I Care {Darkiplier}

(Chapter 27)

You kept to yourself as you cleaned each plate with care. Even if it was a strange choice on your part, at least it gave you something to do...to distract yourself. It gave you an opportunity to delay the inevitable. Dark was also aware of your journey to the manor with your friend. It was only a matter of time before he could bring it up.

As you washed the dishes, you heard Dark's footsteps disappear down the hall, most likely to get the fire started. You are able to release a small sigh, being freed of his presence for a brief moment. You turn off the sink, the once rushing water now draining. Wherever it goes you will never know. One of the cabinets that hung above the counter, where you would assume the dishes resided, had reduced in quality, the handle has broken off along with one of the hinges. You try to open it, with little succession, hoping you could put the plates and cups in it. You groan, there were a handful of cabinets, but what if that was the right one? Then again though, maybe it wasn't? You try again, but it was futile.

You nearly scream when Dark's voice echoed from behind you. You flinched and felt like you left your body for a short moment. You sharply inhale, holding it for a second before releasing the air. There was a hint of amusement laced with his sentence, "Do you need any assistance, my dear?"

You placed a hand over your now rapid heartbeat as if it would slow its pace down. You look over your shoulder and feel your face burn a bit. You agreed to his offer. "Don't ever do that again! But, yes, please."

Dark released a breathy laugh as he grabs the corner of the door, and pulls it open with a bit of force. You're quite surprised how easy it was, but how could you expect anything less, Dark was no mortal after all. He gingerly picks up the plates and cups and places them inside the dusty, probably cobwebbed cabinet.

"I will admit...You did well with what you had." In reference to the plates, silverware, and cups you finished cleaning. You only could shrug, not sure how to react to his compliment. He blows out the candles on the table before turning to you again. The 3D outline pulsing around him helped you see him through the darkness. He gestures for you to follow him into the living room, where you could hear the faint noises emitting from the crackling log among the pitched noise he himself had accompanying him. You trail along behind him, the hallway was not too wide, and into the room you both were only in a day or two, ago. You sit down onto the couch, where you sat last time, and he joined you. He didn't jump immediately to any questions, which you were thankful for. You're not sure how you can explain to him a lot of things. Especially your breaking point from a mirror...

It takes some time before the peace is broken. With each minute that passed your nerves were growing. One wrong word uttered from you...

Dark's the one who speaks up first, "How has your...escapade to the manor been thus far?"

He was straight to the point, unfortunately to you. You should have been expecting this, you mean, you have been.

You are unable to meet his gaze, deciding to just keep it focused on the mantle in front of you. You close your eyes, and take a deep breath, steeling yourself. You can do this.

"It's been, okay? I-I mean I guess? There were a lot of...interesting discoveries." Your hands fumble together, fidgeting.

There was a slight shift in his expression. No anger, however. You didn't notice this.

"How so?" He replied.

You choose your next words carefully. "Well...To start, when we arrived, while my friend was setting up where we were gonna sleep, I decided to explore upstairs. I went upstairs, where I found one of the master bedrooms, where it looked like a wreck. Though something caught my eye, it was a photo of the actor, ripped. The frame was also broken...This will probably sound dumb, or weird or something, but, did you break the photo?" As you explained one of the several findings, you add to the question. It was a possibility, and could make sense? He has visited the manor before.

Dark ponders your words, weighing them. He soon speaks up, his voice slightly softened.

"I...Yes, unfortunately." He spoke the truth.

At this, you are able to glance at him, taking in his facial features. He was looking at you, his expression looked serious.

"Why did you?" You ask further, curious. You were aware of only so much. At this, he breaks eye contact, turning his own eyesight to the fireplace, where the fire still was lively wiggling about. He looked almost, somber.

"I was...infuriated. I was angry at everything that led to me and chose to unleash that rage. How everything was... Foolish, mayhaps, but I thought it was rational." He explained, giving you some idea of how he felt after he was created.

It was now your turn to take in his own words. Hearing how, quiet, perhaps even...sad? He sounded...You could only imagine what caused him so much pain. It made sense, in a way, you suppose you would probably be disheartened by whatever occurred that fateful day, too.

Your chest starts to ache ever so slightly, as your voice, hushed as his, reassured him. "Dark...I don't blame you. Whatever occurred that day, even if I have little idea, makes sense. I'm not quite sure what made you so upset, and what I have seen so far has only informed me so much, but I'm sure you had a good reason to be angry. That's not foolish, you were just caught up in your emotions, which there is nothing wrong with that."

At the sound of you mentioning his voice, he flickers his eyes to you, looking over as you speak, intaking your response.

He wasn't sure how to react...and only came up with very few words.

"I...Thank you."

He did not think you would say that.