Archive of Our Own

They all must have had lives destined for them before this, ones with real mothers and fathers, biological sisters and brothers, a life where they would have been able to go to school, make friends live in the real world but that was never for them. It was never meant to be.

They always used to try and run before but it never worked, they always ended up back in the same place, fluorescent lights, chipping paint, cold tiles and pain. They were always confused by the ones who would never try and run, eyes dull with no hope of leaving but the one ones that confused them the most? Were the ones who wanted to stay.

We’re helping people. They would whisper and yell to each other but never actually specifying.

They never specified who they were helping though and how the endless torture was actually doing anything for them, it was just a soft lie that they told themselves at night so they wouldn’t have to cry themselves to sleep in hope for a better life, a better life they wouldn’t even know how to live with how sheltered they’d grown up.

The lights of the rainbow room shine down onto 004 back as he feels his face he watches with the others as Reginald comes into the room, suddenly everyone’s on their feet running into a line, all forty three of them neatly filed by programs, 

They’re divided into six separate programs 001-007 belong to the umbrella program but there’s also the sparrows,  ect. They all lined up behind each other in number order

The ground is cold, but spotless. Just as it always is, there are no imperfections in the entire building, it’s made to be designed flawlessly. 

Slowly Reginald makes his way down the lines looking at the other programs he walked up to the umbrella looking at 001 and lifting his head up slightly from where he was looking into the 8-ball shaking it every few seconds 

“That’s your favourite isn’t it?” He questioned as the other children's eyes locked onto the group, the group who had made a name for themselves here both good and bad, they were troublemakers which was easy to see by their lack of 005, the newly replaced 006 and also the currently missing 007.

“How are you feeling today?” He said gripping onto 001's face, he was the oldest of the group. Each group had three eleven year olds, three ten year olds and a nine year old by design. 

“Okay” 001 said uncomfortable trying to pull his face back slightly which the monocled man let happen straightening his back and putting on a fake smile that they shouldn’t have been able to see through, but they did now

“Are you up for some more lessons” he said carefully, they knew he didn’t care about the answer and that they were happening anyway but he still liked to ask and give them a sense of freedom.

But he also gave them the knowledge that he could rip it away at any given moment 

“Not today..” 001 Said turning his head back to look at the others who were staring anxiously ahead, the soft dull buzzing lights up ahead casting down onto their faces lighting up every bit of doubt and fear.

“Are you sure” Reginald held an eyebrow up looking at him before taking 001’s hand and making him shake the ball in his hand, slowly the blue dice inside floated to the top displaying a message 

‘Signs point to yes’ 

Reginald smiled before stepping back two steps and looking over to the door where one of the kids, 032, opened it with a scowl clearly upset she wasn’t getting to go.

Reginald took 001 hand and started to walk out the door, the rest of the umbrella program following quickly behind as they were taught, they couldn’t do anything else no one else escaped from the lab other than 008 and their originals 006.

Sometimes they wondered what happened to him, if he got out, if he was living his life happily now but the lingering thought that they just killed him was always present. The new 006 was different, More standoffish and way more loyal to Reginald, sometimes they wish they could call him that to his face instead if “papa” but they couldn’t that’s all they had known

The five walked down the halway 001 still holding his hand, eventually they passed 009 the leader of the sparrow program, they never got along together, the sparrows always thought they were superior. However they tried not to think about it as they walked into the small white room for training, ignoring the door opposite with the sign clearly showing three small numbers 

|| 007 ||

The Electrodes stuck to 001’s head as the others sat in the seats across the room staring at him, trying their best to ignore the two empty chairs left.

Reginald cleared his throat before picking up a yellow crayon and drawing on the page, the children lent forward to try to get a good look at what he was writing but no matter how hard they tried to look at it  they couldn’t make it out 

001 eyes were still closed when Reginald spoke for the first time in the new room

“Okay.. what do you see?” The buzzing of the room seemed to intensify as 001 started to look around through his closed eyes, his bright blue eyes slightly visible darting back and forth under his eyelids  

001 almost jumped when the flash of a clipboard came through the darkness showing the small image in his head

“Don’t force it.” Reginald said carefully leaning forward examining 001 more  closely 

“Let it come to you, just like we practiced” he said, his voice falling into a calmness that he barely used and only when he knew something was working, it was the small things like that they had started to notice as time went on.

“It’s a..” 001 stammered picking at the moon shaped, birthmark on his arm as he looked for something in the darkness,

Then another flash of light came and realisation spread across his face coming with it a small smile

“Yellow circle?” He said nervously not wanting to get it wrong and after another flash noticing the lines he let out his final answer 

“The sun!” 001 had never been good with these types of tests; the experiments had given him super strength but his brain seemed to have not been affected in the slightest.

“Good. very good” Reginald said softly, looking down at his clipboard again and drawing something else down on the paper under the sun.

“Ok what is it now?” 001 kept his eyes relaxed continuing to dart where he was looking in his closed eyelids till he saw another flash of colour in the darkness  

“I..” he murmured trying to describe what the hell he was seeing still picking at the moon birthmark as he tilted his head ever so slightly 

“A cow?” He eventually got out making a guess at what the fuck the thing was meant to be, he knew Reginald wasn’t a good artist but that must have been a low for human kind

“It’s supposed to be a dog.” He sighed looking down at his drawing and up at 001 again. He was still ignoring the other kids in the room. As it wasn’t there turn yet 

“It looks like a cow” 001 said matter of factly making sure that no one could answer with him on the statement which they probably wouldn’t as it looked nothing like a dog

“I suppose it does doesn't it” Reginald sighed taking defeats putting his clipboard down and picking up another bit of paper reading to more onto part two of 001 daily training  

“Now we’re going to go advanced. Can you do that?” Reginald asked again still not phrasing it as a question but a fact of what was going to happen but at this point 001 wasn’t going to argue with him

“I want you to find 009 can you do that?” Reginald said thinking of the first child that came to mind, plus it would be easier since it was a recent face in 001 mind, the younger sighed before nodding his head

“Yes..” he said dully looking around slightly shaking his head as he looked but Reginald paid it no mind eventually he locked onto something and his face relaxed from the tense it had been before 

“He’s doing lessons with Mrs Ellis in his room” 001 looked at the two through his mind as he watched the leader of the sparrow program stare down a red block his nose slightly bloody

“What’s he doing” Reginald asked 

“Trying to move a block, a red block” 001 replied as he looked closer, he eventually got bad at the blocks knocking them over before Mrs Ellis built them back up encouraging him to continue  

“Can you hear what they’re saying?” The older asked trying to get as much information out of him

Suddenly 001  started to panic his breaths becoming faster and his shoulders going tense

“Somethings wrong” he mumbled his eye movements darting faster and his heart rate started to go up making the machine beep like crazy

“If you’ve lost the visual just let it go” Reginald said trying to calm him down so that he could start again, 004 and 003 locked hands and leaned on each other as they watched the scene go down “Try to reorient”

“They’re screaming” 001 said panicked as images started to flash across his mind blood so much fucking blood was everywhere 

“Why are they screaming” Reginald said trying to get his attention, he let out an angered 

“One?” Before getting up just as the sirens started to go off walking over to the phone on the wall the kids in the chair were huddled together except for 006,

006 and their originals 006 were twins but when their original went missing he had to replace him meaning leaving all of his old program behind for people who didn’t want a replacement.

So when there’s something wrong with his original and only  leader and older brother he stood up slightly ignoring the rule of seating at all times.

“Peter, Alec, what’s going on out there” Reginald said into the phone as 006 stood in the middle of the room starting alarms still blaring in the background 

“Sir we’ve got a situation-“ Peter tried to say through the phone before being cut out my screaming he looked around and made eye contact with 001 who had now taken off his electroids 

“ Nine and dr Ellis are dead ” 

“What do you mean dead 001” Six said standing in the middle of the room staring at him wide eyes tears starting to br in his eyes at the thought 

“I just- they were” 001 said trying to say what he had scene but no words eyes coming out 

Reginald slowly started to make his way forward not caring about the screaming kids he could hear the screaming coming from behind 

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN” six screamed tears starting at to drip from his face 

“I just-“ 001 went to reason as the door went flying off its hinges hitting reginald and a crying 006

-•-

When Reginald came too he was on the ground the door still slightly on top of him, no one else was in the room anymore, he went up to feel his head wincing in pain:

When he took his hand off of it it was covered in red, he looked around at the broken tiles when he saw something out of place in the wreckage, a body 

Reginald quickly leaned over towards the body recognising it instantly 006, he picked up the boy slightly feeling for any sign of life but finding none, the boy was gone. 

