I'll Find A New Place To Be Found (Mike Schmidt/Reader)

Jack-In-The-Box

WARNING: mild body horror and child death mentioned. Proceed with caution.

You seemed to dream more vividly since meeting Mike. Even now, you were in a strange... Warehouse? It was hard to tell, with how empty and depressing it looked. You wandered for what felt like forever. The building was damaged and with closer inspection, it was an old restaurant. You couldn't quite put your finger on it, but it all felt so familiar. You walked over rubble and ash as you walked through the dining area to a hallway. You felt eyes on you as you walked. This caused an uncomfortably real feeling of chills that went up from your shoulder blades to the top of your neck. You anxiously rubbed your neck as you drifted through the hall.

Your shoes crunched over rocks and some old torn pieces of posters. Even occasional glass that made you cringe. As if you were being too loud. You tried different doors as the seeming never ending hall went on. When you walked to the kitchen door, something slammed it shut in your face and kept you from opening. A part of you didn't really want to go inside anyways. As you walked down the hall, checking doors to see empty party rooms covered in dust. Tables for parties that would never be thrown. Balloons that loosely hung around the room, some drifting closer to the floor from age. Admittedly, it was all a terribly sad sight. You had no idea why, but this place just made you feel a sinking feeling of misery.

As you aimlessly opened party room after party room, you found yourself in a new type of room. There was a counter that was more like an island near one of the walls. The wall that it guarded was covered in old plushies, all different forest critters. They were cute in a... Mildly weird way. What was more strange was the box that sat in the middle of the room. It sang a very faint song, but you could only hear it when you were standing directly near it. It was soft and lulling you closer as the handle slowed down. You felt the itching urge to wind it up, your hand gripping the crank before slowly turning it. The inside seemed to creak as you winded the music box, the music playing slightly faster. However, the longer you wound up the box, the lid slowly opened. The box creaked as it opened, the music intensifying as you felt the crank stop and tighten. It was as far as it would go and the lid was wide open.

You had heard the warning—curiosity killed the cat—echo in your head as you peeked into the box. You felt your throat tighten at the sight. A little boy was inside, a light red sweater stained a deeper red as blood covered his body. He looked mangled, as if torn to pieces. His eyes were dull and staring to the side of the box. Deep purple-ish tears poured from his eyes onto his rose cheeks. His arms tighten wrapped in twine, cutting into his sweater and into his flesh. Like he was a string puppet, but in a sinister way. It was more unnerving how you couldn't bring yourself to look away from the mangled boy. His face looked so lively despite the dead, unblinking gaze he held. You felt your stomach churn as your heart beat loudly rang in your head. Who would do this to a child..?

You suddenly jolted away, panting. You gently patted your face and looked around. You were still in Mike's room, though alone. Maybe that was for the best. You were sure what you saw wasn't some sort of coincidence. But would you sound crazy to say it was a vision? Or maybe some weird sign? You didn't want to bother Mike with it, especially after everything he had told you the day prior. You sighed as you slid out of his bed, rubbing your face as you crawled out of the bed. You glanced at the clock, reading ten thirty. You felt like you got no sleep, despite how long you were really out for. You sluggishly exited the room. Today, Abby didn't have school. It seemed to have snowed more overnight, as she had her clothes on for the day and her bag was tossed to the side of the couch. She was too enthralled with the drawing she was working on. Meanwhile, her brother was sitting in his lazy boy, sipping coffee as he watched the TV.

You felt your stomach swell at the sight of him and it wasn't in a good way. You wished you could forget your dream. A part of you was glad it was given to you however. You couldn't imagine what Mike would have done if he had the same dream. As his glance flicked to you, you gave him a weary smile. You didn't plan to tell him and you knew you probably wouldn't if you could help it. You just moved to sit on the couch closest to him. "Mornin'." You said, leaning on the arm rest. You now had his full attention as brown eyes moved to look at you. He looked you up and down. "Sleep well?" He asked, though his questioning gaze was enough to tell he knew the answer. You shrugged a bit, "The storm was loud." You lied. You hoped it covered you enough to keep him from asking too much. He just nodded, which relieved you enough.

"We made breakfast." Mike said, "You should eat something." You groaned quietly, sinking into the couch a bit. "I will when I get up." You said, looking over to Abby. You couldn't hide the smile that grew over your lips. Abby was still absorbed in her drawing. "Good morning, Abby." You said, gently patting her shoulder as you looked at her drawing. It was simply a picture of a forest and some animals. Her, Mike, and what you suspected to be you in the middle. Though, it wasn't done quite yet. "Good morning!" she chimed, finally pulling her eyes from her art to look at you. She blinked as she looked at you and in this moment you remembered how similar her and Mike were. Her gaze went all over your face before she stood up. "You need to eat!" She said as she scrambled to the kitchen.

You watched Abby run, seeing that Mike smirked to himself and shook his head. God, your heart just swelled. "Now you don't have an excuse." He said simply, leaning his head into his hand. You rolled your eyes playfully. Abby eventually navigated her way to you with a breakfast bowl. Eggs, sausage, cheese, and peppers were in a bowl. A bit too much cheese was added as Abby was trying to prep the bowl for you, but you didn't mind. "Thank you, Abby." You said, taking the bowl and sitting up on the couch. "No problem." She chimed, sitting back down and drawing as she was before. You took the spoon and ate quietly, looking up to the TV. It was the news, though currently the man talked about the four feet of snow outside. It was expected to not melt for a few days, which made you realize...

You'd be here for the next few days then.

"So..." You looked to Mike, "Got any more clothes I can borrow?" He snorted a bit, almost as if he was amused by the idea. "I do." he said simply. You rolled your eyes as his attention didn't leave the TV. "Good... I'm gonna be here for a while." You said, taking a bite of the food once more. This made Abby jump up a bit as she turned to you suddenly. "Like a sleepover?" She asked, "But with all of us!?" You could see her eyes light up at the idea. You let out an endearing chuckle as you swallowed your food. "Yeah, I guess so. You said. She slowly stood back up, pushing out the table a bit.

"We're totally building a fort." Abby said, running to her room before you or Mike could even attempt to agree or be against it. Mike waited til she was gone to look at you, his face could read his seriousness. "What's really bothering you." He said, watching as you quickly took a bite of your food. You frowned a bit. God you couldn't tell him. You refused to worry this poor man further. "I'm okay, really. I just had a rough time sleeping." You reassured him. Mike wasn't buying it. He just frowned further. "Look... I'll tell you another time, okay? It's super awesome sleepover time." You said, reaching and pushing on his hand. He sighed, rolling his eyes at your statement. You flicked his arm as you got comfortable with your bowl of food. "You're lucky your sister is adorable." You said, "Cause you're a grump." He scoffed, though it was more to match your playfulness. "Yeah right. You love me." He said, shifting a bit in his lazy boy.

You smiled a bit. "Mm.. Maybe." You said, taking a bite of the food as Abby returns with a pile of blankets. She panted as she gently set the blankets on the floor. "I have more! Come on, let's start!" She huffed as she ran back to her room. "Let me wake up first, Abs!" You called. You were too busy stuffing your face with food to keep up with Abby's time constraint to see Mike's gentle gaze on you. Your comment stuck with him a bit. You even hoped now it was enough to keep his mind off interrogating you for how you slept. For now, you stood up as you set the bowl down. Beginning the awesome sleepover you and the Schmidt family were about to have.