Chapter Text
Tommy woke up normally. The sun shining slightly through his shades, his blankets falling off of his body, the crust in the corner of his eyes irritating him. Everything was normal. A normal weekend. A normal and boring day.
With a yawn Tommy stretched out, rubbing the shit out of his eyes and cracking his back. It was Saturday so Tommy could sleep in, but he could smell bacon. He couldn’t not get bacon. His Mum usually didn’t make breakfast but today she was and Tommy was not complaining (not that his Mum didn’t do other things, but Tommy was fifteen so she didn’t really need to make him breakfast).
With a sigh Tommy got out of bed and instantly felt the slight chill in the air. With a little shiver Tommy opened his bedroom door and made his way downstairs. He could hear faint talking coming from the kitchen and when he poked his head in he could see his Mum, Dad, and Wilbur sitting around the island eating breakfast as Techno, the best cook in the family, stood at the counter sizzling up the bacon along with some french toast on the griddle.
Breakfast was definitely pog today.
Wilbur noticed him first, a smile overtaking his face (it was a bit infectious and Tommy almost smiled back. He didn’t though, he had a reputation to keep up!).
“Sunshine! Good to see you awake. Wasn’t expecting to see your face until after lunchtime,” He said jokingly, walking up to Tommy and messing with his hair as Tommy batted away his hands.
“Leave my hair alone you prick! And you have no place to talk, you sleep in too!”
His Dad laughed as the two boys started play wrestling, Wilbur locking Tommy’s head in a headlock as Tommy struggled to get out to no avail. Prime, when did his brother get so strong?
“I yield, I yield!” Tommy cried out. Wilbur instantly let go, placing a kiss on the top of Tommy’s messy curls and going to sit back down, smirking at Tommy’s scowl.
“Prick…” Tommy murmured under his breath with no real heat, but his Mum definitely heard what he said by the playful glare she sent him.
“Order’s up Theseus, come sit down before it gets cold,” Techno called out as he placed a plate with a piece of french toast and some strips of steaming crispy bacon in Tommy’s next to his Mum.
Tommy ran up to the food and sat down, the chair squeaking as he pushed it, not even caring when his Dad told him to slow down, instead shoveling the food into his mouth like a starved man.
“You are a gross gremlin child!” Wilbur squawked out, looking at Tommy with disgust from across the island. Tommy just glared back, too happy with his food to think of a clever comeback.
“Wil, leave your brother alone. Can’t we just have one peaceful breakfast?” Tommy’s Dad asked helplessly, rubbing his temples. He looked tired despite the slight glimmer of fondness in his eyes from Wilbur’s and Tommy’s banter. He probably had worked until late last night doing- doing… what did his Dad do again?
Tommy froze in his eating, the conversation continuing around him without notice. He stared down at his food hard, furrowing his brow. How come he couldn’t remember what his Dad did for work?
Tommy shook his head. He had no idea what he was thinking about. He was probably just tired and forgetful this morning. His memory of what his Dad did for his work would return to him after he had some more to eat. With a few blinks to bring himself back into the present moment, Tommy started to eat his food again, this time slower, still quietly trying to think about what his Dad’s job was. His Mum was the first to notice his silence, glancing at him.
“Toms? You alright?” His Mum looked at him worriedly, her hand stretching out to rest on his shoulder. Tommy looked up to see his brothers and father giving him the same looks, yet something about their eyes seemed off, he just wasn’t sure-
Tommy didn’t have a father or brother.
The thought came unconsciously, but once it was there, Tommy became paralyzed with overwhelming fear.
He- he didn’t have a Dad. His Mum adopted him as a baby. It was always just them! He could remember Wilbur and Techno and his Dad, but he also could remember a life without them. The more he stared at them with wide eyes, the more their features sharpened and looked warped, like a veil was lifting as Tommy came to realize the truth (a truth he could barely admit to himself because it sounded crazy, but it was real, he knew it even if his memories were at war, giving him a headache).
“Mate, are you okay?” Da- the monster asked, having the audacity to look so worried and loving. The gaze made Tommy want to believe-
Tommy sprang up out of his chair, his hand hitting his plate on accident and sending it shattering onto the floor, the bacon now ruined.
“Bruh, I worked hard on that,” Techno said with an eye roll, but Tommy could also see a calculated glint to his eyes, and despite the loose way he held himself, his shoulders were tense.
“Y-you- who are you guys?” Tommy asked shakily, backing away slowly but not before grabbing his Mum’s hand and forcing her to follow him, although she seemed confused.
“Tommy, what are you talking about? We’re your family,” His Mum said reassuringly, although she also started to get a look of trepidation, like she was unsure of the validity of the statement.
“You’re my family. I don’t know who those bastards are!” Tommy shouted, trying to tug his Mum behind him as he pointed wildly at the creatures in their kitchen.
“Tommy, you’re being hysterical. Did you have a nightmare last night?” The being pretending to be his Dad (a being which willingly called himself Phil of all things, a normal name for something wholly inhuman) asked, stepping forward. Tommy instantly went further back, getting closer to the stairs. If only his and his Mum’s chairs were by the door instead.
They were practically trapped in their own house with creatures that somehow planted memories in their minds and Tommy had no idea what they wanted or how to get away. They were fucking screwed.
“Mum, tell Tommy to calm down. Maybe he hit his head,” Wilbur said sternly, staring at Tommy’s Mum as if she would help him.
Tommy tugged on her hand as she glanced at Wilbur, bringing her attention back to him.
“ Mum… ” Tommy quietly whispered out, trying to convey his terror. Her eyes lit up and in a flash she had pushed Tommy behind her, blocking him from the monsters.
