On the Side of Insanity (A Sander Sides Fanfiction)

6. Background

Some years earlier

Virgil was curled into a fetal position holding the pale little girl's cold hand. Remus lay on his back next to him, shivering violently. Virgil could feel them both slipping away. The others were already gone. One of the boys had been taken away just yesterday.
He was so far gone they hadn't waited for him to stop breathing.

Virgil was terrified. He couldn't loose Remus or her. They were all he had left.

He sniffed, trying not to cry. A weak green flicker of mist curled around his face and brushed his hair out of his eyes. It was meant to be a comforting "hey, I'm here" gesture but instead Virgil started to cry because Remus wasn't sleeping through his suffering. The mist flickered and then shaped into a hand making a rude gesture. Virgil coughed out a laugh.

The girl stirred. Virgil was distressed that she was waking up. Remus wanted to help and had no respect for personal space so he scrambled over Virgil and in between them, wrapping his arms around them and pulling them both close. The three of them twined their hands together on Remus's stomach.

Eventually Remus and the girl drifted to sleep, even though Remus was still shivering. But Virgil didn't. It didn't make sense but Virgil thought if he didn't fall asleep he could somehow give his rest to the others.

So instead he observed the dimly lit room for the millionth time. The candle set high on the wall and out of their reach cast dancing shadows on the wall. Virgil listened to everything. Rats scurrying through the walls, a far off banging noise, and Remus's breathing. He couldn't hear the girl's.

Virgil reach out with his mind and felt for other people. Someone down the hallway was confused. He could feel a doctor who was bored. That made Virgil angry. He reached out and poured crippling anxiety over the man's head. The man started to have a nervous breakdown and Virgil moved on, feeling around for others.

And then he stopped. Someone was in the room with them. The person felt... agitated.

Virgil slowly raised his head and looked around. No one.

"Hello?" He whispered.

There was no answer but the person's mood shifted to confusion.

"Who are you?"

Still no answer. The person walked closer and stood by Virgil, hovering over him in wonder.

"Are you here to help us?"

The person's emotions shifted a few times as if trying to decide. Then it felt warm and comforting.

Virgil smiled and faded into sleep.

***
Time in story

"Why is Virgil so angry at you?" Patton asked.

Janus sighed and together they walked back into the quiet London street to keep looking.

"The thing is, Doctor Lovegood-"

"Patton."

"The thing is, Patton, I'm not... real?"

"What?"

"You see, I died several centuries ago in the American Salem Witch Trials. I was a burn victim."

Patton walked to the nearest lamp post and slammed his head against it.

"Oh dear." Janus ran over, scared he had actually broken the man.

"I'm okay," Patton rubbed his head. "But if you're a ghost then why can I do this?" Patton booped him on the nose and then grabbed Janus's arm, seeing if he would go through.