Eat You Alive (M. Riddle)

0.4

The night had fallen over Hogwarts, the castle's ancient walls bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the high windows. The hospital wing was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the occasional creak of the old building and the soft, steady breathing of those who slept within.

Rila lay in her bed, her body still and her breathing even, but her mind was far from peaceful. The events of the day played over and over in her head, Matteo's chilling words echoing in her thoughts. The darkness in him, the way he had seemed to take pleasure in the violence—she couldn't shake it, no matter how hard she tried.

The door to the hospital wing creaked open, and two shadowy figures slipped inside, moving with the practiced stealth of those who had snuck out past curfew countless times before. Theo and Draco made their way silently across the room, their eyes scanning the rows of beds until they found Rila.

Theo reached her first, his brow furrowing as he took in the sight of her. Even in sleep, she looked troubled, her face pale and tense. He glanced back at Draco, who nodded, his usually cold demeanor softened by the sight of his sister. They both knew Rila well enough to recognize when something was deeply wrong.

Draco knelt by her bedside, his hand reaching out to gently brush a stray lock of hair from her face. "Rila," he whispered, his voice low and filled with concern. "Are you alright?"

Rila stirred at the sound of his voice, her eyes fluttering open. For a moment, she seemed disoriented, her gaze unfocused as she looked around. But then she saw Theo and Draco, and the tension in her body seemed to ease slightly.

"Draco... Theo..." she murmured, her voice barely audible. "What are you doing here?"

Theo sat on the edge of the bed, his hand resting lightly on her arm. "We were worried about you," he said simply. "You didn't look good earlier, and we wanted to make sure you were okay."

Rila managed a faint smile, touched by their concern. "I'm fine... just tired," she whispered, though her words lacked conviction.

Draco's eyes narrowed slightly, not missing the way her voice trembled. "Rila, you're not fine. Something's wrong—something more than just being tired."

Before Rila could respond, a soft, eerie mumbling reached their ears, cutting through the quiet of the hospital wing. Both Theo and Draco froze, their heads snapping toward the source of the sound. It was coming from the bed just a few feet away—Matteo's bed.

Matteo was sitting up, his back against the headboard, his eyes wide and unblinking as he stared straight ahead. His lips moved rapidly, the words tumbling out in a low, disjointed stream of consciousness. There was no coherence to what he was saying, just a series of fragmented thoughts, half-muttered curses, and dark, disturbing imagery that made Theo and Draco exchange uneasy glances.

"The blood... it was so red, like paint... splattered all over... they think they can laugh at me, but I'll show them... show them all... can't let them see the fear, can't let them see... break them before they break you..."

Rila shuddered, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. She had never seen Matteo like this—so utterly unhinged. It was as if the calm, composed mask he usually wore had shattered, revealing the madness lurking just beneath the surface.

Theo stood up, his expression hardening as he looked between Matteo and Rila. "He's not right," Theo whispered, his voice tight with unease. "Something's wrong with him."

Draco nodded, his jaw clenched. "I know. He's been like this since... well, since earlier today. But it's getting worse." His eyes flicked back to Rila, concern deepening. "We need to get you out of here. You shouldn't be around him like this."

Rila shook her head, though her hands trembled slightly as she reached out to grab Theo's arm. "No... I don't want to leave. Matteo... he's been through something too. I can't just abandon him."

Theo looked at her, torn between his protective instincts and his desire to honor her wishes. "Rila, he's not in his right mind. We don't know what he might do."

Matteo's muttering grew louder, more agitated, as if he were caught in a loop of his own thoughts. "They all think they're better... but they're nothing... nothing without power... without control... crush them, make them bleed..."

Draco glanced at Matteo, his expression a mix of anger and pity. He wanted to be there for his sister, to protect her, but Matteo's state was unsettling in a way that made him wary. "Rila, listen to me," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "You're exhausted, and you need to rest. Theo and I can handle Matteo—just let us take care of this."

Rila hesitated, her gaze flicking to Matteo, who was now rocking slightly, his eyes wild and unfocused. She felt a pang of sadness for him, for whatever had driven him to this point. But she also knew that Theo and Draco were right—she wasn't in any condition to help him, not tonight.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice shaky. "Okay... just... be careful."

Theo nodded, his expression softening as he leaned down to press a reassuring kiss to her forehead. "We will. You just rest, alright?"

Draco squeezed her hand gently before standing up, his eyes meeting Theo's in silent agreement. They both knew they had to keep Rila safe, no matter what. And right now, that meant keeping Matteo away from her.

As they led Rila to another bed further down the ward, Matteo's muttering continued, his voice a chilling reminder of the darkness that had taken hold of him. Rila glanced back at him one last time, her heart heavy with worry and fear. She didn't know what had caused this change in Matteo, but she knew that it was something far beyond her ability to fix.

As she settled into the new bed, Rila felt Theo and Draco's presence beside her, their quiet strength a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling around her. And as she finally drifted into an uneasy sleep, the last thing she heard was Matteo's voice, still muttering in the darkness, the madness in his words sending a shiver down her spine.