“I- You are not my son! Who the hell are you people?!” His Mum screamed, her hand gripping Tommy’s so tightly it hurt, but Tommy needed it to ground him and she needed it too.
“Kristin-” Phil started to say, but Tommy’s Mum quickly shouted over him.
“Don’t call me that! I don’t know you! What the fuck are you? How did you make me think I was married to you?” His Mum cried out, shaking a little as Phil suddenly leveled an icy look at her.
“Hmm, I wasn’t expecting this not to work. Maybe we messed up somewhere?” Phil asked musingly while rubbing his chin, looking at Techno and Wilbur.
“It wasn’t me, I barely did anything. Maybe Wilbur triggered it by being too rough this mornin’,” Techno drawled out in a monotone voice, ignoring the burning smell of bacon.
“What?! I did nothing! Tommy is just being a stubborn little shit,” Wilbur growled out, fixing a glare on Tommy.
“FUCK YOU!” Tommy screamed at him, pulling his Mum and trying to run around the beings in their house to the door.
Before Tommy could even make it a few steps he felt something cold touch his shoulder and then-
Tommy woke up normally. The sun shining slightly through his shades, his blankets falling off of his body, the crust in the corner of his eyes irritating him. Everything was normal. A normal weekend. A normal and boring day.
He had a bit of a headache, but it wasn’t anything too bothersome, just a slight pounding behind his eyes. With a yawn Tommy stretched out, rubbing the shit out of his eyes and cracking his back. It was Saturday so Tommy could sleep in, but he could smell bacon. He couldn’t not get bacon. He bet Techno made it too which meant it probably would taste super good (Techno always made the bacon the right amount of crispy for Tommy).
With a heave Tommy got out of bed and instantly felt the slight chill in the air. With a little shiver Tommy opened his bedroom door and made his way downstairs. He could hear faint talking coming from the kitchen and when he poked his head in he could see his Mum, Dad, and Wilbur sitting around the island eating breakfast as Techno, the best cook in the family, stood at the counter sizzling up more bacon with french toast on the griddle.
Tommy stood barefoot on the wooden floor, his head still pounding and it seeming to increase the moment he walked into the kitchen.
“Hey kiddo, you look like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!” His Dad called out with a laugh, looking at Tommy’s bedhead.
“I have a headache…” Tommy grumbled out, walking to his seat and plopping down, laying his head on the table with a groan. His Mum started to play with his hair next to him. It helped a little in making him feel better and it was something she always did when he was sick. WHen it was just him and her why would it ever just be them, where was everyone else-
“Oh no! My whittle baby brother is hurt! Should I kiss the headache away?” Wilbur called out in a babying voice, making grabby hands towards Tommy.
“Fuck you bitch!” Tommy shouted, instantly regretting it as his headache flared and he fell back into his chair, resting his forehead in his hands with a groan.
“Do you think you're sick?” His Mum asked with a frown, moving his hands to place hers on his forehead and feel for his temperature.
“No, I just have a headache. I must have stayed up too late last night or something,” Tommy said with a sigh. His mood slightly lifted when Techno walked over and put a plate of crispy bacon and a piece of french toast in front of him, the smell already intoxicating.
“Eat some food kid, it might help,” Techno said gruffly, patting Tommy’s shoulder awkwardly to comfort him.
Prime, Techno had always been so bad at emotions. Tommy could still remember when he broke his arm from falling out of a tree when he was six and his Mum left him with Techno while she went to get the car keys to take him to the hospital. Techno had just stared at him with a constipated face before telling Tommy not to cry. When that just made Tommy cry harder, Techno panicked and threw his jacket over Tommy’s head like he was a bird or some shit. Tommy ended up-
Tommy fell and was left alone on the grass while his Mum ran inside to grab the keys. She was out in thirty seconds and loaded him into the car all by herself. She had no one to help her but Tommy felt better anyways since she promised him ice cream after the hospital for being so brave. She had brushed his tears away with kindness and chased off the pain with a kiss.
Tommy gripped the edge of the table as the memories collided in his head.
He didn’t have a father or brothers. He never did.
“What the fuck…” Tommy whispered out fearfully without thinking, whipping his eyes to stare at Techno.
“What’s wrong Theseus? Do you need advil or is the food making you feel sick?” Techno asked as he frowned at Tommy. Tommy could see Phil and Wilbur staring at him in the corner of his eyes, not yet with their terrifying eyes, but any moment now they would suspect him.
Tommy just shook his head slowly to try and keep them from realizing what he had just figured out but then Tommy couldn’t stop shaking his head, couldn’t stop trembling as he remembered the violating feeling of them doing this all once before, coming into his home, sitting at the island with him and his Mum, pretending to be his fucking family.
It was like there was static playing in his ears as his Mum shook him and words overlapped that didn’t make any sense and Techno started to take his plate away and Wilbur reached across the table and grabbed Tommy’s hand, rubbing it gently and then Tommy’s nerves were on fire yet also felt like ice was being injected into his veins. Tommy smacked Wilbur’s hand away in his panic, scrambling out of his chair.
“WHAT THE FUCK!” Tommy shouted, his back hitting the wall as he scrambled back, unable to get further away.
“Tommy! What is going on?!” His Mum shouted, looking at him with pure confusion in her eyes and worry over his- well Tommy had never done this before but he assumed he had a panic attack. It was so not pog.
(The other’s eyes seemed to glow though. They knew just as Tommy did what was happening).
Before Tommy could say anything else Techno was suddenly beside him and Tommy felt something burn in his chest as he looked into Techno’s eyes, his blood red eyes-
Tommy woke up normally. The sun shining slightly through his shades, his blankets falling off of his body, the crust in the corner of his eyes irritating him. Everything was normal. A normal weekend. A normal and boring day.
