand forcefully, his grip like a vice; scaring him further. 'Please,' he begged.
Elio said nothing, unable to relinquish his hand.
'If you don't call him, I will,' he said.
Peter dropped his hand, betrayed. 'No you can't. They'll just put me on medication.'
'Well, maybe that would help.'
'Come on man, I don't need this shit from you.'
'Hey, just take it easy ok?' Elio said, taking Peter's hands in his, trying to soothe him.
Peter pulled back from him, got up and left the room.
