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Edwin sat at his desk writing in his notebook. The last case had taken longer than any of them expected as the client hadn't been truthful with them at the start. He had lied about not knowing how he had died which led them into the hands of a particularly powerful poltergeist. One that neither boy was equipped to handle. Charles had tried hitting it with his newly repaired cricket bat only for the poltergeist to easily avoid the swing before sending Charles flying through the nearest wall causing Edwin to quickly realize that the poltergeist was far more powerful than the client had stated. It was too late too flee, though, as the entity would just be able to follow them. He had no choice but to try to cast a spell that would have drained a normal ghost completely of their essence, the thing that made them exist. Instead, it just drained Edwin of his energy causing him to be more tired than he had felt in years.
"I'm fine, Charles," Edwin stated without looking up from his writing. He had felt Charles's eyes on him for the last little while watching him carefully.
"You don't look fine," Charles fretted. He knew better than anyone how Edwin was supposed to look as he had spent the last thirty-five years studying Edwin. Now, there was something off about the other boy. Not only did he look tired, he almost had an ashy tone to his skin. He hadn't reverted to his death mask or an orb but Charles was worried that would be the end result if Edwin didn't take the time to rest like he obviously needed to. "Why don't you come sit on the couch for a while?"
"I need to finish my notes," Edwin answered calmly.
"You can finish them there," Charles replied causing Edwin to finally look up at him. Charles was sitting in his usual spot on the edge of the desk with a small toy in his hand that he was fidgeting with.
"I'm perfectly fine at my desk Charles," Edwin informed him primly.
"Sure, Mate," Charles agreed as he slid off. He moved away from Edwin, picking up his bag in order to sort through it as he kept one eye on Edwin. Edwin ignored him as he went back to his notebook trying to finish the case notes. The words were beginning to blur together and he reached up rubbing his eyes. Perhaps Charles was right and he should take a break. He would easily be able to convince Charles to join him on the couch and maybe even turn on a movie on the laptop that Crystal left the last time she visited. He set down his pen and moved to close the notebook when the first giggle came from behind him. Edwin couldn't help as his body froze as he heard the sound of giggling growing closer. A feeling of helplessness washed over him. His body began to tremble even as he fought to remain as still as possible as it was too late for him to try to run as the spider was already close, running now would just mean the spider would catch him even quicker. He could almost feel all of its hands digging into his body where it would carry him to a quiet corner of Hell before taking its time to rip him apart slowly. Or if he was lucky, it would be quick and messy allowing him to regenerate and watch as his previous body was destroyed, knowing that it would happen again.
"Edwin?" Charles questioned in concern as Edwin stared forward his body shaking violently. "Edwin, what's wrong?" Charles got closer to him but Edwin didn't seem to notice he was there. Cautiously Charles reached out placing his hand on Edwin's arm. Edwin screamed in terror as he tried to scramble away from Charles causing Charles to pull his hand quickly back as he moved in the opposite direction. His eyes were wide as he stared at Edwin in shock. Edwin had never reacted that way before to his touch even when he was lost in his nightmares and Charles was worried that he had somehow hurt him. Oh god, was he really like his father after all and destined to hurt the ones he loved? Edwin would normally be the one he would go to for reassurance but he had hurt Edwin.
"I'm sorry," Charles cried as he moved further away from the boy that he hurt. He slunk down to the floor pulling his knees up to his chest as he buried his face as the tears started to run down his cheeks.
That is how Crystal found them a short time later. Edwin was sitting in his chair shivering so violently that she was surprised he hadn't slipped to the floor while Charles was rocking himself crying he was sorry. She had no idea what happened but from the scene in front of her, she assumed that Charles had accidentally hurt Edwin somehow, even if that didn't make sense. She didn't bother to take off her coat as she hurried over to the two of them.
"Charles, what happened?" Crystal asked as she approached them.
"I hurt him," Charles hiccupped.
"How?" Crystal wondered.
"I don't know," Charles admitted his voice broken with sobs. Crystal approached Edwin slowly but he didn't seem to notice her.
"Edwin? Edwin, are you alright?" Crystal asked softly. Crystal's voice was distant to his ears as the giggling continued but it permeated the sounds of Hell as she didn't belong there. Neither did Charles but he could barely hear Charles as his voice sounded even further away the last time he spoke while Crystal's seemed to be coming closer. "Edwin speak to me."
"You need to run Crystal. Take Charles and run," Edwin breathed so softly she barely heard him. Crystal looked around the room but could see nothing that would cause them harm and besides if she was going to run she was taking Edwin with them. Not only because Charles would never recover if something happened to Edwin but because she had a soft spot for him as well, even if she would never admit it to him.
"I'm not taking Charles anywhere without you," Crystal told him. She gently laid a hand on his, her eyes turning white as she quickly dragged into his hallucination. He was still in the office but the office looked wrong. The normally brightly lit office was now bathed in green light with the paint peeling down the wall. The sound of children's laughter surrounded them and she could hear the sound of something scuttling around them. Crystal could see him still sitting in the chair but he was now wearing a strange white nightgown that was filthy with bloodshot eyes and ash that seemed to fall off his skin.
"Crystal, please go before it gets here," Edwin told her, his voice shaking.
"I don't know what you think is coming, Edwin but there is nothing here beyond Charles and me. And Charles is crying behind me because he hurt you somehow," Crystal informed him.
"Charles didn't hurt me," Edwin whispered the confusion clear on his face.
"He thinks he did," Crystal answered. She opened her own mind to show Charles sobbing on the floor and that seemed to work as she felt her mind disconnect from Edwins. She opened her eyes as she watched Edwin slide to the floor moving closer to Charles.
"It's alright, Charles, you didn't hurt me," Edwin whispered reaching out a hand to him. He didn't touch him as the last time Charles shrugged him off at the lighthouse was still fresh in his mind and he wasn't sure that Charles would welcome his touch. Charles looked at him and there were no words exchanged between the two of them but an understanding crossed Charles's face before he collapsed into Edwin's arms. Edwin held him close, kissing him on the top of his head as he held him. Crystal felt like she was interrupting something, so she picked up the mail to sort through it as she tried to give the boys a moment of privacy. She didn't need to bother as without completely releasing each other, they stood moving almost in unison toward the wall, and disappeared through it leaving Crystal alone with no idea when they would return.
On the other side of the wall, the two boys entered a room that only they could access before climbing up to the large bed that sat blocking the door. Charles reached for one of their blankets pulling it over the two of them as he lay down wrapping it around them as he took Edwin into his arms. Edwin frowned and Charles wondered if he had done something wrong before Edwin turned them so that he was holding Charles instead. Charles opened his mouth to argue but Edwin interrupted him before he could.
"I rest better this way," Edwin told him, and who was Charles to argue as even though he loved to hold Edwin, he had never felt safer than he did in Edwin's arms. Sighing softly he buried his face in Edwin's chest as he closed his eyes to rest as he listened to Edwin's own breathing even out as he too succumbed to his exhaustion.