Chapter Eight- Stranger Not Much Danger

Imagine a time when you were alone. It's quiet and the only thing you hear is the sound of your breathing. Just the air rushing through your lungs from your nose; or mouth if your that kind of person.

You know how relaxing that is.

Well right now was not one of those moments being Theodore was one: Not alone and two: He seemingly forgot how to breath.

The tension in the room was suffocating. Even under the bed with his eyes clenched shut, Theo just knew his confession shocked the group. Mal, Jay, and Carlos were silent throughout his whole explanation. One would think it was a good sign not being interrupted but to Theo, he really didn't know what to expect. His heart hammered in his chest. He swallowed, clenching his fists to his sides. Theodore didn't know how much longer he could take of the mind crushing silence.

He wanted, no needed, someone to say something; anything about the situation. He waited for Evie to jump to his aid but she remained silent. Theodore was suddenly glad he hid under the bed during the whole ordeal. He never would have fessed up if he were looking at them. That and at was harder for Mal to curse him if he stayed out of sight.

"How long did you know?" Carlos whispered, his voice so low Theo almost didn't hear it.

"Weel if the-day is Friday," Theo started, trying to stall. "An' if we coont leap year an' th' climate change alang wi' hoo much a wuid a woodchuck chucks-"

"Theodore," Jay interrupted.

"Sorry, sorry. twal years gie ur tak'," he finally said.

"You knew for twelve years," Mal repeated. "You lived on the Isle your whole life when you could have lived here. Why didn't you tell us?" Theodore didn't answer. He couldn't answer because he really didn't know. Sure he was scared over how they would but logically he knew it would have been better to tell them earlier. Theodore realized early on that he didn't want to expose himself in fear of what the people on the island would do to him. He thought that if he were to tell the group, they may eventually betray him and spill his secret.

But he knew that wouldn't be the case. They wouldn't have told anyone, not even their parents. Theodore was aware of this a few months into their friendship. Their loyalties to each other only grew stronger yet Theodore still didn't tell them.

No, Theodore did know why he didn't tell them. Why lie to himself.

He wasn't just afraid of being exposed, he was terrified of the prospect of meeting his parents. He figured that if he kept his linage to himself he could delay or even avoid seeing his mum and papa all together. The whole thing would have been terribly awkward.

Theodore risked a chance to peek at the four from under the bed. They weren't looking at him. In fact, they all seemed to have their backs turned from his direction. Theodore felt his heart plummet to his stomach. They refused to acknowledge him now that the truth was out. That hurt more than any pain he revived growing up with the Red Queen.

And she had the habit of strangling him when she was upset.

"Aam sorry," Theo whispered as he climbed out from under the bed. He looked at each of them, waiting for someone to move. To say something. Whether forgiving or angry, he needed them to say something. "Jay," Theodore started, walking a few steps over to the teen but freezing when Jay shook his head. "Carlos," he tried reaching towards the white haired boy. Carlos glanced at him but moved away towards the table in the center of the room. "Mal?"

"What do you want me to say, Theodore?" She whispered, looking at the wall. Theodore stood behind her trying to find the right answer. "That its ok? That we understand? You— you're not one of us."

"Mal," Theo whispered. His eyes brimming with tears. From his peripheral vision, Theodore saw Evie take a half step towards him but she paused. She probably didn't know who's side to take. Theo couldn't help but grow angry towards the blue haired girl. Even though it wasn't truly her fault, she practically told the others he was keeping something from them. He was forced to reveal his secret because of her little comment.

So yes, Theodore was angry at Evie. He blamed her. He blamed her for making him believe that his friends would overlook his linage. He blamed her for knowing in the first place but above all, he blamed her for giving him hope.

Theo looked at the others, all while stubbornly refusing to meet Evie's eyes. Jay looked angry, Carlos looked heartbroken, and Mal... She didn't express anything. Her face was passive as she continued to look right past him, as if everything they went through together never happened. Like it didn't matter. That look was all it took for Theodore; the final straw. It was over for him.

He lied.

He was not like them.

He was never going to be like them.

Theodore couldn't take it anymore. With a shuddering breath, he turned and bolted towards the door and ran down the corridor. Tears threatened to fall but he kept them at bay. He exited the school and jumped over the back stairs. His lungs began to burn, not from exertion but from the sobs he emitted. It hurt. His chest felt heavy. He wanted to stop running and just sleep but he couldn't. He couldn't stop running.