Reginald only noticed the sudden quiet compared to earlier when it was broken by the return of screaming, 

Quickly Reginald stood up abandoning the body and stumbling out the room stopping when seeing the amount of bodies littered across the floor, none of the children but still quite a sight.

He stumbled along the hallway his clearly broken leg holding him back, the place was littered with bodies but the kids room still seemed to be locked up tight all except the sparrow programs doors.

All the kids are sent back to their rooms at different times, usually the sparrows leaving before the umbrellas, all the other kids seemed to have been loaded back to bed. All except the six.

Reginald stumbled into the room and almost threw up, the sparrows bodies were thrown up against the wall, littered across the floor everywhere. Leaving 007 standing in front of a broken mirror and the other four standing behind him sitting on the floors scared and shaking. 

“What have you done?” He said causing the umbrellas eyes to snap onto him, blood streaming from their noses slowly 007 turned around to look at Reginald, he tilted his head at the older man still breathing heavily 

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE” he screamed causing 007 to flinch before moving into a more protective stance, he let his heavy breathing worsen as the veins in his eyes as popped,

He lifted a hand and Reginald’s work went black the last thing he heard being a sickening 

Crrak

-•-

There’s a quietness as the fourteen year old sat on the wooden swing, the tree above it had been there as long as they had been taken in by their mum after she found them in the woods. 

Viktor still remembers the smell of the flowers surrounding them, the feeling of grass on his feet for the first time in his life, the hot sun beaming on his skin almost blinding him. It was completely different to the controlled heat and fluorescent lights from the lab that he had been so used to

Grace had found them, greeting the five children with a warm smile and a promise to help them, she swore that she’d give them a home even if they decided it wasn’t permanent. It was only meant to last a few weeks, they were closing up on six years now 

They told her that they didn’t have any memories.

She believed their lie, they could still remember everything, mostly everything. The memories had slowly slipped from their head as instead of relentless training and numbing boardness they could have lives,

Sometimes when he wakes up in the morning he expects to find himself in that dark room only to be pulled to do the next experiment, but then he feels the soft blankets and hears the soft snoring of Klaus who he shared a room with. 

Everything was different in the best way possible, they were themselves without being confined to numbers and a max of four rooms.

Luther was captain of the school basketball team, he’s not surprisingly the nicest of all of them but then again that could just be because he’s his older brother.

Diego was taking his freedom too, in very much Diego fashion, doing whatever the hell he wanted. Sometimes Viktor thinks he’s starting to get grey hairs with how many times he’s worried over Diego’s cuts and bruises from the latest fight.

Allison was the head of the yearbook committee and ran the school newspaper, which was an upside because it meant they didn’t have to pay for the ridiculously overpriced school items, she also has gotten herself a boyfriend called Raymond who they’re banned from talking to  and has ‘adopted’ a first year called Claire.

Klaus is enjoying life in a very Klaus way, he used to do every drug he could get his hands on just to feel as happy as he could now that he didn’t have to feel numb. Klaus also has a boyfriend Dave who came round almost everyday, he was nice enough and put up with Klaus’ whole “I see dead people” thing which Viktor appreciated. Not many people tended to look past those things.

And Viktor is in band, not a big part but not replaceable either, he may not be able to meet many people but he only really needs Sissy. Sure it hurt when she pretended not to know he existed in front of her boyfriend but Viktor loved her so he let it pass.

His favourite thing to do is feel the slow swaying of the swing, it was the end of summer but the heat still stayed, a warm glow on the back of his neck. He can feel the grass pressing against his feet every time he swings over the stands. Everytime he thinks he’s there it grounds him.

Everything was different and he couldn’t be happier, but staring at the book in his hand still not turning the first pace after half an hour he feels something is missing. Something that used to be there and was now gone. 

It was almost unbearable but somehow he was putting up with it.

He decided to ignore all the stuff that happened their first year out of the lab, it’s not exactly fond memories for what should have been the happiest time in their lives, it was a mixture of being homeless and dealing with the shit that escaped from the lab with them.

Sometimes he could still hear rumbling outside of his and Klaus window or the flickering of Christmas lights just behind a corner, it never leaves him. He can feel something watching him at all times it never goes away

Viktor still remembers the weeks, months we was forced to stay inside incase they were found by the lab, the endless days kept in the god damn basement, sure grace was lovely and make it as comfortable as possible but it was suffocating resting his head on the walls eyes screws shut hoping to be let up.

Sitting on the swing still felt like a luxury after the few years they’ve been there, even after grace apologised for keeping them down there he can still feel the dust in his lungs and that stupid old mattress.

Viktor was ripped out of his thoughts when Klaus started walking up to him, curly hair and shitty tattoos that he did at night in his bed, his smile was wide as he lifted up his hand that had ‘Hello’ across it

“Thought I’d find you here, what are you’re doing?” He said sitting on the second his hair covering his face, Viktor probably would have to untangle it soon as Klaus refused to brush his hair for some reason. 

“Just reading.. been a long time since you did that though” Viktor mumbled looking at the book in his lap swaying on the swing as Klaus violently started to swing back and forth kicking the ground under him.

“OI! I read plenty” Klaus said laughing as he kicked a branch on the way up, causing Viktor to raise an eyebrow at him, closing the book after making absolutely no progress on reading it.

“No you dont.” He said simply, he’s shared a room with Klaus the entire time they’ve been here and never once has he picked up a book and actually read it , Klaus didn’t do books unless it had something to do with dnd.

“I don’t,, but I know you don’t take half an hour and not finish a page, what’s up?” Klaus Said slamming his feet on the ground making him come to a harsh stop that looked like it gave him some form of whiplash.

“Nothing I’m fine” Viktor said, sighing still swaying a bit, it felt like dust was filling his lungs, nothing was fine. Klaus threw himself off the swing into the grass below him and roughly stood up.

“Uh huh, you're fine” he said, coming up to Viktor hands on his hips with a goofy smile, he grabbed the ropes above Viktor making his come to a stop.

“Yeah why wouldn’t  I be” the younger said sadly looking up at Klaus who appeared completely unconvinced. Viktor was always a horrible liar  

“First day back all that stuff, you know if something wrong you can talk to me, us?” Klaus Said flailing his hands around doing a little spin before bending down to look Viktor in the eyes, smile lightly faltered but still there,

“Yeah I know I can” Viktor said matter of factly it was a simple fact but he’d never take them up on it he would feel too bad to do that. They finally got a life and Viktor wouldn’t  take that away from them, they’re done with that supernatural shit. But this wasn’t anything supernatural Viktor was going insane

As he watches Klaus walk away he turns to look behind him. As clock chimes wring out 

His siblings are done with that supernatural shit but this wasn’t anything supernatural Viktor was going insane

Slowly Viktor pushed himself off the swing choosing the ignore the four chimes that wrung out behind him instead slowly walking inside and grabbing his jacket, he had band today to he was in the stupid ass uniform,

He looked over to the kitchen counter grabbing his little music device and taking out the only song he used now a-days, sure his siblings think it’s dumb but it’s comforting, the song means a lot to him, 

Carefully he flips the container over and pops it in. With a smile he walked out of the kitchen as “alone again(naturally)” filled his ears, he smiled as Gilbert O’Sullivan filled his ears.

He looked down and tied his shoes not knowing how slow he was until his headphones were ripped off his head and he looked up to see Allison standing there with a soft smile that was always etched into her face.

“You almost done Vik?” Allison lent against the wall looking down at Viktor who was finishing getting his trainers on, he knew the others were probably waiting for him, they always walked to the bus together. Even if after school they all head their own ways with different friends and after school clubs and shit.

“Yeah sorry I just had to do something sorry”  Viktor said nervously as Allison put her hand out and pulled him up gently as they started to walk to the door she grabbed a small cardigan off the wall putting it on as they walked 

“Don’t apologise we’re not gonna stab you, we’ll maybe diego but at least that won’t be personal” the older said with a smile, her curly hair was down today which was a change, she did say she would wear it down more but she had said that every year, no one actually expected her to actually go through with it 

“Gilbert O’Sullivan again? Didn’t this come out in the 50s?” Allison said pulling Viktors headphones up to her ear before throwing them back into the youngers arm with a smile and a laugh. Viktor just rolled his eyes at her

“It’s a good song also it was only 1972 so be quiet”carefully Viktor put the headphones around his neck the song still playing faintly from them as they walked to the door, the others were a bit up the street, Luther was trying to stop Diego and Klaus from play fighting but eventually just getting into the fight himself 

“Hmm don’t think I will have to prepare for the newspaper after all!” She laughed doing a little spin as they walked, her skirt flowing in a circle before wrapping gently around her knees, Viktor clasped the top bit of his jacket together so that he wouldn’t get in trouble  by his band teacher who was a major ass but he needed it so he couldn’t leave.

