Chapter Text
I really don't know what to think of him.
I shouldn't try to keep comforting him.
But...
As soon as I gave him the cold shoulder-
"Punish me."
"Tobi-" Why do you keep asking me for this?
"I deserve it. It would give you closure. I'm not saying this blindly. It isn't asking you to take revenge. It's to give you the chance to feel like you have that control over your suffering that you said you wanted to feel when you hurt yourself." That- that's not-
"I would rather you hurt me instead of yourself."
"I'm not doing that!"
"S-So, what? You're magically better? You're angry even though you say you aren't. Why wouldn't you be? I tried to kill you. I made you cry and beg for your life. You're sad and hurt. And you're just going to hurt yourself more. I can take it, Rudolph. I've always taken it. I don't deserve your mercy." If you still keep doing this, you're not taking it.
"You want to know what my life was?" Here? Right here?
"My father punishes me for every mistake with violence and cruel words. My family fears me for reasons I don't understand. And I..." Please stop. Please stop.
"Tobi, please. Not right now, I-"
"Something follows me, Rudolph. Something awful."
"...what?" Depression? Anger? Violence? Rudolph had barely had any time to process it but he was being abused which means that it wasn't his fault but he made the decision to hurt him but he also-
"That night I tried to kill you... that was me. I take full responsibility for that." That- I can't even think-
"But. For the... outlandish things... those aren't me." It was him. It was his body. He made his own decisions. DID didn't cause that. It wasn't like he-
"Like a... split personality...?" Tobias shook his head.
"His name is Mr. Edburt. I don't know what he is but he's haunted me since I was a child. He's always tormented me. He takes control in my weak moments. Part of me thinks he's only my imagination... but I want him to be real. Because if he isn't, that only means that all of me is awful." Since he was a child... so the abuse had been going on that long? Why?
"Like... a ghost? A demon?" Tobias nodded before perking up.
"A Greyman. He calls himself a Greyman." Rudolph became aware of how much his heart was racing. This was the most calm he'd seen Tobias. That didn't mean he was anywhere near calm. He constantly turned on a dime. If it was real to him, it made him more stable, and if Rudolph could handle it, Rudolph would talk to him. He wasn't going to stick with him like he did with Ben, but he needed it right now. Tobias himself admitted he was fully aware of trying to kill him.
"Grey... man?" Tobias nodded.
"A demon eater. I've just discovered some new... information, but- it's best described as a work in progress." Tobias clutched the things in his hands closer to his chest.
"I... I don't know much about the occult. In Denmark, there's this place called Dragsholm Slot; Dragsholm castle. There are many ghost stories because of what it was, being a prison and mental institution, but there's one popular ghost called the 'grey lady' in English. Although she's generally seen as friendly..." Tobias looked away, before directly meeting Rudolph's eyes.
"...you don't believe me, do you?" Rudolph stepped back.
"N-no! It's not that! I just- I've never-" Tobias dropped the things he had in his arms.
"Images and dreams of dead children... ichor polluting my lungs... making me hurt people... the cross on my back..."
"And you still. Don't. Believe me?" Rudolph could feel the others starting to look.
He's going to kill you.
"I-I believe you! Please just- please don't-" Tobias pulled his hair.
"He's ruined my life. He's why my father beats me. He's why I did those things to Carmelo. He's why I can't remember things. He's why- he-" Tobias started coughing, folding over.
"This-! Even this! Ha! Hahaha!" He felt his mouth, showing some black liquid on his fingers. Rudolph remembered that. The time he tried to flirt with Rudolph in the hallway-
Is he actually telling me the truth?
"Ectoplasm of some sort! It's not blood and I know it! I thought he was finally done trying to fight me here because me and Carmelo saw Broderick's body but- he just won't leave me alone!" Tobias grasped his head, falling to his knees.
"...body?" Everyone was looking.
"I talked to Silas and I talked to Broderick and I know about the contaminations but I don't know how to get rid of him or if I can. I still know nothing about Odette!" Rudolph felt the urge to hurt himself.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, DUDE!" Carmelo ran over and crouched down behind Tobias, putting his hand over his mouth. He pulled at off, turning to yell at Carmelo.
"I'M TRYING TO TELL HIM! IF ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW HE EXISTS MAYBE HE'LL STOP POSSESSING ME!" Mr. Abi finally came over.
"What the hell is going on!? Rudolph?" He looked around. Emilio was also watching, but was watching was Rudolph, not Tobias. Carmelo kept muffling Tobias' mouth.
"I- I-"
"OKAYYY I guess I have to! Tobias has been with me all day freaking out and doing weird shit and hallucinating or something and spacing out and I guess he finally snapped!" Carmelo pulled his arm away as Tobias bit him, stumbling up and facing the group of students.
"I AM NOT CRAZY!" He hyperventilated, looking around.
"I am not crazy!" He smiled.
"I'm... I'm not..."
Tobias looked at Rudolph's feet, starting to cry with a blank expression.
"...punish me." Rudolph shook his head and backed up.
"Everyone but you three on the bus, now." No one fought back, going on.
"He's going to kill me when I go back. He's going to kill me. He's going to kill me." Tobias kept repeating it.
"Emilio, get on the bus." He looked at Tobias, then Rudolph.
"Sir, I-"
"GO." Emilio closed the doors, but stayed on the steps.
"And close the windows!"
"Why?!"
"I AM NOT SCREWING AROUND." How was Rudolph supposed to react to any of this? He heard them close.
"...I... holy hell, I don't know what to do-" Mr. Abi opened his phone, scrolling on a screen, putting it away a couple seconds after. Tobias fell down to his knees, arms limp, looking at the floor.
"I don't know what to do."