He had a killer headache, a pounding behind his eyes that made him want to sink into his covers and never get up again. With a yawn Tommy stretched out, rubbing the shit out of his eyes and cracking his back. It was Saturday so Tommy could sleep in and rest his head, but he could smell bacon. He couldn’t not get bacon. He bet Techno made it too which meant it probably would taste super good (Techno always made the bacon the right amount of crispy for Tommy).
With a heave, Tommy tried to get out of bed but instantly felt the slight chill in the air and decided he would force someone to bring the bacon to him. Tommy went to lie back down but he then noticed a family photo on his desk. There was nothing odd about it, Tommy had seen it a million times before, a photo with Tommy smiling like crazy on Wilbur’s back while pulling Techno’s hair who looked annoyed but so loving. His Dad and Mum were laughing at them from either side of Wilbur and Techno. It was a normal photo, yet Techno seemed wrong. His eyes were too brown, Tommy could have sworn his eyes were-
Burningburningburning as Techno stared at him, blood and death and pain chanting over and over-
Tommy didn’t realize when he slapped his hands over his ears and curled into a fetal position on his bed, rocking back and forth. There was a pulsing in his fingertips, the only thing proving to him that he was alive, that this was real.
What the fuck were Techno, Wilbur, and Phil? How were they doing this, sending Tommy and his Mum back to the same morning?
Tommy didn’t even want to get out of bed now (and Tommy hated that he could still smell the bacon, The smell was a reminder that he was trapped). He didn’t want to have to face the truth, but Tommy really had no choice. His Mum was eating fucking breakfast with those monsters and he had to save her, he just had to even if he didn’t quite know how to do that.
With shaking limbs Tommy stood up and made his way downstairs slowly, trying to conceal his terror but probably failing miserably by the looks of worry (calculated worry) Wilbur and Phil sent him.
“Hey Mum-” Tommy croaked out, getting her attention as she met his eyes, “-can you come take my temperature? I think I’m really sick. I woke up feeling like shit,” Tommy said, refusing to look at the creatures as his Mum instantly stood up and started comforting him, rubbing his back and guiding him upstairs into the bathroom as Wilbur muttered something to Phil about Tommy being old enough to check his own temperature and monopolizing “Mum.”
Right when the door closed Tommy lunged for the lock and pushed his Mum away from the door, shushing her yelp.
“Tommy, what has gotten into you?” His Mum hissed out, thankfully being quiet despite the bewildered expression on her face. Her expression soon morphed into one of concern though when she could see tears forming in Tommy’s eyes.
“Mum, w-when did you get married? Since when did I have brothers?” Tommy asked desperately, grabbing onto her arms, hoping she could prove him wrong. That Tommy was just crazy and had some wild nightmare about reliving the same day with monsters replacing his family, but Tommy also knew that the fear he felt this morning, the warring memories in his mind, were not just the trick of a nightmare (nightmares weren’t real and what Tommy was living through was definitely real as insane as it all sounded).
“Tommy what are you talking abou-” His Mum began to say, before her brow furrowed and she frowned. After a second horror overtook her face as her eyes searched Tommy’s expression for confirmation of what she had just realized.
Tommy silently nodded at her, not wanting to talk anymore than he had to in case the creatures in their house had super hearing or something.
“This- this is insane! Oh my Prime, I don’t even…” his Mum was pulling at her hair, looking frazzled, scared out of her mind. She then met Tommy’s eyes with a certain determination that almost made Tommy feel safe, “Tommy, we need to leave now. I don’t know how they are doing this, but you’re right that we’ve done this before. I promise you aren’t crazy baby.” His Mum pulled him into a shaky hug, one Tommy never wanted to let go of, but they both knew they were on borrowed time so his Mum backed away first, taking control of the situation, being strong for Tommy’s sake (Tommy ignored the tremors he could see in her hands).
With a deep breath she unlocked the door and slowly opened it, peeking out to make sure no one was outside.
“Okay,” his Mum said, turning around to look at him, “we need to get outside without making them suspicious. I’ll just say you’re running a high fever and I want to take you to the hospital just in case. Then we go to the police, got it?” Tommy nodded numbly, taking his Mum’s hand and both of them walking out of the bathroom.
Before they could even make it downstairs, his brother Wilbur was standing at the top of the stairs, a smile on his face (it was creepy, his whole face seemed too long, his eyes too sharp and his pupils small, like that of a predator-).
“Is Tommy okay Mum?” He asked, fake concern bleeding into his face.
His Mum’s breath hitched before she evened it out, giving a wobbly smile Tommy imagined she also felt the pull to reassure him, to give in and accept what he wanted them to view him as. Her mind warring over the idea of him being both her son and a stranger, a monster.
“Tommy is- is a bit unwell. A high fever. I’m gonna take him to the hospital just in case it’s anything serious,” His Mum said, trying to walk past Wilbur only to be stopped when he stepped in front of them.
“Is it that bad? Maybe I should come with just in case. Or all of us could go. We all want to make sure Tommy is okay,” Wilbur said with a slight quirk to his lips that from one point of view could be comforting, but Tommy knew better. It was a threat. (It made the hairs on Tommy’s neck stand up. He didn’t know this creature and yet part of him wanted to hug him and ask him to come with. The influence he had over Tommy was terrifying).
“O-oh no, I think I can handle one kid. Adding you guys to the mix is asking for trouble,” His Mum said, a fake laugh coming from her lips. Wilbur chuckled along, moving out of the way. Tommy and his Mum glanced at each other before walking once again.
“Oh, just one thing!” Wilbur called out, making the two turn to look at him, both trying to school their features into something neutral.