“Oh god you better mention us again” Viktor groaned throwing his head back as Allison almost doubled over in laughter for some reason she thought that it was the funniest thing that they hated being mentioned. It was never nasty stuff she said though always praising them slightly more than other people in the articles. 

“I won’t!” She said putting her hands up in surrender as they finnally reached the bus stop where Diego , Klaus and Luther were still going at it with each other. Only stopping when Allison promised to take embarrassing photos of them and put them in the paper  which caused Viktor to raise an eyebrow smirking

“Not going to put us in the paper huh?” Viktor laughed sitting back on the seat at the bus stop, they were the only People that got on this one everyone else either moved or graduated so that meant they could be as loud as possible there

“Don’t listen to her, she's a lying bitch!” Diego yelled as he eventually leant against the pole of the bus station, Klaus was lying on the floor with his hair in his mouth and Luther was bouncing a basketball off the ground right next to Klaus' head who was hissing at him.

“Oh shut up diego!” Allison yelled throwing a small pebble hitting the back of his head which caused his to turn around and throw a slightly bigger rock back at her with a smile before Viktor yelled at him 

“Yeah shut up diego” he said in a sing song voice avoiding a very big rock that Diego had chucked at his head,  usually people can’t avoid Diego’s throws bur they were too fucking used to getting stuff thrown at them to the point they didn’t care anymore.  

“Vik i will absolutely throw you in front of the bus I swear to god” Diego said standing in front of him looking slightly pissed off as Viktor just grinned at him, the sound of the bus coming down the street not distracting him in the slightest.

“You should learn to have some manners diego.” Viktor said nodding his head slightly as Diego hit him over the head before grabbing Viktor around the middle picking him up as he screamed 

“You should learn to not be suck a dick! Come here” Diego yelled as he held Viktor in a bridal hold spinning him in a circle before the bus pulled up, eventually diego threw Viktor on his feet next to a Klaus who was pulling himself off the ground

Luther and Allison got on the bus sitting next to each other as Klaus and Viktor sat behind them, Diego had fucked off to the back of the bus to hang out with some girl that he had been talking to name Eudora.

“You sure you're ok Vik? Cause if somethings wrong or if someone messes with you we can-“ Klaus said looking at Viktor who’s head is against the window, Viktor always looked sad, he always looked on the verge of breaking and it honestly hurt to watch him. He was their little brother they always felt a need to help him, 

“I’m fine. I swear I would tell you “ Viktor said looking over at Klaus with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Klaus looked at him for a few seconds before speaking again trying to get Viktor to just tell him what was wrong before he realised a possibility. His hand clenching at the thought 

“Look if he’s is bothering you I swear to god I’ll kick his ass” there was only one he, Leonard he was a dickhead that Viktor used to date last year, he was manipulative and tried to get Viktor to run away with him, the siblings had noticed how much he had changed but only stepped in when he came home with a hand mark across his face that could only have come from one person. 

They had immediately went over to his house and kicked the shit out of him, they made sure that Leonard couldn’t come within 100 ft of him without an ass kicking, but it was Leonard he had learnt his lesson 

“It’s fine I’m fine I promise” Viktor said quickly and very not convincing, his nervousness seemed to confirm the fact that Leonard had messed with him in his head, Viktor could practically see the revenge plot in Klaus eyes 

“Ok just please Vik for the love of god don’t let him mess with you he’s a manipulative asshole, if he’s dragging you into his shit again don’t let him” Klaus said softly looking down at Viktor worriedly, he couldn’t exactly beat the shit out of Leonard for no reason even if he wanted too. Viktor would never forgive him.

“I won’t.” Viktor promised resting his head on Klaus' shoulder. He had woken up too early this morning, all he wanted to do was sleep.

“Good I’m glad” Klaus responded and Viktor could feel him setting his head on top of his own head , and for the second time today he heard the clock chime out

-•-

Viktor had been having quite a good day, for the first two periods had gone well! He had an assembly first thing and then he had gotten pulled into the councillors for second so he basically got to do nothing the entire time which was decedent, his councilor was kind of an asshole but he was fine with it. Then he had art and music for third and fourth which were some of his favourite classes but then his stomach clenched up and he knew what was happening 

Viktor sat with his head in the toilet in the boys' bathroom, something that had seemed to become a recurring thing in the past few weeks, not that anyone would have noticed.

Sure! He and his siblings were close! Extremely close but he didn’t want to tell them everything, he didn’t want to tell them about his first seat viewing the massacre at the lap one that killed eight through seventeen. He didn’t tell them how he saw six the day before his test went wrong, he didn’t tell them about all the harassment he got.

It seemed he told them everything except for the things that he should. Which is why he never told them about his newest thing. He couldn’t eat anymore he knew it was a problem and that if he continued he could die but he was making so much progress.

He couldn’t just stop when he was finally where he wanted to be,

So he stayed like that on his knees in that disgusting school bathroom that had probably not been cleaned in a good few years. He couldn’t blame the janitors he wouldn’t either. 

He was in such a trance puking in the toilet that he didn’t notice the person that walked into the toilet,

“Hey, are you alright?”

“Yeah— yes, I’m” he wiped a bit of puke from his mouth. “I’m fine.” 

He could hear the person walk closer to the bathroom door saying “okay, um you sure?”

Viktor had to push back the whimper clenching right onto the toilet bowl feeling like the world was spinning, his head hurt so much 

“Please just- just go away?” He could distantly hear footsteps walk away and the sound of the door opening and closing and once again he was left alone. 

Slowly he flushed the toilet sitting in blissful quietness for a few more seconds before there was a knock at the door, slightly startling him.

“Are you deaf? I said go away.” When suddenly his voice echoed out 

“Number Seven?” His head snapped around to look at the door, slightly shaking at the thought that it wasn’t his imagination “Seven.”

“Papa..?” He said shakily 

“Are you ready for today's test? I won’t make it as hard this time ” The voice continued, still as cold and manipulative as ever. 

Viktor's Head Shot up when the lights started to flicker something that he wasn’t doing at least to his knowledge, it made his throat swell up a bit hoping to god this was just some weird hallucination. He jumped a bit when there was a wet squelching noise coming from behind the door. He looked under the door to see feet decaying and covered in roots.

What the fuck.

Quickly Viktor pushed himself into the corner of the stall as if trying to hide behind the toilet as the voice got louder and angrier.

“SEVEN, DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME.” It started to slam on the door as if trying to break the whole thing down, Viktor slammed his hands onto his ears in a panic.

“OPEN THE GODDAMN DOOR SEVEN.” His dad was going to come in, he was going to die in this fucking bathroom stall by himself.

As it continued to try and break the door down he let out an ear-piercing scream hoping that someone, anyone! Would come and help him, it was a childish thing to do a fourteen screaming for help in hopes that his older siblings would hear him even though deep down he knew he was on his own.

“OPEN THE DOOR SEVEN OR I'M GONNA GUT YOU LIKE THE FAT PIG YOU ARE.” Viktor sobbed as he pressed his face against the stall wall hoping to god it was just a nightmare.

Just a really bad fucking nightmare.

“GO AWAY, GO AWAY, GO AWAY.” He screamed hoping the banging would stop and the voice would stop. He needed it to be over, he couldn't bear it, he couldn't live like how he used to be trapped in a lab.

“DID YOU HEAR ME?” It screamed at him the sheer noise of it made Viktor think his eardrums were gonna burst

“GO AWAY, GO AWAY, GO AWAY.” He said a final time and for some reason it did. It all stopped, he sat shaking in the bathroom stall for a few seconds looking under the door and 

Nothing,

It was gone

Slowly he stood up grabbing his school bag and unlocked the door, slowly walking out and looking around the bathroom, there was nothing there.

The bell rang out to say class had started, causing him to jump and stumble back a bit,

Viktor didn’t end up going to class. Instead, he stayed in that bathroom stall for hours, well what felt like hours, he stayed there from second period to lunch. He went back into the bathroom stall and curled into a ball for hours. Until Diego came in just before lunch.

