Sleepless Nights

Whispered Clues

Thankfully, Zach had managed to sleep for a few hours. Eugene had dozed off during that time as well. 

But as the night wore on, Zach's breathing began to quicken. He began making soft sounds of discomfort, and wriggled around. Eugene blinked his eyes open sleepily. This time, he was able to make out a few words. 

"Gene...guys...stop it!" The next few words were mumbled. "Don't...come back!" 

Zach's breaths turned into hyperventilation. Eugene hesitated for a moment. He didn't want to frighten Zach by shaking him too roughly. Instead, he sat up a little, cradling Zach against him. He rubbed over his back. 

"It's okay Zach," Eugene whispered, hoping his words might get through some how. 

"B-bleeding...gg-stop!" Zach cried out. 

"Zach!" Eugene exclaimed, a bit louder than he meant to. 

Zach's eyes shot open. "What...where--I can't see!" he shouted. 

"Of course you can't, it's night now and the light's off," Eugene sighed, leaning over to turn on the lamp. 

When light finally filled the room, Eugene was surprised to see Zach's face was streaked with tears, his skin even paler than its normal complexion. And though he would never admit it, that expression of terror frightened Eugene. 

He brought a hand up to rest on Zach's cheek. "What did you see?" 

Zach swallowed thickly and shook his head. Eugene grasped Zach firmly by the shoulders, not in an act of frustration, but as a means of grounding him to his current surroundings. 

"Zach, listen to me. Can you tell me three things in his room you can see?" Eugene asked. 

"U-um," Zach stuttered. "Blue sheets, you black hair...m-my window sill." 

"Good," Eugene said gently, brushing his thumbs across Zach's collarbones in an attempt to calm him. 

"What do you hear?" Eugene inquired. 

"Your voice...wind outside," Zach replied, rubbing at his eyes. 

"And smell?" Eugene pressed lightly. 

Zach drew in a deep breath before actively sniffing around him. "Hmm, not much but--" He leaned in to smell Eugene's shirt and the shock of the sudden intrusion caused goosebumps to appear on Eugene's skin. 

"Clean dude smell...but like fancy clean dude smell," Zach said. 

Eugene chuckled shaking his head. "Well at least I know you're okay now." 

Zach nodded, dropping his gaze. 

"Do you remember anything?" Eugene asked, now that Zach was no longer freaking out. 

Zach appeared thoughtful for a moment. "You, Keith, and Ned were there...something with blood...someone--leaving?" He frowned. "Sorry, he mumbled. That's all I've got." 

Eugene sighed. "You don't have to be sorry for not remembering your own dreams." 

Zach shifted, appearing uneasy. 

"You didn't remember anything last time though. So, this is progress." Eugene smiled down at him. 

Zach looked up at Eugene and nodded, smiling a little as well. "What time is it?" he asked. 

Eugene looked over at the bedside clock. "2 AM," he said. "Think you'll be able to sleep again?" 

Zach shrugged. "Go take a hot shower, relax your muscles, then come back to bed," Eugene told him. 

"Okay" Zach mumbled, getting up to try to stretch. "Agh!" he grunted, curling up where he stood. 

Eugene was immediately on his feet. "What's wrong?" he asked. 

"Well you were right; I do need to relax my muscles," Zach winced. 

"Lay down," Eugene told him. 

"But I was going to take a shower," Zach reminded him. 

"If you don't get those knots loosened the hot water is not going to do anything," Eugene explained. 

Zach's shoulders slumped as he dragged himself onto the bed. 

"Usually people are more excited about my massages," Eugene teased. 

Zach whined against the pillow and Eugene leaned down to lightly caress his hair. 

"I'll let that slide this time but only because you suck at sleeping," Eugene told him.