Chapter Text
William quietly munched on a cooked carrot while his children and wife talked over lunch. He decided to just listen, wanting to get a better mental tally of what to focus on in the present. After talking to Henry, the man has a good idea of what the business is going to be like for the next few months; but he’s still lost when it comes to his personal affairs.
Though, he can’t help the feeling of already having messed up something there. The headache forming near his temple is not helpful in keeping his thoughts together.
“So,” Rose was mostly leading the conversation, “how do you all feel about the upcoming school year?”
Michael grinned up at his mother, a bit of potatoes fell out of his mouth as he spoke. “I’m excited! I’m hoping to make some cool friends this year!”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, sweetie.”
“Sorry Mum.”
Chris shrugged his response, lightly bonking his plush with his forehead. “I don’t know, I guess I’m excited.”
Elizabeth giggled, throwing up her arm holding her fork into the air; a little food went flying off. “No more daycare!”
Rose patted Elizabeth’s head, “that’s right, no more daycare for you young lady. Excited for kindergarten?”
“Yeah!”
Michael reached over and tapped Chris’ arm, “try not to rely on Charlie and Sammy so much this year, aight?”
Chris swallowed his food before glaring at his brother. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Michael raised a brow, looking unamused. “I mean, you gotta be able to stand up for yourself lil bro. And try not to fall asleep in class.”
“It’s not like I mean to…”
William glanced over at his middle child. ‘Right, his nightmares keep him up every night. Wonder if there’s a way I can help him with that this time around..?’
“How’s work been, Dad?”
William blinked, his focus going back to the table at large. Everyone had their attention on the man now, and William isn’t entirely sure who asked the question.
So he swallowed his bite of food before asking, “what?”
Michael rolled his eyes and repeated himself, “how has work been lately? Uncle Henry hasn’t been bossin’ you around too much?”
William shook his head, still surprised to know he didn’t imagine that question. “Oh, it’s been… fine.”
Rose leaned over closer to her husband, “are you alright?”
“Yeah, why?”
She then tapped a finger next to his plate, a look of concern on her face. “You’ve barely touched your food.”
Upon a glance down, William realized that, other than eating a few carrots and some of his potatoes, he really hasn’t eaten much of anything. Though, the idea of eating any more at the moment is enough to bring a small wave of nausea through his system.
His eyes trailed from his fork to his knife, both have residue from his meal he was trying to eat. Vision is a bit blurry from the headache that’s been brewing, which does nothing to help him focus on the situation
His hands tightened around the utensils he held. He blinked, and the knife had changed; now bigger, and covered in a red substance that he knew reeked of something foul, something horrible, but why did he do it? Why did he hurt them? Why was he-
“Dad?”
William flinched and dropped his silverware. He pushed the plate away as he got up out of his chair, “I’m not feeling very hungry right now. I’m, uh…”
The man glanced up, only to see looks of shock on everyone’s faces, and that was enough to fuel his next decision. “I’m going to take a quick nap!” He stated as he hastily fled out of the dining room, not bothering to stay long enough to hear any responses.
“Wait- William-!” Rose called out as she reached for her retreating husband. Her eyebrows pinched together and her hand retracted back slowly.
“Is Daddy okay?”
The woman turned back to see her kids looking as concerned as she was, all of them having grown quiet after the outburst. This was a first for them.
She sighed and put her fork down, “honestly, I don’t know.”
Michael shifted in his seat, “should we go tomorrow…? I can wait on the trip.”
Rose pursed her lips, biting the inside of her mouth lightly. “I… don’t know. We’ll let him rest for now, okay?”
Her kids all nod in response.
Rose then smiled, “I do have good news.” All three perk up, “the Emily's are coming to visit today.”
Michael gasped, “really??”
Elizabeth clapped her hands together, “Char Char! Sammy!”
Rose proceeded to ruffle Elizabeth’s hair, getting a giggle out of the small girl. “Yup, all three of them are coming to visit. So, be on your best behavior, alright?”
