I Care {Darkiplier}

(Chapter 25)

You push yourself up, stepping away from your carry-on. You stored away from the minimum info you gathered just then. Mark, most likely, did not have much knowledge about the name of the manor, or at the very least, never mentioned it. Should you bring this up to Dark when you can? Maybe...But for now, you need to explore the manor more.

You are about to turn and leave the room, but as you do, your eye catches onto your friend, who was closing their book shut. They probably caught you on your phone, and how you didn't notice, welp... Unbeknownst to you, the constant notification vibration of your phone, and you texting someone, broke their concentration on whatever story they were engrossed in.

"Yes?" Your lips quirk up to share a sheepish grin, trying to look as chill as possible, though your hands nervously fidget by your side.

"Who was that?" They playfully smile back.

Ah shit, here we go again.

"It was just Mark and before you say anything, which I know you will." You point an accusatory finger their way as you ramble, "He was just wondering if we were at the manor."

"Really?" They look dubious for a moment, it masks their understanding, they were just pulling your leg.

You groan, "Yes! I swear! The number of times you have-" You go on to grumble about their constant joking about the two of you under your breath as they laugh.

"Okay, on the real though, what has he said? Now that we're here?"

You sighed, moving over to the same sofa you sat on last time when you last caught up with them. "He said for me to be careful. Not much more after that."

"He was worried about you?!"

You glare, though not unkindly back at them, narrowing your eyes for added effect, "What are you trying to say (BF/N)?" You cock your head to the side.

They bat their eyelashes, acting oh so innocent, "Nothing! I was just pointing out what you had said yourself!"

"Uh-huh, yeah sure." You sarcastically shoot back. "Besides him, it's getting late, and it's nearing 10. Are we gonna sleep here or the car?"

This comment makes them halt their joking jabs towards you, and makes them take a moment to actually consider. Nothing has been out to get you, thus far anyway...Surely there should be no harm, right?

With a slight amount of hesitance, they speak, their voice devoid of all previous humor, "I don't think it's a terrible idea to sleep here, even with earlier. Nothing has happened so far, yeah?" You nod along with their opinion. But they don't know half of what this household has. "I think we should at least try sleeping here, worst comes to worst, we'll go sleep in the car."

With the point they brought up, you thought it seemed fair enough. And, in the end, anyway, you can always sleep in the car.

"Fair enough."

You both have made your choice.

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The soft snores of your friend fill the chilled foyer. You haven't been able to fall asleep, always jolting awake, feeling like you were falling through the air, making your heart leap. It persisted when you were on the verge of falling asleep. You internally groan in frustration, your hands balling up into fists, clamping down onto the sleeping bag's blanket. You stare up at the chandelier above you, a bit cut off from the upstairs floor, visible through the darkness. You stare at it, burning the pitch black image into your brain, gazing at it as if it would help you sleep.