Y/n would wake in a cold sweat, heart pounding, gasping for air. Even awake, they felt Home's presence.
It wasn't a house; it wasn't even a god.
It was a prison, and they were the prisoner.
That evening, after another sleepless night and a day spent faking smiles for the other neighbors, they finally broke.
Y/n collapsed in the neighborhood's chapel.
When Priest walked in and saw them crumpled on the ground, his face immediately softened.
"My dearest Y/n." He murmured, hurrying to their side.
Y/n wanted to scream, to tear at the walls, to demand answers for why this thing, this entity had chosen them as it's target.
But instead, they buried their face in their hands and sobbed.
"You're trembling." He observed, his voice a soothing balm. "What has frightened you so?"
They choked out the words. "Home. I feel it everywhere. It speaks to me. It's in my dreams, in my head. It—" Their voice broke, and they clutched their head. "I can't escape it. I want to, but I can't. It won't let me go."
His smile faltered, ever so slightly.
For a moment, the weight of their words seemed to reach him. But then, just as quickly, he composed himself.
"Ah, neighbor." Priest said softly. "Home's presence is... immense, isn't it? It's love for us is overwhelming at times. But it does not mean to harm you."
"Harm me?" Y/n's voice rose, trembling with anger and fear. "It's consuming me! It won't stop! It won't let me think or breathe or—" They broke off, shaking their head furiously. "I trusted you. I thought you'd understand. But you... you're just it's puppet, aren't you?"
Priest flinched, the accusation cutting deeper than he cared to admit. His smile became fixed, brittle, as though carved into his face.
"Y/n." He said, his voice tinged with something almost mournful, "I am it's servant. As are we all."
"I don't want to be it's servant!" They shouted, their voice echoing through the chapel. "I want to be free! I want to think for myself, live for myself! Don't you? Haven't you ever wanted that?"
"Freedom is an illusion, my dear one. It's a cruel, empty promise made by those who wish to see us lost and untethered. Home gives us purpose. It gives us unity."
His voice softened, though the steel behind it remained.
"It gives us love."
Y/n recoiled from his touch, their eyes wide with dawning realization. "You... you don't care about me, do you? Not really. You care about keeping me here. Keeping me obedient."
Priests smile dimmed, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Y/n." He said quietly. "I do care for you. More than you ever know. But I cannot help you defy Home. I... I need you here. We all do."
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, took a step back, his movements slow and deliberate.
"You are frightened now, confused. But in time, you will understand."
Y/n stared up at him, their heart sinking as they realized the truth. Priest wasn't going to help them escape.
