Sinister Haven

Chapter Five

Dave stands in his room, having unable to sleep the night before because of his sister. Usually, he slept throughout the day, seeing there was nothing better to do.

To him, his room was the most colorful of all; compared to all the other rooms he'd seen. Though, the room was decorated with on, simple color.

Red.

Deep, dark scarlet dried to the walls of his room.

His blood.

Terrified, the nurses and Doctor Scratch… refused to acknowledge it. Though, they had questioned him on how he had caused himself such physical harm without any objects to do so. He simply replied with a coy smile and, "You don't need utensils for everything." Since the others were too fearful, that if they were to attempt to remove the blood, Dave would react negatively and lash out, so, they simply gave up; Dave just did not give enough fucks to whether it was on the walls or not. It was 'creativity' born from his boredom, anyhow.

Dave's brows furrowed when a small sensation of pain grew in his mouth; seems he had accidentally bit his tongue, no big deal. Slowly, the blonde removed his sunglasses, glancing at the walls curiously, hoping the blood hadn't yet dried on the walls and that the nurse would be here soon with his breakfast- it never ceased to amuse him when he saw her reaction to him without his shades; distraught and scared. Never got old.

Dave swiped his hand across the wall, smiling wildly when the blood smeared easily; carefully, he began drawing a logo.

The logo.

Sburb's symbol.

In his own blood.

When he was finished, he stepped back a foot or two, checking his work; it was messy and smeared, but, otherwise, it was exactly like how John described it.

"Ahem,"

Huh… He hadn't even heard the door or the locks. Interesting. What was wrong with him? Usually things such as that didn't get past him.

He was sleep deprived.

Yes, that was it. It had to be.

"Yes…?"

It wasn't the nurse, it was a male, though. Probably Doc.

"How are you doing today, Mr. Strider?"

"I'm… well, I suppose. Depending on what, exactly, do you mean?" Dave said slowly, staring at the Sburb logo. "Rose seemed to be having a… troubling night last night, leaving me unable to sleep."

"Maybe I should return later? After you've slept, perhaps?" Doc Scratch asked.

Dave shrugs, tilting his head to the side. "I once went nearly two weeks without sleep," he informed, "I'll be fine."

Scratch was silent for a moment, staring at the logo intently. He remembered John drawing it all over his walls, as well, when they first arrived here- when he was still allowed things to actually draw with. Dave was still allowed such things, but, obviously, he preferred… other materials. "If… you insist, Mr. Strider."

"I do," he said firmly, clenching the soft cloth of his white pants, refusing to turn around.

"Jade would like to visit you," Doc Scratch says suddenly, catching Dave's attention. "I granted her permission, but she wanted your permission before she came to see you."

Reluctantly, Dave turned around and met Doc Scratch with his piercing gaze, surprisingly paralyzing him in place. "Really? Yes… Yes, I would love to see Jade."

A small, quite faint, smile pulled on the edges of Scratch's lips. "Good. I'll go retrieve her," He let after that, leaving Dave to himself once again.

Dave looked down at himself, frowning at the blood on his clothes and bare chest. Where was his shirt even at? When was the last time he even wore or saw it? Well, there was no point in trying to find it now. Dave sighed, putting his sunglasses back on and running his hand through his hair.

"Hi, Dave,"

Dave looked over at the door, the slightest of smirks curling faintly on his lips as he looked at the ever lovely Jade Harley. "Hey, Harley. Long time no see?"

She smiled brightly, Doctor Scratch closing the door behind her and locking it. "Soooo cool."

The blonde chuckled. "So, Harley, what'd ya wanna talk to me?"

Jade shrugs, sitting down on his bed, Dave sitting beside her; she stared at the Sburb logo carefully, standing and walking towards it while Dave watching her every movement with unnatural intensity for being sleep-deprived. She raised her hand, as if to change something, stopping, staring, letting it fall slowly, then quickly pulled it up again and began to work. After a minute, Jade stopped and took a few steps, admiring her work; slowly she backed up and sat back down next to Dave, smiling at him. "You forgot the chimney," she laughs lightly.

Dave chuckled, staring at her through his dark shades. "Thanks, Jade- you're a life saver."

She laughs again and lightly punches his arm. "You bet I am! And you better be grateful, too!"

He smiled, catching Jade when she over onto him before she fell off into the floor. As she continued laughing in his arms, Dave's smile faded as his eyes roamed her flawless skin. Would it still look as flawless as it did if he were to steal it from her? If he were to skin it from her body? Of course, he would attempt to make it as painless as possible. He would feel awful if he made someone such as herself feel such agony.

Jade was staring at him. Her laughter had ceased once she realized that he was studying her with unusual precision. "…Dave?"

"…Harley?"

"Are… you alright?"

"Sure. I'm cool, Harley. I'm always cool, aren't I?"

"Yeah… you are, Strider."

One of the corners of his lips twitched up ever so slightly. "Yeah, I am."