trees live longer

by lita-writestoomuch

"The academy has crumpled to the ground. Pieces are smoking, and the bricks used as the foundation have been worn smooth by erosion. The structure has completely lost his roof, demolished to the point that Five can only assume that there was an explosion." Klaus follows Five into the apocalypse. It changes nothing- and everything.

p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"When he was a little older than four years old, Five accidentally jumped from his bedroom to the kitchen. He just wanted a fluffernutter sandwich, but the toddler was horribly confused by the revelation that he could teleport. His father didn't comfort his cries. Pogo did./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Four's powers didn't seem to be clear until he was nearly ten, but Five knew otherwise. What the others considered a quirk, he knew was something sinister. The skirting around spaces in air, talking under his breath, refusing to look anyone completely in the eye. The jumping, the flinching, the screaming. They all meant something- he just didn't know what./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Two weeks after this revelation, he overheard his father talking to Pogo. "Ghosts, I know," he hissed. Five's brow furrowed. His father didn't hiss. "I have reason to believe he'd been seeing them since as young as two years."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He jumped away before hearing anymore, but the sucking sound and blue light was likely enough to tip Father off about his eavesdropping. He didn't care./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He jumped directly outside Four's room, hesitating slightly before knocking on the door and waiting. "Come in," his brother had muttered. He was lying in a pile of clothes, all different shapes and textures and colours. It looked uncomfortable, but Five flopped down next to him anyway. "Did you really see them all that time?" He'd asked. His brother didn't need context- he just nodded and hummed noncommittally. That was answer enough for Five./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Not even a week later, the 'special training' started. Everyone was different- One had to fight tooth and nail for his life, Two threw his knives at people close enough to cut hair, Three was forced to rumour and rumour and rumour, Six had to unleash The Horror in his stomach and attempt to control the slaughter it craved./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Seven tried to shatter glass, then people, then was put on her medication./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five had to jump until his body was physically falling apart./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Four disappeared./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"That was what concerned him the most. The rest of Five's siblings could be monitored, analysed, keeping their needs met and wants satisfied. Four couldn't be coddled, or held, or sent understanding looks from over the dinner table (mostly because he was barely there for half of the evening meals). Instead, Five's brother would walk into the house shaking like a leaf and holed himself in his room until someone would force him out./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five never worked out what was wrong./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"When the siblings were eleven, they were given their names./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Come on," Four had urged, tugging at Five's hand as he flitted around his room like a bird. Five had spent the night in his room, after walking in to collect his favourite blanket and finding his favourite brother bruised and bloody on his bed. "I don't wanna be late!"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five rolled his eyes. "Running down the steps won't make you much faster, Four. Remember the heels?"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Four shuddered comically. He'd only had his speaking abilities back for about two weeks. "They were such fabulous heels. Too bad I couldn't walk in them," he mused, slowing his jogging to a walk. Five chose to blink into the kitchen./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Mom was sitting at the head of the dining table, smiling widely. She had a sheet of paper in front of her, a list of single words written in perfect font next to the margin. Three and One were whispering excitedly to each other when the pair walked in, eyes darting towards the stiff limp and badly covered bruises the taller brother had. To his credit, Four didn't shrink under their gaze. He kept his steps even and spine tall until he flopped into his chair./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"If Mom noticed anything unusual, she said nothing. Two hovered awkwardly behind her, fiddling with a throwing knife. The metal was thin but exceptionally sharp, and from Five's seat he could see the speckles of red that littered his hands./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Six was already lounging in his spot, glancing concernedly at Four as he shifted. There was no way, Five thought, that his position was comfortable. If Six agreed, he didn't move much more than the occasional shift of his weight./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The silence was uncomfortable. Seven was nowhere to be seen. Two bit his lip and winced when the knife slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor. Without thinking, Five was up in an instant./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He was so close- too close- to Two when Father walked in. "Number Five," he bellowed, walking quickly to the boy, "away from your brother, this once!"br /Five barely had time to send Two a sympathetic glance before he jumped back to his seat at the dining table. The kettle in the kitchen sung. Four jumped at the sound./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Grace," Father said./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Mom looked up brightly. "Yes, sir?"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""As soon as Pogo has arrived, you may assign the children their names. Be sure they remember them- I need them ready for next week's mission." He spat the final word out like it was a slur. Five frowned. He knew nothing of a mission./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Of course, sir."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Reginald nodded, and left the room without another word. One's eyes shone in adoration at the sight of the man. Five rolled his own and slouched into the chair, mimicking Four's posture. "What do you want your name to be?" he muttered under his breath. Four shrugged. The act seemed to cause him pain, and his brow furrowed when he /"Dunno. Adam or something? I named the giraffe you found Penelope."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five nodded slowly. "Penelope is a nice name."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""I guess."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Children," Mom exclaimed, robotic hands clasped together in front of her, "we can give out your names now!"