“How is it that you keep figuring it out?” Wilbur asked, an almost amazed tone to his voice.
“What-” Tommy’s Mum began, but before she could say anything else, Phil and Techno appeared behind them, grabbing their shoulders.
“I guess we need to try again. Don’t worry my loves, it will be fine, I promise,” Da- the monster said with sharp teeth and shadows enveloping the hallway before-
Tommy woke up normally. He sat up slowly, coming to the world groggily. Prime, what was he doing last night that made him this tired.
Something just felt really off, like today wasn’t normal, like today wasn’t even today. Almost like he had done this morning before, He could smell bacon-
A plate smashing on the floor. Red eyes. Ice in his veins. A tightening grip on his shoulder-
“AHHHHHH!” Tommy screamed, kicking around in his sheets and falling onto the floor by accident. He sprang up, trying to get his bearings as he spun around wildly to untangle himself from the sheets still stuck on his feet.
What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck! Tommy had done this already. He had done this multiple times now.
There were monsters in his home pretending to play house and he and his Mum had to go now.
Before Tommy could calm down enough to get his feet unstuck there were suddenly urgent footsteps echoing up the stairs and his bedroom door was flung open, Phil and Wilbur rushing in.
“Tommy? What happened Mate?” Phil asked in a panic, looking around as if something was attacking him (how ironic, Tommy thought, Phil was looking around when the real monster was himself).
Tommy didn’t even try to pretend this time, he didn’t have it in him.
“GET OUT OF MY ROOM, GET OUT OF MY LIFE! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!?” Tommy screamed, bumping into his bed as he backed up and gripping onto the sheets behind him, wishing that he had some kind of weapon on him. Phil and Wilbur both dropped their worried act (it didn’t even seem like an act though, they seemed genuinely worried Tommy was in trouble-) and furrowed their brows as they looked at Tommy as if they wanted to dissect him.
“Now Tommy, why are you being so difficult? All you have to do is accept this. It’s for your own good. Kristin doesn’t even notice until you bring it up. We could be happy,” Phil said with a light smile, slowly walking closer with Tommy being unable to get any further away.
“You are NOT my family. Just leave my Mum and I alone, please! I don’t want to do this again!” Tommy yelled hoarsely, his throat hurting. He could hear his Mum calling up, asking if everything was okay, but before he could cry out for her help, Wilbur was beside him and grabbed Tommy, covering his mouth with his hand.
Tommy thrashed around and bit at Wilbur’s hand but it did nothing but make him tighten his grip.
“Don’t hurt your baby brother Wil,” Phil said with an honest to fucking Prime look of affection on his face as if Tommy and Wilbur were just goofing around like how they play fought over a breakfast that felt like a foggy dream of tranquility before everything went wrong.
“I would never hurt my Sunshine!” Wilbur said dramatically before leaning his head down to rest on Tommy’s hair, making Tommy freeze up.
He was too close, his breath drifting down onto Tommy’s scalp. It was freezing cold.
“Now Toms, why don’t you have a nice rest and we can try again, okay? I promise as your family we will do this as many times as it takes for your own sake,” Wilbur swore before placing a kiss on Tommy’s head-
Tommy woke up normally. He went downstairs and had breakfast and messed around with Wilbur. Techno sat down and ate with them, even chuckling at a few jokes Tommy said, making Tommy beam with pride. Making his brother laugh was always his goal in life, keeping them happy was the best.
His Dad made some joke about Tommy being attached to Techno like a ducking and Tommy went to lash out at him, but instead of playful shouting, Tommy took the butter knife on the table and went to stab him, not even realizing what he did until he heard his Mum scream.
Techno grabbed his hand before he could even get halfway across the table.
“That was not a smart move Theseus,” Techno said before pushing Tommy back into his chair-
Tommy woke up normally. He felt really sluggish and chose to sleep in, his Mum coming to check up on him later in the morning.
“Hey baby,” She said softly from beyond Tommy’s blanket cocoon, coaxing him out. She made a wounded noise as she took in Tommy’s appearance.
“Oh honey, what’s wrong? Do you need to see the doctors?”
Tommy just slowly blinked at her. Why would he need to see the doctors, that was just the excuse to go to the police-
Tommy was suddenly hyper aware, grabbing his Mum’s hand and squeezing it tightly as she winced.
“Mum, we need to leave!” Tommy harshly whispered out, glancing out the window at the house next to them. It was an empty house with no neighbors so calling out for help was useless. His eyes were wild as he glanced around the room for something to use as a weapon.
“Tommy, what are you saying?” His Mum asked, tugging her hand out of Tommy’s grip and clutching it tightly to her chest, making a pained face at Tommy.
Tommy felt devastated as he realized he had hurt her. Tommy didn’t mean to hurt her. He wasn’t like them, he wasn’t a monster. He had to protect his Mum though, even if she didn’t realize he was doing it for her.
“I- I’m sorry Mum, but those creatures in our house don’t belong here. You aren’t married and I don’t have brothers, don’t you remember?”
His Mum still looked confused, unlike the last times his words weren’t working. Why wasn’t she understanding?
“Tommy, I-” Whatever his Mum was gonna say was cut off by Techno entering the room with a plate of bacon, looking like a deer caught in the headlights as both Tommy and his Mum stared at him.
“Uhhh- I have breakfast?” Techno said with an awkward shrug.
Tommy didn’t hesitate to chuck his pillow at him.
“Heh?!” Techno exclaimed before meeting Tommy’s eyes and realizing he wasn’t trying to start a pillow fight.
