Timekeeper

12.What the hell just happened?

Christmas music filled my ears as I stood there in front of Deceit's door. The future. It still wasn't that different. The hallway was still dark and baren. I glanced back at Virgil door and then at Chris. He nodded and soon I found myself in Virgil's room. He was lying in bed, wrapped up in his blanket just staring at his wall. At least there was no suitcase. At least he wasn't running away.

"So... has something changed?" I turned to see Chris standing there and I sighed.

"Well, yes but... Just like with Roman, it's still sad. Something still happened to cause all this." I watched as Chris's eyes flashed something like sadness and turned around, heading back towards Deceit's room. I quickly followed stopping only when I heard the singing. 

Walking into Deceit's room was... a change. It looked like he suddenly got into the Christmas mood. There were lights all over the place and music playing from a radio that sat next to a small rainbow Christmas tree. The oddest thing was the large looking present thing that covered his broken window. 

"Patton did it." I glanced at Chris, who was spinning in Deceit desk chair like some weirdo. "He decked out Deceit's room for the holiday. To cheer him up a bit."

"Not everyone likes this time of year, Chris. I know I don't." Chris's eyes went dark and he opened his mouth to say something but the sudden sound of someone humming ut him off. Deceit came out of his bathroom wearing PJ pants and a towel around his neck. I watched as he walked over to the closet and pulled out this box. He placed it on his dresser and frowned.

I watched as he reached for the door handle, before stopping. He stood there frozen until finally he just dropped his arm and gave up.

"It's ok Caz. Maybe you'll do it next year." He said as he opened it to reveal nice neatly wrapped gifts. Was he planning on giving them to the others? "It's safer in here anyway." He placed the box back in the closet and collapsed on his bed. Does he have agoraphobia?

"What do expect would happen after what he's been through? Every time he left his room was a literal fight to survive." Chris said as he started messing around with some of the ornament on the tree. "I've been in that state of mind before. Every time I left my room the world would just hurt, but I got better. I had someone to help me. He doesn't..."

"I guess in some way we all have had those moments. However, if anyone could truly understand his fear. It would those two knuckleheads." I said as I pointed to a picture of Patton and Virgil. Another gift Patton must have given him. Of course, they would understand it. Virgil is literally anxiety. He has to fight every single day to leave his room, because of the fear. And then Patton... I remember what he said... I remember how he said it hurt... It wasn't my proudest moments. I had made him cry but it forced him to finally open up. And for that I am grateful.

"It's just another Christmas locked in your room." Deceit's voice echoed through the room and my heart dropped. "How is this any different then being back there?" Both Chris and I flinched at that. Please don't tell me this is going where I think it's going.

"Chris?"

"I'm still locked in a room. I'm still scared. I'm still alone. There is no difference. Maybe I should just go back. Saves me the trouble of needing to hide what happened."

DO NOT GO BACK!

I was practically fuming. He nearly went insane. Then he got horribly attacked by some fucking creature, whose only fun is hunting people. And his first thought is he should go back there?!

"Hell fucking no your not!" Chris yelled as he jumped off his chair. "We're going home early!"

"What?!" I asked as he rushed over, grabbing my arm, and pulled me out of the room.

"I said we're going back!"

"Why?!" He was holding on a little to tightly but the look on his face told me not to fight him on this. "Chris."

"Listen to me. He apsolutly must NOT go back there. Do you hear me?" I nodded and his grip lessened a bit. "I won't let my son go through that. NEVER AGAIN!"

"WAIT SON?!" I was plunged into darkness with my head spinning like crazy. What the hell just happened?