Even though I had slept most of the day away, I was still somehow able to fall asleep again once night rolled around. (Oh yeah, and I pretty much spent the rest of the night in my room, unless you count the fifteen minutes it took to microwave and eat the leftover Chinese takeout. I honestly didn't know what happened to Kirkland or where he was, but I didn't bother wondering. Minty visited me later in the evening, and this time it brought some more of Kirkland's friends, like Uni and Hook. Introductions and small talk took up the rest of the evening.)

My nerves had eased up a bit, as I felt that I was safe from anymore ghosts and such.

…But now, as I stared death in the face, I realized that I was wrong.

I had woken up in the middle of the night needing to use the toilet, and when I got back that thing had been waiting for me in my darkened room.

Now I stared at it, my breath coming out in ragged, horrified, gasps. This one wasn't as bad as the other guys… he definitely didn't look like them, that was for sure. It was just, instead of looking like a victim of death, he looked like death itself. That was ten times worse than the zombie man.

It made a move towards me, and, with a yelp, I dashed back into the bathroom. I slammed the door and protectively leaned against it… incase the thing tried to come in. I frantically glanced around the small room. Earlier I had thought that the goth library was empty, and I wasn't taking my chances again.

But alas, in the end I ended up not finding a ghost, but another tiny winged girl. Hooray.

"You guys…" I hissed. The pixie smirked. Honestly, these creatures deserved to live about as much as mosquitoes! "Look, I know how fragile you are, and trust me, I'm not afraid… to…" My sentence faded as the weirdest sensation entered my being. It actually kind of felt like something was in my chest, scarily enough. However, when I nervously looked down, I saw nothing. I lifted my gaze back up to the pixie.

"S-stop screwing with me!"

She let out a silent chuckle and pointed to herself, shaking her head. I burst out into a tired rage.

"Well obviously it is you! Other than that, it's death ghost, here, but he's kind of locked out right now, stupid!" I whacked the door for emphasis.

She fluttered over to me and landed on my shoulder, so I could hear her. "You're an idiot." She said boldly. I huffed.

"That cannot be denied." There was a brief pause. I presumed the reason behind that was because she wanted me to argue back. Well, too bad for her. I couldn't fight back if it was the truth, right? She snickered and then continued. "Well then I guess you didn't know that most ghosts can fly through walls."

"Aug!" That was, indeed something that I knew. Heck, every kid knew that! How had I forgotten? I mentally face-palmed at my stupidity.

…And then I dumbly realized that she was inferring that Death could be in this very room right now. I crazily whipped my head around again, but didn't see anything. I didn't know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

The feeling in my chest had changed, and now it felt like something was freaking protruding through my body. … I tried my best to ignore it. However, that wasn't very easy. Pixie girl smiled and continued.

"Also… some of them can… how do I put it… you know, fly through human beings too, per say. Not that it does any harm… but…" I blinked and then she was gone. I took in what she had just said, and that just made everything a whole lot scarier. I slowly lifted my hand up to my chest…

…And screamed when my fingers interlocked with another set. I pushed off the door, the feeling fading, and whipped around. Death emerged through behind.

"Just leave me alone!" I cried. But, like all antagonists out there, he didn't leave me alone, nor did he stop approaching me. I kept backing up until I reached the bathtub, in which I so smartly fell into. Obviously, Death didn't stop. Both my eyes and my frown grew, the closer he got.

Finally he reached me. In which from that point he just basically taunted me by standing there and letting me have a mental spazz attack. It didn't matter that he wasn't doing anything; the sight of him was traumatizing enough. So, I closed my eyes. That not only proved to not help, but was really stupid. For reasons I do not know, it grabbed my feet. As queer as it was, it scared the living heck out of me, and I, as unmanly as it was, shrieked like a scared child.

I thrashed about like a madman before somersaulting out of the bathtub and, flying through the ghost, bolted out the door to Arthur's room. I dashed down the hall and slammed the door loudly behind me when I arrived. I took three big, cautious steps back, my eyes not leaving the door once. Death didn't come after me. Unfortunately, that made me more paranoid than anything, seeing as what happened less than five minutes ago.

I jumped a bit when a flicker of light reached the very corners of my peripheral vision. Of course, right then I remembered that I was in Arthur's room and just how hard I slammed the door. That meant that the light was because of him, not death. That also meant that he was awake… In which connected with the fact that he was probably pissed off. Both of my parents were like that; not wanting to be woken up by annoying ploys, and stuff such as slamming the door.

"I presume the scream I heard two seconds ago has a connection to this…?" I slowly turned around. Yep. He looked annoyed.

"Kill it," I cried pleadingly, pointing to the door, "Kill it with fire!"

I hoped that he'd at least see me out tonight. I mean, I was in a random Brit's house due to the fact that my family had just randomly disappeared off the face of the earth, and now I was seeing dead people along with stalker heart-and-feet-gropers. This was one of the worst moments of my life! I think he sort of saw my side of the story because he sighed and shuffled to the door. I whimpered when I saw that Death was still waiting there, but Kirkland didn't even flinch. Instead he folded his arms as I cowered.

"Screw off," he growled, "You're making me lose sleep."

…And then Death just disappeared. It was like Arthur had supreme rule over him or something. He turned to me. "There," he said, his voice about as enthusiastic as it had been earlier-not really, "I saved you." I blinked before skirting to the door. Then I peered around anxiously. Was getting rid of that beast really as easy as that?