“Yes Mama!”
William all but sprinted into the bedroom and shut the door behind himself. He leaned against the door, his chest hurting with the painful thumping of his heart.
‘Deep breaths, deep breaths , come on now…’
He inhaled through his nose, counted to three, then exhaled out of his mouth. Inhale, count to three, exhale. The count went from three, to five, and finally to seven before his heartbeat went back to a shaky normal.
‘I did not need that right now, goddammit. ’ The man swallowed around the lump in his throat. ‘ What the hell was that? That was way too vivid for being awake…’
He stood there for a moment longer, his gaze locked into the room to find something to mentally occupy himself. A glance to his right and he spotted a framed photo on a dresser nearby.
William tilted his head quizzically. He got up from his place against the door and moved over towards the frame. He picked it up and analyzed it.
It was a family group photo.
Elizabeth was still swaddled in a blanket at this point, Michael didn't have his mask, and Chris was without his plush. Everyone was dressed in formal wear for the photo, yet the energy he could sense from it was anything but.
Both boys were grinning, no hint of malice to be seen. Michael had a hand on Chris's head and was messing with his hair. Chris’ arm was around his brother, and both of them leaned away from the center of the shot.
Elizabeth was held in Rose’s arms, who was smiling so radiantly in the picture. Her hair had been pulled into a low ponytail that draped over her shoulder. She leaned against her husband, who stood the tallest out of all of them.
William’s eyes then landed on himself. His eyes were as bright and cheerful as his smile. He held an arm around his wife and had his other hand holding Michael’s free one.
His dress shirt under his vest had a couple buttons undone, and that's when he noticed that all of them had messed up uniforms.
Michael was missing his jacket and had his shirt untucked. Chris’ overalls were hanging off one shoulder with a small tear in the strap. Rose had gone for a short dress and had her suit jacket partially hanging off her shoulders.
They looked so happy.
He looked so happy.
…
The image had become blurry in places. William brought a hand up to his cheek and realized a couple tears had escaped.
‘Why did I do it?’
Afton blinked, a couple more tears managed to escape as he walked to the bed. The photo was still in his hands, held in a crushing grip like it was his lifeline. He sat on the edge of the bed.
‘What good did I think it would bring?’
William moved the covers off his side of the bed. He placed the photo on his nightstand, facing towards him, as he got himself situated under the covers.
He stared at the photo, then reached over to lay it on its back. His hand lingered on the frame.
He stared, his gentle lay of the hand became a clawed grip. He refused to focus on it, closing his eyes instead as he felt the cool surface of the picture.
‘I have to make this right…’
He retracted his hand, his raging mind became silent as he fell into slumber.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
…
……
………
It’s akin to the time he had been a spirit, trapped in a grave of his own making; yet there was no tether keeping him to the physical plane. Eyes closed, he remained as he was; floating…
“ Do you regret it? ”
His brows furrowed. “Every day.”
“ Do you deserve forgiveness? ”
“No.”
…
…
“ Honesty. I respect that. ”
A rush of movement, slow, but assured, he fell down, down, down…
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
“Oi! Afton! Wake up already!”
Afton gasped, his eyes flung open at the harsh call of his name. A red-clouded, black sky greeted him from above.
‘What… why am I…?’
“You awake yet?”
William slowly propped himself up on his elbows, shaking his head to rid the cobwebs that had quickly settled in his brain. When his attention refocused, that was when he noticed the girl that stood next to him.
“Wha-?”
Cassidy grinned; something quite feral with the streaks of corrupted remnant falling down her cheeks. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
The man sat up quickly, his eyes blown wide in fear. “Why am I back here??”
“Relax.” Cassidy said, a hand up in a somewhat placating gesture. “You’re not in trouble… shockingly.”
“Then why am I here?”
“Something Old Man Consequences wouldn’t explain.”
The girl gestured over and William glanced that way. A cloaked figure sat next to the lake, fishing pole in hand with a cast line. It turned, a curt nod in the duo’s direction, before it turned back to the lake.
