Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Warning
“Howwwaaaarrrrrrrddddd…”
Howard opened his eyes and could feel a splitting headache going on. He groaned as he rubbed his head and looked up at the starry sky in this field he was sitting in. Where was he? And who was calling for him?
“Howarrrrrrrd! Come home! It’s getting late! You’ll catch cold at this rate!”
Howard then froze up. That sounded like…
He quickly stood up and dusted the grass off his coat before looking over to sure enough, see his old childhood home. He could feel himself breathing a bit heavily as his legs weakly dragged him towards it. He didn’t really want to, but his mom was calling for him. And like a good son, he had to obey.
He soon reached the house that already looked worn down and abandoned… Exactly how he left it… His whole body was shaking. The pretty sky was now getting darker and the stars were turning into large red eyes staring down at him. It pushed him to hurry inside and forced his shaking hand to grab the doorknob and turn it.
He entered the house and quickly got nervous at how dark it was. Surely he had some sort of light source with him. He quickly dug into his pockets and was relieved that he had a lighter. Phillip always forgot his lighter, so Howard always carried one now. He quickly flicked it on and started to step inside.
“Mother..?” Howard mumbled out, “Are you… There..? I cannot see you… Where..?”
“In the kitchen, dear!” He heard her say, “Wash up for dinner! Check yourself in the mirror!”
Howard felt a huge lump in his throat. Just hearing his mom’s voice made him want to start bawling like a baby. He just wanted to hug her and tell he’s sorry he couldn’t figure out what to do back then when she-
A shot was heard. It sounded like thunder.
Howard’s breathing was getting faster. He immediately ran to the kitchen and froze at what he saw. His mother. Dead on the floor.
“Sweetie?” His mother, who was still laying on the floor, gave a long smile and said, “What’s wrong? It’s only mommy.”
Howard stared at her before he finally screamed. He turned to run towards the front door and forced it open, only to stop himself when the field was no longer there, but now some weird world where birds with books for wings were flying by and the bottom was a sea of some weird purple goop. He looked at it in disgust.
“Hey, Howie!”
Howard quickly turned back around to see… He gulped as he tried to get rid of the lump in his throat… It was Phillip, but he looked exactly like how he looked when…
Howard recalled when he fought that eldritch god… Seeing different universes… He saw what would have happened if he was too late to save him… That horrifying jackalope taxidermy Morose did…
Howard let out a little whimper as a stitched mouth broke out and tried to talk, “The doctor gave me an owie! You didn’t save me!..”
“Y-yes I did!” Howard feverishly nodded, “I did! I saved you! You don’t exist! This is a really bad dream! At least…” He grabbed his hair, “That’s what it seems…”
“You would make a cute turtle,” the rabbit Phillip said and pushed Howard, “let’s see you avoid this hurdle.”
Howard screamed as he fell and grabbed the house’s railing. He looked up to see the rabbit Phillip staring right down at him and… Started to transform in front of him and start to more look like Howard, but…
Those eyes… Those black sockets… Howard gulped in fear as he knelt down and grabbed him by his coat collar. The empty eyed Howard leaned more close to where all Howard could see were those black and lifeless eyes that were now bleeding out blood.
“Listen… Closely…” the doppelgänger spoke in Howard’s voice, “D’ avhoo Do Risth… is making them all cry… and scream..”
“I don’t know what you mean…” Howard mumbled, “What do you mean… Me..?”
“You see… A little thing between you and me… You should know… There are others that heard of him, yes and no? They don’t know. Don’t know at all… Oh his true intentions… You need to give them suspicions… Of what he really is… Do you understand this?”
“Others know? But I put him to sleep, though!” Howard argued.
“He made backup plans… Seek those out… The Who’s… The animals… anyone at all! Seek them all! Before you…” His other self’s smile got even wider, “Have a great fall…”
He let Howard’s collar go and Howard started to fall, slowly. He grabbed the leg of his doppelgänger, however, wanting to drag him down with him if he’s going to die.
The other Howard just laughed as he fell with him and as soon as moonlight hit him just right did his empty black eyes start showing green and blue and stars and the blood looked like slime. He just kept laughing as Howard watched in fear and dreaded landing in that purple gunk down below.
Despite that, he understood. Other places know about this monster… There’s a huge risk they’ll find out… and awaken him…
Howard knew it was still pointless to kill the God… But the least he can do is ensure it truly will sleep until the end! That’s his promise!
He finally landed in the purple substance…
…
“Howard! Howard, wake up!”
Howard’s eyes shot open and he quickly sat up in bed. He wiped the sweat off his forehead before looking up and saw Phillip and Angelique beside him. Angelique quickly placed a cool wet towel on Howard’s forehead.
“You were screaming in your sleep!” Said Angelique, “What’s up?”
Howard looked at Phillip and immediately grabbed him, pressing his ear to Phil’s chest to hear a heartbeat. He needed confirmation he did in fact save him.
Phillip was surprised by the sudden hug, but could tell his heartbeat was calming Howard down and seeing him breathing sighs of relief, “Uh… Bad dream?” He finally asked.