"Tobias?" He'd gone silent. He wasn't responding to anyone.
"Tobi?" Tobias' head whipped to face Rudolph.
"Look at me." Rudolph shook his head.
"LOOK AT ME, RUDOLPH!" Rudolph turned to run. He did, briefly.
They... they looked different. The whites of his eyes were darker.
My mind is playing tricks on me. I'm stressed. Tobias started getting up. Rudolph started to run, pretty quickly tripping onto his hands and knees. He turned around, staying down. If he tried, Carmelo would protect him, right?
"ENOUGH!" Carmelo came and pulled Tobias' arms behind his back. He pulled a little bit.
"Tobias?" He jolted in Carmelo's grip, but he didn't pull with much determination.
"Tobias, what in the hell is going on?" He looked at Mr. Abi before laughing.
"Oh, you want to know what's going on? Me too! Why not just say it all?! My dad has beat me for something since I was 8 and I don't even know what it is I did! My family members treat me like I'm filth and like I'll curse them too if I get near them! I'm the accursed demon child that just happened to get selected for some prophecy bullshit! I can't even kill myself because-" Emilio came out of the bus. Carmelo covered his mouth again, Tobias trying to pull at it.
"Emilio! What did I just-"
"You have to restrain him." Tobias whipped his head around.
"Oh, what do you know, stalker boy?! What do any of you actually know?"
"We can't do that-"
"These three, trying to help me? The masochist, the sadist, and the stalker! What a crew! Then there's me, the psycho!"
"THEN CALL SOMEONE!" Rudolph flinched at Emilio yelling.
"Yeah! Call the cops! Tell them to shoot me! I don't care anymore! If I'm dead I don't have to deal with him!"
"Apologies, Tobias-" Emilio ran over to Tobias and Carmelo, Carmelo grabbing his other wrist. Emilio forced his head up and put his palm over his mouth, Tobias muffled by his hand.
"What are you doing?! Oh my God-"
"I'll explain it later- Carmelo, just keep holding him." He nodded. Tobias screamed into his hand.
I can't take this.
I can't do this again.
It's not the same.
But...
Tobias slowly stopped struggling. Emilio pulled his hand away. He looked at the ground hollowly.
"You can let him go now."
"LIKE HELL I AM! HE WAS READY TO JUMP ON RUDY!"
"There's a good chance he passes out soon. I gave him two." Oh.
"Two of what?" Emilio reached into his pocket and pulled out his prescription bottle.
"A medication I take. He's not used to it and it's a double dose. We need to take him to a hospital because I don't know what side effects he'll have."
"He needs to be taken to the fuckin' looney bin-" Tobias stumbled, groaned, folded over, and fell to the ground. A cell phone fell out of his pants pocket. Carmelo let go.
"Holy shit, what are those, fucking elephant tranquilizers?"
"I don't exactly know, to be quite honest. I just know that if I don't take them for long enough..." He pointed at Tobias.
"I'll get like that." Rudolph felt ill that they did that to him, but relieved it was over. Emilio came over to Rudolph. He scattered and tried to stand up and run, only managing to back away by pushing on the ground. He could be strong and fight but not when he was afraid like this.
"You're hurt." He couldn't speak. Rudolph shook his head. He only tripped. Emilio held his hand up and pointed at it. Rudolph looked at his own. He had ripped off one of the bandaids on his fingers.
"I am so going to lose my job."
"That's what you care about?! Holy fuck-" Carmelo came over too.
"Are you okay, Rudy?" He looked at the blood on his hand. No. He put his hand over his mouth, starting to sob. There were some sirens in the distance. Someone on the bus must have realized it wasn't a regular school fight and called.
"Your body is so useless, Tobias..." All of them looked. He lifted his head and pushed himself up a little with his arm, but fell down quickly. Unconscious. Mr. Abi was on the phone. Rudolph wasn't paying attention to that.
"What happened today?" Carmelo covered his mouth, looking back.
"A... a lot. He passed out, started freaking out for the first time; randomly apologizing about something I don't even remember, it started pissing rain and we met up with Abi for the house-manor-tour thing, he ran away and started freaking out for the second time even worse, screaming and crying and shit and just apologizing over and over again, I got him to Abi again but I don't think he did that did much and he disappeared again, found him outside in the rain, THEN HE ASKED ME TO GO ROB A GRAVE WITH HIM?! And- and I did it because I can't predict what that guy will fucking do cause I was scared? Yeah? Um- but- he was forcing me to walk there and JUMPED OFF A FUCKING BRIDGE. I saved him cause like...? He's still a person...? Then he's normal and giddy, then cried, then fine again, and I probably should have left at that point, but I really couldn't trust him to not start trying to strangle me or something if I did. We get to the cemetery, he starts getting existential on my ass, then he's giddy again, then we start- HE starts breaking into the damn place and then spacing the fuck out and- he told me to open this grave or he'd kill me so I was doing that- and- okay... wait... I lied and forgot but he didn't threaten me to stay, I stayed and did it because I thought he was gonna kill himself if I left. We left. He got excited about a dog- yet another fucking mood swing- and now we're here."
...
"What?"
"I DUNNO! TOBIAS IS NUTS!" Rudolph looked at him on the ground.
He tried to kill himself? Is that what he meant by "doing something that nearly cost him his life"?
Is this my fault?
"I... I didn't think he... he never-" Why didn't you do anything when he hurt me?
He begged Rudolph to help him earlier. He didn't do anything. It was his fault. He needed to help him. Rudolph got up and ran over to him.
"Rudy!"
"Rudolph!" He turned Tobias on his back. That black stuff was coming out of his nose again. The sirens were getting louder. Rudolph pulled him up and hugged him.
