Cloud Association: Pretty Boy Psycho

The Harlington House

Well here's my front door. My fist is poised ready to knock. Coming home is ultra awkward. Knock. Knock. Knock. No answer. Knock. Knock. Knock. "They're out!"

"Al it is like four a.m. They'll be asleep," points out Danny.

"My dad wouldn't be. He's forever busy." I knock extra loudly. "Yeah they're definitely out. You'll have to break down the door." I move aside to let Geordie give the door his shoulder.

"I ain't breaking down your door."

"My dad's an architect; he can replace a door easy."

"Fine." Geordie tries to give the door his shoulder. When that fails he gives it a hefty kick, shortly followed by cursing as his foot goes through wooden panelling.

I help Charlie down from Hotaru. Honey and Chunk left as soon as we landed over Kensington's wall to avoid us standing out. Off Hotaru goes too. Looks like Sunshine is sticking around as usual. He only just manages to squeeze through the dismembered door.

"Welcome to my house. Make yourselves at home."

"Whoa it's huge," exclaims Geordie as he steps round the parlour while I turn on some oil lamps. "This whole pad is for just three people?"

"I wouldn't sit on the floor mate." Danny struggles to hold Charlie up who is trying to slope down a wall. Despite Danny's best efforts he ends up on the floor.

"Hey. How are you feeling?" I sit with Charlie to support him not expecting an answer.

"Hurts bad. Like fire." They're the first coherent words he's managed since the attack.

"Don't worry you're going to be alright because you're staying at my house and I'm going to call round at a doctor's and he'll come here to sort you out, 'kay?"

"What doin'... up hill... by paddock?"

"We came to fetch you. Geordie was all like we can't leave our Charlie behind."

"Came back?"

"Yeah," says Danny. "You should have seen Al. As soon as you got pushed into that skeletal he's going I'll cause a diversion. Was straight in there. Didn't freeze on you. He was epic."

"Sorry you got hurt before we helped." I wind an arm round Charlie's back. "How about you come take a look at my room? You can use my bed, get comfy, while I bother the doctor."

"Sounds like a plan. You got him Al?" says Danny.

"He's wobbly." I move us towards the stairs. "Walk close behind us ready to catch me if he has a funny turn."

"I'll be catching Charlie not you."

"Meanie."

My room is exactly the same as I left it. I put Charlie on the double bed. Let my eyes dart round the huge attic space. Don't like my room any more. Prefer my smaller space at Cloud High. Did some of my best work in that tiny room. My sketches were developing into more mature pieces.

"I won't be gone long. The doctor only lives a few doors down the street."

As I leave I give a last look at Charlie. He struggles to catch his breath. How could someone even think about turning another person into skeletal food? It's cruel.

Downstairs Geordie's stood in the exact same spot where I left him. After an initial wow of my house he's got an awkward look about him. My house is big and expensive meaning he's out of his comfort zone. He latches on behind me as I leave to fetch the doctor.