“Oh for the love of- ugh. Okay, another try, maybe a different setting will help,” Techno said, walking to Tommy and placing a hand on his Mum’s shoulder that she shied away from as her eyes started to fill with recognition for the situation, the nightmare, they were trapped in.
“WAIT-” His Mum shouted before-
Tommy woke up. Last night Tommy had a nightmare so he snuck into Techno and Wilbur’s room, them both squeezing onto one bed to comfort him. It was a nice way to wake up even if Tommy wouldn’t admit it. He felt safe, protected from anything bad that could happen.
Tommy stared at Wilbur’s sleeping face, taking in his slow breathing. With a gentle hand, Tommy reached out and touched his forehead. It was really cold for some reason. Tommy frowned and flicked Wilbur as hard as he could on his face.
“Fuck!” Wilbur shouted, shooting up from his sleep to send a glare Tommy’s way. “What was that for?! I helped you last night and this is the thanks I get?”
Tommy laughed at his antics as he felt Techno shift from next to him, slowly waking up. His body was practically a furnace against Tommy.
“You felt cold, I wanted to wake you up to make sure you weren’t sick,” Tommy said with an air of innocence, smiling up at Wilbur who just scowled.
“You are a brat. See if I ever let you into my bed again.”
Techno from behind Tommy and without even looking picked up a pillow and chucked it at Wil, hitting him right in the face. Wiblur squealed indignantly.
“Why are you teaming up on me this morning?!” He whined, flopping onto the bed dramatically and squishing Tommy while waxing poetry about his “misery.”
“Get off of me you lanky bastard!” Tommy yelled, trying to no avail to push Wilbur away. For a string bean he was surprisingly hard to move.
Techno came to Tommy’s rescue once again, proving he was the best brother. He pushed Wilbur off of the bed and picked Tommy up (despite Tommy protesting he was a Big Man) and took Tommy downstairs, ignoring Wilbur’s swearing.
Tommy felt like he should be a bit more annoyed at being carried like a princess, but honestly he was so tired. He didn’t really have it in him to fight and Techno was comfy, sue him.
His Dad and Mum were already drinking coffee at the island, both quirking a smile of amusement when they saw Tommy and Techno causing Tommy to scramble out of his hold, cheeks turning red.
“Save it,” Tommy said, pointing a finger and glaring at his parents as Techno went around him and began to look through the fridge for something to eat. Tommy hoped he wouldn’t make bacon. He hated that shit.
Wait- since when did Tommy hate bacon? That- that was weird. He definitely liked bacon yesterday, but on the thought of yesterday, Tommy felt queasy. Why couldn’t he remember what he did yesterday?
Yesterday he didn’t even have a Dad or brothers.
Tommy didn’t even have a chance to linger on the thought before the monster his Dad the being stood up and was cradling Tommy in a hug. Tommy could swear he saw a shadow of wings sprouting from Phil’s back as Tommy stared dumbly over Phil’s shoulder into his Mum’s eyes. Eyes that didn’t look on with fear as they should have been.
“My son, why can’t you just make this easy, hmm?” Tommy couldn’t move, he could barely breath as Phil sighed and hugged Tommy tighter, a possessive hold.
“Guess we need to do it again,” Tommy could hear Wilbur complain from behind him. Tommy wanted to move, to fight, but whatever Phil was doing to him, he couldn’t even speak. With a kiss to his temple-
Tommy woke up in the monster’s bed again. There was nothing normal about it. He ran from the room and down the stairs, running out the front door without even putting on shoes as the creatures shouted at him to come back. Tommy didn’t want to leave his Mum but he needed to get help and getting her on board would just slow him down. She probably wouldn’t even believe him at first anyway and he didn’t have the time to waste in convincing her.
Tommy didn’t even make it fifty feet before something tripped him, sending him falling forward into the arms of his D- into Phil’s arms.
Tommy looked up to meet his eyes, staring in horror as he saw a pitch black void staring back instead of familiar comforting blue eyes.
“Now little crow, it’s not time for you to leave the nest yet.” Phil hugged Tommy to his chest and Tommy went to scream for help despite knowing he had no neighbors to hear-
Tommy woke up miserable. He wasn’t sure what to do. He woke up again (again and again and again and again-) and he knew the people sitting at the island downstairs were not his family.
Tommy went down anyway, playing the part he had to. His Mum as usual didn’t remember, but Tommy did, and he could never forget. They didn’t belong. He didn’t know Wilbur or Techno or Da- Phil. He had never met them until today (a today that he had repeated too many times to count).
He knew what would happen when he brought this up though, if he tried to fight back. Everything would restart again. Maybe this time if he stayed quiet he could leave the house and find a way to escape this nightmare.