"I'm sorry, Tobi- I'm so sorry I shouldn't have left you I'll never do that again please don't hurt yourself please-" Tobias moved his hand up for a second but went limp again. Rudolph cried into his shoulder until an ambulance and police car pulled up. Emilio came near.
"You need to let go of him." Rudolph shook his head.
"This happened because I left him! This morning I told him I didn't want to be his friend anymore and in the same day he jumps off a bridge and starts committing crimes?! It's my fault!" Emilio touched his shoulder.
"He chose to do that. He thought to do that. You never told him or gave him any hint that you wanted that. It's not your fault." Rudolph held his face. He actually looked peaceful. No anger or that usual thousand-yard state.
"What... what's even going to happen?"
"I can't really tell you. Regardless of the circumstances, I know he's going to the hospital." Rudolph gently pet his hair.
"I hope it's a decent one. Mine wasn't great." Rudolph slowly let him go, managing to get up despite his shakiness.
The police officer was talking to Carmelo, who clearly had too much to say. A separate paramedic came out as two others came out and lifted Tobias onto a stretcher.
"Can either of you tell me why he's passed out? Does he have any medical issues?" Both of them hummed, thinking.
"Well, right now it's because I gave him one of my medications. It's an anxiety medication but without him being used to it or the dose, he passed out. I forced it. Tell him if he doesn't remember. If he presses charges, so be it. I didn't want him to get hurt or hurt anyone else. It was that, or attempting to tie him up until you or the police arrived." Rudolph also clearly knew why he did, but-
"T... Tobias has problems with being tired and falling asleep easily in class. He might be more affected by it." Emilio nodded.
"He also fainted in front of me due to stress once."
"Really?"
"Before the... ah... woods." Emilio looked ashamed. Good.
"Oh." He nodded, writing a couple things down in a notepad.
"Does he have a history of violent or suicidal behavior?"
Emilio gripped his shirt while Rudolph dug his nails into his cuts.
"Both." Emilio looked at him.
"Both?" He didn't know Tobias attacked him. Rudolph shook his head. Stupid. If they think he's violent, they won't let him out.
"I... I've... can we talk one on one?" Rudolph glared. He knew Tobias fought back against him. Was he counting that as being violent?
"If you can tell him, you can tell me." Emilio sighed out his nose.
"Tobias has killed animals. I've seen a cat and a fox." The image of Ben breaking that mouse's neck played in his head. Rudolph hunched over, holding his hand over his mouth as he gagged.
He would have killed him in the woods if it wasn't for the other boy who Rudolph figured to be Tobias' brother. What else would he have done? What else had he done?
Someone at school was missing.
No. Too far fetched. But Ben did...
"Suicidal behavior? Do you have any instances?" Emilio looked at Carmelo talking to one of the police officers.
"He knows more. Carmelo said he tried to jump off a bridge earlier and I know Tobias can't swim." Rudolph panted. This was too much. He threw up, barely avoiding his shoes. Emilio tried to keep him upright. Don't touch me. Why did he keep trying to help? He didn't care when Carmelo was beating him.
"Are you alright?"
"What the fuck do you think?!" Carmelo came over.
"I'm not done with you yet!"
"MY DAD'S A COP, I PROMISE I'LL COME BACK!"
"Rudy, I know today has been a lot but if you need me to do anything or punch anyone I promise-" Rudolph fell to his knees.
"Can you two stop?! Stop being a creep and stop pretending to be nice! Tobias is gonna be hospitalized permanently or maybe even killed!"
"Killed?" Rudolph looked up.
"I don't know the details but I know he's being abused horrifically, physically and mentally. He has massive bruises on his stomach and his back and on his back there's a giant burn. He refuses to talk about his family and begs to be 'punished' anytime he upsets anyone and even asks to be hit or locked up. You cannot let him go back to his family. They will kill him." The paramedic paused for awhile.
"Do you... have any proof of this?"
"LOOK AT HIS BACK!"
"I've seen them as well. The one on his back is shaped like a cross."
"We'll look, then." Carmelo slowly turned his head towards Emilio.
"...how'd you find that out?"
"Locker room."
"You don't exercise." Emilio slowly turned his head away.
"Are you a stalker? You've blown me and Francis and Dino off over and over lately. Is it seriously for him?"
"Not the time for this..." Carmelo huffed.
"Rudy, this shit sucks so hard. I'm sorry." Rudolph wiped his eyes.
"It's fine. Believe it or not this isn't even the worst situation I've been in, haha..." It was pretty damn close.
"It's not fine. If... if you need to stay somewhere my place is open. I know we only made up a bit on Halloween but-" Rudolph held his hand up.
"Stop."
"...okay." Rudolph closed his eyes. He could hear Mrs. Morris yelling at Mr. Abi in the background. The paramedic came back out.
"Well... you weren't lying. That is some pretty bad scaring and it's clear he can't and didn't do it himself. They seem pretty recent, too. Do you know anything about the stab wound on his shoulder?"
"HE GOT STABBED TOO?! WHO THE FUCK-"
Emilio slowly raised his hand with a blank expression.
"My fault."
"Oh my fucking God can I make friends with anyone who's NORMAL?!" Emilio slowly lowered his hand.
"After Tobias passed out at school on the 25th, I brought him to the woods because he's gone out to them previously when he's begun to panic. He didn't take it the right way and tried to stab me in the chest with a pocket knife. I had a notebook in my jacket which stopped it. We ended up in a struggle and it concluded with me stabbing him. He kneed me in the groin then ran away." Liar.
"...dude."
"So... he's hurt animals and tried to attack you. What about suicidal behavior? They said you knew something?" Rudolph didn't have an example. He didn't want to talk anymore. He'd have to.