Theodore passed the tourney field and fled into the forest surrounding the school. He leapt over logs and boulders. Dodged trees and shrubs and not once breaking his original pace. Theodore didn't know where he was going but he had a vague idea where the museum was so he ran in that general direction. The museum was the only place outside the school he was familiar with. He wouldn't go inside, that's for sure. Not after the first attempt at taking the wand. He just needed to get away from the wretched school.

After almost half an hour of sprinting, Theodore finally made it to the museum. It looked the same from when he first visited just a week ago. Only this time it felt darker. Scarier. Being alone changed his whole perspective of this place.

Theodore sat heavily at the bottom steps of the main entrance. His chest was heaving and sweat collected on his brow. His heart was racing and his hands, no matter how hard he fisted them together, wouldn't stop shaking. In fact, his whole body wouldn't stop shaking. Theo's eyes widened in fright and realization. He was going to have another attack. He felt it.

He had gone through many of these episodes before. Many of them he went through alone but this was the first time in a long while where he didn't have anyone there with him. Usually it was just Mal or Carlos sitting by him offering silent comfort. They never said anything during and afterwards. They would always turn away as he dried his tears. Jay and Evie had witnessed it once or twice before. They were confused and understandably a bit frightened but they never turned their backs on him. The even helped clean up after wards.

These...'attacks' changed him. It was like all the rage and fear bottled up in side him found a way to escape all at once. It physically hurt most of the time. Like a stabbing and burning sensation coursing through his body. During an attack, Theodore would rage and scream. He would throw things, shattering them into a million pieces. He would hurt himself by slamming into walls, scratching and, pulling his own hair out. Carlos once told him his eyes would even change color. His bright green eyes would change into a acidic shade of yellow.

These episodes would only last for a few minutes. Afterwards Theodore would feel completely drained and his body would twitch for days after wards. The longest attack Theodore endured lasted two days. Forty-eight hours of constant pain and mind numbing fear. What had caused it was his own 'loving' mother. And even now, three years later, Theodore still bore the scar under his scarf.

Theo felt his body fall back against the stairs. The edges painfully digging into his back. His breathing became irregular and his vision slowly blacking out. He felt cold. Like he was siting in an ice bath. His head felt like it were about to explode. Theodore knew he was crying. He could feel the wetness on his cheeks. He was also distantly aware of hearing a few shouts and whimpering. He half wondered who it came from but then realized he was making those pitiful noises.

A rush of white hot pain flared under his skin making Theodore throw his head back and scream. It was loud and had surely garnered some unwanted attention but Theodore couldn't hold it back. He tried to muffle his whimpers and in the end he only succeeded in biting his tongue. Theodore stood uneasily, his arms clutching his middle as though he were trying to hold himself together. He began to unsteadily limp away from the museum but he tripped and fell face first. His knee took the brunt of most of the fall. It began to throb painfully but Theodore ignored it in favor of attempting to push himself up.

Another flash sent Theo back down. He couldn't get up. He could see or hear anything but his own screaming. Theodore curled into a tight ball, clutching his head tightly into his chest. He felt nothing but the cold and pain. He was terrified and alone.

Theodore didn't know how long he stayed in a fetal position before he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. He relished in the new comfort for a moment before viscously shaking the hand off and curling into a tighter ball. Theodore bit down the new wave of screams and whimpers as the hand gently yet firmly grasped his shoulder. He felt himself behind pulled up from the floor and his back behind supported by something warm. He felt the person breathing behind him and their arms wrap around his middle. Theodore couldn't tell what exactly was going on but he did know that he liked it.

Underneath his shouting thoughts, Theodore could distantly hear some sort of humming sound. It was comforting. Beautiful even. Theo focused on the humming, on the heat radiating from his savior. The loud screaming from his mind slowly dimmed until all he heard was that humming. The pain in his body receding until it was only a dull ache.

Eventually all Theodore felt was exhaustion. His eyes and body felt like lead. His head lolled to the side and onto the strangers shoulder. He wanted to sleep. He was tired. The episode was behind him now.

"You can sleep now," a soft voice whispered to him. "You're safe."

Theodore nearly wept at the relief that coursed through his body. Besides the twitching in his shoulders and hands, Theo felt completely at ease. He wanted to sleep and forget about what had transpired at the school. His now green eyes slid closed as the humming lulled him into a dreamless slumber.

"You're safe."

—

A/N I'm so sorry for the long wait! Things have been hectic lately with school and my cousins Quince. There was a lot going on and I finally got the chance to finish this chapter. Sorry it's a bit shorter than the others but I honestly hit a wall writing this one. It was really hard getting through this. Anyways, if anyone can guess who the stranger is that helped out poor Teddy you'll get a special shoutout in the next chapter!