Viktor carefully walked out of the bathroom looking around a bit before making eye contact with his older brother.

“You ok Vik? Look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Diego looked at him concerned taking in his little brother's shaking figure, his eyes being puffy and read and the very obvious tear stains 

“Feels like it” his voice was almost gone from the crying and it seems to piss Diego off a bit but not directed to Viktor.

“Someone been bothering you or something? Cause you know I’ll kick their ass if they have.” He grabbed onto Viktor's shoulders to make him look him in the eyes. Diego wasn’t a big fan of people fucking with his siblings in the slightest. 

“Diego. I’m fine really!“ he tried to reassure the older in hopes that he’ll just give up and go to lunch without him. Viktor just wanted to crawl back into his hiding spot behind the toilet.

“You sure?” He said in a low voice still looking the younger in the eye with a worried look. 

“Yeah. Don't worry about me” His voice was shaky almost as shaky as the rest of him and clearly, his reassurances weren’t helping change Diego’s mind

“I’m not I’m just” He stopped himself and dragged a hand down his face letting out a low grumble before saying “you're sitting with me at lunch by the way.” As he grabbed Viktor's hand leading him out of the bathroom while taking his bag.

“What.”

~•~

Diego and Viktor walked into the hall to see a familiar sight, Klaus was standing on the table for the Hellfire club, something that he founded, he usually did some big speech about how all the other clubs were shit compared to his. 

Which he couldn’t really argue with, even though Luther was in it and he was proud of him! He couldn’t care less about basketball. It’s not like it’s a bad sport, it just wasn’t really his thing.

Viktor followed Diego who was still holding his bag groaning, throwing it onto the empty lunch table, Viktor went and sat in front of Diego who was bringing out his knives and carving whatever new art he was working on into the table.

Diego surprisingly loved art, no matter how much he said that art looked ugly and he hated the subject didn’t mean he didn’t like doing it he was just very opinionated about the subject, it was fun to point out as it usually got them a knife thrown at their face in return. 

Diego’s table was not so surprisingly empty, Eudora was basically his only friend, which Viktor only partly understood, sure Diego could be mean and rude at point but he was also one of the most caring people ever.

He still remembers how Diego carefully sat behind Viktor on his bed cutting his hair short the night he came out to him. He also remembers how Diego was instantly accepting giving him a hug as he cried. He honestly expected diego to be mad at him to it was nice

Carefully he brought out the small lunch container, they all basically got the same thing, small sandwich, packet of crisps and some treat that they liked, Viktor always had chocolate which Diego continued to remind him was in healthy  

They sat in comfortable  quietness for a few minutes they were always the most quiet of the five Allison could talk about anything and everything for as long as she wanted, Luther was just loud, and klaus was well, he was was klaus    

“So what’s wrong?” He said bluntly, looking at Viktor as if trying to read what was up with him from his face, scowling when he couldn’t figure out what it was. Diego was just like that he needed to know what was wrong with you before you said it. Something about wanting to be a cop one day 

“What do you mean, nothings wrong, why would anything be wrong?” Viktor said nervously, putting his hand on the back of his neck, something that was always a clear sign that something was bothering him.

Diego raised an eyebrow and looked at him unconvinced 

“Viktor you were sitting presumably throwing up in the bathroom, look I don’t care I can take you home or something.” Diego offered, which caused Viktor to stare at him because Diego doesn’t have a car so either he was going to walk the rest of the way with Viktor or he was going to steal a car, both as likely as each other.

Diego didn’t care he was planning on returning it anyway, so technically it wasn’t stealing plus he’d probably be back before anyone noticed anyway so it’s not like it mattered in the slightest.

“I’ll be fine it’s only two more classes I’ll be ok” Viktor said, looking down at his lunch not picking anything up to eat, he really didn’t feel like eating right now the idea make him feel sick to his stomach

“Look Viktor, I know I’m not great with emotions but like, I can tell somethings bothering you. You can tell me anything you know. I won't judge you for it.” Diego said softly, something that he would never cause dead  using for anyone but his siblings, it would “ruin his reputation” not that his scarred brother had any, covered in blood and bruises for fights he’d started.

“I’m fine. I swear there’s nothing wrong with me so you can just drop it.” Viktor assured him, smiling, hoping that he’d understand and maybe just drop it, but it was Diego he  didn’t do “dropping it” so it was his surprise when he sighed and looked down.

“Say if anything did happen you’d tell me.. right?” Diego said worriedly, it made Viktor even more guilty about worrying them, they already have so much shit going on they didn’t need Viktor going insane added onto it.

“Of course I would diego..” Viktor said softly looking at his older brother who just stared unconvinced, but he nodded his head quickly looking down at his own food taking a harsh bite out of it, clearly annoyed at getting no answers.

Viktor wishes he could tell them but he just couldn’t, he couldn’t put any more of his problems on them.

“You know I would..” Viktor says sadly he really does hope diego knows he would tell him if he could but he just can’t! It’s not even that he doesn’t want to, it just wouldn’t be fair for more weight to be put on them to take care of him.

They already helped him with the lab stuff, his claustrophobia, bullying, all the fucking transphobia, Leonard, everything. He owed it to the, for him to solve his own problems he was fucking 14 he could do this 

“Ok.” Diego said, it was simple and to Viktors dismay, unbelieving. Diego was always sure that they’d come to him with stuff, he always did his best to help them no matter what. He was the second oldest so they all called him a babysitter and he took the nickname with pride.

It got to the point where Diego had a babysitting job for a while, mainly for some kid named stanley. He was sweet still came over to the house sometimes, he was like an honorary sibling at this point but he was more like Diego’s kid if they were being honest 

Viktor looked down at his food, his sandwich only had a bite taken out of it, and the other stuff was left untouched, he didn’t feel like eating right now, the thought made him feel sick 

It wasn’t that he didn’t want it, Viktor was hungry as fuck, he felt tired but he couldn’t do anything about it . He just didn’t feel like eating but he was going to force himself just for lunch just for now. But when he lifted the sandwich up slightly that’s when he heard it. 

The clock chimed causing Viktor to Look around, Diego looked up from his meal confused. Them Viktor looked down at his food 

Spiders were crawling out his sandwich hundreds of them, they were crawling onto his hands out the wrapper of his chocolate and his crisps, they crawled out his lunch and onto his jacket.

Viktors eyes widened he felt like he was going to throw up, in the background he could hear the clock chiming it’s usual four times, when it hit its last time Viktor scrunched his eyes shut hoping it went away.

Then something touched his hand. 

Out of instinct Viktors eyes shot open and he threw the sandwich in the box harshly causing  it to slide across the table bashing against Diego’s lunch, Diego who was now in the feet hand on his arm looking at him worriedly.

Viktor looked down at his hands and his lunch to see nothing, no spiders. Confirming to himself the fear that he was going crazy, because normal people didn’t see spiders crawling out there food when there’s no spiders 

“Vikky..?” Diego said carefully as Viktor sprang up out his seat, Diego was still holding Viktors arm, his eyes soft and caring. Worry flushing them, he looked so worried he was on the verge of tears which made the guilt In Viktor a thousand times worse

“I’m sorry. Jesus I’m sorry” he begged ripping his hands our if Diego’s hold stumbling back, he could tell that the others were looking at him, he could always tell them they were looking at him, Viktor screwed his eyes together

Quickly Viktor took off out of the lunch hall, he could hear the sound of Diego telling them that he’ll handle it, but Viktor didn’t want him to handle it, he didn’t want anyone to handle it but himself, it was his shit to heal with so he needed to deal with it 

When he stopped in the hall to take a breath pushing himself against a locker with tears in his eyes he heard Diego run up to him grabbing onto his arm. When Viktor looked him in the eyes again he looked distraught, and Viktor couldn’t do anything. He couldn’t tell him.  

“JESUS PLEASE VIK WHATS WRONG!“ he begged, wiping a tear from his eye as he demanded, Viktor quickly tried to think of an excuse, but none of the, seemed to explain what had happen so he just ducked his head down nervously

“Please diego it's nothing just let it go I’m begging you I’m just tired” he hoped that Diego would just drop it again, he had gotten his older brother to drop it one time! So maybe he could do it again.

It was very fucking unlikely that he would but maybe, just maybe he could. He couldn't, Diego just pulled him into a tight hug , sitting his head on top of Viktors, he would probably tell people it was to calm Viktors down but he knows that’s not the case.