"He told me he couldn't swim earlier right as he jumped off a bridge. That's about it."
"Carmelo stopped him from speaking, but he said something along the lines of 'I can't even kill myself because of blank.' That's another thing we need to explain." They both looked at Rudolph.
"What?"
"What do you mean 'what'?! You started this!" Rudolph shrunk down.
"T... Tobias believes he's being followed and possessed by a demon. He... he switches moods extremely fast and- I don't know. I didn't and still have no idea what he was talking about. He even had a specific name for it; Mr. Edward?" He could feel them all looking.
"It really feels like he is sometimes." Rudolph looked at the stuff he had. There was a book and something else wrapped in fabric. His phone was a little bit further away. He wiped his eyes and went to pick it up.
"I can't really tell you boys what's going on for certain. We-"
-
Everything was black. Rudolph looked at his hands. They were empty and he was completely white, clothes included.
"Wh-" There was a mirror behind him.
"Who are you?" That was not his reflection. It was an old man.
"R... Rudolph? Richardson?" What happened? I touched the book and-
"Ah. Tobias mentioned you briefly. How are you here?" Where?
"I- I don't know... I was with Tobias and I touched the book and-"
"What happened to Tobias?" The man got closer to the other side of the mirror, hands against it.
"He- he was talking about ghosts and demons and-"
"DO NOT LET ANYONE TAKE THE BOOK. Got it?"
"I- I don't-"
"RUDOLPH. Do not let anyone else get the book!"
-
"-'ll take him to the local hospital for further treatment." Rudolph stumbled out of shock. He looked at the book. It was more of a journal.
That was real.
That had to be. Right? He hadn't had anything like that ever happen. Time stopped, then started again.
"Hhk-" Rudolph felt something come up out of his lungs, coughing into his hand. It was that same black substance Tobias coughed up.
He's not lying.
He wasn't lying.
Chapter 2: The Line
Summary:
More talking.
-Operating under the idea that Mattias was possessed by King at the end of the field trip.
Chapter Text
What am I even supposed to do about this? Rudolph wiped his mouth the best he could with his sleeve and went back over to the ambulance.
"Well. I don't think we need any more information. I've spoken to the guidance counselor, Mrs. Morris, about talking to you three about all of this. I can't really tell you if your friend will be okay or not."
"TOBIAS IS NOT MY FUCKIN FRIEND-" Emilio slapped the back of Carmelo's head.
"HEY! What the hell was that-"
"Carmelo. Be serious. For once." Emilio's hand was trembling.
"I... sorry."
"You can sort out with your teacher if you need to be picked up or if you want to take the bus. I would advise getting picked up to avoid the other students. I'm sure they're confused as well and will bother you the entire time." Carmelo nodded. The officer went back to his car as the ambulance left. Rudolph stared at it. He had no idea what would happen. He just had to hope Tobias could get out.
"Guess he didn't need to talk more. I'll get my dad. What about you two?" Emilio turned to Rudolph first.
"I'm not sure." He wanted to know what he was going to do first. He didn't know what he'd do in the next minute.
"I... m-my-" Rudolph shook his head.
"Again, you can come to my place. If that would help." No. Not you. I already said no.
"I..." Rudolph looked at the items, shaking.
"Don't worry about Tobias' things. We can return them to him later." Rudolph squeezed his eyes shut. He needed to look into this. He couldn't do it alone.
"Emilio... can I go with you?" Carmelo whipped his head to look at Emilio.
"Uhm... I... I'll have to ask my parents."
"HIM??"
"Carmelo, it's his choice." Emilio pulled his phone out, Carmelo doing the same after. Rudolph needed to tell his parents too. He didn't want to. He never told them about what Ben and him did. This couldn't be hidden. He had to explain why Tobias went off on him specifically.
"お母さん? 君が仕事にますか?" [Mom? Are you at work?]
"I've literally never heard him speak Japanese. He doesn't sound like the same person."
"Lyder jeg ens?" [Do I sound the same?]
"Okay! Va bene! Parelerò anche un'altra lingua! Idiotes..." [Okay! Fine! I'll speak another language too! Idiots...]
"Consapevol della parole 'Idiotes', Carmelo." [Aware of the word "idiots", Carmelo.]
"You completely fucked up that sentence!"
"大丈夫. ごめん, 僕の同級生煩いな. 君かお父さんはこちおいで." [I'm okay. Sorry, my classmate is annoying. You or dad need to come over here.]
"He sounds like anime what the hell-" Emilio turned the phone away.
"Carmelo, shut up."
"WHOA- when did you get so bossy?"
"彼を無視する, あいつアホだ. 私の友達病院いく. 後で説明する." [Ignore him, he's an idiot. My friend is going to the hospital. I'll explain more later.]
Emilio suddenly looked angry.
"It has to be dad? Great. ありがと. じゃね." He sighed.
"All of this today and now I have to deal with him..."
"Is your dad, like... scary?" Emilio crossed his arms.
"At a glance? Absolutely not."
"Hmmmm... anyway, I'm gonna call my dad and hope he doesn't kill me for robbing a grave." Rudolph remembered the reaction Tobias had to him saying that. He really needed to see about finding a way to get him out of that house. Church. Home? Household? Carmelo walked away to a tree line behind the buses.
"This really sucks." Rudolph nodded. Emilio reached into his bag, pulling out the doll he bought earlier, looking at its face.
"I wanted to give it to him. I wanted to see if it would make him happy, even if it was only for a little bit." He was looking in the direction the ambulance went. You are totally in love with him.
"Emilio, are you aware that-"
Rudolph nearly dropped what he was holding as Tobias' phone rang extremely loudly. He grabbed it.
