BONDED

Chapter 13

Dan sat in thought of the man he was once. In his little corner, he reflected. That was all that was left of him once Michael disappeared. His mind moved from memory to memory, room to room of the horrors he had done. Things that he used not to care about but he now saw in a bit of different light. Was he sorry because he regretted his crimes or was it because he got caught? Dan could only wonder. In that moment, the line that separated the two seemed a bit blurry to him.

Dan entered another room where he saw himself calling Michael’s name. There were multiples of such memories. His body always laid there singing, whispering or yelling out Michael’s name. Michael had been his little friend. Someone that had given him consciousness whenever he had none. And though Dan wasn’t awake then, they had become part of his memories. Memories that he would always cling onto whenever Michael left. They were his lifeline in this lonely prison.

Dan entered another room. This memory was that of a dark room. The only light was that of the moonlight that shined in from the glass window. Before him, on the bed, laid Michael in the baggy pyjamas that he wore moments ago in the limbo. Dan did not remember this memory. This was no memory of his.

He quickly turned around as he had felt a presence the second he came into the room but there was no one there. Just a work table, a chair and a small wardrobe. He stared there for a little longer before averting his gaze back to Michael, who laid on the bed, asleep.

Was this real? Had he somewhat been transported into Michael’s bedroom? Dan wondered as he reached out his hand to touch him but was stopped in his steps by his glowing green hands.

Worried, Dan looked down at his body, only to see that his entire complexion had turned green. But beneath all the green, stood his normal physique and the brown trousers that he wore. He touched and inspected his head and his face, searching to see if there was anything out of the ordinary but there wasn’t. He let out a small smile. At least he still looked like himself, just a bit greener. Deep green to be exact.

Being green? What did that mean? Dan wondered as he further studied his hands. This was something he should have had answer to, but he was drawing up blank. Like there was a firewall that he needed to bypass.

After a few trial and error of accessing that information, he squatted down beside Michael's bed and sat down.

It will come to me if it's important enough. Was the last thing Dan thought of his all of sudden green appearance as he focused his attention back on Michael.

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Gloria had quickly turned on her cloak spell once she felt a presence in the green vampire spirit, who was now seated on the floor next to Michael’s bed. His face barely 10 inches away from Michael’s.

Gloria had been visiting Michael every night since she first saw the green legs. And with each night, more and more of the body formed. From the legs to the torso to his back to his head. The spirit figure looked to be that of a man. Gloria hadn’t felt a spirit in the form until the head was completely formed. The head of the spirit had turned to look at her seconds later but had seen nothing thanks to her cloaking spell.

The vampire had focused back on Michael but looked to be surprised by his form and his surroundings. He later brought his attention back to Michael as he squatted down and sat by his bed. And for about 2 hours, all he did was stare at Michael's face. Staring like a lovesick fool

Gloria had decided to wait it out and see what would happen but all he did was look at Michael. Gloria tried to not doze off but she couldn't help it. This was way longer than she had stayed at Michael's place.

It was already early morning around 7am, and Michael was yet to wake up.

Staying past her limit in her spirit form was not advisable. And no matter what, Gloria had made up her mind not to stay past 9am. Though that wasn't her limit, or even close. It was best to be cautious.
The spell was like an alarm clock which will pull her back into her body once it was 9am, so Gloria wasn't worried.

All that she would need after that was a good night and it being a Sunday made it or the more better. Gloria thought as she grabbed her imaginary popcorn and waited for the show. If only one of the main leads would not to be late, and get to set on time.

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Michael woke up upset. With his crunch up face, he tossed and turned. Fighting his pillow and blankets as he kicked and screamed. The sound projected from his throat as he had his mouth closed. He bolted up mad, as he sat up on the bed, oblivious by the two spectators that he had.

Dan who looked up at him, biting his lips on whether he should alert Michael of his presence or not, and Gloria who was relieved that the other main lead had grace her with his presence 30 minutes before she had to say bye bye.

“I hate you, Dan.” Michael screamed out to his pillow.

Okay, maybe now was not the time to alert Michael of his presence. Dan thought as he pulled a little bit away from the bed. It was clear Michael could not see him as his eyes had opened directly into Dan’s face. And Screaming his name to a pillow had further proved that point. But still, Dan did not want to piss off Michael anymore than he already had as he carefully and quietly got up, backing away in the process.

His butt as his guide. His destination, the chair that sat infront of the work desk. His vision on Michael who was getting off the bed.

Suddenly something stop him. Something that blocked his butt from moving any further.

It was Gloria, who had her leg up, pushing Dan buttocks back to where it came from.

Dan tried pushing through but his ass couldn't push through. He turned around to get a better look at his obstacle but seeing as it was nothing, he turned his vision back to Michael. Only to see Michael about to bump into him. Dan lost his balance, falling on Michael as they both fell down to the ground.

Michael felt the crush and sudden weight on him as he fell onto the ground, his profile planted on the rug. He couldn’t move under the invisible weight as he wiggled and struggled. He was finally able to get up once he felt the weight shifted off him.

“What was the hell that?” Michael murmured as he got off the floor, looked around and headed for the bathroom to brush his teeth. He concluded that he probably tripped over something that was clearly not there.

Dan watched him leave as he pondered on the two things he had learned.
One, Michael could not see him.
Two, Dan could touch Michael and feel his human warmth. This was probably real.
And three, another force had prevented him from sitting on that chair. Something that he couldn’t see but could feel.

“Who’s there?” Dan boldly asked as he approached the chair and swatted at the empty space in the chair. Gloria had already moved.

Dan did get a response but it came from the Michael's doorway. A question to his question. It was Michael's voice “Dan?”

And four, Michael can hear him. Dan thought as he turned and face Michael who had toothpaste in his mouth and a toothbrush in his hand.