Multifandom Oneshot Book

Scene - Moonlight Through The Shadows - Spooptober Day 25

Nate looked at his calendar; three more days, three more days until the one year anniversary of when his life had officially gone down the shitter. He still recalled it even now; all he had to do some days was close his eyes and he could see it, feel it, taste it.

He could feel the power coursing through him.

See Matt tied up and helpless, bleeding heavily from the countless wounds that covered his slim body.

Hear his screams as they slowly weakened.

He could even smell and taste his friend's blood some days.

He couldn't eat red meat anymore, not since that day. It always turned to blood and human flesh in his mouth. Nate retched as he remembered, as he remembered Matt's flesh tearing in his teeth, the blood gushing out, coating the musician in gore. There were days he couldn't eat at all.

Morgan was worried, he'd told her about this creature and she'd seen it used a lot in fanart of her boyfriend, especially recently as Halloween approached. He hadn't given details though, she all she knew was that this monster had made Nate hurt Matt. On days when even the smell of meat made him sick, Morgan always made sure she had vegetarian alternatives for him so he could still get something in him. She'd noticed he'd been sleeping more restlessly lately too, he mumbled, wept and sometimes screamed in his sleep and she'd always be there for him, holding him close, getting him hot cocoa, sometimes even singing to him; his mother had told her that Midnight Sonata always helped calm him as a child so that's what she used.

She took the cookies she'd been baking out of the oven and plated them, bringing them over to Nate and sitting next to him on the couch with a warm smile and warmer cookies. "Hey Nate, you want some cookies? They're fresh out the oven."

Nate looked at her almost as though he didn't recognise her. "Y-yeah... that.... that sounds nice."

Morgan placed the cookies on the table in front of them and wrapped her arms around her boyfriend. "Nate.... I can tell something's wrong." She hesitated, should she bring it up? With a sigh, she decided to, good relationships were built on communication and trust after all. "It's that thing again isn't it?"

Nate pulled away, looking Morgan in the eyes with mild shock. "But how--?"

She pulled him in again, laying a soft kiss to his forehead. "You've been talking in your sleep again, honey, and that look in your eyes is just like last year." hugging him again, she began to softly rub his back. "It's okay, I'm here for you just like always."

Nate was still in shock. He shouldn't be, he reasoned, Morgan was very intelligent, it was only natural she'd figure it out. She'd likely even figured out what exactly had happened that day. He just clung to her, holding her tightly.

He was terrified.

He was absolutely terrified that The Shadow would come back, that it would take her from him. He didn't want to lose her, he didn't think he could go on without her, with the guilt, with her blood on his hands. His breathing became jagged and his body shook as tears began to leak from his eyes, sliding down his face and soaking into Morgan's top. He'd spent so long acting the fool with her. He loved her laugh, it brought so much joy to his life, so much light in even the darkest of times. The way she'd snort when she was laughing so hard it hurt, like that one time they'd been at Matt's on the stream, that other time they'd gone to a water park and he'd lost his trunks after a high dive. He'd been so embarrassed, but Morgan's laughter was contagious and he'd just turned it into another joke, acting as though it was totally intentional. These were the things that kept him sane, the things that had helped him lock the creature up in his mind. But he couldn't wear the mask of comedy forever.

Morgan felt Nate's mask drop and she just held him closer, rubbing his back, and began to hum. She only knew the first movement but that had worked for Nate before.

They sat there for almost an hour, Morgan's humming looping the piece as Nate just clung to her like his very life depended on it. His shaking had died down by now, suggesting that he'd run out of tears, but she'd be damned if she'd just let him disappear. "It's okay Nate." She soothed, "it's gonna be okay. You've beaten it before, you can do it again. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Nate. And if you still aren't convinced you can do it, you've got me, Matt, Brett. You've got all of us who you can physically be with at any time."

Nate nodded wordlessly, she was right, of course she was. She often was in matters like this.

Morgan continued, "and then there's Hunter and your parents, all it takes is a call on the phone or Skype and they're right there to talk with." She pulled away and looked Nate in the eyes, her own sapphire ones filled with love and concern. "You're never alone, Nate, I swear."