“Vik I know tired that isn’t tired what the hell is going on I’ll help you, you know I’ll help you so please” he begged hoping to get it across that he’d do anything, to help Viktor, but he just couldn’t accept his help this time

It was for Diego’s own good, he reasoned with himself. 

“I’m sorry I just can’t” Viktor said sadly holding tears in, determined he wasn’t about to cry in the hallway while trying to convince his older brother he’s ok. It would be pretty counter productive even if he was already extremely failing at convincing him

Then he’s saved by the bell, students start filling out the lunchroom and back in from outside so Viktor pushes Diego away ignoring the olders pained look as he tried to get Viktor to reach out to him.

“Diego I’m really sorry genuinely”

“Vikky please”

He whispers a final apology, stepping back as Diego tries to take his hand and failing, Viktor walks away with the crowd to his next class, leaving an extremely worried Diego behind him. He had never cried at school and Viktor just broke that record for him

~•~

Viktor sat in his last class of the day, he just wanted today to be over, he had to get the thing after school over with, he didn’t want to buy that shit especially from him but still be needed it. He was tired, and he refused to go more insane than he probably was

Viktor looked down at his jotter trying to make out a single sum on the paper but nothing was making sense to him, he just wanted curl up and die. His foot swayed against the ground, the teacher was saying something, anything at this point everything felt like static

Then something suck to the back of his head and he heard slight giggling coming from behind him, he frowned putting his hand up the the back of his head to feel the little ball of paper covered in spit. The feeling of him almost made him gag

He pulled the ball of throwing in on the ground only for another to stick to the back of his jacket, he felt like everything was too loud, everything he  touched felt like knives, and it was way too bright. Viktor just decided to sit his head on the desk.

Then it rung again, each chime driving into his head, the first one felt like agony and every one after that got worse and worse. He scrunched his eyes  he wanted this to end already he was tired and just wanted to go home and lie in his bed. He could faintly feel the covers on the tips of his fingers,

Softness against the hard splintering desk 

Then another spit ball landed on the back of his neck, he felt sick the spit covered ball made him feel like he was going to die. He wanted to throw up at the feeling of it, he dug his fingers into his skin. Then another hit his neck and he sat up and turned around 

Like he thought Carl Hooper was sitting behind him, the guy never left him alone. Ever since he found out he was Russian he’s not stopped harassing him about being a spy

“CAN YOU LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE” Viktor snapped standing up and slamming his hands onto Carls desk in anger. He felt like his entire body was on fire as Carl just smiled up at him before looking behind him. 

“Hargreaves. Wait outside. I’ll talk to you about this.” The teacher yelled pointing at the door, everything was too loud, too bright, he could hear every snicker and every single snide comment. He could barely see the lights were shining too bright the ground under him felt like he was stepping on nails.

In a dramatic groan he roughly grabbed his bag knowing that if he left it then he knew someone would put something on his bag, they had done it before multiple times, sometimes it was some old rotten food, or the rest of someone’s drink. One time someone had set rocks into his bag which they found hilarious  

“Jesus fuck. Ok.” He yelled annoyed as he slammed his hands on Carl's desk again wishing to take out the knife that Diego got him out of his bag and stab him in the neck but he couldn’t. He screwed his eyes shut before wrapping his arm around his shoulder

As he started to walk out the class he could feel someone put their leg out and trip him, he stumbled slightly which causes the room to erupt into laughter, everything was hurting

Viktor practically ran out the class trying to ignore all the comments he was getting as he left, he slammed the door on the way behind him hearing the teacher yell at him again for making a “ruckus”

Viktor couldn’t do this, he couldn’t fucking do this  right now, not with all this shit going on. After all the shit started to happen the Russian, trans comments didn’t stop coming he scrunched his eyes hitting his hands slightly off of his eyes hoping for everything to stop   

 He let out a little scream as he bit into his hand and kicked one of the hallway bins over it didn’t make him feel much better but at least he didn’t bite his hand as much

“So Diego was right then?“ Viktor snapped his head around to see his oldest brother, Luther stood near the door worried, his head was tilted to the side, something he would only do if he knew for a fact that something was wrong and considering viktor of all people was standing outside after being sent out of class, meant that something was horribly wrong

“Jesus Luther you scared the shit out of me” Viktor said, taking a breath looking at him picking the bin back up with his foot, he left the stuff back on the ground, maybe the janitors deserved to work a little hard cleaning up the drink that had spilled on the floor. It was a mean thought but he couldn’t be bothered rn 

“Mhm, cmon what happened you know you can-“ Luther said, repeating the same shit that Diego had said, that Klaus said what everyone tells him and he wishes deeply to take them up on their offer but he just can’t.

“I can talk to you?” Viktor said sarcastically, he didn’t want to but he was just so tired, so fucking tired he wanted it all to be over and it would be he just needed to make it to the end of the day. When he got his shit it would all go away, 

“Yes, you can talk to me, what are you doing out of class?” Luther asked curiously, looking at him tilting his head more, Viktor never got kicked out of class. It wasn't his thing, Viktor loved class, he loved learning and he never got in trouble , it wasn’t his thing.

“Got kicked out its fine though don’t worry about it” Viktor said looking at he the ground not wanting to tell Luther the real reason, it was all his fucking fault that people were worried about him faintly he thought he could still hear the ticking. 

Taunting him for his dive into insanity 

“Why did you get kicked out? I don't think I’ve ever seen you get kicked out of class before, did something happen?” He said worriedly walking closer to him and lifting his head slightly, Luther was always paranoid about them getting hurt, he felt responsible for 005 and the two Ben’s. He’d never believe that it wasn’t his fault

‘He was their leader’

“No.” Viktor Said bluntly hoping to god he’d get the message and get the others to stop bothering him about this, but it would be fine after he gets the stuff it’ll all be over he won’t have to deal with all this shit again. He’d be free and won’t have to worry them.

“Viktor,” Luther Said softly looking down at him Viktor knew that it was worry in his eyes it was only worry for his brother, but something inside whispered to him that it was pity or that he was happy for his misery. 

He tried to ignore it but the voice screamed at him.

“I'M FINE WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK SOMETHINGS WRONG.” Viktor yelled out, everything was too much already why can’t he get a five minutes where the lights didn’t hurt, where his own skin didn’t feel like it was peeling off where he could just sit and listen to his music.

But the thoughts stopped when he saw the sad look on his brothers face

“Look Viktor i just came here to say-“ Luther went to say rubbing the back of his neck when the teacher came through the door shutting it behind her. Looking at the two face contorted in a frown.

“Mr Hargreeves and.. Mr Hargreeves, Look you can't talk to my student when he’s getting sent out of class. now Viktor.” The teacher looked in between the two clearly annoyed at the fact that Luther had come to talk to him while he was meant to be in trouble. Carefully he apologised to her and went to walk away stopping at the teacher turned his back on him too Look Viktor in the eyes

‘Bye.’ Viktor whispered gently as the teacher yelled at him, hoping the god that Luther would see the sorry in his eyes he didn’t mean to be like this, it's just. He had a lot of shit going on and he couldn’t handle them knowing.

‘Bye’ Luther whispered back, worry fuelling him, all he could think of was the pain in his brothers voice and not knowing what was causing it, if it was a person, if it was something or just his mind being an asshole to him 

He walked away promising to himself that he’d apologise the minute he got the chance

He would help his baby brother

~•~

Viktor walked out of the school holding tightly onto the bag strap, he let his feet drag behind him slowly unsure if he was actually going through with this. It would be a very bad idea but still, he needed to do it

Viktor couldn’t just keep losing his mind, his siblings were starting to notice that something was wrong which wasn’t good in the slightest, they all came from the same lab and lived through the same horrors. They got protective which was a good thing! But he didn’t like it.

But as he walked out the school gates and stepped down the ugly stone steps he considered just letting himself descend into madness, it would be a lot cheaper and he wouldn’t have to deal with him.

It was a comforting thought but he couldn’t. He knew he couldn’t it wouldn’t be fair for the others, this was as much for them as it was for Viktor 

Carefully he pulled his coat around himself as a chill ran up his spine, the leaves rustled around him as he walked up the stairs and into the woods near the school.

It was extremely lucky that the others had clubs today or he would be fucked, they would have probably come looking for him. Viktor was hoping he’d be back out before they came looking for him only to discover he never went to band practice.

His breaths were shaky as the leaves crunched under his trainers, his breaths were slow and uneven. He’d never done anything like this before, and he was nervous Leonard would tell Klaus that he was buying stuff but it was unlikely.

Klaus had banned him from getting his hand on any of their stuff or joining their group again after he found out how much of a dick he’d been.

