The Sound of Madness

Help Me...

The Sound of Madness

Chapter 1: Help Me...

3rd Person POV – Ryan

(The other members of the Haywood family, Lori and Ryan's children are in a state of fictional non-existence.)

Ryan's phone blared loudly and he slapped it down. He pushed the blankets back and walked to the bathroom. He splashed some water on his face. He took a deep breath before reaching into the cabinet. He pulled from it a small bottle of pills. Four months before he had been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder after nearly killing a man while in a shopping mall and not remembering any of it. He spent a month and a half in a psychiatric hospital but disguised it as a vacation. He had masked it to everyone so far. He would take the pills and do his best to keep his emotions in check. He didn't have any problems yet. He continued with his morning routine weakly brushing his gentle sandy, blonde hair. As he was heading out for work he glanced back checking for things he might have forgotten. He drove to work at RoosterTeeth and strolled into the office. He sat down on his couch and began doing some editing.

Exhausted as usual from the nightmares he endured, he soon fell asleep. No one had been in the office when he fell asleep so there was no one to save him. Deep in the darkness of Ryan's mind he sat surrounded by his worst fears. Shadows slithered around him and his other side, The Mad King danced around with the dead bodies of his best friends. The Mad King smiled in his face as he held the body of Jack Patillo. Back in the real world, Ryan was asleep in a jumble of wires whimpering and crying out.

The other five Achievement Hunters stood by him unsure what to do.

“Don't you think we should wake him?” Gavin squeaked watching Ryan whimper quietly 

“Don't touch him.” Geoff commanded quietly.

“Geoff....” Ray's eyes reflected pain as he watched Ryan toss and turn.

“Geoff wake him up! We can't just let him fucking suffer.” Michael barked and Geoff took a deep breath. He took a step forward towards Ryan who he could now see had tears streaming down his face. He placed a hand on Ryan's shoulder and gently shook.

“Ryan....Ryan hey buddy wake up. Ryan!” Geoff's voice was gentle, on the brink of pleading. Ryan's eyes snapped open and he looked at Geoff. Geoff could feel he was shaking.

“Gavin go get a blanket and Ray go get him some water.” The two lads nodded solemnly and left.

“Ryan...are you alright?” Ryan's mind swirled with fear and then he saw Jack and put his face in his hands.

“H-He k-killed Jack.” Jack's eyes went wide.

Geoff, having a young daughter knew how to handle nightmares, “Who killed Jack?” Ryan shook his head the looming face flashed before his eyes. Ray came in and handed him a small paper cup of water. Ryan sipped it silently attempting to clear his mind. Gavin came in and handed the blanket to Geoff who placed it around Ryan. Ryan finished the water and set it down.

He wiped his face with a corner of the blanket and stared at the ground feeling embarrassed and ashamed. Geoff stood up back with the others.

“Ryan maybe you should go home.” Ryan shook his head.

“I have more editing to do.” Gavin shifted on his feet.

“I'll do it for you Ryan. Go home get some sleep.” Ryan sighed slightly pissed off.

“I'm fine, Really.” He saw raised eyebrows. “Stop looking at me like I'm a fucking monster!” He threw the blanket off and went to his actual desk. 

He sat down and Lindsay beside him said hello. “Hi Lindsay.” He mumbled then went to work on editing.

In the Achievement Hunter office there was an eggshell discussion. “Bullshit he's fine. After what we saw that is absolute fucking bullshit.”

Jack sighed. “Geoff he's embarrassed. It's a vulnerability to see him like that. Let him be. When he cools down then we will talk to him.” The Lads nodded.

“Maybe towards the end of the day we will talk to him.” Ray said.

“Alright but I know there's something. I-I can feel it.” Geoff sighed and they all went back to their desks.