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Four's gaze flitted to the two figures in the door. Relief sung in his heart as he saw Seven standing shyly in the doorway. He beckoned his sister over with a small smile, watching as she sat at the head of the table, facing Mom. At some point, Two had also sat down. He seemed annoyed as usual to have to sit between One and Three./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The names were given out slowly and unceremoniously./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Luther./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Diego./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Allison./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Ben./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Vanya./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The other's had been dismayed when Five politely (as politely as he could) rejected his name. He didn't want to be an Aidan. He wanted to be Five, and if that was a small 'fuck you' to his father, then that was an added bonus. Four and Seven- no, Klaus and Vanya- seemed to understand. The rest were baffled. Five paid them no /The spout was forgotten by the next week, but Five's name never /.../p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Klaus?" Five calls./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He blinks from the bedroom to the roof, the roof to the basement, the basement to the kitchen, the kitchen to the lounge room, the lounge room to the garden, the garden to his room. Where is he?/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Someone is singing. Five ignores it. The melody is lilting and sweet, but he shoves it from his mind as his panic for his brother mounts. "Klaus?" he yells again./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Nothing./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He'd been working on his jumps for years now- both with and without Father. So, as he shoves away the distinct feeling of wrong in his gut, he closes his eyes, thinks about his brother, and blinks./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The feeling evolves into a clock striking twelve in his stomach. The feeling runs through his small body./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. /span/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"It is dark outside. The moon is full, but virtually lightless, the eeriness growing. Five runs a hand over one of the gravestones slowly./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Barbara Williams, it reads, 1943-2000./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"It is cold. The academy uniform is thin, and Five shivers from under his layers. He takes a few steps forward, the autumntime leaves crunching under his feet. Someone, distantly, cries out. Five takes a deep breath. The grandfather clock in his gut continues to chime, the feeling wracking his body with small shivers each time./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. /span/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He continues to walk. Where, he isn't sure. He doesn't know why he'd jumped here, exactly, but isn't eager to get an answer. His feet continue to carry him somewhere, and Five allows this absentmindedly./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"A gust of wind. A slight shifting. Low moans somewhere in the distance. Five pulls his coat closer, eyes squinting against the wind. He passes gravestone of all shape and size./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Mia Quinn./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Joeseph Lethlen./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Liya Frend-Adena./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Aurora Smith./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Some of the names are new, some worn with age. The stone memorials range from being as tall as Five (who isn't particularly tall, but still) to barely the size of the printer paper he would steal for Klaus to draw on./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He is standing in front of the mausoleum. The plaque on the front tells him that nearly forty people are inside. Families, a few of them. The rest just sounding like snobby rich people who wanted their bodies to be a little more comfortable. Five sniffed, about to turn back, despite his panic dwelling under the surface of his skin. He begins to wander to his left, but his feet no longer feel the need to take him anywhere./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Someone is moaning. Not in a sexual way, Five thinks vaguely, but the low moan of someone in pain./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Who would be moaning this late in the night? And in a cemetery, no less? Why is it louder when I stand in front of the mausoleum than wandering through the graveyard?/spanbr /He feels the blood drain from his face. Instead of freaking out, like every inch of his being is telling him to, he takes a huge breath and blinks inside the mausoleum./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"His beautiful, funny, sweet, kind, loving, empathetic brother is lying in a mix of his tears, blood, and vomit./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The smell is revolting. Klaus lies on his sides with his hands firmly over his ears, whimpering slightly. There is next to no light in the structure, save for a crack in the top corner, furthest from the door. Klaus is semi-illuminated by the weak nighttime light he basks in./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Red hot anger flashes through Five before he pulls himself together and walks forward./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"His steps squash something inside his brother, and he instantly quiets. The sobs quell, his shaking frame still so suddenly his body looks stony with tension. Five watches with a mix of grief and rage as his brother peels his hands away from his ears and sits up slightly. His curls are matted to his face, and there is a clump of hair on the ground beside him./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""I'm sorry, Father," he babbles, "I didn't hear you come in. I've conquered my fear, I promise! Really truly- dead and dusted." Klaus flinches at his own words and Five's heart breaks. Still, he stays silent. "Can I come out? It's quite cold in here."