Afton just raised a brow, “o…kay?” He turned his attention back to Cassidy, “then, why are you still here? Shouldn’t you have moved on by now?”
Cassidy let out a scoff, not even bothering to face him as she answered, “I wanted to, believe me, but apparently I’m not ‘allowed’ to yet.”
William, for his part, is even more confused. “Why not?”
“Something about being vengeful to an unhealthy degree.” Cassidy sneered, bringing her arms up to cross over her chest. “Stupid shit if you ask me.”
Afton nodded, his eyes downcast, “well… on that, I can say we agree.”
…
William glanced back up. Cassidy was giving him a look, an unreadable expression painted over her distorted face. Her entire posture was tense, but what little the man could make out was something bordering ‘uncertainty’ in her face.
Afton bit the bait, “what?”
Cassidy seemed to shake out of whatever thought process she had, and she turned away from the man. “Nothing.”
It was at that moment that they heard a line be reeled in. Both souls turned to look at the lake.
Old Man Consequences put down his fishing pole and stood up. Short the creature was, their presence increased tenfold as they turned towards their audience.
“Welcome back, Afton.”
William rolled his eyes, “doesn’t feel very good to be back, no offense.”
The god(?) chuckled, “no, I suppose it doesn’t.” They turn fully toward the duo, stalking closer until he is right in front of them. “Be at ease, this visit is not without merit.”
“Tch.” Cassidy glared at the creature, “what possible reason could me seeing this Bastard again be anything good?”
“I have my reasons, Cassidy.” They said, something akin to a smirk adoring their snout, “but it’d do no good for me to tell you directly what it is.”
“Vague as always…”
“Afton.” William glanced up at Consequences. Their look is serious, “this do-over you were given was a mercy by your family and those that believe you are able to be redeemed. To them, you are not a monster, but that does not change the horrors you have committed.”
The man sat up and nodded, a grim understanding coursing through him. “I understand. I must do all I can to prevent the tragedies.”
“I see you are already on top of this. Good.” Old Man Consequences closed their eyes, a clawed finger upon their lips, “but, with full transparency, I must admit that there is nothing stopping you from killing again.”
“Excuse me?!”
Afton had to admit, the shock from the young girl next to him felt contagious. He blinked, staring at the dinosaur in front of him. “I… beg your pardon?”
“This new timeline has nothing to do with the old one, and the only one who remembers is you.” Old Man Consequences stated, his gaze unwavering, “if you wanted to, you could kill again and ensure this situation never happens.”
“Why would I-?” Afton started, before shaking his head and now looking angrily at the reptilian fisher, “No , I’m not killing anyone this time! I shouldn’t have in the first place!”
“Wha-?”
“Is that so?” Old Man Consequences hummed in response, “do you believe you can just turn over a leaf that quickly? After the horrors you witnessed in your original life?”
“I-!…”
At that, William’s voice faltered. The human brain is a finicky machine, the psyche a mysterious and unknown system that humanity has yet to comprehend fully. He himself had taken interest in psychology when he was younger, he knows that he would be the perfect case study for some psychologists out there for something about how the human mind comprehends the beyond and the aftereffects thereof.
‘As well as the effects of coming back to life, I suppose. I mean, also the fact of me being a murderer and the labels and tests they would put me through-’
“Afton.”
William flinched as his train of thought was interrupted. He looked back up to see Old Man Consequences and Cassidy staring at him. “What?”
Old Man Consequences nodded to him, “I believe it is time I sent you back. I shall be watching you from my lake, but your life, your choices, are all yours.”
“So if you fuck up, we’ll know.”
Consequences made a clearing noise in his throat, and Cassidy wilted in response, “this is a trying time for you, but I have full confidence you will make it.”
Afton didn’t get a chance to ask what he meant, as the next moment the world slowly began to fade around the man and he felt a pull on his being.
The world faded to black.