"Do I answer it?"
"Do you answer it?" Screw it. I'm already too deep. He had to press really hard to get the button to work. Rudolph held it up to his ear.
"Tobias? Are you there?" Rudolph recognized the voice.
"He isn't... available. Who is this?"
"Uhhh... Matt. Mattias."
Let me go, Mattias.
"Wait... you're Tobias' brother! From the woods!" Emilio was staring at him. He knew he'd eavesdrop it but it was still uncomfortable.
"Ummmm... yeah? Sorry. I can't remember it very well. Who are you again?" He sounded way more energetic than before. Must be a family trait...
"The... the guy you helped."
"Oh. Anyway, what happened to Tobias?"
"Something happened to Tobias? Give me the phone, Matt-"
"Hey, we were still talking-" Was it his dad? Rudolph had never seen him. His uncle picked Tobias up, and for the past week it was his... mom? She was blonde which made her look really different from Tobias. Rudolph only knew his dad abused him. What about the rest of his family?
"Hey. I don't know who you are, but you better explain." He also had Tobias' hints of an accent, but the German was a lot more pronounced.
"I, um... my name is Rudolph. I'm Tobias'... friend, I guess. I... I don't know how to say this, but something happened. I don't know what you're able to do but he really needs help."
"Rudolph? Rudy? Tobias has talked about you before! Well shit- what'd he do? I knew that kid was gonna get in trouble eventually. Did he stab someone or something? Really shouldn't have given him my knife..." So you're a part of why he almost killed me? The swearing told him it was his uncle.
"...no. We're on a school trip and right before we were about to leave, I got into an argument with him, and he just- I don't know, he went insane."
"Define 'insane'."
"He tried to jump at me, and was screaming about demons and- and being cursed. He... someone called 911 and he got taken away in an ambulance. I tried to help him but I couldn't." He didn't respond for awhile.
"...I knew Lucas was going to break that kid." He sighed after a bit.
"Do you know where they're taking him?"
"No." Rudolph was guessing the closest one with a psych unit.
"Did he hurt anyone or himself?" Rudolph felt his neck where he'd had a bruise from Halloween.
"He didn't. One of my other classmates restrained him. It was messed up, but he had to." Emilio was petting the dolls head.
"Alright. I'll... I'll figure it out. Thank you, Rudolph."
"Mhm. Wait... you're his uncle, right? Not his dad?" Oh God if I told him that and I was wrong he's going to-
"HELL. NO. We're twins, though. I'm gonna try my best to make sure his dad doesn't know because I have no idea what he'll do but I know it won't be good." Tobias couldn't predict his father, and his twin brother also couldn't predict him. What kind of monster was he?
"Me... me either. That's all I really have for you. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful."
"You did everything you could. Thank you for trying to help. I know he's not easy to deal with." Rudolph had the image of him holding the knife over him flash in his head.
"No, no he's not."
"About the phone- just leave it at the main office in the school, along with any of his other stuff." Rudolph looked at the journal. Don't let anyone get the book.
"Okay."
"Bye."
"Bye." His uncle hung up. Carmelo came back before Emilio could say anything, covering his phone.
"CAN I COME WITH YOU GUYS?!"
"Why?!" Emilio had put the doll away.
"Cause I'm traumatized and shit? And you two saw it? And I saw even more shit from him?" Emilio went between him and Rudolph, looking down at him.
"It's up to you, but... I'd prefer not. He hasn't been bullying me but I'm not okay with him." Rudolph looked at Carmelo for a little, seeing him pace farther away.
"He knows more about what happened today than we do."
"I don't know what's going on with Tobias, but I know he wouldn't do something like rob a grave just because he felt like it. There had to be a reason. He took these items. I... I want you to help me figure it out." Rudolph held it flat so he could see.
"Hm." Emilio reached for the journal.
"Wait, don't-" He picked it up.
"Hm?" Rudolph looked at his hands. He was wearing gloves. He went to wherever that place was as soon as he made skin contact with the journal.
"We... we probably shouldn't get our fingerprints on it. We'll probably have to return this stuff. I don't know what trouble we'll get in for keeping it. I don't think anyone knows he stole stuff."
"CAN I COME OVER OR NAH?!"
"Yes! God- he's so loud." Emilio put the journal back down on the other item.
"We'll get into it once we get to my house. If my dad is mad about it, I don't care. My room is my room." Mrs. Morris came over.
"Okay. Tomorrow, you three boys, to my office, as soon as you get to school. Got it? I'm going to talk to the kids on the bus and tell them it was a medical emergency and that Tobias is going to be fine." She was going to tell everyone? Well. It wasn't like they didn't see anything earlier. She went to go to the bus but stopped and turned around.
"You're Rudolph Richardson, right?" He nodded once.
"I've been needing to talk to you for awhile- that one over there, too." Carmelo was currently kicking a tree, still on the phone. Rudolph quickly felt another strong wave of anxiety. It wasn't nearly as bad as before but it made him want to rip his heart out of his chest so he'd stop feeling it racing.
"O... okay, ma'am. Here's Tobias' phone. His uncle called and said to leave it at the school." She sighed, taking it.
"How did you get yourself caught up in this mess, Emilio?" He looked over his shoulder at Carmelo.
"Transactional. He bullies people, I'm weak. I tell you he's misunderstood, you let him off, and he leaves me alone. That's how." She rubbed her forehead.
"I wanted to ask your mom in our women's circle but I couldn't because I'm licensed- you're a good kid, so..." Emilio smirked subtly.
"I think he's realizing how much being a bully is harmful to himself." She looked at Rudolph. He knew she wanted to say more. No one ever did or wanted to.
