Chapter Text
Jekyll cautiously made a hole for him to crawl through, dragging his body across the ground just to squeeze through. Dirt and grime clung to his clothes and skin, Jekyll felt so disgusting at this moment. Though, he was quite glad to see the sun again. Its bright beams shining through the trees of the forest, the light slowly creeping upon Jekyll’s body.
The fresh air hit Jekyll like a slap across the face. It didn’t smell of dirt and mud, but of flowers and leaves, with a hint of water and stone. He breathed it in, letting it invade his senses, enjoying it just for the few moments of peace he had.
.
.
.
Right… probably going to have to make a better shelter while there is daylight.
Jekyll surveyed his surroundings.
Once the sun peaked through the sky the monster noises stopped, and then shortly after he could hear screams of bloody murder and a slight smell of burning corpses. Otherwise, everything seemed… fine?
He couldn’t see a monster in sight!
Jekyll’s heart quickened in his chest as he saw movement behind the trees, glowing eyes of a ghostly man stared at him through the shadows.
Well, MOST monsters were gone. Except the monsters his mind made up.
The lack of sleep was really catching up to him.
Jekyll blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes until the ghostly creature was gone from his sight. With a sigh, he got up off the ground and onto his feet. His legs wobbled and his body cried for sleep, but he couldn’t let it. He couldn’t sleep. It just… physically wasn’t possible apparently?
Jekyll would have to ponder upon that later— his shadow was getting inpatient with him.
(“Stop being a slow ass, Jekyll! Kick it into gear! The whole day is ahead of us and we have shit to do that does not include getting all sciencey!” Hyde shouted at him, his figure in the shadows dancing about in the light.)
At least someone’s excited about the day before them…
With a heavy sigh, Jekyll listened to Hyde chatter his ear off, giving tips that Jekyll was… pretty sure wouldn’t work…
He moved through the forest around him, leaves crunching beneath his feet, twigs snapping. His eyes were peeled for any bigger sticks that could possibly be used for upgrading his dirt “house” (he used the word house very loosely).
Hyde was, thankfully, a bit of help. Pointing out fallen branches and small fallen trees that would probably be suitable for what they needed to use them for. It was a relief to not have him trying to antagonize Jekyll at every breathing moment.
Though, unfortunately, trying to carry back the supplies he gathered was rather tedious…
Jekyll could only manage to drag the logs and sticks so far before his hands lost grip, his arms gave out, and he was left trying to pick them back up and drag them a few steps more.
He was exhausted within minutes, and each minute he felt more tension in his jaw. The more his brow furrowed in frustration, and the more his body shook.
All Jekyll could see around him was mind creatures prancing around him, taunting him, sending chills up his spine. They loomed over him, snarling and growling, hissing and spitting. It made his heart beat against his chest, harder and harder until it felt like it might beat out of his chest. The creatures clawed at him and all Jekyll could do was drop to the ground, heaving breaths, and curl in on himself.
He covered his ears, muttering over and over again, “they aren’t real— they aren’t real— they aren’t real—“
They couldn’t hurt him.
They couldn’t.
They—
Jekyll felt himself choke and then gag, spittle dripping from his lips as he coughed. Green dripped from his mouth and his eyes went unfocused.
He could feel a hand grab hold of his mind and yank him back. The pain was breathtaking, body wracking, and sweat worked up upon Jekyll’s brow.
“Nononono—“ Jekyll coughed, more green dripping from his mouth, and it began to run down his nose. The tears in his eyes stung and his vision blurred between black and green, swirling together.
Giiiiivvveee innnnnn, Doccctorrrr. I willlll takkkkeee the paainnnnn awaaayyy frommmm youuuuu…
Jekyll clawed at the ground in an attempt to ground himself, but his bones shifted in his body, making him let out a pained gasp. His jaw unhinged and reshaped itself, his eye sockets drooping on his face before reforming around his eyes. Bones cracked and moved, muscles tightening into their places again.
Jekyll was no more.
Hyde took his place.
Hyde took a deep breath through his nose, letting the fresh air clear his head from the pain he endured. He got off the ground, which had been torn up by the Doctor’s pitiful attempts at holding on.
“Don’t worry, Doctor, why don’t you take a nice ‘sleep’ while I take charge?” Hyde cackled, brushing dirt off his slacks. He listened to the silence for a bit, expecting a response from Jekyll. When he heard nothing, he shrugged.
Guess Jekyll was pretty deep in the mind scape.
Whatever, that was fine! Hyde had work to do anyway!
He looked down at the logs and sticks that had been dropped and grasped them and heaved them up. Though they were heavy, Hyde hardly struggled as much as Jekyll.
With a cheeky grin of triumph, Hyde began to lug the supplies back to where they had originally set up. It was a bit of a walk, but Hyde had a bounce in each stretch. There were no monsters, nothing out to get him, the mind creatures seemed to be gone… he was perfectly fine!
Hyde began to whistle a tune as he went back to their hut, setting the supplies down before making holes for the posts.
Jekyll might have been busy being awake all night and fighting off monsters, but Hyde also had time to think about how to expand and make things better than what the Doctor had done! Because Hyde WAS better. No matter what Jekyll said.
Hyde had a plan for the upgrade of the hut:
First, the posts, for the main layout of where he needed to fill in with logs. Then, he’d start to layer and stack the logs between the posts, making small notches in the posts so the walls wouldn’t collapse— even using dirt to keep it together even more. After that, he’d at least throw some makeshift doors on the shelter so he could get in and out.
Hyde set to work, putting his plan into motion, at least trying to make good progress before night came around again—
and this time, he would be prepared.