No… there had to be a catch somewhere. He was probably waiting for me back at my room, if not elsewhere.

"Arthur," I squeaked.

"What?"

"C-can I sleep in your room tonight… please?" There. Not only had I flat out admitted that I was a scared little being, but I had used my manners. These days that sort of thing is foreign. I was being a good boy. He couldn't turn me down.

"No." Jerk.

"B-but what if it comes back?"

"Did you not just see what I just did?"

"Well… yes… I mean… no… er, yes… no… I saw what you did. But what if it doesn't listen?"

He sighed. "Then just ignore it."

"I can't do that!" That thing could fricking plunge it's hand through my body! How could I sleep knowing much less feeling that?

"That's not my problem." How cold-hearted was this guy? Yes, I was and am a stupid, wimpy idiot who deserves to be treated that way sometimes, but definitely not now!

"Please… I'll sleep on the floor if you want!" I sounded despite, but I didn't care. "Just… I don't want to be alone with… that… that beast!" And if not Death, who knew what was out there? Arthur gave me a hard stare in the darkened room, which made him look a little scary, before sighing yet again.

"Fine," he murmured, "But you'll have to man up to this soon. I'm not letting you sleep with me every night."

With the way he worded it, rude, stupid, and utterly unnecessary impulse thoughts hit me like a bolt of lightning. It was the perfect sentence. Before I could even think of his reaction, the words were out of my mouth. I immediately took it back, but it was too late.

"That's what she said."

It was more of a whisper, but Kirkland still heard it.

"Oh, for the love of… Out. Now."

"Noooooooo! Nonono! I'm sorryyyy!" I knew that I was being an idiot, but now I did deserve to be kicked out. What else could I do? Dang it… I really did need to learn to stop tripping over my fine line of respect. Unfortunately, my begging and attempted innocence seemed to have no effect on Arthur.

So stubborn… I swallowed hard and slowly crept out the door. It was swiftly closed behind me, nearly clipping my heels. I glumly looked back at it. I was almost certain that Death was in my room, so I wasn't going back there. Then again, it came after me… what if he did again? I couldn't be certain of anything anymore. Not in this mad house.

I curled up by Arthur's door. (I felt safer the closer I was to him, for some reason… That was probably because he can just tell that creeper to go away with two words.) I focused my gaze on the bathroom, in which was still being illuminated by the light that I never turned off.

I wanted to move away from the door, but in a bigger sense, I didn't. I wanted to sleep, but in a bigger sense, I didn't. I brushed some strands of hair off my forehead. This was going to be a long night.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but it hadn't gotten any lighter out. I could barely keep my eyes open now, and I went from curled up vertically to horizontal.

Oh man… I was so tired… But I couldn't sleep… I couldn't sleep… well, for the exact reason that became reality. I felt chilly hands grasping my feet. (Seriously, what was with this guy?) I glanced up to see seemingly misty, bony fingers, raised from the floor, wrapped around them, pulling at me, as if to drag me to the underworld. The thing wasn't accomplishing anything, I didn't move an inch. But it was terrifying all the same. Why I didn't scream again, I didn't really know.

"Go away…" I didn't really expect it to listen, and it didn't. I sprung up and headed back into Arthur's room, closing the door more quietly this time. The hands reappeared in front of me. I backed up, but they'd disappear and reappear in front of me again. Why couldn't I be left in peace? Why me? Why did they hate me?

I bumped into Arthur's bed and pulled myself onto it. I felt the Brit stir behind me, but he didn't wake up. I nervously glanced at him and then back at the empty looking (empty LOOKING) room. I didn't want to get out of the bed. (…What she said…) I'd had enough of getting scared out of my wits.

…But who knew how mad Arthur would be if he found me here again? In his bed, nonetheless… I'd gotten off on the wrong foot with him already, and I didn't want to continue down the wrong path. Not with the guy who was actually trying to help me with this screwed up situation of getting me home… with a family to go to. I let out a drawling exhale. This really was going to be a long night.

"…And today's weather will be sunny and hot again…"

Of course this guy would set an alarm during the summer, even if he didn't have to work. Or, I presumed he didn't have to. At least… not today… Wait. Had I fallen asleep? Rhetorical question. Oh no… Oh no, no, no…

My eyes flashed open. Arg! When had our faces gotten so close? Not that I really minded of course. It wasn't like we were the opposite sex or anything, but if Arthur opened his eyes right now…

Oh heck. I shouldn't have said that. I cursed the situation.

Arthur's eyes slowly opened and he let out a startled noise as I purposely rolled off the bed. I quickly, but quietly, army-crawled across the floor. I was a stealthy ninja now. I heard Arthur say something, but ignored him. If I was stealthy and silent enough he'd second-guess himself and doubt that this ever happened. When I was in my stealthy ninja mode I could get away with anything.

I reached the door and slipped out.

Notes: I say I'm going to start updating faster and what do I do? Procrastinate! You can also blame my inability to write good sentences without taking a half-hour... Then I update with this half-efforted, short piece of crud... *sigh* I am so sorry...

Anyway, I thank everyone who's still reading, favouriting, and reviewing this! I also feel so bad... From now on, I promise I WILL update every seven days starting tomorrow as long as everyone keeps loving this! So please review so I know! :D

...And on another note, I'm not really sure if anyone cares, but, seeing at how new I am to this, chances are that I'm not going to be very descriptive when it comes to background or characters. But you should know most of them, so... Just use your imagination for the rest I guess...