Through the Deep, Dark Valley

In Memoriam

The two weeks are almost up, and Tommy felt a little more than nervous. He didn't know if he lived up to their expectations, but he could only let himself hope that he had. He could only wish that they even let him stay after they come to their decision. Tommy held Harold and Harvey to his chest, burying his nose into each of the cows. His hands were shaking, and Tommy felt like his heart would beat out of his chest.

He was nervous.

Walking out of his room, Tommy made his way to the main area. He could hear Luke and Deo, so he assumed Wisp and Bitzel were either out on patrol still or asleep in their rooms. As he walked in, he could see how tense Luke was, and how Deo was doing his best to calm the other down. "I'm just saying, if they need help, they will call, Luke."

The mentioned teen proceeded to huff as he stood. "And if they're dead or their comms are broken when they need help, what are we supposed to do?! Just sit here?! It's bullshit!"

Tommy flinched at Luke's tone. He was pissed off, that's for sure. The child began to walk away, silently making his way back to his room, when Luke had caught sight of him. "You! Theseus! Get over here!"

He could hear Deo telling Luke that what he was doing wasn't a good idea, but Tommy couldn't help but comply. Luke sounded just like Dream, just like Father, and he could never disobey Father. And so he stood before Luke, his head hung and his eyes on the floor. He stood as still as he could, as perfect as he could be. Father always wanted perfection, so that's what he would give.

"Do you know where Bitzel and Wisp are? Because I sure as hell don't! You saw them leave when you got here, so you had to have seen them leave last night!" Luke grabbed the front of Tommy's sweater, one of the three that Wisp had gotten for him, and shook him harshly. "Speak, you little shit! Use your goddamn words!"

Instead of freezing as he usually does, Tommy felt a fire burn in his chest. Here was Luke, one of the people who Deo promised would protect him, holding and shaking him like a dog. Here was Luke, one of the people he wanted to consider a friend, shouting at him like a child. Here was Luke, and here was Dream.

Luke's light blond hair faded to a dull dirty blond, and his blue eyes seeped into emerald green. Luke wasn't here, Dream was.

Tommy growled, dropping his beloved cows as he began to struggle in the elders' grasp. He pulled at Luke's hands, baring his teeth in defiance. He could hear Deo trying to stop them, but nothing was working. "You little fucker! I wonder why we even keep you here! God, you're annoying with your little charade of being a shy kid! You're just a trouble maker! A problem kid! A leech ."

Tommy stopped.

A leech.

"You Mother Fucker! Get the Hell Off Of Me You Fucking Bastard! I Fucking Hate You!" Tommy screamed, doing his best to thrash out of Luke's grasp.

When he felt the man's hand loosen slightly, he took his chance and bit him. Luke pulled away with a shout, Tommy's teeth dragging along his hand and drawing blood. Blood that stained Tommy's lips and teeth. Blood that dripped to the floor. Blood that had been spilled by Tommy.

Tommy took up Harold and Harvey, and he ran.

He ignored the shouts behind him, ignored the apologies being shouted by Luke. He ignored the feeling of guilt and how much he wanted to cry. He ignored the way his new 'friends' would hate him now. He had hurt one of their own. He could never be forgiven.

So Tommy packed his things. He packed his scissors, he packed his books, he packed his pens, he packed his hoodies. He put Harold and Harvey on top of all his things and zipped his bag up. He ignored the knocking on his door, and he ignored how desperate Luke and Deo sounded as they tried to pick his lock. So Tommy opened his window, grateful that his room was on the ground floor, and he left.

He ran as fast as he could, past buildings, past people, past cars, past trains.

He ran past trees, past bushes, past flowers.

He ran until he couldn't run anymore and fell to his knees.

Curling up underneath a tree, Tommy cried and fell asleep.

He ignored the way he wished it would be for the last time.