"Yeah. His mom really makes it seem like everyone else was lying about him being mean to people. Even said he baked cookies for us once."
"Pfft-" Rudolph imagined him in a pink apron with oven mitts and his usual pissed off expression.
"He actually did bake those."
"BAHAHAH-" Rudolph covered his mouth. He was probably close enough to still hear.
"Cena? Non so per quanto riguarda la cena! Ci penserò io!" [Dinner? I don't know about dinner! I'll figure it out!] He was not listening. Rudolph took a deep breath.
"But- we'll talk about this later. Just hang in there, alright?" Rudolph had to wipe tears away from suppressing his laughter.
"Got it." She smiled.
"Glad we got a smile out of ya." Rudolph squeezed the item in the fabric. It was hard inside of it.
"I'm really worried about Tobi." Rudolph flinched as Emilio touched his back.
"Sorry." He felt stupid that he still tended to react that way when touched.
"We'll update you as soon as we can. It's up to his family what I can and can't tell you." Probably wouldn't be much. Abusers hid their abuse.
"Is... is he going to have to go back to his family?"
"What do you mean?" Did no one really know? No one knew about Rudolph. No one noticed anything Ben did. No one realized what Carmelo's actions did until Tobias let it out.
"Tobias is being abused by his family. His father, at the least." Rudolph thought to the cross again. Demons and ghosts had their parts in religion.
"It's a major part of why he had that... episode. I was with him at the audition for Evelyn Ivy and helped him change. He... there's a large scar on his back. And, um... some of the other things he's said... he said a lot today and- oh Jesus remembering it even though it just happened-" Rudolph was out of tears to cry and food to throw up. It felt like he couldn't catch his breath.
"I remember Mr. Abi telling me about that stunt he pulled there and in the auditorium. I discussed it with him and will have to discuss how he responded to that situation. With the way he acted at the audition, I talked to Tobias, but he didn't hint or tell me anything about it; just that he was having a bad day and acted out. Do you know anything about this, Emilio?" He nodded.
"I also saw the way Tobias acted at the audition. He... that morning, he- mm..." If he was hesitating, that meant he was about to lie. He saw the freak out Tobias had on the stage, too? Rudolph didn't even know he was there. How long had he been stalking him? Rudolph sat down. He felt like he was going to pass out if he kept standing.
"Just tell her..." Tobias was fine with what Emilio did even though he shouldn't. If she knew, it wouldn't hurt Emilio.
"I... witnessed Tobias disembowel a fox in the woods that morning. Between him starting school and then, I've seen him act strangely. The first day he was here he made quite an entrance in more ways than one. As well as..." Emilio started smirking before he covered his mouth with his hand. So you're gonna back out of telling her what you did, too? Why are you smiling? Emilio perked up.
"Oh! I saw bruises on his arm that day. On the um... the 30th, I believe? They seemed to be gone. He was in PE wearing a T shirt a couple days later but they were gone by then. The marking on his back was there on the 25th- since Rudolph said he saw it helping him change- the paramedics said they had just seen it, so it has to be some kind of scarring or branding done intentionally. Or was that on Halloween? I need my notes-" Emilio went into his bag, pulling out his notebook. Rudolph hadn't ever seen him that excited. Well, earlier, he was getting a little... weird. It was genuine excitement instead.
"Emilio- that's enough. I'll try to contact the hospital about it but I don't know what information they can and can't give me. I know Tobias' family is massive, so it'll take time before I can figure it all out." Emilio slowly put the notebook back in.
"I... see. If you need my notes you may ask me at any time and I can explain them. I have dates and times logged. If you have security camera access then we can line up the times and dates and I can show you-" She held her hand up.
"Enough. Again. You two, come to my office tomorrow morning, as soon as you can. Carmelo, too." She waved and went to one of the buses. Carmelo was once again kicking the tree. Emilio took the initiative and went over. While he was doing that, he had to call home.
Rudolph went to his contacts. Using his phone with his hands had been hard. He stopped over Ben's name. There was no reason or desire to do that right now. He needed to tell him that he wasn't going to talk to him anymore. Not right now. He went to his mom's name and had to force himself to hit the button.
"Hey sweetie! How's your trip going?"
Rudolph thought he was ready, but he wasn't. He didn't want the chance of Emilio understanding what he was saying.
["Bad. It's going bad."]
Rudolph thought he was done crying, but he wasn't.
["What happened? What's going on?"] He hiccuped.
["I... do you remember Tobias?"]
["...yeah? Did..."]
["No. But..."]
["Did he... hurt himself?"] That was the closest she'd guess. He was going to the hospital. He'd end up in the psych ward. Rudolph couldn't talk to her. He'd never been able to. He kept hurting her. He kept making stupid decisions and dealing with hurtful people over and over because he couldn't just be strong by himself.
["I'm scared..."]
["Just try to stay calm, honey. I'll come get you- where are you?"] This was now giving him flashbacks. It felt like he was running or hiding from him. No memory, just the feeling.
["I- give me a second..."] He tried to wipe his face the best he could with his sleeve. His sweater was going to be a mess.
["I... one of my c-classmates is letting me go to his house. He's also kind of involved in it. I'm not sure when I'll get home. I'll call you again if I need a ride. If not, I'll come home tomorrow before school."] Emilio and Carmelo seemed to be done, standing a few feet away.
["I... understand. What was his name? Is it Carmelo?"] Rudolph knew he talked to her on Halloween, even if it was brief.
["We aren't going to his house, but he's coming with us. He was involved, too. More than me, honestly."] Rudolph had calmed down again. He started going through his bag for a bandaid to rewrap his finger.
