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Sitting alone in a dark room was a boy with sharp features and dark hair being illuminated by the ghoulish light of a cellphone. He was typing furiously, writing out a scathing review for some shitty film he had seen recently.
"William, your Hamburger Helper is going cold," Dakota chirped as he knocked on the door to the dark bedroom rapidly and entered before getting a response, "We both know its worse the colder it gets."
William hissed as the lights to his room were thrown on. Dakota crossed the room before grabbing the phone from Williams hands and bolting out the room and down the hall with fading footsteps.
"You get five minutes before i check your tumblr!!" Dakota yelled as he raced down the hall
William groaned as he stood up and began to shuffle to the door with a blanket around his shoulders. The threat of Dakota going through his phone wasnt nearly as scary as letting his Hamburger Helper go cold. His room now in full light was covered in band posters that had the wide range of classic emo to midwest emo. The room was honestly a mess that got worse every day, but today wouldn't be the day it got cleaned.
Shuffling further out into the hallway, he had to give himself a moment to adjust to the bright fluorescent lights that were spread along the base.
After a seconds pause, he continued down the hall. Something tiny darted across the floor in front of him, making him stumble.
Following the movement, he spotted it. A fat cockroach. Right in front of him. Blocking his way. He'd be lying if he said he didn't give a slight yelp when he spotted it. The feeling of fear didn't subside after he identified the bug either. Its just a tiny, harmless bug, right..??? There is nothing to be this worried about.... Its probably more afraid than he is...
None of the usual lies were working. William was locked into some kind of standoff against this cockroach. He knows it could lurch towards him at any second with incredible agility and speed, but at this moment hes frozen to his core, unable to move or blink just tunnelvisoned and waiting on a jumpscare to get him.
Sure its just one bug now, but what if there are more nearby??? what if he manages to kill this one bug, but that alerts every other bug in the area? What if they are already alert. Jesus Christ what if they get him just like they got Issac?!
The image of that old man that used to live across the street from him flashed across his mind. Half full. The way his dead corpse was full of them. A husk of disgusting fluids and bugs that writhed. Back in the old Church, how Janice's crusted legs fused to skin like some jagged scab, locking her in place for the sacrifice. The priest grabbing Issac to regurgitate all kinds of horrible shit to be forced down his throat.
He could clearly picture how the bugs ate through the dead corpses of the young people in that church. He remembers the smell too. He hopes they were already long gone before the bugs began to eat. In his situation he wouldnt have that mercy. At what point would he no longer exist if the bugs were to eat away at his flesh? Scuttling through his ears and mouth and nose till he was just bone.
He was shaking. He hadn't blinked. He couldnt physically make a sound. Its just a bug. One cockroach. He had managed to kill millions of them before. This shouldn't be any different.
He stood there for minutes, waiting. Maybe if he waited long enough it would just die of old age. Bugs dont live long.
Breaking him out of it for a moment, he heard footsteps coming from around the corner. Was it someone coming to get him? Dakota or Vyncent or Tide?? or the Priest.
Tide rounded the corner.
"William! I thought id come get you for dinner," Tide seemed to pick up the tension in the air as he spoke. William knew how stupid he looked.
"Are you... Whats wrong, William."
Tide brought a feeling of comfort as he spoke.
In an attempt to speak, William let out a sort of quiet croak. Words seemed to fail him as his mouth hung open unable to form sounds. Luckily by this point Tide had noticed the bug on the floor and had turned his attention to it.
He hesitantly approached it, lifting his foot slightly in contemplation of whether to crush it. To Williams relief, he seemed to decide against it, sighing as he lowered his foot. William probably wouldnt be able to handle seeing bug paste right now.
Tide glanced over his shoulder before glancing back at William, the bug, and away again.
"Now, William, Im going to go and grab a glass to catch the cockroach in. Would you be fine if i left you for a small moment?"
Tide was patiently waiting for a response. He was good at this. Was there any chance the bug thing was in his file when he was put forward for the Prime Defenders?? or was this just Tide being an understanding guy? William fumbled for words before closing his mouth and giving a small nod.
Tide began to slowly back away, keeping an eye on both William and the cockroach. He got to the corner and broke into a sprint. It was funny. It lightened the air a bit.
William felt so stupid. He was already trying to think of ways to thank Tide and hide his emotional state from Vyncent and Dakota. He really hoped Dakota was lying about the tumblr thing.
He was much calmer now waiting for Tide. Till the bug began a slow scuttle across the floor towards him.
A forced exhale was let out as Williams breathing began manually and taking slow backward steps. The bug was moving slow and in a curved sort of line. Not straight at him. Thank god. This must be what bullfighters feel like. No thats dramatic. One bug cant kill you. Or can it..?
Tide skidded around the corner with a large glass in hand. He regained his composure and calmly approached the roach. At less than a snails pace he lowered the glass to the bug, kneeling as he did. With a sudden slam the bug was caught.
With the impact, the cockroach began leaping and jumping inside the glass. William was right, It was REALLY fast.
William and Tide both let out a sigh as the tension began to dissipate.
"You know, I myself am not a huge fan of bugs either" Said Tide as he slid some paper under the glass.
"..o..oh..?" William stuttered, regaining his voice.
"No reason truly. Just not a fan." Tide stood up with a grunt, bug secure and in hand.
"Ive got a good reason." Williams voice has hoarse but functional.
Tide walked theatrically down the hall showcasing the caught bug. They passed the living room where Dakota and Vyncent were sitting watching the TV. Williams phone nowhere to be seen. Either they got bored looking at his tumblr dash or Dakota was bluffing. William didnt currently care to know which it was. Neither of them took much notice of the bug or William, which was probably for the best. Today wasnt the day for a lore drop.
Maybe at some point in the future they might talk about it. They might find themself in Deadwood and he could show them the burnt church and they could hang out in his basement. Maybe he could introduce them to Issac, Norah, and Lui. They could all hang out together and solve a low stake mystery with no bugs or risk of death. That is if he every works up the courage to reconnect with his old friends.
Tide walked ahead into the lift and smiled at William as the doors shut.
The bug was vanquished.
By now the food was freezing. Not even an army of maggots could stomach it. William quickly disposed of the evidence into the bin and went to join the others on the couch.
"William! You missed dinner, dude. Where were you?" Vyncent had asked with a very sincere tone of voice, but hadnt broken eye contact with the TV where he was playing video games with Dakota, who was also very locked in to the game.
"Oh y'know." William attempted to avoid answering. Maybe Vyncent was too busy to ask more questions.
"Oh! By the way, has anyone seen my ant farm?? i kinda lost it.." Dakota had paused the game, turning to stare straight at William as he waited for a response.
Williams mouth hung open for a second as he searched for any words that he could use, before turning and walking out the room.
"Damn i guess not."
William returned with a stoic and determined look on his face, but continued to march straight past them and towards the dorms. In his hand was a can of deodorant and a lighter.
"WILLIAM NO THEY DESERVE TO LIVEEE!!" Dakota shouted after him as he and Vyncent leapt up from the couch to chase after William who was on the war path.