The Fall of the Aftons

090: William Afton

Shit! Not now!

"Michael, take your siblings and the twins to the playroom. Now," William commanded as he stood up, looking at his eldest son. "I'll be there in a minute."

Michael gave a curt nod of his head and lifted Elizabeth from her high chair, then carefully led the children out of the room. When everyone was inside the playroom, Michael looked back at William and gave a thumbs-up before going inside and closing the door.

William tapped Henry's shoulder to grab his attention for a second, then quietly said, "I'll be with the kids in the playroom."

Henry nodded his head subtly, not looking away from his wife.

William slowly backed away and walked down the back hallway, then went inside the playroom and closed the door behind him. He leaned against the door, nervously fidgeting with his fingers as he watched the kids halfheartedly play with toys. He also watched as Charlie seemed to shrivel up each time one of the Emily adults got particularly loud. William was sure that if Sammy had his hearing aids in, he'd be doing the same.

After about twenty minutes of hiding in the playroom, the noise started turning down. But, out of nowhere, the sounds of a shattering plate and Henry screaming reverberated throughout the entire house.

"Daddy!" Charlie cried, standing up and rushing to the door.

William blocked her before she could leave. "You can't go out there, Charlie."

"Let me through! Please! I have to see if he's okay," she pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.

"I can't do that. I don't want to risk you getting hurt. Would you like me to check on him for you, though?"

She nodded her head, wiping tears from her eyes.

William looked at Michael. "Keep an eye on her, okay?"

Michael nodded his head and told Charlie to go over to him. She hesitantly listened to him, going over to him, so he bent down and hugged her as he whispered something in her ear.

William quickly opened the door and slipped through, then quietly closed it and ran through the hallway. The minute he stepped into the kitchen, he saw a plate flying directly at him. Biting back a scream, he ducked, hearing the plate shatter against the wall and the shards fall to the floor. As soon as he was safe, he stood up and rushed to stand in front of Henry, trying to protect his friend as another plate flew at the two of them. The sharp edge hit William's arm, slicing open the exposed skin.

"Shit! Will, get out of the way!" Henry exclaimed as he shoved William away. "Fuck! William, get behind me, you idiot!"

"No!" William shouted as he shoved his back in front of his friend. "I don't want you getting hurt."

Missus Emily groaned, very agitated. "Afton, get out of here! You're not a part of this."

Before he knew it, William was unconscious on the floor.

~ ~ ~

William groaned as his heavy eyes slowly opened. His ears were ringing, his head was throbbing, and his vision was doubling. He clutched his aching head, waiting for the echoes in his vision to go away.

After a few minutes passed, his vision and hearing finally cleared. Looking at his surroundings, he saw Henry protectively standing in front of him, still fighting with Doc. So he must've not been unconscious for very long.

William slowly stood up, but his balance was weak. He grabbed onto one of the countertops with one hand, his other hand clutching his slightly-lightheaded head.

"I'm not cheating on you. You're the one who has been cheating on me!" Henry shouted lividly.

"What on earth are you talking about?! I have been loyal to you for our entire marriage!"

"Then why do I come home every to find you doing this"--he dragged William in front of him--"with another man?!" He looked his friend in the eye for a second and mumbled, "Sorry, Will," before he pressed his lips into William's.