["Okay. Just update me whenever you can sweetie. I love you."]
["I love you too. Bye."] He hung up and put his phone down. He really needed to get it covered. It hurt anytime he slid his hand against something and would make it bleed more. He would never do that again. Then again, he constantly said he'd never cut again.
"Didja get it sorted out?" Rudolph nodded, starting to open the bandaid. Cutting didn't hurt enough. This hurt too much. Why did it need to hurt?
"Woah! What happened to your hand? I saw you were bleeding earlier, but..." His planned excuse had been that he messed up while climbing a tree. Carmelo knew he was suicidal. Francis knew he cut. Carmelo probably knew he cut. There was no reason to hide it. He put the bandaid on.
"I did it." Carmelo jumped.
"You what?"
"Ripped off my fingernails." Rudy held his hand up before looking. Emilio seemed shocked as well.
"Why?" Rudolph glared.
"Think for more than a second and you'd figure it out." The engine of one of the buses started before the other one. Rudolph got up and moved over to the grass. It was still wet from the rain. He didn't know how long it would be but it felt like the last 30 minutes had been years.
"...you're aware of his self harm as well now, correct?"
"Yeah, but- you mean he did that?!" Carmelo looked. Rudolph smirked slightly. You think your punches hurt?
"You can come over here and talk to me. I was just moving out the way of the buses." He took his hat off and set it on the journal. He didn't want Carmelo to get into it while they were still in public. He didn't want to, either. He needed time to calm down and attempt to relax. Carmelo sat a few feet to his side, Emilio on the other side of him near the journal.
"So... you... you really did that? To yourself?" Rudolph held his hand out, looking at his fingers.
"Yep."
"I already said it, but... why?"
Why did you do nothing when he hurt me?
"Was it... was it because of me?" I don't know.
"No. It was because of a misunderstanding with... well, you know who!" Rudolph teared up again.
"This is a huge fuckin mess we're in, isn't it?"
"I don't mind it. It's interesting." Both of them looked to Emilio.
"DON'T MIND IT?! Dude! Everyone is going to be talking to us about this for the rest of our lives!" Am I going to have to move away again?
"The rest of our lives is a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it? We didn't make Tobias do that. It could have been because of anyone or anything." Rudolph couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't leave.
"Well, no, but everyone is going to ask us because of that! I'm also gonna get in trouble for the grave robbing shit!" He reached under his sleeve.
"We have the items. Were there cameras?"
"I don't know!" Stop.
"I guess we'll get there when it comes to it. Any other witnesses?" Rudolph started reopening one of the cuts.
"There was this emo lookin guy, but he left like immediately and I don't think he saw anything or even really cared." STOP.
"So there was a witness. Excellent."
"What was I supposed to do, beat him up?"
"STOP TALKING! Fuck!" It was bleeding. Rudolph took his hand out and sucked the blood off his fingers.
"This is too much... please... just... I need it to be quiet for a bit." He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Did he get any on it? No blood. Did he even have gauze? He was trying to stop cutting so he didn't bring any. A bandaid wasn't enough for it-
Emilio held out the handkerchief from earlier.
"Dude, what the hell is with that-"
"I understand if you don't want to use it. I promise I don't have any contagious diseases or anything." Rudolph snorted.
"The bottom is clean and it's just blood. Thank you." Rudolph grabbed the clean area and slipped it under his sleeve, pressing down on it.
"I'm trying to shut up, but; EW. Gross." Rudolph looked as the buses pulled away. Emilio checked his phone briefly.
"My dad said he's about 5 minutes out and is getting gas."
"Kay." Carmelo laid down dramatically. Rudolph felt the cut. Seemed like it was done. He handed it back.
"Are you sure you want to keep that?"
"No. I'll throw it out later." Rudolph narrowed his eyes. What now? Did he have some reason to keep his blood? He folded it so the wet area was inside.
"There are no nearby trash cans and leaving a bloody rag on the ground after a crime was committed in the area isn't very smart." Sure. Rudolph looked up at the sunset.
"I'm trying to mind my business, but... why is it already covered in your blood? Do some weird shit on your date?" Ew, ew, not a date-
"Rudolph punched me in the face earlier." Carmelo jolted up.
"WHAT?"
"It was deserved. That will be another 'for later' conversation." He stayed up for a bit before going back down.
"Godddd why did I agree to stayyyyy..." Rudolph ignored him, trying to listen to some birds. I feel dirty. Emilio stood up.
"Aaaand here we go..."
"Heyyy champ! How's it hangin'!?" That was Emilio's dad? Fancy car. Emilio freaked out earlier over this guy?
"Bad."
"Sorry to hear! So, you just want me to bring all of you to our place?" Carmelo got up after, wiping his pants off.
"Yep. I don't wanna go home and be alone after that."
"After what? Emilio's mama didn't explain all that much." Rudolph started getting up. Emilio held his hand out to help, but he didn't take it. He put his hat back on.
"Mama? What are you, six?" He smiled and ignored it.
"How's it goin for you, Carmelo? Haven't seen ya in awhile." He shrugged.
"Awww, no one wants to talk to meee..."
"Because you act like a child! Just- we need to go to our house. Okay? I'll talk to you and mom later but we REALLY all just need a break, okay?" It was really weird hearing him angry. Compared to earlier, it was even more bitter. Rudolph didn't need to know more to know Emilio completely and utterly hated him. He was neutral around almost everybody. Rotting pile of flesh as a descriptor from him probably meant that person wasn't that great.
"Okay... you can get in." He rolled up the window, looking down.
"SHOTGUN!" Carmelo ran to the car.
"He never thinks before he acts and it enrages me." Still had that blank expression.
