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Heart thudding in his ears, Kei’s eyes darted open to four square blinding lights. Darting his eyes back and forth, he couldn’t picture his surroundings, only a sense of dread. His arms and legs were pinned, mouth covered. The more he squirmed against the restraints, the more they snaked around him; a vice tightening on the table.
“Heart rate and temperature are normal.”
How could his heart rate be normal? His chest was sore from how quick his heart was racing.
The distinct sound of an electrical saw whirred to the right of him.
“NO!” Kei tried to scream - his voice stolen. “Stop - please!”
How could he make them stop? Why won't they stop?
His wrists shook against the restraints. Could he break them? How many were there? Shuffling feet and eerily calm voices surrounded him.
The wind from the saw’s blade bit at his arm.
One of the trays smashed, clattering to the floor.
A warm laugh was out of place in the room of horrors.
Gasping for breath, Kei opened his eyes once again, no longer on the table.
Instinctively, he brought his hand to his shoulder, checking that it was intact. He moved each of his limbs, ensuring that he was no longer strapped.
A bead of sweat dripped past his nose. Tears streaked his face.
His lungs still shaky, he forced deeper breaths. His fingers curled into the scratchy sheets on his bed. Tugging the blanket to his face, he erased the clinical scent of disinfectant with the smell of Kai. Inhaling, he counted through his breath, grounding himself to his reality. The raw wood walls that Kai, the ghost, and Kei had built together. Through the window, the morning sun rose over the trees. There were no signs of human life, no hums of traffic or street lights.
“I’m sorry to have caused you so much trouble.” Kei’s IBM spoke from the kitchen.
“Hah, it’s alright man. See, we just give it a quick wipe and it’s all fixed.” Kai spoke to the ghost as if they were family.
Kei found it a bit odd at first, but he was quick to come around. In such an isolated place, having another being helped to stave off insanity.
Pushing the blankets off of himself, Kei carefully swung himself out of bed. His muscles were still sore, fighting for his life while he slept. Groaning, Kei pressed his feet into the floor, stepping towards the threshold into the main part of their small house. Resting against the doorway, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Kai glowed in the light of the morning. The sun reflected off his hair, now long enough that he pulled it into a ponytail. All he wore was a yellow pair of boxers with black smiley faces and his obnoxiously loud pink slides. A huge grin spread over his face as he hung up a dirty rag, the last remaining evidence of the clattering that had woken Kei.
“Okay, let’s try again.” Kai set a bowl in front of Kei’s ghost.
The giant black mass paused for a moment, analyzing the bowl in front of him.
“Here you go.” Kai passed him an egg, the ghost hesitating before taking it.
Pinching the egg, the ghost spun the egg around in his hand, inspecting each bump and shade on it.
“Yep, now just like I showed you-,” Kaito held an egg in his own hand. Eyeing the ghost, he carefully tapped it on the edge of the bowl, cracking it. Pulling the halves apart, the yolk plopped into the bowl.
The ghost, in an attempt to copy him, tapped the egg too gently on the edge, not leaving a single crack. His solution was to simply chuck it into the bowl. The shell cracked as yolk shot up, spraying both Kai and the IBM.
“That was better!” Kai commended him, giving a nod. “We just have to make sure to take out the shells.” He pinched the larger parts of the shell out, then fished away the rest with a spoon.
Kai continued to vocalize everything he did, walking the IBM through each step, as if the beast needed to eat at all. However ridiculous it seemed to Kei, the ghost seemed genuinely interested in watching Kaito, in learning from him; he thrived under Kaito’s attention. It was likely an echo from Kei’s own self.
“Stupid.” The IBM muttered, hovering over Kai’s shoulder.
“Hey man, big words from someone who can’t crack an egg.” Kai shrugged off the insult, far too used to it (from the ghost and Kei alike).
A chuckle escaped Kei’s lips, alerting Kai to his presence.
“Oh!” Kaito peered over his shoulder. Yolk was speckled across his grinning face, his zircon green eyes sparkling at the sight of Kei. “You’re up early!” He poked at the sizzling pan.
“I guess.” Kei shrugged, not wanting Kai to worry.
However, Kai could read Kei easier than a book. His brow furrowed, his lips pinched. Giving one last shake, he took the pan off the heat, shutting the gas off with a click.
“Did you have another nightmare?” He rubbed his soiled hands on a dishtowel.
“It’s fine-”
“Why won’t they stop?” His IBM echoed the lingering sentiments from his dream.
Rolling his eyes, Kei muttered under his breath that he was a traitor.
“Come ‘ere.” Kai’s slides slapped against his feet as he stepped closer to Kei, his arms spread. He was truly a ridiculous creature.
Yet, there was nothing as comforting as being in Kai’s hold. He tightly squeezed Kei, one hand firm at his nape, playing at the base of his hairline. Kei rested his cheekbone against the place where Kai’s shoulder met his neck. Though faint, Kei could hear a whisper of Kaito’s heartbeat.
“I love him.” The IBM wandered aimlessly, his mission now over.
Kei’s face burned red at the truth that hadn't passed his lips yet.
Chuckling, Kai kissed his face, giving him an extra squeeze for good measure.
“I love you too.”
With a sour face, Kei pushed him away; Kaito knew better than to take it to heart.
“Come on, eat. You’re losing too much weight.” Kaito pointed towards the bowls.
“My weight is fine!” Kei argued, reaching for the bowls nonetheless.
Together they set up their, mostly shell free, breakfast. The IBM wandered outside, existing however he wanted. Kei’s chest felt warm, as if his heart was leaking into his chest. It was frightening to know someone had such a hold on you.
“You gotta eat more than that.” Kai scraped some more scrambled eggs onto his plate, not leaving any room for debate.
Giving Kai a slight smirk, Kei dug into his breakfast. Though it could be scary for someone to hold so much of himself, he trusted Kai. He knew that Kai would keep his heart safe.