Visions of Greed

Chapter 11: Deceptive Delights

Notes: Just a friendly reminder that thneeds are edible, and according to the 1972 special you can add them in soup for great zest. This is relevant to a joke I wrote later in the chapter. Enjoy!

 Recommended Songs: Riser- Dance With The Dead, Unveiling The Architecture- Starset, Animal I Have Become- Three Days Grace, Calm Down- All Time Low

Once-ler slowly blinked his eyes open as he awoke the next morning. As his mind slowly emerged from the fog of sleep, Once-ler gazed out his bedroom window. Outside, the sun was shining against the lush green hills that were lined with colorful truffula trees, while a clear blue stream ran through the forest. As Once-ler looked at the beautiful scene outside his window, he started to feel a sense of peace.

Once-ler's brief moment of tranquility was interrupted when he heard the sound of shuffling coming from behind him. Once-ler became filled with dread as he realized that the same presence from last night was still there watching him. Trembling, Once-ler slowly sat up in his bed and turned around.

Once-ler saw that it was indeed the same figure that he had seen briefly during the previous night. Still sitting in the chair next to the bed was a silhouette of a man. He somehow seemed familiar but was still unrecognizable, with his form being completely enveloped in the shadows. Fearing the worst, Once-ler gasped in terror and cowered on the bed, awaiting his fate, still too ill and weak to even consider running away. Seeing this, the figure got up from the chair and reached out towards Once-ler, who had shut his eyes in fear.

"Woah, chill Once-ler, it's just me." the mysterious man told Once-ler as he stepped into the light and gently put his hand on Once-ler's shoulder.

Once-ler calmed down as he recognized the sound of the voice. He opened his eyes to see one of his brothers standing next to him with a concerned look on his face. "Brett, is that really you?" Once-ler asked in surprise.

"Aw man, you really must be sick. I'm actually Chet." his brother answered.

"Oh, sorry Chet," Once-ler apologized, a bit embarrassed at the mix-up. He had always been able to tell his brothers apart.

"Don't worry about it," Chet told Once-ler as he removed his hand from his shoulder and reached for a water bottle on the nightstand, which he then handed to Once-ler. "You ought to have some water. You still look like you're in rough shape."

"Thanks," Once-ler replied as he grabbed the bottle, his hands still shaking slightly. He took a few slow sips.

"Are you feeling any better?" Chet asked him.

"I guess so..." Once-ler answered between sips "I finally managed to get some sleep, and I think the fever went down a bit..." Once-ler looked back up, and he saw that another identical figure was now standing next to Chet. "...except now I'm seeing double again."

"Naw that's just me," Brett answered.

Once-ler sighed with relief. "Oh, Hey Brett," he greeted him.

"How are you doing? " Brett asked in reply.

"Better I think, but what are you both doing here?" Once-ler asked them in confusion as he set the water bottle back down on the nightstand.

"Norma had to go home, but she said you were still pretty sick and having weird nightmares. So Brett and I took turns keeping an eye on you last night." Chet answered.

"So that was one of you last night? Once-ler asked in disbelief "I thought you were..." his voice trailed off, not wanting to explain further. "...but why were you watching me? He asked.

Once-ler was still confused. It was very unlike Brett and Chet to express so much concern over him. He didn't even think his brothers liked him all that much. The twins were exactly alike, and always spent their time together, while Once-ler was usually the odd one out, with an emphasis on the odd. Once-ler was quite different from them, being less "manly" and his brothers would often tease him as a result.