"Rudolph. I ask that you please sit behind Carmelo so my dad doesn't try to talk to me. I think it's clear by now that I can't stand him." Emilio had his hand balled into a fist.
"What... did he..."
"I'll get into it later. I don't know how much later, but you're going to see stuff in my room related to it anyway." Yet another thing to be scared of...
"Mhm. I'll sit wherever. I'm not going to really talk on the drive either. I keep making myself talk to be nice." Emilio sighed.
"You don't have to do that with me. I usually have to do the same. You and Tobias are the only people I've ever enjoyed talking to." Rudolph unintentionally blushed. He never got compliments, especially ones that meant anything. He didn't have much respect for Emilio but knew he had some social difficulties like himself, so hearing he liked talking to him was flattering.
"Okay."
"If Carmelo starts getting annoying I'll tell him to shut up. I don't care about hurting his feelings. Same with my dad." Emilio went ahead. Rudolph went behind Carmelo like he asked, keeping his and Tobias' stuff in his lap.
"40 minute drive, huh..."
"35! I have the express pass." He worked on turning around.
"Like that's an accomplishment..."
"I get it through work." Emilio's arm flinched. He looked out the window. He was a biologist. He made some sort of "mistake" with him. Rudolph couldn't glean anything from that. He could tell he was uncomfortable from trying to sit in the back with his height, too. I should stop staring. He started messing with the charm on his phone. It stayed silent for a few minutes until they were on the highway.
"So... do you know how long you're both going to stay? We need to sort out dinner depending on that." Rudolph had enough to talk for hours, but he couldn't do it all at once.
"I don't know. I just need Emilio's help researching some things." Emilio rolled his neck. He'd been forcing himself to look outside since he got in the car.
"Oooh, another espionage, eh? I hope it goes well!" Emilio leaned forwards, close to his headrest.
"くたばれ. 地獄いけね. 子どもの殺人犯." [Damn you. Go to hell. Child murderer.] He mostly whispered it.
"Eh? All I got was 'child.'" Emilio sat back.
"おめでとう." [Congratulations.]
"You're really fluent in Japanese, huh? I thought you just said that to say that." Emilio shrugged.
"Yep! My little soybean is super smart, multilingual, and a great big brother!" He stared at the back of the seat.
"Don't. Don't start." He sounded completely flat. Rudolph saw Carmelo turn around and look at him before turning back, Emilio thunking his head against the glass.
"I'll have to go back before 10. My dad's a cop and only lets me stay out on Halloween and crap. I could probably sneak out but I have some stuff I need to do." Baking some cookies? Why don't we deliver them to Tobias in the psych ward? Have a little party! I'll get him a silly straw to use with his straight jacket! Rudolph managed a small smile but it went away quickly.
"That's alright! What about you, miss?"
"PFFFT- Rudy- ha! Tell him!" Rudolph rubbed one of the strands of hair he had loose. Far from the first time he'd been mistaken for a girl.
"I'm a male. My hair is just long and I like sweaters."
"Oh! Whoops. Emilio's hair used to be real long, sorry for assuming. Still; any estimate?" Carmelo was still snickering. It's not that funny.
"I'm not sure. I'll have to go home tomorrow morning to get my stuff for school and a change of clothes." He had to have some alone time. He probably shouldn't. When he was alone and got stressed he'd either cut or he'd-
"Okeydoke. Your family knows you're staying over?" He hummed yes. Still didn't want to talk. Emilio took off his scarf and hat.
"I'll double check Emilio's mom is okay with it, but I can order pizza for you three." Rudolph was picking up on some things in the way he spoke. Fake. It was fake. Emilio was extremely analytical of Tobias, including his injuries. That didn't come from nowhere.
"I'm okay with pizza."
"Me too."
"Emi?" Shrug. Rudolph was guessing that everything was finally catching up to him. He looked at Rudolph before suddenly hurrying and pulling out his notebook, flipping to an empty page in the back.
When I blacked out earlier, did I take any of the medication?
Shit. Rudolph couldn't remember. He was holding it. He was holding it, then laughing, then he punched him and they got kicked out of the cafe. He didn't take it. Emilio held the pencil to him then gestured his head towards Carmelo. Didn't want him to know.
No. After I hit you I only grabbed your things off the table and put them in your bag before going out.
Emilio read it, took off his gloves, and frantically started digging through his bag. He felt the sides then started taking the other things out.
"It's in the-" He checked his pants pockets then his jacket before he finally pulled it out of a pocket inside of the jacket. He looked in the bottle. All of the stress in his body language went away. He put everything away calmly before grabbing the notebook again.
I had 10 this morning and now I have 5. I took one on the bus, gave Tobias two, dropped one at the cafe, and must have taken it when we got back to the bus and split off.
He flipped through a bit to the part Rudolph saw earlier.
Medication at ~8:15 AM and roughly 3pm. 5 left.
Emilio closed it. He glanced at Rudolph. He waited for a few seconds and went back.
It's stressful.
He put the pencil and notebook down on the middle, but kept his hand on it. He still didn't trust Rudolph to have it. God knows what's in there...
I'm sorry.
Emilio read it and closed his eyes. He put the notebook away a few seconds later, laying his head back and attempting to sleep. Rudolph needed that, too. He leaned on the window and closed his eyes. It was unsteady, but he managed.
rats_make_me_crazy on Chapter 1 Sun 07 Sep 2025 10:49PM UTC
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Jade_in_the_house on Chapter 1 Mon 08 Sep 2025 02:48PM UTC
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Jake (Guest) on Chapter 2 Sun 07 Sep 2025 06:44AM UTC
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Perfectnothing on Chapter 2 Sun 07 Sep 2025 07:15PM UTC
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