The Boy Next Door

Count every breath

!TW! Manipulation, Crisis, emotional breakdown, paranoia, just overall really upsetting situations.

Alastor sat on the ground next to Rosie, both of them silently waiting. The boy keeping completely still, when suddenly he felt a pair of freezing clawed hands on his shoulders. Immediately moving away and turning around. "Rosie!" The woman looked down at the shadowy figure kneeling just behind where they were. "Oh, we'll look at that! It worked." She said with a smile. "Yeah...it did...Rosie what is that thing?" He asked quickly, shaking her arm a bit. "Don't be scared Alastor, it's fine. Go introduce yourself." She said calmly, pushing him to get up. The shadow stood up, almost mimicking the brunette. "I'm not scared of it. It's just-" the shadow stuck it's hand out for him to shake. Alastor I'm flinching away when it moved. "Yes, I see you aren't scared at all." She said with a smirk, standing up and walking to the doorway. "I'll let you both get to know each other. If it tries to kill you just scream, I'll come back." She said simply. Alastor watched her leave with wide eyes. "If it tries what?!" But Rosie had already left. Alastor took a deep breath before turning to face it again. "Uh...hello?" He started nervously. "Hello Alastor." It replied. "Oh, you know me already? That's...interesting." The shadow merely shrugged. "We know most things about you." Alastor's smile grew a little. "Wow, this could actually be really entertaining then." He said. The entity shrugged. "More or less."

Week three

Alastor sat at his desk, staring down at the note he had found. "Don't tell Rosie." He sat simply trying to understand what it could have been referring to. Don't tell Rosie what? Alastor sat up when he suddenly felt really off, originally assuming it was head rush, he pushed himself to stand straight. But it didn't go away. The room was blurring and coming back into focus as he stumbled back against the wall. The entity appeared in front of him. "Alastor, we need to use your body for a few minutes. Just hold on."
When he woke up he was in an alleyway, slowly pushing himself up. He looked around to see it was dark, clearly much longer than a few minutes. Sitting on his knees he glanced around, and then he saw it. The body only a few meters from him. He felt his breath catch in his throat, looking down at himself, the blood covering his shirt and hands, he could feel it on his face as well. The knife not far from him was no different. Alastor backed against the brick wall of the building behind him. His breathing finally coming back, though quick and empty. "What happened? What did you do?!" He called loudly, unable to look away from the body. "What did we do? You did this Alastor."

Week four

Elisabeth sat down at the dining table with Rosie. "So what did you need to ask me about?" She asked, leaning back in her chair. Elisabeth looked in the direction of the stairs. "It's Alastor...he's acting different. He has eaten once or twice this entire week, and he just won't sleep." She explained, turning her gaze back to Rosie. "Has some happened?" She asked. Rosie's smile faltered. "I'm not sure, may I speak to him?" She asked. Elisabeth nodded, sighing as she looked down at her hands. Rosie gave her a small smile. "I'm sure he's okay."
Walking up the steps, she knocked on the door, but not waiting for him to respond before she went in. "Alastor, is everything okay?" She asked nervously. Alastor was standing in the middle of the room, on hearing her voice he whipped his head around to face her. "Rosie, don't move." He said quickly. The woman froze at those instructions. The brunette shut his eyes for a moment before throwing his head back, quickly moving back to the position he was in. Eyes momentarily empty blue voids before return to his normal brown. "Oh no..." She muttered under her breath. "Rosie, this is getting out of hand....I don't know how to keep it under control." He said nervously. Rosie walked over and grabbed his shoulders, placing a hand under his chin and making the boy look up. "Alastor what has it been doing to you?" She asked, nothing but concern in her voice. "I don't know...but Rosie what it's been making me do....please promise me you won't tell them about this." Rosie nodded her head. "I-I've killed a man...It was like I was asleep and when I wake up I'm- there was this man in the alley with me, I was alone...The shadow it told me I did it..." Rosie hushed him, guiding him to sit in his bed. "It's okay Alastor, I'm not gonna tell anyone. When did this happen?" She asked. Alastor shook his head quickly. "A week ago? Rosie they hang people for this...I can't- they would lock me up, what am I supposed to do?" He asked slightly manically. Rosie shook her head. "No one will know. You don't need to worry about that." Alastor pushed her hands away. "No no no, Rosie you don't get it, it's happened more than once. I go to bed at night, I wake up and I'm somewhere else, sometimes their already dead, sometimes...I've woken up while I was doing it... and, it said I liked it. Do I?" He asked, Rosie's look of concern turned to fear. "This happens while you're asleep?" She asked. Alastor nodded, shutting his eyes and pushing his hair out of his face. "I...I'm not letting it anymore, I'm trying to keep it out. What am I supposed to do?" He asked nervously. Rosie cupped his cheek. "Alastor, have you been sleeping...?" She asked. Alastor shook his head. "I can't, that's when it happens." Rosie nodded, hanging her head for a moment. "Would it be alright if I monitored this for a few days. If it happens, I'll be here to stop it." She suggested. Alastor gave a small nod. "Can you ask mama for me?" He asked. She nodded and stood up. "I will, Alastor everything is going to be okay. I promise." The boy gave a weak smile as she walked away, closing the door behind her. Elisabeth stood at the bottom of the stairs looking up at the platinum blonde woman. Rosie quietly walked down the stairs. "Elisabeth, if it's alright. I think I should stay here and keep an eye on him. Just to be careful." She explained simply. Elisabeth's expression turned to nothing but fear as her eyes shot towards her son's door. "Careful?! Is he okay?!" She asked quickly. Rosie shook her head grabbing her shoulders. "He's okay...calm down." Elisabeth nodded, staring at her with wide eyes. "He's having a bit of a rough week. I just need to keep an eye on him make sure he's safe. Okay?" She asked. Elisabeth nodded again slowly. "I...Rosie please, what's happening?"