Running With the Devil (SCP Fanfic)

Chapter 23: Faith no More

The morning light filtered through the trees. The yellow rays tickled James's face, causing him to put his hand over his eyes.

He couldn't sleep, though, once the light woke him up. He forced himself up and looked over to where Malo had been. She wasn't there anymore.

James shifted over to sit on the side of the bed and held his head. Nightmares had striken him in his sleep again. This time he shared the dreams with no one, no beast lurked within, his dreams were his own and only his own.

He heard some clanging coming from somewhere in the house. The noise made him realize how calm and normal everything was.

He got up and started to walk out of the room. He stopped though when he saw a full-length mirror against one of the walls. The dirty orange jumpsuit reminded him that it wasn't so normal.

At least he could take a good look at himself now. The mirror showed a warm reflection, unlike the cold gray and blue one in their cell that was actually just a window.

He continued to the door and opened it. He walked down a short hallway and into an open space that was shared by the kitchen, dining room, and living room.

In the kitchen was Malo or at least a floating jumpsuit as it now appeared to him.

"Hey..." James waved.

"Good morning, James!" She said cheerily, looking over from the stove.

"Smells good, whatcha making?"

"Breakfast..."

James smiled, "Bit vague, huh?"

"You'll see! Just sit down, it's almost done!"

James looked over at the wooden table draped in a white table cloth and sat down on one of the chairs. It creaked as he sat in it. He smelled the air, it smelled of fat cooking. It was homely in this little cabin. He tried to enjoy it as much as he could.

As he sat down looking at the table, a plate appeared in front of him. James smiled as he looked at it. The breakfast Malo had made was in the arrangement of a smiley face. Two eggs for eyes, two pieces of bacon for a smile, and toast sliced in triangles for ears.

James looked up, "Looks like you."

Malo winked, "Enjoy."

James chuckled and grabbed a fork. Malo sat down next to him at the table with her own plate.

James finished his plate and looked up. Malo hadn't touched her food and stared at him the whole time.

"Everything all right?" James asked.

"You know it isn't, your face is very telling."

"What do you want me to say?"

"James, what happened back there? I saw something. You said you can't see me."

"I can't see you. It's like how you described it when we first met. Almost completely invisible. I can catch glimpses of you in the corner of my eyes. I can see the light of your eyes in the reflection of this fork and the plate. But I can't see your face with my bare eyes..."

"What happened, though?" She said anxiously.

"Maybe another time I'll tell you..." James looked defeated.

"James, come on! We've been through a lot together."

"It's complicated."

"Why won't you let me help you?" She thought, "Like you've helped me..."

The front door opened. James and Malo turned around to see Mrs. Payne enter.

"Oh, I see you found it all!" She spoke.