“It… Would seem…” Howard quietly responded and gave Phil a quick squeeze before pulling away, “The one we put to sleep… We gotta keep it that way! Someone who worships it could go to the island any day!” He started breathing fast again and more sweat came down as he was trying to process the idea of that and what that could mean for the world should that God return.
“Howard…” Phillip placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder, “it was just a dream. You’re alright, you saved the world. Would you like some hot chocolate? With extra whipping cream?”
Like alcohol, Howard could not turn down some hot chocolate, a little remedy his mom used to make that he remembered. Even though he knew it was more than a dream, he nodded. “It’s a sign, Phillip!” He stood up, “I will not go back to sleep, I will not sit! I have to figure this out before it all falls to pits!”
Phillip sighed and stood up after him, “Well, I guess you can explain it more while I make your drink. This might be a bit much to sink.”
…
“That other me, talk of other people, worshipping that thing!” Howard said as he paced back and forth in the kitchen and occasionally sipping his hot chocolate as he did. Phillip listened to him while he sipped his coffee and stayed quiet as Howard went on and on, “I know it’s warning me! I’m not letting anyone be stupid like that old king!”
“I see…” Phillip slowly sipped his coffee, “So, you’re worried that someone else is going to hurry over there like a bee? I can understand.. But we’re free, now. Don’t you see?”
Howard harshly turned his head towards Phillip, “I get that you don’t want to think about that, but you need to hear me talk and see me jump around like a cat!”
“Howard…” Phillip sighed and soon stood up, “You’re just having nightmares. I get them, too… But we’re safe, now. You gotta remember that. Will it do?”
“Phil!” Howard placed his hands on Phillip’s shoulders and looked him in the eye, “I’m serious. I’m scared. I genuinely feel this will become a problem if we choose to not care.”
Phillip looked at Howard back and let out another sigh. He really wanted to tell Howard once more that this is all just a bad dream and to try and move on, though… When he thought about it, he still fears that monster coming back, too… Maybe… There could be merit to what Howard is saying…, “Alright. Let’s read this up. Let’s get things ready for tomorrow.”
“Huh?” Howard raised a brow, “R-really? We’re… Gonna go?”
“Business trip,” Phillip replied, “we can all get out and get some fresh air, and see about all of this and get it all out of our hair.”
Howard stared at Phillip in a bit of disbelief, wondering why Phillip was now okay with this idea… Unless… Phillip was curious? Or wanted to travel? Maybe it would be nice to get out of this city. Howard never once had a vacation and only listened to the ones Phillip had in his youth. Whatever the reason, he was glad Phil was listening.
“We may have to get cooler clothes if we’re going to the south,” said Phillip with a shrug, “it’s gonna be too hot for our coats no doubt.”
“Um… We’ll see,” Howard nodded, not liking the idea of wearing something that would show much skin, “in the morning, we’ll be ready?”
“Sure thing,” Phil smiled, “see ya then!” He hurried off to his room, confusing Howard. Was Phillip too tired and he accidentally kept him up? It made Howard feel guilty and he quickly tried to approach his friends room and-
He froze as he heard those words from the other side, “I’m a sorry excuse of a man! I’m a monster! A psycho! I can’t let these thoughts go! Oh, Katie, forgive me!… Forgive me…”
Howard listened to his friend’s sobs in silence before he then slowly turned away to go back to his own room. So Phillip does believe him, then? Maybe? He hoped so…
This isn’t the first time he had heard Phillip sobbing like this and mumbling about how he feels like a monster… Rambling on about how disgusted he is in himself for enjoying the vivisections, even though it wasn’t his fault…
Howard got back into his bed and stared up at the ceiling and the dim light it had. He still remembered reading those old journal pages… How Phillip seemed so excited about everything he was doing in the past and then the mention of that stone hit him like a truck. He didn’t understand why Phillip seemed so eager about all of that… Gross stuff… until that mention…
There were times… Times where Phillip would have his… Moments… Wishing to hurt anyone who dared to talk smack about his little sister… How much she was bullied for being so frail and just wanted to sew and knit and crotchet… Katie was not super interested in wanting to be a strong, super, independent woman aside from mentioning not feeling interested in seeking a partner out. She was told, ‘You’re still young! Only a child! One day, you’ll meet him!’ And Katie would puff up her cheeks. She was a bit different, and Phillip always protected her and spoiled her when he could. Because his parents didn’t… They didn’t…
Howard understood. He understood Phillip’s pain… He just thought only a little differently.
Of course Howard wanted his mother back, he just knew it wasn’t possible. How he did wish she would sit up and say, “I’m okay, Howie! It’s mommy!” And things will be fine. The world is too cruel. And Howard knew that. And yet…
He didn’t need his mom back just to feel happiness. He knew his mom would want him to move on, and like a good son: He did.
Howard gave his pillow a little squeeze and let out a sigh. Phillip wants to make up for his actions… Perhaps ensuring the elder stays asleep might help… He could only hope…
He could only hope…