Two Worlds, One Mind

Chapter 2

"Klondike, 43, please go to sleep," Elliot begged. It was 4:21 in the morning and Elliot was not having any more shenanigans. They stood at the left and right edges of the front of Elliot's bed.

"We have to figure out what's been going on lately," Klondike spoke gently. She stroked Elliot's face, but he brushed her away and rubbed his eyes with his palms. He nestled under the striped covers of his cocoon with a sigh.

"Fine, we'll just work without you," 43 snapped. He twirled away from Elliot and fiercly sat himself down at the edge of the bed.

"Ellie, you have to answer us some time," Klondike no longer spoke directly to Elliot's face. Instead, she rearranged the toys scattered across the floor.

"Guys, I don't know why Dad took us out of the house. I don't know where we were and I don't know why that lady kept asking us questions, okay?"

"Why can't we ask Dad?" 43 had gotten up to pet the new cat. The cat felt 43's agitation through his aggressive petting.

"He tried explaining it to us, but I can't remember what he said. You two were talking too loud." Elliot ducked back under the covers. This answer did not satisfy 43, which made him angrier. The cat uncomfortablly squirmed at 43's hands.

"43, you better calm down or get your stupid ass away from that cat before you kill it."

"I need to release my anger, don't tell me how to live my life!"

Klondike dropped the toy train and slinkee she was putting away. She walked over to 43, hand raised for smacking. 43 dropped the cat on its side. It recovered, hissed, and made a run for it. The cat tumbled over the dropped toys and became entangled in the slinkee. The cat's movements became more panicked as it was startled by a screech let out by 43. 

43 rubbed the side of his tender face as Klondike turned her back to untangle the cat.

"You bitch!" He shouted, preparing to attack.

Elliot could no longer handle the shouting, hissing, and clanking. He sat up and began to rock with his hands covering his ears, but they only got louder. The only phrase he could manage to say was, "SHUT UP!"

He jumped out of bed and darted out of the room. He ran, covering his ears, going as far as he could, trying to distance himself from the noise.

But no matter how far he ran, the noises never diminished.