Can't You Save Me?

•8•

Patrick doesn't want to go back home. Every second that he's there he gets this sick feeling in his stomach. It held lots of memories though, good and bad, but the good ones barely exist anymore with the amount of shit that happened in there. But because it's the only place he has to live, he stays, alone and too scared to even breathe.

All he could think of was what took place that one night. When everything stopped making sense and the world stood still. Patrick lost control that night and forgot who he was, who he used to be. Yeah, Patrick had a name and knew it well but it didn't mean much to him anymore if he wasn't himself on the inside. He was Vaughn on the inside now. Evil, cruel, heartless, and fucking cold. Patrick hated what's become of him, hated himself for letting Vaughn control him in so many ways. And sometimes he wonders if suicide is such a bad idea. He doesn't have family or friends and he's wanted by the law so dying would be doing the world a favor, wouldn't it? It'd probably put everyone's mind at ease if he were dead. At least then no one would be afraid to leave their homes anymore.

"Patrick. Patrick?" Pete's voice brings him back into reality. They're in Pete's car, a few blocks from Patrick's home. He barely even remembered leaving Pete's place.

"Hm? What?"

Pete looks a bit concerned. "You okay?"

Patrick nods. "You say something?"

"Uh, yeah, what's in it for me if I help you?"

"Oh, I hadn't thought about it. What do you want?"

"Well, I hadn't thought about what I'd want either so...surprise me, I guess. But it better be something good."

"I'll do what I can." Patrick stared out the window and watched as the silhouettes of trees passed by the rest of the way there, telling Pete which ways to turn along the way.

Pete pulled up to the curb in front of the house then put the car in park, shutting off the vehicle then looking over at Patrick. "Be quick, I wanna go back to bed. Only grab essentials."
He says while unbuckling his seat belt and putting his keys into his hoodie pocket.
Patrick nods, clicking his own seat belt off and heading to the front door, Pete following close behind.

Inside, Patrick all but runs straight upstairs to his bedroom, finding an old duffel bag in his closet. He packed it full of as much clothes that could fill the main compartment and grabbed essentials like Pete said; deodorant, toothbrush, underwear, all that stuff. He looked around for anything else he might need and came across his guitar leaning against the bed. Definitely going to need that. He slings the bag's strap over his shoulder and carries the guitar by the neck, leaving the room and meeting Pete downstairs.

"I said essentials," Pete complains. "The guitar is not essential."

The words, "Yes it is." is all the argument Patrick needs to give. Pete's just going to have to deal with it. Then he leaves to put his things in the car and Pete follows, starting it up and driving them back to his apartment.

Once back at Pete's, Patrick drops his bag onto the floor beside the couch and props his guitar against the wall next to the TV.

"Okay," Pete starts. "there's only one room and it's obviously mine, so you get the couch. But for right now, I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"What am I five?"

"No, you're a killer."

Patrick winces at the word 'killer'. There are many things that Patrick may be, but a killer? Well, he is one, but not by choice. He doesn't want to be compared to Vaughn, he's the one who shed all that blood. "Figures." He mutters, collapsing onto the couch. "By the way, I've thought of what to give you in exchange for helping me."

"And what's that?"

"I'll...I'll confess."

Pete's brow furrows. "What?"

"If you help me get rid of Vaughn then I'll confess to everything. You get to be praised by your co-workers and put all over the news for locking away a crazed criminal, and I get to sleep peacefully at night without a single evil voice lurking around my head. That's all I can offer you. Fair?"

Pete doesn't answer right away and studies Patrick's eyes in thought, probably thinking about how this will play out later on. No more crazed teen, no more homicidal voices. That's a fair trade, right? But it doesn't seem fair to Patrick. He'll more than likely be locked up for the rest of his life and he knows that but he'd rather rot in a cell than put up with Vaughn for another day. It seems wrong but Pete says, "Yeah, fair." and shakes Patrick's hand to seal the deal.

It's late enough as it is and all Pete wants to do now is go to bed. Patrick looks like he's about to pass out but drags himself to the bathroom to change. Pete finds a blanket and pillow and leaves it on the couch for when he gets back, then goes off to his room to be unconscious until it's time for work. He locks the door just to be on the safe side.

When Patrick returns to the living room, he places the pillow on one end then unfolds the blanket and drapes it over his body. He falls asleep almost instantly.