Viktor twirled his hands together as he approached the bench that they were meant to do the deal on, he looked around but he hadn’t come yet,

The mist around him wasn’t helping his nerves in the slightest carefully viktor took a breath 

“Hello?” It was shaken and to be honest he was actually expecting an answer, so when none came he wasn’t surprised. But what made him want to run away? Was when the clock chimed again 

Viktor turned around slowly, finally facing the ticking sound that had been haunting him; there was an old grandfather clock embedded into the tree carefully. Viktor took a step towards it.

The crunching of the leaves under him was completely drowned out by the ticking as it chimed again 

Viktor stopped when he was as right beneath it, and when the fourth chime rung out the glass started to break and out from came hordes of spiders.

The fourteen year old stumbled backwards, only to bump into someone, Viktor quickly turned his head to see Leonard 

“Woah woah woah, hey sorry didn’t mean to scare you sorry” Leonard said casually, Viktor eyed the scar on his cheek knowing exactly where it came from, there was only one group of anger people that would have given him that

Leonard took in Viktors scared look “You ok?” He said looking around as if any of the others were about to come out and kill him

Viktor looked back at the tree, the clock was gone completely gone, nowhere to be seen. Viktor felt like throwing up 

He really was going insane

They walked to the wooden table and sat down, Leonard slammed a little black lunchbox down as he carefully took of his jacket putting it on the seat next to him.

“There’s uh… there’s nothing to worry about. Okay?”  Leonard said looking around a bit before sitting down at the other end of the table cracking his neck a bit 

“No one ever comes out here” he assured clearly noticing as Viktor bounced his leg nervously and pulling on his jacket  in front of him 

“We’re safe, I promise” he said opening the small box showing the bag of weed kept inside it 

“So how does this work exactly?”

“Oh, just like any other old sale, except uh cash only and for obvious reasons no receipts” Leonard said casually calling viktor down a bit, he wasn’t acting as if he knew viktor that much which he was grateful for it would make it less awkward than it already is

“I’ll do a half ounce for uh.. 20. what do you say! Plenty of bang for you Buck it’ll last you a while.” Leonard said holding the small bag out balancing it between his two fingers 

A squirrel ran up a tree behind them causing Viktor to jump and look back towards the tree nervously.

“Hey we don’t need to do this! Just give me the word and I’ll walk away” Leonard said casually tossing the bag into the lunchbox raising his hand up a bit to show he wasn’t a threat.

“It’s not that I don’t want you to go, it’s just..” Viktor stayed quiet for a second and Leonard looked at him curiously.

“Do you ever feel like your loosing your mind?” He said carefully looking at the taller nervously, he hadn’t really talked about this with basically anyone and he knew deep down no one would believe Leonard if he told them.

“Uhh you know just like on a daily basis” Leonard said with a grin showing his missing tooth that Luther had gave him one day when he walked up to Viktor during band.

“I mean I feel like I’m loosing my mind right now doing a drug deal with Vanya Hargreeves, queen of Hawkins high” Leonard said digging into his dead name with a smirk which made Viktor grimace 

“Viktor. You know it’s viktor” the younger sighed, he would have thought that it was some purposeful dig until he saw the genuinely apologetic look on his face 

“Shit Sorry, forgot” he muttered, it was weird to see the genuine sorry of Leonard’s face but at least he wasn’t being a dick about, to think about it he had been less of a dick recently which was better news for viktor 

“It’s fine.” He said genuinely, he gets it more than he hoped to admit but it was a strangely nice change to see someone sorry about it, it was even more strange to see it come from his Ex of all people. Leonard sighed looking down a bit before throwing him the weed 

“You know what I don’t feel like another ass kicking so look I’ll give you it for a twenty five percent if  the price, £15” Leonard sighed standing up taking a fallen leaf out his hair as Viktor carefully took out the money giving him it 

“Your robbing me blind here” Leonard groans looking at him with a slight smile before vowing to walk away from him and back into the deeper part of the woods,

“Wait..” Viktor Said causing him to stop and look around at him curiously probably just expecting a thank you or something like that until viktor nervously spoke up 

“Look, i just. Have you got anything stronger ?” Viktor nervously gripped the bag looking at him. Leonard thought for a second before sighing 

“Look, I need to run back to my house quickly and get it if you're sure you want it. I’ll give you the best I got, don’t think you're getting any discounts on this though” Leonard said looking around walking backwards “I’ll be like twenty minutes at most!”

Viktor watched as Leonard walked away, gently he sat on the table laying back getting ready for the long wait that he was about to go through, he didn’t not want to wait he needed to but it was Leonard, he couldn’t exactly trust him, he was too much of a dick.

He could probably just leave him here to wait like a dumb idiot, leave him to wallow in his own madness. He wonders if other people know when they’re going insane, probably not but that’s why he hates it he doesn’t know, he wants to but he just doesn’t 

Somehow that’s the worst part of all this. Just how aware he is of his descent.

Carefully he sat up from the table, setting his bag down on the seat next to him rummaging through it, he picked the spit paper off the bag, he must have forgotten after Luther confronted him. He put his hand in expecting to find something gross that had been shoved in there but was pleasantly surprised to find nothing

He grabbed his headphones and put them on playing his song, a soft smile as his favourite song started to play. He put the song on the highest setting so that it would keep playing over and over again.

He laid back listening to Alone again for the hundredth time today. He wasn’t complaining though it was a good song

Viktor sat back watching as the sky changed from a light blue, to a bright orange. The sun was setting and Leonard still wasn’t back yet. The possibility that he had been fucked over was becoming even bigger, he had already decided to smoke some of the weed. Just a tiny bit though 

And to Viktors happiness the Chimes and ticking had stopped, he couldn’t hear basically any of it anymore, the sounds being drowned out by the wind. It had picked up more since earlier,  his hair was all over at this point. 

He didn’t know quite how long it had been but it felt like absolutely forever 

Viktor sprang up when the sounds of leaves crunching started to get closer, Viktor sighed. He was so tired of waiting he was getting ready to leave and assumed that Leonard was just a dick. Looking on the bright side that at least he didn’t get scammed he still got the weed he asked for.

“Hello?” Viktor Said rolling his eyes, his feet resting on the seat of the bench as he looked around not seeing anyone coming from where the crunching leaves were. He was starting to get annoyed first he makes him wait fucking ages and now he’s trying to fuck with him, he wasn’t surprised though Leonard was always a dick.

“Leonard, cmon stop being an asshole.” He said annoyed holding the joint in between his fingers, his hair was absolutely fucked now, leaves had fallen into it while he was laying down. But as he looked behind him for any sign of the older he heard a sign from behind him.

Viktor spun around to see a figure in the tree line, it was a figure he had seen in his nightmares too many times to count, a looming shadow with the only part of it recognisable being his monocle. The man who tortured him and his siblings when they were little.

The same man who named him after a number, experimented on him till he bled. Kept him locked in a room for weeks at a time when he had ‘misbehaved The man who he had once called his papa

*Sir Reginald Hargreeves*

“Seven” he spoke voice raspy blood coating the outside of his mouth, a slight bit of blood dripping out as he spoke, eyes blank and unmoving “seven we have to continue training come here this instant” he said blankly, eyebrows furrowed as he stared down at the younger,

Viktor felt like he was going to throw up. He stumbled back a bit, falling off the back of the bench into the ground as Reginald started to approach him, he couldn’t go through that again. He just couldn’t. Before Viktor was thinking about it he took off running the way back to the school looking back every now and then.

Viktors feet hit the ground harshly as he run away, distantly he could hear the sound of soft footsteps as Reginald casually followed him as if Viktor wasn’t running full speed away from him right now, Viktor sucked in a nervous breath as he trudged through the trees,

It was mostly all going well, the footsteps were getting quieter and he was getting away from the orange sky turning a shade of red, which he figured to mean that he was running for a long time. Then it happened his foot jammed Into a foot, sending him crashing to the ground.

A loud crack echoing through the forest as Viktor screamed as loud as he could. He looked back and his ankle was fucked.it was already turning a share of purple, the bone sitting awkwardly in his leg

Viktor closed his eyes, squeezing them shut as he tried not to wail in pain, it felt like the world was on fire, he clutched his leg, tears streaming down his face, hoping for someone, anyone to have heard him and to come help him. Hell even Leonard 

Then Viktor looked up, first it looked like another tree but it was moving closer, his dad was still chasing him, Viktor let out a whimper as he looked down at him leg it was completely and utterly fucked but when he looked up to see that Reginald was closer, he realised he had no other choice,

Painfully Viktor pulled himself onto his feet, feeling like the world was exploding in on itself everything hurt so fucking much, Jesus Christ then he did exactly what he didn’t want to do, he put one foor in front of the other

As he took off running he screamed in pain at every step the grinding of his bone making his eyes go blurry and water as he kept moving but he couldn’t keep going like this, that’s when he looked in the distance to see a weird red light.

