Against the odds . Five Hargreeves fanfic

Chapter seventeen

I woke up slowly, my body still heavy with exhaustion. The room was dimly lit, and I could see Five sitting beside me on the bed. He looked up from a book he'd been reading, his expression a mix of concern and tiredness.

"Hey," I murmured, trying to sit up. My head felt like it was filled with cotton. "I need to go to my mom's house."

Five's gaze was steady and intense. "You can't go alone. Diego and I are coming with you."

"What?" I asked, startled. "I can handle this myself."

"No, you can't," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "You're in no condition to go alone, and I'm not letting you go by yourself. Diego and I will make sure you're safe."

I met his gaze, feeling a mix of frustration and reluctant relief. "Fine. But we need to go now."

We quickly got ready. I dressed in my usual comfy outfit: a white oversized T-shirt, black leggings, and sneakers. My long black hair was pulled into a messy ponytail, and my green eyes were still heavy with sleep.

Five was already dressed and waiting, his face set in a serious expression. Diego joined us shortly, his presence adding to the sense of determination that filled the room. The drive to my old house was tense, with Five focused on the road and Diego glancing back at me occasionally.

When we arrived, my mother answered the door with a look of surprise and annoyance. "What are you doing here?" she snapped. "I made it clear you're not welcome."

"I need to talk to you," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the churning anxiety in my stomach. "I'm being haunted by something. I need answers about my powers."

Her face remained stern as she looked us over. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have time for your problems."

Five stepped in front of me, his voice sharp. "We're not leaving until we get some answers."

My mother's eyes narrowed. "Fine. Come in, but don't make a mess. I don't want any trouble."

Inside, the house felt cold and unwelcoming. My mother led us to the living room, her demeanor stony. She eventually spoke, her tone clipped. "There was someone I used to know. He might have information about these things. I'll give you the address, but it's a long way. Don't expect any sympathy from me."

I took the address she handed me, my heart racing with a mix of hope and frustration. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

As we left, my mother's final words were sharp. "Don't come back unless you have something worthwhile to say."

On the drive back to the Academy, the silence was thick with unspoken tension. Five's expression was stern, but there was a flicker of something softer in his eyes that he tried to hide. Diego was quiet, but his concern was evident.

Back at the Academy, we prepared for the trip. Five's demeanor was still cold, but there was an underlying concern in his actions. As we gathered supplies, he seemed distant but attentive, checking over everything meticulously.

When night fell, Five and I sat together in the dim light of the shared room. The tension between us was palpable, a mix of unresolved feelings and unspoken words. I tried to stay focused on the task at hand, but the weight of the situation, combined with the strange dreams and lingering exhaustion, made it hard to concentrate.

As I lay down, the room seemed to close in around me. I could feel Five's presence, a comfort amidst the uncertainty. Despite the coldness he usually projected, tonight there was a softness to his gaze as he looked at me, a hint of something that made my heart race.

"Try to get some rest," Five said, his voice softer than usual. "We'll deal with this tomorrow."

I nodded, feeling a mix of frustration and gratitude. The dreams of the monster, the feeling of being watched, and the weight of everything made it hard to relax. But Five's presence was oddly reassuring, even if it was complicated by the tension between us.

As I closed my eyes, the nightmare returned—images of the spider-zombie monster, its eyeless face and enormous, sharp smile, whispering dark things that left me trembling. I woke up in a cold sweat, the room still dim and quiet. Five was still beside me, his expression a mix of concern and awkwardness.

"Can't sleep?" he asked quietly, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.

"No," I admitted, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I'm so tired of this. I don't know what's real anymore."

Five's gaze softened, but he remained reserved. "We'll figure it out. We have to."

The night was filled with an uneasy silence as I tried to calm myself, my thoughts racing with fear and confusion. Five's presence was a small comfort, but the mysteries and dangers ahead seemed overwhelming.

As I finally drifted back to sleep, the monster's haunting whispers continued, a reminder that there was much more to uncover, and that I wasn't alone in facing it.