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five kneels. Klaus hasn't opened his eyes, choosing instead to remain half-slumped against the wall. He reaches out and take his hand. His brother jumps out of his skin, eyes shooting open./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Five?" he whispers. Five smiles at first, and for a second, there's relief in Klaus's eyes, and Five's heart is beating again, and his brother will be okay, and they should get the fuck out of here, and-/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""No, no, no, no, no," Klaus is muttering. He repeats the word until it becomes an odd sound, yanking his hand away and gripping his curls. Another clump of hair floats to the floor./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""What's wrong?" Five asks. His own panic is clawing back up his throat, but he shoves it down. He can't break down. Not now./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""You can't be dead. You were supposed to get out alive!" Klaus's words turn into sobs. He wraps his arms around himself tightly and tears stream from his eyes. He is petrified, but as Five looks closer, his face looks ten years older than his thirteen-year-old body, weary and tired and helpless./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"In a split-second decision, Five grabs Klaus's hands from his curls. His brother cries harder, tries to pull away, but Five finds himself making a gentle sound. "Shush," he whispers, "it's okay."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He guides his hand to his chest, right over his heart. He places the other hand over his wrist. It feels grimy, but he sits perfectly still, racing pulse under his brother's fingertips./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The crying slowly ceases./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus cracks his eyes open again after a lifetime. There are fresh tears on his cheeks. "Are you alive?" he asks./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five's own eyes well up as the broken sound of his voice. The horrid, weary, terrified hope. He nods./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"When Klaus cries again, there is a smile on his face./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Do you want to go home?"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He nods feverishly./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five helps his brother to his feet. He makes a move to leave, but Klaus freezes in his spot. In the dim light, he can see the way his brother blinks, eyes /With a hiss, he manages to catch him when his knees buckle, and he collapses to the floor./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five sinks onto his knees, keeping his arms wrapped firmly around his brother's body. It disturbs him that his arms easily snake around Klaus's thin waist, despite him being several inches taller than him. He places a finger on his neck, the other on a wrist. His small fingers wrap easily around that too./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Fuck, Klaus, how long has this been happening?" he wonders aloud, thinking of all the times he wasn't around at meals or other activities./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Looking around frantically at the dark mausoleum, Five decides they can't stay in here. Even unconscious, Klaus is shaking, whimpering, flinching at sudden sounds that Five can't hear./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"So, he makes a split-second decision./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Clutching tightly to his brother, he blinks./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"They end up in Five's room. Both of them./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He frowns- he had been aiming for Klaus's, but a win is a win./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"His brother is quiet again, and when he looks at the bundle in his lap, it looks back at him. Five swears, but doesn't recoil. His brother looks ready to cry again, but no tears well up. With a sigh, Five scoops him up and lies him gently on the bed. He doesn't miss the muffled squeak or the tight feeling in his chest when Klaus grabs his shirt in a white-knuckled grip./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He passes a glass of water to him, glad to have an abandoned drink on his bedside. Klaus gulps it down greedily, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. Five raises an eyebrow, raises a finger, takes the glass, and blinks into the kitchen./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He fills two glasses of icy fridge water before blinking back upstairs, careful to make as little noise as possible. The singing from earlier has stopped./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five hands the lighter plastic glass to Klaus and glances at the clock on the wall. It is nearly eleven./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He went looking for Klaus at nine-thirty./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He holds the heavier glass with both hands. There were no other clean ones, but his brother is dehydrated. This mug was the only one in the cupboard- an unusually heavy cup made of perfectly clear glass. It was thick around the rim, thicker on the bottom, and when filled with water had to be carried with two hands./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"His brother was sweating. The perspiration on Klaus's brow glistened in the light of the warm-coloured lamp. Five inches forward awkwardly, still holding the cup of wear. Despite downing two already, Klaus eyes it like a parched man./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"He probably is. /span/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"For anyone else, Five would have just not given them the water. Perhaps he would've drank it himself./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Something softens when he looks at Klaus, so he takes another step forward and holds the glass in one hand, snaking the other around his brother's neck and lifting his head gently to meet the rim of the cup. He tips the water gingerly, waiting for the liquid to be drained before relaxing him back into the nestle of pillows./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He places the cup down and watches Klaus intently. "Do you want to talk about it?"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus shakes his head, eyes flickering somewhere behind him. He whimpers, and shaking hands reach up to cover his ears. Five looks over his shoulder, but the space is empty. He purses his lips./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus is staring at him with wide, scared eyes. His gaze flickers between the door and his face, as if searching for something./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""I'm not going to kick you out." Five says firmly, "You're sleeping here tonight, with me."