He had no where else to go and now with Reginald moving forward and seeming to be changing he did what the only option for him was

Viktor kept running 

Eventually as he was running the scenery around him started to morph and change, eventually he reached what looked like to be ruins, red surrounding him as bits of wood and bricks levitated in the air.

He looked around to see four trees all surrounding the ruins, each one a name etched onto it, he looked at the other names not recognising any of them until he came across his own name. Carved into the tree in scratchy writing was one work

‘VIKTOR’

“What are you doing Viktor?, aren't you tired? Don’t you wish for it all to be over, I can do that for you. I can make all your pain go away just let me. I can make every chime, every bright light, every comment about you disappear just trust me.” What once was Reginald whispered to him, his skin looked like it was coated in rot and slime, there was some form of tentacle or vain wrapping around him, he didn’t look human anymore 

“Fuck. Off.” He whispered before something caught around his leg, he let out a scream as it dragged him to his tree, pinning him up onto it as vines started to wrap around him. The creature approached him sickening smile faded into a glare he looked pissed,

He sighed as Viktor tried his best to get out of the Veins but no matter how much he pulled on them, he couldn’t get out, he just pulled weakly he felt like crying he really was going fucking mad. There was no way this was happening

It couldn’t be. Viktor reasoned with himself as tears welled up in his eyes, then he focused on a noise that was distant but getting louder, a familiar song. He knew what it was it’s all he listened too, he looked over to his side to see a big white portal

Hoping to god it was a way out of this hell hole. 

“You disappoint me Viktor, I thought that you’d be smarter than this, but it appears I was wrong, you're just like what they say about you.” The creature said sighing, as it lifted its arm up to Viktors face hovering over it, he left light but he was still felt like he touching the ground  

Viktor knew something was wrong, he tried to focus onto the singing playing in the background, his throat closing when he felt something in his chest pound and a bright white light exploded from him.

Viktor dropped to the ground the creature flung back  and all the floating clutter thrown back a few feat, Viktor slowly stood up tears welling I’m his eyes, Viktor Looks over and eyes the giant fucking portal that was growing.

Viktor wasn’t dying today  

Viktor felt the adrenaline shoot through him as he took off running, 

He wasn’t dying today.

In a little while from now

If I'm not feeling any less sour

Viktor focused onto the song behind him as he ran, ignoring the broken leg and the scraping sound he made, all he knew was he needed to get to that fucking portal, it was calling him. Not in a creepy cult-like way. In a comforting way that only said one word in his head.

Safe

Viktor took off running trying to get as far away from the fucking thing as possible, adrenaline running though him making him ignore the broken leg all he needed to do was get out of here then he could go home.

He could go home and sit and watch dumb shows on the couch with Luther “. He could go home and listen to Diego rant about whoever annoyed him today. He could Listen to Allison rant about whatever new rumor of gossip was going around the school. He could listen as klaus designs a new campaign going on into the right about how each and every option would go.

His legs were carrying him further than he thought was possible as he tried to get away, he was exhausted and he could feel the adrenaline start to wear off, the grinding of the bone beginning to irritate him.

He scrunched his eyes, as he kept going, he just had to keep going and it would all be over. He was so tired. He’s not rested in so long, in between the whole going insane thing and the fact he shares a room with klaus. Viktor looked back to see the thing out it’s hand up.

Viktor promised to whatever got there was that he’d never complain again about sleeping in a room with klaus if he got out of this alive

I promise myself to treat myself

And visit a nearby tower

Luther bounced the ball in his hand, bored, the basketball practice was honestly going quiet despite their first match back being tomorrow, everyone was just having fun like they usually did. The team was nice; they could be pricks sometimes but they were honestly good people. 

You just had to get to know them! 

Luther couldn’t get his mind off his brother. It was around five, so the band must have ended half an hour ago, Viktor was probably meeting up with Diego and Allison. They always waited until he and Klaus got on since their club went on longer.

He remembers the pained look on his little brother's face and can't help but blame himself for not saying anything about how bad he looked till it might have been too late. But he can fix it, he would fix it

After practice they’ll get home and uncover what was wrong. He would help him

And climbing to the top

Will throw myself off

In an effort to

Make it clear to whoever

Diego sat outside the school gate in his usual spot that they met at, it was quiet, the sun was going down already.  Viktor should have been our ages ago and for some reason he just wasn’t.  As much as he hated to admit it he was paranoid about what was going on with him.

He wants to help his brother so badly but he just won’t accept it.

Viktor always used to come to him with everything and he just didn’t anymore, ever since that prick of an ex hurt him he was quiet and reserved. Viktor used to smile all day and tell the stupidest jokes known to man but it came from him. And that’s what made it special. How he laughed his dumb little laugh after every joke

He hoped Viktor was ok, he spared a glance towards the school hoping to see him but still nothing.

He was really worried

Wants to know what it's like when you're shattered

Left standing in the lurch at a church

Were people saying, My God, that's tough

She stood him up

Allison walked out of the newspaper room, they had just made another section on back to school which was absolutely draining, she said goodbye to sissy, her second in command, she has a surprisingly well loved travel section. She was all around a good person.

But as she walked out the happy feeling of finishing the week's newspaper faded, she looked at the first copy that was printed, as the head she always got them but she looked at the little comment she made about Viktor.

Something dumb about how his music playing in band was amazing, he always left little comments for them that no one else would look twice at but would embarrass the hell out of them. She gripped the paper as she walked out the school building.

Something was wrong with Viktor and he wasn’t telling them, it’s gotten to the point where she was considering rumouring him and making him tell them for his own sake, she can’t bear to see him like this.

Her nervousness picked up when she saw that Diego was sitting alone, no Viktor who was always there before him in sight.

No point in us remaining

We may as well go home

As I did on my own

Alone again, naturally

Klaus sat in the Hellfire club room by himself, he was putting up decorations for his next campaign, he always planned them over the summer and made them so long they’d last a term, he got really into making the club room look like whatever the newest campaign theme was.

He pulled one of the decorations out the box and looked at it sadly, he got Viktor to make it for him. He was banned from using the sewing machine so Viktor stayed with him all night as he told Viktor every last detail to put on it, and he did.

Viktor was into some deep shit. Klaus could tell he’s gotten himself into deep shit before so he could recognise it. He could see the panic whenever  anyone asked about it, but what Klaus doesn’t understand is why Viktor won’t tell him.

Like he’s probably gotten himself into worse! So what’s so bad about this certain thing that he can’t tell Klaus about it! It’s Viktor, the Same person who’s never been sent out of class or got detention or even yelled at!

So as much as Klaus hates it it’s probably someone else making him feel like shit and Klaus Is determined to find out after school. He’d help him

To think that only yesterday

I was cheerful, bright and gay

Looking forward to who wouldn't do

The role I was about to play

Leonard started to walk back with the stuff, he knows he shouldn’t be making this deal, Viktor probably couldn’t handle this stuff and god knows what would happen to Leonard if his Psycho siblings found out he sold their youngest brother weed.

But something about how Viktor was acting made him nervous, Viktor didn’t get like this even when he was an asshole to him. He never wanted to hurt Viktor but he did and he won’t forgive himself for it, holding the drugs he could only think how this was probably his fault. 

Viktor had been having panic attacks in class, he was skittish and constantly checking his surroundings, it made Leonard curious on what exactly was going on. Being weird like that wasn’t his style 

he looked down at the small lunchbox, he forgot to rip the name tag off before the deal but he doubts the Viktor would tell anyone, 

He was too much of a goody two shoes to admit he bought drugs

But as if to knock me down

Reality came around

And without so much as a mere touch

Cut me into little pieces

Leonard walked into the woods, leaves shuffling under his feet as he dragged them board. He considered going back and not selling Viktor in incase be couldn’t handle it but he would get so much money for this shit. God knows he needed the money 

As he walked into the clearing that he left Viktor at he knew that something was wrong instantly, his bag was sitting in the ground tipped open and onto the ground next to it a lot joint which Leonard came over and stomped out,

He started to look around realising that Viktor might be having a bad high,  which he wouldn’t put past his shit, it was second hand after all but no one needed to know that. If it came out his stuff was shit he wouldn’t make anymore money.

