I Am Yours, Don't Give Myself Back To Me.

Drowning Within You

As Five spent more time with the chocolate-haired boy, he realized that he and Theo had much in common. Both were clever and aware of their boundaries. They shared theories about the universe and time, even if Theo's ideas were pulled straight from fiction books. In Five's eyes, those theories still counted for something.

Weeks melted away, and a bond began to form between them. Don't get him wrong—there was still a lingering sense of distrust—but it was improving. They were learning to navigate each other's complexities.

Or at least, they would have continued to work on it if Five hadn't noticed the strange shifts in Theo's behavior. It was subtle at first, but it began to creep him out. When Five went to sleep, Theo would watch him, but not in a way that felt comforting. Instead, it felt more like an unsettling scrutiny, as if Theo were waiting for something.

It all came to a head one night when Five woke suddenly from a nightmare, his heart racing. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he turned to find Theo staring at him, eyes glinting with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. It was as if Theo was piercing him with daggers, making Five feel exposed and vulnerable in a deeply unsettling way.

At first, Five thought he was imagining it, but it happened again, and then again. Each time he awoke, Theo was there, watching him with an unyielding gaze. Five didn't know what to make of it, and it filled him with dread. He longed for the connection they were building but felt caught between intrigue and fear. What did Theo truly want?

Five's growing paranoia took root deep within him, wrapping around his mind like a vine that refused to let go. He found himself unable to sleep until he was sure Theo was soundly asleep. Even then, he lay awake for hours, listening for any sign of movement. Maybe he was just imagining things? But what if Theo didn't mean any harm? What if it was he who was twisted for feeling this way?

He tried to forget about Theo's nightly habits, convinced it was some weird coping mechanism. But then, one night, it escalated beyond anything he had expected. As he stumbled out of a restless slumber, a glint of metal caught his eye. Theo held a knife, its blade sharp and shining under the dim light. Five's instincts kicked in. He quickly sat down and backed away, fear lacing his veins.

The look on Theo's face said it all; he knew he'd been caught. "What the fuck?!" Five yelled, sleep still heavy in his voice. Panic surged within him, and he stood on unsteady legs, taking a large step back.

"Five, I can explain—" Theo started, his voice almost pleading. But as much as Five wanted to hear him out, the situation felt far too dangerous. As much as Five loathed living, he would not die at someone else's hands.

"Explain what?" he retorted, his voice shaking slightly. "How you've been staring at me every night? Or how you have a knife?"

Theo took a cautious step forward, trying to appear non-threatening, but Five knew better. He had learned the hard way that appearances could be deceiving.

"Stop, or I will fight back," Five warned, his hand searching for a metal pipe that lay nearby. "Trust me, you do not want to fight me." A surge of confidence coursed through him; he had skills, and thankfully, he had kept them hidden from Theo.