Riddle Middle Two

Chapter 34: The Guest

3rd person

5 walked home, making sure to keep his head down and his pace fast. He regretted speaking to Lila that morning, though he also knew that the longer he waited to tell her, the more it would hurt. He felt his stomach emit a low growl. He hadn't eaten at all that day, and now it was around four in the afternoon. He sighed, knowing that nothing much would await him at home. He made his way up his driveway and to the front door, which he unlocked with his spare key. He opened the front door and was immediately greeted with the scent of cigarettes. He tried his best to ignore it, and he hung his backpack on a chair at the cluttered dining room table, which hadn't been used in months. He went to the kitchen and searched for something filling that wouldn't upset his stomach. His stomach issues had started back when he was five years old, though of course this wasn't his namesake.

The best he could find were a couple of granola bars, which he decided would have to do for now. He saw his stepmom and dad cuddling on the couch, watching a romantic comedy that 5 didn't know the name of. Neither of them had ever acknowledged 5's arrival from school in the months they'd been together. 5 ignored them and went to his room, also ignoring the homework that remained in his backpack, unfinished, from days ago. He lay on his bed for a moment, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Lila. He had her phone number but figured he should let her calm down a bit before trying to apologize. 5 had been debating whether or not he liked her when Pico had held him hostage in his dream. He knew for his own safety that he and Lila couldn't be together. He wondered if Pico knew that he'd talked to Lila about their relationship. 5 hoped Pico would find out soon so he'd leave him alone. 5 sighed and sat up, thinking about what to do. He sighed again, knowing that his homework wouldn't do itself.

He spent about three hours doing some of his easier assignments, and by the time he'd finished it was around seven-thirty. He stood, stretched, and made his way to the bathroom. He searched the countertop for a moment, then found his pills. He took the two he needed and went back to his bedroom. Within about ten minutes, he'd entered a deep sleep. He woke up in a white cell like he had many times before. There was no bathroom this time, and he was alone. At least, he thought he was. Almost immediately he felt something grab his neck and lift him off of the floor. "It's you again," the demon girl said, making herself visible. 5 was unable to reply. He could hardly breathe. She pinned him to the wall and slightly released her grip on his neck, allowing him to breathe. 5 gasped. "Why do you keep coming here?" she asked, looking over him. 5 still had scars from last time, but they'd healed rather quickly. 5 didn't reply, terrified. She dug her claws deep into his abdomen, and 5 screamed in pain. "I can't seem to find your liver. That's the best part, you know," she said. 5 was wailing, his eyes shut tightly. The demon girl pulled her hand out of him, tearing his skin even more. 5 was losing enough blood that his consciousness began to fade.

"Oh, you're about to pass out. That was fast. You know, every time you fall asleep, you'll come back here. Every time will be worse than the last. I think maybe next time I'll skin you alive. How does that sound, hm?" she asked in a hushed tone, caressing the side of his face. That was the last 5 heard before falling unconscious. He woke up in back in his bed with a horrible headache, sweaty, and terrified. He immediately began crying as soon as he came to his senses. He cried for a good five minutes before pulling himself together. He looked down at his clock. It was only four in the morning. 5 sighed but knew he couldn't fall asleep again, so he stared at the ceiling for about an hour before deciding to get out of bed. He killed time on his phone for about three hours, then debated whether or not to go to school. He eventually decided to skip, just this once.

If anyone asked the next day, he'd say he wasn't feeling well, though he doubted he would need to worry about that. 5 felt his stomach let out another hollow growl. He sighed and went to forage in the kitchen again. All he found were some stale chips and expired bacon. He didn't want to risk it with the bacon, so he ate the chips and tried to ignore his remaining hunger. 5 decided to go lay down again because of his headache. He figured he could rest without sleeping. He was able to do so for quite some time, and by the time he felt better it was around three in the afternoon. He stood up and stretched, then killed more time on his phone until he assumed Lila would be home. Maybe now he could apologize with less of a chance of her getting more upset with him. 5 was about to call her when he decided it was better not to. Perhaps if he waited long enough, Lila would forget their conversation.