Warped Petals (Sam-I-Am x Guy-Am-I)

Chapter 1

The winter air was crisp as I walked through the street down to the diner that Sam and I had always gone to since we became friends. The wind blew against my fur gently as I looked into the window of the diner to see Sam sitting quietly, his head resting against his hand as he fiddled with a sugar packet. I smiled and opened the door, breathing in the smell of ham and who hash. I walked over to the booth that now held a dozing Sam, and sat down, smiling at his features.

I place my hand on his head, causing him to jump up and smile when he sees me.

"Good morning, briefcase buddy!" He exclaims with a yawn.

The nickname sends a tingle down my spine, making me wonder why it never did before now, but I shake the thought away with a small smile, "Morning, Sam. You look tired, did you not sleep well last night?"

He replies with a sigh and a shake of his head, looking out the window while his fingers meddle with the packet, "I've been having... bizarre dreams as of late. I wouldn't want to worry you, though, so I won't tell you if you don't want to hear my rambling."

I place my hand on his shoulder, causing him to look up at me, "You know I'm always here for you, Sam. Tell me what's on your mind."

"I was in my room- at least I think it was my room, the only thing in there was a mirror. I remember... looking at myself, but it wasn't me, it didn't feel like me. It felt sinister, like it's trying to pull something from me, but I don't understand what it would want from me..."

We're interrupted by the waitress bringing over our food that Sam had already ordered. I start eating but stop when I notice that he hesitates, his hand now tightly wrapped around the packet of sugar he was just fiddling with as his eyes dart quickly around the table as if he were thinking too hard. I place my hand on his own to try to calm his mind.

"Sam? Are you alright?"

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My heart beats quickly as I'm drawn into the dream once more. The only lighting coming from the moonlight shining dimly through the window of my bedroom. I see myself in the mirror before me, staring into the eyes of the clone that stares back, watching as its face shifts into one that no longer mimics my own. His toothy smile creeping slowly up his face, and he reaches behind himself to pull out a kitchen knife that seems to have dried blood on its tip.

My gaze is locked onto him until he walks out of the mirror, revealing my eyes to something horrific. Two bodies- a mother and her daughter, Michellee and E.B.- whilst a pool of blood spills out from underneath them. I want to turn away, but my head is kept in its place, leaving my eyes on the sight I never wanted to see.

I feel something sharp cutting into my back slowly, followed by a quiet chuckle, "You shouldn't have come between me and Guy, Samuel."

I want to scream, to wake up from this nightmare, but no sound comes out as I fall through the mirror as if it were a window, watching as my clone waves back at me, a devilish smile plastered onto his face. I feel myself drifting from consciousness as I come closer to hitting the bottom of a seemingly bottomless pit.

I snap out of the dream, unable to catch my breath as tears pour out of my eyes. I look up to see Guy no longer sat across from me, and pull my knees to my chest to hide the world from the pain in my heart and head. I'm almost immediately calmed by a warm embrace that surrounds me, followed by a soothing shushing.

"It's alright, Sam. I'm right here, just breathe."

I look up into the eyes of my friend, his face filled with worry and love, as his hand comes up to wipe away some of my tears. A quiet sob escapes through my lips as I press my face into the tuft of fur that wraps around Guy's neck like a scarf. His right hand rests gently on my back while his other holds onto my hat, his chin resting on top of my head. I can hear his heartbeat, as it pounds rhythmically, a calming sound.

I calm down quickly, but I continue clinging onto him for fear of him vanishing.

"What happened?" Guy asks me, pulling away to look at my face.

I shake my head and look back towards the table, not wanting the man I held so close to my heart to see me at my worst, "I... I went back."

He wipes more tears from my cheeks, and I could feel my face begin to heat up from the embrace, "Back where, Sam? To the dream?"

I nod, staring back into his ever-loving eyes. He responds with a sigh, releasing me from the grip that I never wanted to end.

"Do you want to leave? I'll walk you back to your house if you want."

"I don't want to be alone right now. I feel sick... and tired."

He nods his head, pressing the back of his hand against my forehead and neck, "I suppose you can stay the night at my place then, but I planned on going shopping with Michellee later today so you might be home alone for a bit. It'll give you a chance to get some rest."

"Thank you," I whisper, staring back down towards the now-cold plate of green eggs and ham in front of me. "Do you think we can get this to go?"

"Of course, Sam." He says with a kind smile as he stands up, handing me back my hat.

His smile made my heart ache for more, I wanted the best for him in his life, even if that meant seeing him with someone else. I don't think I would ever tell him how I felt, I knew he wouldn't feel the same.