Of course things wouldn’t work out for him though even when he was silent and patient, something so unlike himself, so unlike the thrumming under his skin telling him to run from the predators. All it took was him flinching when Techno passed him his food and all of their eyes sharped in on him, his Mum screamed, and then-
T̸̢͉̺̱̪͎͖̳̝͕̲̙͍̯̹̍̎̈́̄̋ǫ̷̡̡̧̬̝̫̖̦̫̥͙̮̦͙͌͋̇̿̂̀͛̆̀̒̒̕m̸̜͔̀̑̔̄̋̿́̓m̴̩̟͓̥̞̹͖̯̦̰̣͊́͜ÿ̸̲̠̣͙̘͖̖́̊̓͂̽͝ ̵̢̩̘̹͓̗̟̻̦̰̯͎̤͆͆̆̉̿́̅̏̌̎̈́̈͘̚͜͜w̷̜͕̫̜͉̦̟̞̣̰̝̦̝̐̃͊̽̿̀̓͜ͅọ̸̡̦͕̮̠̺̬̇͗̈́́̉̎̇͊́̚͠k̴̛̠͖̣̬̠̹̲̭̗̗̲͎̑̔̑̾͆̑̒̑̐̋̾̕͘̚͜ͅe̶̞͛̇ ̶͓͙̱̔͗̏͛̋͐͂̿͐̀̚͝͠͝ų̷̰̥͕̞̗̘̱̽̑͗̓͑̑̉̚͠ͅp̷͚̭̱̰̅͑̈́̇͊̉͂͛͆̍͜͠ͅ ̷̢̧̖̳̜̝̬̲͎̣̱̺͝n̵̡̙͙̞͖͙̞͂̆̐͂̔̏͝͝o̶̝͆r̸̖̼̹͙̞͍͉̟͇̱͑̊̿͋m̸̰̘̟̰͇̯̺̬͈̙̰̠̀̈́͐́̆͌̀͜͝â̸̝̺̬̣̖̺͉͍̩̼̮̤̣̔͒́͝ͅl̷̛̛̝̲̳͔͇͐͂̉́̉͒͗̄̅͗̏͘ļ̸̘͍͖͍̳͕̠̿̎̈́̈͌̍ͅͅy̵̜̗̮̱̖̰͚͔͖̤̬̖̯̒͊̋̈̑-̵̩̭̀̓̅̏̕̚͠
̵̠̘͑̕͜T̸͔̝͇̦̈́͋̃̊o̷̲͎̻͎̺̲̮̙͍͓̙̗͊́̽͛̍̊͐̆̈͜m̵̙̹̙͖͙̭̯̖̝̭̻͎̋̊́̽̀̍̓̈̍͐̽̋̚̕̚m̴̗͍̞͈͗̇̍̑͊̆̋̎̿͠ỷ̶̨̼̆͗̓̓́̏̎̊̒̾͛̿͘ ̴̢̧̛̺̳̬͈̭͉̺̹̯̪̑̔͛̌̓̊̿̂͐̔͒w̴̢̪͙̤̟̮̘̎͊͂̎̈͋o̶̧͚̘̙̖̓̎͛̏͜͠͝k̷͖͛̓̈́̆͑́̎̇͠͠é̸͔̺̘͈̮̋̈́͂̇̈́͆̑͛͘͜ ̴̪͍̩͊̽̈́͊́̀ų̴͍̰̬̞͍̫̜̗͍̈̍͊̆̓̓̎̑̐̕͜͝͝p̷̝̝̙͈̎̽̔̋̅̋͘ ̸̡̧̨̠̩͍̤̞̠̬̈́́̽̌͌̓̾̋̿͝ͅn̶̢̨̢̜̦͙͍̯̋͌́͂̈́̓̓̊̓̂̚̚͝ơ̴͙̿̾̐̏͌͒̀̓͋̀̄̉̆ȓ̸̖̹̺͖̖̉̇̚͠m̵̟̩̘̱̞̗̼͗́͒̍̽̌̎́̃̇̃̾̊͋͝a̵̢̡̮͛̾ḻ̷̾̾̾̊̊̓̆̒̑͠͝͠ļ̶̳͇̜̟̙̮͙̺͖͉̀̈́̇ÿ̶̬̫̼͓́-̴̘̱̹̰̽͘͝
̵̼̦͔̾̓
̴̢̧̮͕̫̞͇̖͈̣̰̠̪̟̈́͒Ț̵̰͖͓̭̹̩͓̰̥̈́̅̓̋͜͝ǫ̵̞͓̪̥̭͚̂͌̀̃ṃ̴̦̟̙̘̹̠̠̹͉̺́̀̐̓m̷̩̣̺̖̠̘͈̰̯̐̊̈̈̀̀̓̀͂̐̀͝͝y̵̦̜̟̮͉̹̺̽̉͘͝ ̸̢̢̢̲͚͙̪͈͎͕̬̘̠͋̑͊̃̎̔̈́̾͆̈̽̀̕͝ͅw̸̛̤͙̦̻̜̰̅͒̆̐͋̿́͛͑͗ȯ̶̡̯͇̭̩͍͇̞̱̱̲̥̭͘͜ķ̴̪͔̘̆͛̀ȩ̸̣̫̻̪̘̠͊̀̊̓̑͆͒̽̏̑͗̑͜ ̴̧̯̟̗̍̄̉̑͋͆̓͊̅̌́̋͌̈́͋ů̶̢̮͖̺́͗̏͂̋̽ṕ̷̛͖̞̖̪͊͗̈́̃ ̴̻̺͉͌͑̿n̷̨̢̪̖̩̰͎͖̩̳͓̼͋̊̒͛̈́̕̕ǫ̵͖̜̦͓̖̞̖͋̉̉̀͆̈́̐͆̈́̋̉̈́͝r̸̢̡̭̱̖̙̩̫͉̖̗̩͉͓͆͛͂͋͂̄͗̐́̊͠͝͝͝m̴͕̩̭̼̗͙̍͆ạ̶̣̼͕̭͖͇̪͈͖̬̪͙͛̽̀̒́͊͒̀̕͠͝͝l̴̢̛̝̻̺͑̀̓̍̿̀͐͐͊̈͛̓l̶̛̹̺͍̗̣͇̃͊̇̋̌̊͂͊̎̿͒̃͘̚y̴̢̛̛̬̩̲̹̦̹̦̻̰̯̅̇͋̍̾-̷̧̙͍̻̲͖͒͂̿̆̑̽͒ͅ
̵̥̪̤̥͈̟̰̼̪͍̼̦͍̰̎̿͗͗͗̋̉̏̋̀̐̐̈́̿
̶̪̟̪̳̝̩͋̀̓̽͌͘͘͝T̴͕̯͇̪͌͗̈́̓͆̈̔̓̓́͋͗̉̈́̕o̶͎̿̇́̄͊̏̂̊̈́̍͐͛̚̚ṁ̴̨̧͇̤͎̞̙͉̲̭̼̟̆̇͒ͅm̵̩̦͒ͅý̷̨̲͔̰̻̭̬͎͔̲̩̯̰̤̊̃́̉̂͒̀͋̕ ̸͔̗̺͉̣̄̅͂̕ẉ̷̤̳̫̲̰̭̫̜̜̺̠͎̓́ͅo̴̡̤̤̠͖̼̪͚̪̲̿̾ḱ̴̡̡̛͎͚̼̞̥̬͆̈́̇͌̈͌̂̏ͅe̷̙̠̹͔̺͖̞̱̬̐͂̑̔̀̃͋̈́͑̇̚ ̸̧̨̟̘͉͍̦̈̔̄͒̑͂̕u̶̡̧̞̤͉̣̻̻͓̾͐̎̏͋̔̆̌̎͐͑̋͘͜͝p̷̧̡̖̝̜̲̞͈̍̓͐͝ͅ ̴̧̛̭̟̰̲̬̮̝̟̤͓̑̈́̇̿̇̂́̎̋͂͛͝͝ͅǹ̶̝̻͓̫̙̘o̷̦̠̘̮̣̝̳̩͖̠̖̻̯̬͊͒̽̈̚r̷̢̡̳̜̝͖͖̹̬͎̲̠̄̆̊̃̇́m̶̢̨̛̛͉͔̥̝͔͉̽̍͆̔̍́͜ạ̵̹̺̤̭̟͖̤̠̰̻̭̒ḷ̸̨̟̠̫̫̼̩͖͔̜͖͛͗͛̿͊̏͗̽̊̆͋̚̚̚̚ļ̴̞̯͍͇̝͚̙̝͖̓̕͜ẙ̶̛͍̱̮̰͕̠̮̦͖̼̠̩̳͎̣̂̿̾̈́̓͛-̸̡̜̱͖̠̪͇̞͕̮̤̘̭́̃͑͒̔̈́̎̽̕͝
̶̛̜͍͇̰̪̳̤̎͋̉̂̈͛̾͌̈͘͜͝͝
̵͔̩͙͌͒͛̎̓̒̈̄̐̊͝T̶̡̘̞͍͖̓͑̽̾͑̎o̷̥͚͈̥̔̔̑̐̅̂̀̊̋̂̍͋͗͠͝m̴̢͉̟̫͔͖̺̙̹̿̉̀́m̴̛̖͙͙̫͈̮̦̩̭͕̼͖̲͗͑͒̅͋̽̄͛͐̕͠͝ÿ̶̻͗̔̆͑͐͗͌̅̃̓̉͋̐͘ͅ ̵̳̤͍͆̊̀͜͝w̵̻̰̰̩̣͇̬̝͖͎̽͒̅̎̈̈́́̈́̕ö̷͈̻̭̙͓͈̦͎̞̝͕́͋̀̃͋̀̔͋k̷̨͆͌̍̓͆e̸̝͉͖͋̍͛̽͑̄̽̓̋͂̂̀́͘ ̵̼̟̈́̐̇͗̋̋̓͊́̉̿͆͝͠͠ụ̸̝̩̳̣̤̰̰̝͕̾̀͗̐͂́̐͝p̶̥͎͇͖̱̠̭̤̜̣̪̝̖̹̭̄̐̾̍̒̈́͂̅͂̆̓̓̚͝ ̸͍͇̭͖͈͎͙̤̰͙͉͒̈́͌̀͊̈̐̂̐̎͛͑͊ͅn̴̡͍̘͕̱̭̫͎̥̪͍̻͇͊̅͋̐́̄͘͜o̷͕̅͆͂̏̅̐͝r̶͉̯̩̱̫̱̖̠̭̘̙̳̒̈́̊̂̐̿̏͜m̸̧̛͊̍̌́̒̄̍̐̔̎̐̀͜͠ą̶̢̞͓͚͕́ļ̸̮͓̭̘̞̗̥͍̜͚̳͒̏̓͊̐̿̑ḽ̷͍̣̥͍̘̌̈́́̇̃̾͗̍̾͋͜ͅy̷̢̡͍̼͍̮̫̞̠̰̬͋̍̎̇̏͛̾͜-̸̛̝̀̈͌͒͑̎͌̕͝
̵̨̳̫̪̥̭̬̭̩̹̝̺̬̺̋̔͂̈̇̏̈́͘
