The Death of Me

Chapter Two: Bond

     The screaming was louder in the mind palace. They frantically followed the sound, tracing it to the lounge/living room area. On the floor, there was a new, screaming personality in a ball on the floor, shaking and hyperventilating. It all came rushing back to them. This was the part of Thomas that they had locked away to die. Roman went soft, tears forming behind his bright eyes. Logan felt his first emotion- guilt. They essentially tortured him. Locked him away. Logan was there for a second and nearly shut down, and this little thing was there for... oh god... seven years. They could physically feel Thomas's anxiety attack- the room shook and they felt as if they were being dragged away by an invisible chain. The boy on the floor screamed and howled, his eyes squeezed shut and covering his ears. He pulled his hair, but covered his ears after he heard what wasn't the words. It took Logic a minute before his thoughts finally resumed.
     "He's overstimulated," he diagnosed, "He needs a dark and quiet room."
     Roman, being the heroic and dramatic one, quickly scooped him up and created a room exactly as Logan described. Virgil's sheiks and sobs increased in volume the second he was touched, a feeling he's never encountered. He was frantic, clawing at Roman's arms. Sensing he was making it worse, he set the banshee down and left the room. If this continued on, so would Thomas's attack. Logan and Roman joined Patton and Thomas back in his room. He looked better, especially in comparison to Anxiety. His breathing had calmed and the shaking had stopped. His comforter had been pulled off the bed and wrapped around his shoulders by Patton. He looked upset, but relatively calm. As for the personalities, they were not so fortunate. They could hear the "new" personality screaming and sobbing and shrieking and sobbing.
     "Patton! You calmed down Thomas, could you do the same for you-know-who?" Logan asked, desperate for peace and quiet.
     "He's not Voldemort!" Roman exclaimed, suddenly upset. "Patton, Anxiety is back. You know, the one that made Thomas scared all those years ago."
     Thomas was out of it and not listening to their conversation, which Roman quickly made sure of before talking about one of the "dark sides". Patton sat up, looking more like a dad than they've ever seen him. He adjusted his glasses and stood.
     "I told you we should've kept him! This is going to lead to some serious trouble!" Without further bickering, he sank down into Thomas's mind.
     When he appeared, there was a new door in the hall. Behind it, he heard a horrendous sound, rasping, "Kill me!" In various volumes and desperations.
     He cracked open the door, trying not to make any noise. His silent approach was ineffective, as Virgil whipped around and scrambled away from him. Patton's heart immediately shattered. The poor boy had never known a kind touch or caring words. Moving slowly, he crouched carefully next to Anxiety, strategically avoiding contact. Virgil desperately crawled away, and Patton let him.
     "You can come over here when you're ready," Patton said just loudly enough to be heard over the noises of distress. It was the first time Virgil had heard such a voice- kind, sincere, and caring. Eventually, the screams disappeared and the sobs deliquesced. Patton heard shuffling from the corner and was met with nothing but an empty boy crawling to him. As to not frighten the child, he stayed still, but the excitement was overwhelming. He had helped someone, which always led to hyperactivity.
     He zoned back in when a slight weight sinking into his lap. He almost jumped up in his accomplishment, but remained silent and externally calm.
     Morality lower Virgil and himself to the ground, where they quickly fell asleep.