"Eddie…" I mumbled under my breath.

Waylon looked at me with a look of disbelief. "Who?"

"Eddie… Oh god." I saw him coming. He was so beat up… Damn, what happened to him? I was interrupted by an arm grabbing me and pulling me underneath a table.

"Get under here! What are you thinking? That guy's fucking insane, and you're going to stand there and do nothing? We're defenseless here!"

"No, you're defenseless, Park. I'm strong. You're a fucking computer specialist. You got thrown in here without any sense of survival. If we're going to get killed, you'll be first."

"Did I frighten you, I'm awfully sorry, I didn't mean to. We've met before, haven't we? I know I've seen your face"

This isn't real. This isn't fucking happening.

"Though it seems like a dream now, being here with you. Let me fill you up. You don't have to be alone anymore…"

What is he talking about? I don't know this guy. This is insane. This isn't right. He's spewing nonsense. Eddie…

"When I was a boy, my mother often said to me, get married son and see, how happy you will be…"

I can't stick around. I wish I could, but… I can't. The elevator was nearby. There's a ladder in there. It hasn't been used for ages, but it's the only way out. I beckoned Waylon closer and closer to our destination, looking around cautiously.

I haven't been this scared for years.

The ladder was brittle, and creaked under my weight. I deemed it safe when I had reached the middle of it. I jumped down, landing on the metal exterior that was the elevator roof. Like I said numerous times before, Park is an idiot. He jumps onto this fucking ladder with all his weight, and then runs down it like a terrified squirrel. Needless to say, the bars came loose and he fell.

What I didn't expect was for him to impale his ankle. He cried out in pain and pulled this massive chunk of wood from his leg. I then heard Eddie's voice echoing up and down the elevator shaft. "WHY would you do something like that to yourself?!"

Then I saw his expression turn to malice. "Would you… would you rather DIE than be with me?" He flipped a switch and the elevator began to trek upwards. "Then die."

Eddie always loved his games. He knew there was an opening where we could get out. He knew how easy it would be to catch Waylon now that he was injured. I wouldn't take it. I yet again grabbed the man's hand and drug him into a room filled with lockers. I ordered him to hide in one while I hid closer to the shadows. It would be less obvious if we split up anyway.

But I forgot how smart Eddie was. He found that fucking techie like he had put him in that locker himself. I whimpered. What happened to my Eddie? Jesus.

"I've been a little… vulgar, I know. And I want to say I'm sorry. It's just… you know how a man gets when he wants to know a woman."

That damn Morphogenic engine got to him… maybe for good this time. I followed him carefully. Waylon Park was my only way out of here, and Eddie had him in his hands like putty.

He took him to this weird room. There was a table in the center, surrounded by chains and hanging limbs. I watched him pour sleeping gas into Waylon's locker. I watched what he did to those men. I saw why everyone was so afraid of him… and I was afraid, too.

He looked at Waylon with such admiration falsely played along his face. "You're going to be beautiful," he said. "Such soft skin," he said. What was wrong with him? Fucking hell, Eddie.

I heard that damn buzz saw. I heard Waylon scream for someone to help him. He should know by now no one can hear him scream down here. No one will even set foot down here on purpose. I sighed and rushed out in front of the Groom, jabbing him in the face. Lucky for that fucking techie, too. His balls almost got chopped off. Again, stupid.

We fought for a bit, while Waylon hobbled off to God knows where. He'd land a hit every now and again, but I beat the living hell out of him… or at least the best I could do before screaming at him.

"Stop it! Fucking stop it! What the hell is your issue?! Stop it, Eddie! Christ."

"You… you traitor… whore." He wouldn't even look at me when he said it.

"Damn it, you look at me when you talk to me!" I felt tears fall from my eyes.

He slowly turned his head to face me. His expression went blank. "D-Darling…"

Finally, I could soften up a little. "Jesus, Eddie…"

"I ruined everything, didn't I, Darling?"

I wanted to lie and say no so badly… but…

"You don't need to lie to me, Sweetheart."

I nodded, chuckling rather painfully. I remember when Eddie first referred to anyone as 'Darling', it was me. That sounds a bit selfish, I know… but I can't remember it any other way besides that.

It was late 2012, cold outside. Shit, I think it was September? It was pretty calm that day, and it just came out of nowhere, really… what he said. He sat there, sewing something, I remember. And he asked me ever so casually, "Can I call you Darling?" I asked him what for and he replied, "It gives you a softer demeanor. It makes me less afraid of you."

"You're afraid of me?" I asked, amused.

"I am. There's something about you. The way you look at me… at other inmates, even. With such defiance, such nonchalant behavior. You should be feared."

"Please, Eddie you're forty-five and 5'-fucking- 11''. I bet you could crush me if you really wanted to."

"But I don't want to."

"Thank Christ."

"You have an awfully filthy mouth."

"Well," I murmured, pulling myself off the bed I lied on to stand. "I'm not as classy a man as you, Mr. Gluskin."

"Classy? Me? No, I'm more tacky than classy, I guarantee you." He chuckled.

"Come on now, you're a sophisticated guy. You should know that."

"I was never told to think of myself so highly."

"That's self confidence, Eddie."

"Hm. It seems I don't have that then, whatever it means." He continued to sew, humming a tune while he worked, totally unphased by our conversation. He just started to call me Darling more and more after that. I didn't stop him. It felt kind of nice. He was easier to find in a crowd now, at least.

"Please don't do this to yourself, Eddie."

"I-I don't know how to stop, Darling. I don't know how…"

"Please don't hurt me like this."

"Darling…"

"Damn it." I remembered that stupid Waylon Park. He's probably hobbled off the edge of the universe. "I have to go now."

"N-no, Darling… Stay here with me. We can be safe down here."

I stood up and shook my head, tears welling up in my eyes. "I can't… I can't, I'm sorry."

He called after me, thankfully not getting upset with me. I ran to find Waylon. I knew Eddie would forget about what I had said to him. The Engine makes you forget things like that. Special things… Savory things.

I followed this trail of bloody footprints into this one specific room, where there was a broken window. Don't tell me this idiot jumped out of the fucking window.

Yet there he was, holding his right leg in pain. Anything to survive, I guess. But he's still stupid.

I AM ON A ROLLLLLLLLLLL and I DON'T CARE IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS BECAUSE I LOVE ITTTTT

I have written like four thousand words in one night this is glorious.

-Hollow