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus nods. "Okay," he says in a small voice. He takes his hands away from his ears./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five nods. He picks up the neatly folded blanket and sits in the armchair facing his bed. Klaus watches his brother nestle the blanket around his body before closing his eyes. Klaus immediately makes a noise of protest, and Five's eyes shoot back open./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He stares in alarm as Klaus shuffles to the edge of the bed. "I can't kick you out of your own bed," he says weakly. His movement are sluggish, speech slurred slightly around the edges. With a sigh, and a small smile, Five pulls himself out of the chair and settles next to his taller brother./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five and Klaus watch each other for a few moments. The former is wide awake, despite pretending to go to sleep minutes ago. He watches his sibling with a protectiveness he didn't know he had. The latter smiles once Five is next to him, eyes unceremoniously slipping shut. His breathing evens./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Still, Five doesn't turn off the /.../p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He dreams of cherry blossoms. Thick, winding wood wrapping around his limbs, encasing him, forcing him still. His bones are pink, and hollow, and flimsy. He panics, but no-one hears anything. His siblings walk past him. Eyes brush past the plants winding up his body. His skeleton shudders, his bones crumple like the cherry blossoms in winter- shrivelling, turning grey. The bark creeps up to cover his green eyes. His body crumples inside his /They say nothing as he fades /.../p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The next morning, Klaus stays holed up in Five's room during breakfast. His stomach rumbles, and his eyes look foggy and lethargic, but still, he doesn't /Five sneaks him a piece of toast anyway./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The whole day, Five is on edge, waiting for the sound of Reginald leaving the estate. When he does, about 6pm, the duo decide to jump back to the mausoleum./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""I don't want you to go back," Five murmurs. Klaus hums noncommittally, but his brother notices the way he had tensed under his words./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Me neither," he replies, feigning a lightness to the situation he didn't believe. "But you can't get me caught. Reggie just left- that means you have about seven minutes to get me into that ghost town," he says, chuckling darkly./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five sighs. "I'm so sorry."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"A pause./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Me too."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Five blinks away with a final squeeze of Klaus's hand. Reginald comes into the mausoleum about ten minutes later. In that time, Klaus is shaking. The puke from last night is mostly dried up, but it smells horrible and gives him a headache. He knows it will be there the next time he returns./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Number Four," Reginald says sternly, "have you conquered your fears yet?"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Yes, Daddy dearest," he mumbles./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Reginald tuts./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"There is white hot pain, then. His head is against the tiles, and there is a hand around his throat. Reginald was on top of him. His vision darkens, shadows pierce his thoughts, fear ripples through every sore muscle in his body. He tenses, so tight he could snap, and his lungs are burning, and he scrambles to get away, but he can't move and-br /The world stops. His breathing stutters, slows, stops. His heart slows, then stops. Everything stops./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"A flash of monochromatic grey. Cold, infuriated eyes. A snap of fingers that resonates in his bones. /span/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"He comes to in the mausoleum, disorientated and dizzy. Reggie was still on top of him, a small smile pasted on his otherwise cold face. A flash of ice runs through Klaus's /His father's bony fingers dig into Klaus's bonier body as he squeezes the hand around his neck one more time and drags him to his feet./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"The room spins violently, and Klaus turns to the side to lose the meagre content of his stomach. It is mostly bile, since he'd eaten nothing but the piece of toast for nearly thirty-six hours./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"When he straightens up, his shaking legs protest and his vision dips and sways, but he follows Reginald out, clutching his side. It comes away bloody, and Klaus gapes at his hand. His father had never laid hands on any of them before- why is he now?/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Pogo's eyes narrow when he sees Klaus's face, but says nothing./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;" /p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Where were you?" Five hisses. He runs a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth against the length of the bedroom. Klaus's stomach growls, but he doesn't hear it./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"span style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: oblique; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"Or doesn't care. /span/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus taps one foot on the floor. His body is slouched from where he sits at the edge of his bed. His head hurts, his stomach rumbles again, it feels too hot and too cold. Five is still speaking. He can't quite hear what he is saying. The small slash in his side pulls every time he breathes, but has mostly stopped bleeding. There is a small splatter on his clothes, he can feel it. This is his favourite shirt. Has Five noticed? He swallows. Hopefully not, he'd go batshit crazy. His throat hurts, and is he high? He feels like he'd just taken some sketchy drugs, or a little too much. Klaus frowns. Had he overdosed? Is that why Five is worried? He is still ranting. Is someone saying his name? God, he wished he could eat something. His stomach cramps up, but he doesn't have the energy to react. When was the last time he ate? Surely not any later than yesterday morning. What time was it now? Did he miss lunch?/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"Klaus squints. His vision is swooping like a bird. His sight blackens, his body goes slack, and suddenly he is slumped against Five./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Shit," The Boy swears to himself, "Why does this keep happening? I knew he didn't look right."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"This time, he comes to lying on Five's bed, with the boy in question next to him. His right hand is over Five's heart, and he can hear the steady beat that tells him his brother is alive./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""You need to eat."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Probably."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""When was the last time you-"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Breakfast yesterday. Actually, no- dinner the night before. He grabbed he while I was on my way."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Shit."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Yeah."/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;"A pause. Klaus doesn't move his hand. Five doesn't make him./p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""Do you want to go to Griddy's?"/p
p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif, 'GNU Unifont'; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5; caret-color: #eeeeee; color: #eeeeee;""More than anything."/p