Chapter Text
The sound of the clock pendulum in the Long family's living room and the constant hum of the computer fan were the only things Jake could hear. His family sleep peacefully while the little boy excited for his birthday, just a few hours away, found imposible to fall asleep, no matter how hard he tried. Even though it was summer vacation, Jake was never the kid who is used to staying up late.
Just a few hours away before midnight, the invisible boundary that would mark his twelve birthday, he wasn't specially excited about the celebrations. After all, he didn't have that many friends to invite over, and he was certainly sure that if he did, no one would come. Most of them would be traveling or spending time with their families for the holidays.
Sitting in front of the monitor, his dark notes app open with tons of incomplete ideas and the browser, searching for techniques and writing down what he could find in forums on how to defeat a particularly difficult enemy in the video game currently connected to the television behind him, technical concepts and tactics from his video game as if he were putting together a network of clues, albeit a somewhat tangled one, which frustrated him as he rubbed his neck for the umpteenth time.
There was a strange, deep and burning itch right under the base of his neck, as if he'd come down with a rash. Perhaps due to the stress of the game and the enemy that got him searching for a strategy to finally defeat him. No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, he ends up scratching his neck until he feels a cold breeze refresh his neck, a small trickle of red liquid stain his finger, which cause him to snap out of the trance he was in.
Trying to ignore the itch, now a little bit easier due to the coolness from the wound now on his neck. His eyes roam around the room focusing on the shelf with collectible figures perfectly aligned in their boxes on top of it, seeking for a way to distract himself to push the annoying sensation out of his mind, his attempt is interrupted when he quickly turns at the sound of his door creaking open behind him, quickly hiding his injured neck.
The door swung open slightly as the sound of the wood scraping against the floor quickly died, letting in the smell of reheated Chinese food and the figure of his father. Jonathan loosened the knot of his tie with a smile that tried to hide the dark circle under his eyes from a ten-hour workday.
—Still awake, champ? Your big day is almost here.— He said, leaning against the doorframe as he struggle to close the door with his only hand free while holding the food in the other, hoping not to wake up the rest of the family
—Your mother and I were talking about your birthday present. You still have time to ask for that dark fame with knights and monster you were looking at the other day.—
Jake gulp, barely able to hide his excitement for the game, but he thought the gift he asked for earlier was enough and not that expensive. he didn't want to overwhelmed them. Especially his dad, that now shows a tired face due to his work shift. Jake opened his mouth to answer but a strange and uncomfortable heat rising up his throat that made him shut his mouth quickly and slowly shake his head instead
—Actually... I'd prefer the skateboard i told you about, Dad.— He murmured felling his throat a little drier than usual
—Just that skateboard.— So i can get home from school faster. His voice felt odd and that heat didn't seem to be going away completely, it was starting to worry him.
Jonathan let out a sigh of relief, maybe too loud for what he intended, as his face lit up relieved to have such specific request and easy to fulfill at a sports store on his way home tomorrow after work.
—Of course, my little J-man, you already want to go everywhere on your own, don't you? I like the idea.— Ruffling Jake's hair, he stood up leaving the food on Jake's desk and walked toward the door
—Any design in mind?— Jonathan asked mid-yawn, which showed how tired he was, Jake simply shook his head, still feeling that burning sensation in his throat.
Tapping the door twice before closing it, he yawned a "Happy Birthday" to Jake, since he probably won't see him tomorrow morning when he woke up due to his work schedule and the late hours his son slept until, it was already a routine, and his family didn't mind, after all is his moment of peace before he goes to 7th grade, he deserved it.
Jake back in his bubble of silence, the boy let out the breath he did't know he was holding as son as the the latch clicked, he could have sworn he saw sparks coming out of his breath, which even lit up the dark room a bit, a room illuminated only by his computer screen and the game still running in the TV even though he no longer had the desire or energy to keep playing, maybe staying up until this late is not his thing.
With a steady step he walked toward the small mirror hanging on the back of the bathroom door, feeling his own footsteps unusually heavy on the carpet beneath his feet. He looked and felt exhausted, the lack of sleeping finally catching up on him. Feeling his eyelids heavy he stumbled to the bathroom inside his room, and did his best to wipe the blood away from the back of his neck, now dry, though he didn't try very hard before yawning his way to bed.
He didn't even bothered to cover himself, for some strange reason he felt too hot to do it.
Finally, he drifted off as he curled up into a ball, as if a heat were emanating from his chest.