̵̤̰͍͈͐̽̐̉̈́͆̊͗͝T̸̨͖̤͎͓̹͖̜͔̣̦͇͍͙̐̏̾̈́̍͋̕o̶̢̳̲̍͋̀̽̕m̸̡͍̘̼͈̪͚̞͈͌͛͒͆̿̅̆͌̿̈̑͋͝͝ṃ̷̙̣̦͌̿̈́͂͜y̴̧̪̘̪̖͔̟͇̦̖͋̿̽͐̌́̐̀̿͜ ̷͉̼̜̜̲̻̦̪̼̤̟̹͍͖̎̏̀̏͘͝͝ẇ̶̨̡͓͕͖̫̊͐́̽̔ͅǫ̶̗̮͓͈̮̳̗̹̗̪̜̽̉̽̀̑ͅk̸͇̜̜̬̺͚̯̻͕̩̥͌̎̊̔̅̑̂̉́̈̽̕ȩ̵̨̨̼̻̗̠̣̰̭̺̻̰̯̻̌̒̊̾̓̔͋͒́̓̿̕ ̷̨̌̊ṷ̸̝͍̫̳͛̂͂̀̃̋̈́̄͝p̵̧̯͍̠̦̘̫̖̭͖͇̳͍̾̐̅̈́͌̒͘ ̷̨̢̻̜͚̱̠̻͛͑̓̾̏̀̎͒̑̽̎͂̌͘n̴͍͎̏̒̉̏̄̊̎͠ŏ̴͚͍̞̗̖͙̥̩̦͓̻̑̂̐̑̄̏r̸͕͉͇͌̀̎͛͋̽̀̽͑͒m̸̮̹͙̦̏̒̓̾̔̎̃̓̎̋̓̕ͅą̵̫̱̬̼̍͒̃̑̈́̏́͐͗̈́̽͂͘l̵̞̲͔͇̍̋̓͌͂̊̚͝͠l̴͉̇̔̒̂̑̆̔̃͒͐̐̊̕y̸̘͖͗͛̈́̇͛̄́̈̿̚̚-̴̛̤͉͔͈̳̬̬͚͕́̇̆̎͜͝͝ͅͅ
̶̧̛͎͈̪̜̮̤̠͉̰̏̏̈́̈̽̌͗̍͝T̸̨̡̡̹͙̪͔͎̼͉̭͈̣̮͈̃̈́̈́̂̓͆͝ơ̴͚̻̟̪̆̊͆̋̀̓̎̽͒͝͝ͅḿ̸̩̙̥̪͓̹̺̙̿̀̕͝͝͠͝ͅm̶̛͓̏̑̈́͆̏̅̃͛̋̚ỷ̷̜̣͑̊̒͗̀̋̈́̈ ̵̡̨̛̞͈̥̻͚̫̟͈̙͎̝̽̈́̎͌͛͜͝ẅ̸̧̨̞̜͓̮̻͔̞͉̜̫̗̲̫̈͘ȯ̸̢̨͇̪͓̳̞̥͚̖͒̍̃̊͋͛k̷̛͈̠̩͇̱̲͂̈́͗͌̀͊̕͠e̸͈͇̦̟͙̪͚͝ ̸̡̼̝̗͇̣̋̂͐̍͗̄͑͆̎̿̕u̸͍̝̟̰͌̿͛̐̒̒ṗ̶͖̯̻̰̰̥̤̞̩̇̀ͅ ̶̧̛̯̟͐͛̏̃͆̅̀̋̔̋̂͗͑͜n̶͈͖̭̽̀͌̿͊̑o̶͔̻̳͉̻̜͐̏̍̉̏̏̏̅́̄̒̉̚͝ŗ̶̡͈͍͇͇̻̳̺̘̣͓̲̈͐͐̏̏m̸̨̜̦͂͐́̈̈͊͘ͅą̴̺̞͙͉̙͉͓̼͇͖̓̓̏̇̍̃̑̀̀̾̂̾͘͘͝l̵͓͔̼̦̾͆̒̏̍́ĺ̷̡͖͓̫͉̱͖͕͍̱ỹ̴̨̥̦͍̝̜̗͉̀̌̎̓̾̀̓͐͛͛͘̕-̶̹͈̍́
̵̢͎̻̤̫̯̩̜͙̱̦̺̜̖̦̃̍̈́̋͗̿̑͑͌̈́̈́͑̌̚
̵̰̻̼̤̳͚͖̦̮͈̹̫͓̪͂͛̓̍̂̾͋̀͆̌̑͘ͅT̵̰̭̹̏̐͗̊̈́̕o̶̗͌̿̀̓͒͆̿̉̐͘͘͝͝m̶̡͓̥͕̹͙̦̞̬̻͉̃̓̎͊ͅm̸̡̡̘̲͚͙͚̰̜͈͚̣̠̈́̐͆̇̈́̇́͌͊͝y̸̨̺̯̦̻̹͔̯͖͉̞̔̾̀͛̾̉͒͆̓̒̏̍͘̕ͅ ̵̻̑̑͋̈̀̑̍͘̕w̵̨͕̣͇̘͓͚̦͚̥̝̪̣̏̈́̿̾̕o̵̳̝̱̰̖̅͌̅̎̐̾̄̓̐͐k̸̫̺̣̗̇̽̐͋͘͝ẽ̶̢̨̱̪͖̩͚̙̱̣̫͍̑͜͜͜ ̸̣̖͋̋̓͘͝u̵͍̮̼͕̞͔͝p̴̡̝̻͔͇̰̫͚̩͖̩̤͚̜̝͂̿̑͒͊̕ ̴̰̻͙͎͔̭̀̔̔͜͝n̸͒̔͆̐̅̈́̍̚̕͘͝ͅȏ̶͎̤͓̝̝̇̐̋̽̌͋͑̓̾̓͛̃͜͝ͅr̴̢̧̢̼͓̣̟̰͇͓̠̤̪̍̀̄͊̓̉͘̕͘͝͝m̶̼̙̮̯͕̟͙͕̮̔̓̒͐͋̽̓̇̈́̓̆̏͐̕a̵͖͍͈͖̳̲̦͈̝̹͑͝͠͝ļ̴̦͚̱͚̳̑͐̐̔̔̐͒̂̉̽͗̄̄̏̀l̵̤̬̲̮̥͈̘͉̹͚͖̹̃͑́̓̇̓͠y̸̢̡̨͕̞̺̲̼̳̰̭̣̐̋́̔̊̈̂̚-̵͉̃̀̏͊̈́̈̒͆̌͊͜͝
Tommy woke up to a nightmare. He always did, even if he didn’t want to. Escaping was impossible and Tommy knew this despite the tears that ran down his cheeks and the hope that flared in his chest that this time would be different.