He noticed footprints in the leaves and followed them till he saw two trees in between them Viktor was standing looking forward, Leonard winced at his leg. It looked completely fucked.

“Viktor? Hey man your leg looks bad you ok?

Leaving me to doubt

Talk about, God in His mercy

Oh, if he really does exist

Why did he desert me

Viktor decided to keep on running he was going to make it, he was going to live. He had to live. His legs smashed against the floor as he ran faster than he ever thought he could, he ignored the pain in his leg as it grounded against the break.

He was so focused in running that he ignored the rocks starting to fall around him. He just kept pushing he always had to keep pushing himself. The portal was right there if he just made it a little longer he could go home. He didn’t know how the fuck he would explain the broken leg or why he was so late but he just would

Then it happened one of the rocks managed to fall right in front of him causing him to trio onto the ground his  break getting ten times worse. He let out an ear piercing scream  as the bone nearly went through the back of his leg.

He lifted himself up one more time, walking a few steps as he tried to get away but he couldn’t he got two steps before falling to the ground whimpering in pain, he had to keep moving he just had too he couldn’t die

But as he tried to pull himself back up, he couldn’t

Alone again, naturally

It seems to me that

There are more hearts broken in the world

That can't be mended

He couldn’t get back up, he just couldn’t, he laid on the muddy floor blood staining his clothes, his face dirty and bruised from landing on it. He was so god damn tired why couldn’t it just all be over he begged to himself.

As he lay there on the ground looking up at the sky he left like he couldn’t move anymore, his entire body was shaking , he was cold and warm at the same time. He was tired and yet wide awake . Everything was wrong 

He felt his eyes about to roll back and he went to stand up again but something wrapped around his ankles, he couldn’t stand it wasn’t going to let him go was it. He was never going to escape.

Viktor started to sob at the idea, he didn’t want to die, he really didn’t want to die. He wasn’t quite ready yet. He watched in fear as the thing went to approach  him, he tried to force himself back ignoring the sharp pain in his leg but. He was stuck

Left unattended

What do we do

What do we do

“Viktor you disappoint me you know that? I thought out of all your siblings you’d be the most responsible that you’d agree with me on the fact that you need to die but here we are you being a brat” Viktor looked up as the thing hovered over him looking down at him with disdain

“Please, please don’t do this please I don’t wanna die” Viktor begged  hoping whatever got there might be that he doesn’t die, he’s not ready to. Viktor scrunched his eyes shut as he tried to keep the tears in everything hurt

Viktor tried to scurry back but the thing made him stay back, he could barely move, everything hurt his breaths were hard sucking in as much air as he possibly could. He could feel the dust particles.

The thing looked down at him with a wicked smile “you're not going to die. Your helping me, your sacrifices will be appreciated” it said as Viktor tried to get out, he didn’t want to die whether or not his sacrifices would be appreciated or not.

He didn’t care all he wanted to do was live

Alone again, naturally

Looking back over the years

“I don’t care about if my stupid sacrificed would be appreciated I don’t want to fucking die” Viktor begged to the monster In hoped that maybe just maybe it would show him a bit of mercy. But taking in its appearance and how it was taking joy in his pain.

He doubted it 

“But you do Viktor, I’ve been watching you for a while now I know for a fact you want to die, your too blame for all those deaths so you deserve to die like them” The creature sue looking down at him with a sick smile clearly knowing about every dark thought Viktor had ever had 

“Please” Viktor begged he didn’t want to remember any of that, he couldn’t it was too painful, the feeling of flood around his eyes and pouring out his nose, how his eyes blurred with blood. He felt like was going to die then, but he didn’t so maybe he wouldn’t die now

The thing leaned down, its hand stretched out, its claw covering his entire face as it hovered right above it. it stayed there not moving like it was preparing for something them it felt like his insides were moving around and he was about to throw up everything he ever ate

And whatever else that appears

I remember I cried when my father died

The siblings waited at the door to the school, waiting for Viktor to come out, expecting to see his bright smile as he wandered down the stairs dragging his instrument around his shoulders. Smiling as he apologised for being late.

But it never came no matter how much Luther fidgeted with his hands, no matter how much Diego tapped his knife on his arm and shook his leg. No matter how much Allison pulled on her hair nervously and no matter how much Klaus fiddled with the dice in his hands Viktor never came out.

They looked between each other knowing for a fact that he would never have  walked home alone, he never liked walking home alone scared the shit out of him. Eventually they decided that they’d have enough and went to check inside. 

That’s when they heard a scream coming from the woods, even if it sounded nothing like their brother they couldn’t help but run for it. The feeling in their guts was too powerful not to. 

They heard someone run the opposite way as something thumped to the ground , they walked into the woods and the deeper they were for the more nervous they got.

Then they saw something on the ground among the leaves

Never wishing to hide the tears

And at sixty-five years old

“Viktor. Wake up! Cmon Viktor '' Leonard yelled, snapping his fingers in front of the younger face, the younger who was standing there looking forward, eyes swollen and red, he was blinking rapidly as a blank look stayed on his face.

Leonard didn’t know how long he had been standing there but it was too long, fat to fucking long. This couldn’t just have been a bad high he’d seen bad highs this was just fucking weird. He started to think that maybe he was going to have a seizure or something which caused him to freak out more 

“Jesus snap out of it! Cmon Viktor snap the fuck out of it man” Leonard shook the younger trying to get him to snap out of whatever the fuck type of daydream or seizure thing this was 

Leonard stepped back when Viktors head tilted up and he started to float, getting higher and higher his headset falling around his neck as Leonard watched, then he was quickly thrown up higher  

“FUCKING HELL..” he yelled falling back onto the ground in fear

My mother, God rest her soul

Couldn't understand why the only man

Viktor  struggled as he tried  to get out of the Vines hold but nothing happened, he was completely and utterly stuck he felt tears stream down his face as the hand closed in on his face. He tried to turn his fave away from it. 

But he was turned to look at the creature suddenly the Hand sunk down into his face it’s nails digging deep into his skin, Viktors eyes rolled back as he felt like his whole world was about to explode. 

Viktor felt like every part of him was being burned from the inside out, or like he was being skinned alive, it was awful his entire world went black for a few seconds before he snapped back. 

The Hand was still covering his face but that didn’t matter he couldn’t feel it digging it’s nails into his face over the feelings of his bones splintering

She had ever loved had been taken

Leaving her to start

Leonard watched in fear and scurried back, watching in fear as the boy dangles in the air, Leonard slowly started to lift himself looking up I’m horror  at the sight, this ship wasn’t any Fucking seizure 

Then he watched in horror as his already broken leg snapped up by the leg, the bone sticking out before the knee snapped the other way, his ankle twisted around the opposite way, it looked like a snapped toothpick.

The other leg did the same except the knee snapped forward all the way forwards, the opposite from what the joint was meant to do. Both his arms shot out to the side before the elbows snapped the opposite way they were supposed to go.

His jaw slowly started to open before being ripped down and thrown to the side, horridly broke. The worst part was how his eyes looked down at him full of fear, tears streaming before bulging and being pulled back into his skull.

Leonard scurried back more when his body was dropped to the ground. He let out a loud scream at the horrible sight. He stumbled back a bit before running 

Leaving someone else could find the body. 

Ignoring the four footsteps coming from behind him as he ran the opposite way.

With a heart so badly broken

Despite encouragement from me

Viktor felt like every part of him had been set on fire. It was awful, he wanted nothing more than the pain to just end. He didn't know why he had to go through this, his breaths were becoming more spaced out.

He felt like someone was stepping on his chest, he couldn’t breath, it hurt, his arms hurt his legs hurt. His eyes and mouth hurt. He didn’t know why. His vision was completely blurry.

“I don’t wanna die” he begged slowly to himself, it’s not like anyone would hear him but he just didn’t, he really didn’t want to die, there was so much he wanted to do.

He could only see, his music was coming to an end. He had memorised it by now. He did h have much long left as his hearing was going

“I don’t wanna die”

No words were ever spoken

And when she passed away

Viktor felt the burning sensation start to fade, at least it was going away. He figured. He didn’t want to do this anymore, he was tired and it hurt. It hurt so much 

His breaths were shaky and far between and eventually non existent.

His vision went from completely blurred to black.

I cried and cried all day

Alone again, naturally

Alone again, naturally