Chapter Text
When Skid woke up, he was back in the empty, blue void.
He tried to look for a way out, but he was struggling to move. Compared to the last time, his movement was more stiff, like some invisible higher power was physically restraining him.
He was being slowly pulled down against his will. He tried to fight, but that action only seemed to make things worse. His heart started to race as it felt like he was being compressed. Everytime he tried to pull himself up, his body felt like it was being stretched out.
He couldn’t cry. He couldn’t scream. He couldn’t move.
“Why do you fight, Child?” The booming voice rang in his ear causing him to wince.
He stayed silent. He couldn’t bring himself to speak even if he had a logical answer.
“Why do you run from what you are? There is no reason to be so scared.”
Skid shut his eyes and curled into a fetal position as he floated in the empty void. He tried his best to dismiss the ringing voice in his head. He didn’t want to acknowledge it. He didn’t want to acknowledge what was happening to him.
When suddenly he was no longer floating. In a matter of seconds, he had been scooped up by one of The Eyes’s tentacles and was now sitting on it. The tentacle began to bring Skid downward.
Skid tried his hardest to stand up and jump off the tentacle, but the feeling of compression returned.
As Skid was face to face with The Eyes again, he tried to avoid eye contact.
“The more you try to run, the more pain you will feel.”
Skid breathed heavily as he tried to think of something to say.
But then The Eyes did something that completely stunned Skid.
The Eyes used one of its tentacles to pat Skid on the head.
“Do not be afraid. I am watching over you.”
Skid felt the tears in his eyes well up. Not because he was scared. But because all of a sudden, he wasn’t. And he hated that.
He wanted so badly to run, to scream, to fight back. But he couldn’t. Because he didn’t need to.
Deep down, he knew he was safe. But he couldn’t admit that. He wouldn’t.
It was as if his natural fight or flight instinct was being reprogrammed. He felt like his body and mind were adjusting to the sudden power he held. And he couldn’t let that happen.
He had to keep fighting.
Because he was terrified of what he would become should he give up.
—-
Skid was awoken when his body slammed into the floor. He groaned and rubbed his head as he looked around.
He had passed out before Kevin brought him to his home, so this was the first time Skid had seen Kevin’s house.
The first thing Skid processed was the fact that the house was small. Well, it actually wasn’t a house. Kevin lived in a very small apartment. The apartment was very clean, though items such as paint cans and pencils littered the tables and floors. Movie posters adorned the doors and walls as well as a spare Halloween decoration here and there.
“You alright?” Kevin turned around at the sound of Skid falling off the couch. He was standing in the kitchen, by the stove. From the sizzling sound and smell of bacon, Skid could tell he was cooking.
“S-Sorry…nightmare.” Skid mumbled.
Kevin smiled sympathetically as he turned back to his cooking. “Hopefully you managed to get some rest. You really seemed like you needed it.”
Skid hummed in response. Everything from last night still felt blurry. No matter how hard he tried, he struggled to remember the details fully. And every time he tried, Roy’s terrified face flashed in his mind. So he stopped trying to remember.
“Are you hungry?” Kevin’s question pulled Skid back to reality. “Well…regardless, I made you breakfast.”
Skid stood up as he stumbled over to Kevin. He stared up at the older man, who began to place the bacon onto two plates for them. Skid noticed that one of the plates had toast on it as well. But only one for some reason. Kevin led Skid over to the table and placed both plates down.
“Here.” Kevin pulled one of the chairs back and motioned for Skid to sit. As Skid sat down, Kevin walked over to a drawer and grabbed utensils for Skid. As he placed the utensils in front of Skid, he also pushed the plate with both the bacon and toast towards Skid.
“Eat up, kid.” Kevin sat across from Skid.
Skid hesitated as he took a bite of toast. But as soon as he took one bite, he began to devour the rest of the food. He hadn’t even realized how hungry he was.
Kevin silently sat across from him. He didn’t speak up until the plate was completely cleared.
Kevin sighed as he leaned forward. “So…how are you holding up?”
Skid stopped. He looked away from Kevin as he struggled to come up with a response. “I…don’t know.”
Kevin hummed. “Are you…ok with talking about last night?”
Skid could feel his hands starting to shake.
“I…um…I-I don’t-.”
Skid was saved by the sound of the door opening suddenly.
A shorter man with spiky black hair and a missing left arm was catching his breath as he stood in the doorway. For some reason, Skid seemed to vaguely recognize him.
“Streber?! Where have you been?!” Kevin exclaimed.
“Sorry…I had to help one of my-” Streber stopped as he noticed Skid. “Since when did you have a little brother?”
“He’s not-!” Kevin groaned as he stood up. He walked over to Streber and began to murmur.
Skid silently stood up and wandered closer to the two adults, hiding behind the counter. He listened closely to the two’s private discussion.
“He just needs my help. I don’t know what’s going on but it seems serious.” Kevin whispered. “But…why were you gone last night?”
“My friend, Leon. He needed my help. His brothers disappeared, so I was helping him search for them.” Streber explained.
Skid felt a sudden sense of dread. For some reason he had a sickly feeling. A feeling that his new powers and this incident were connected.
“Do you guys need my help? I’ll see what I can do.” Kevin offered.
Streber nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure Leon would really appreciate that.”
Skid had zoned out of the conversation by this point. He was suddenly nauseous. He didn’t know why he felt responsible for this incident. It didn’t make any sense. But he knew it somehow.
And if this gut feeling was correct, he needed to get away as soon as possible.
Because he would only bring more pain to those around him.
Almost as if his feet were moving without his input, he made his way to the apartment window.
“WHOA WHOA, SKID!!” Kevin suddenly shouted as he grabbed Skid’s shoulders and pulled him back. “What are you doing?!”
“Getting away from you, so I don’t hurt you!” Skid exclaimed.
“What?!” Kevin looked confused. “What are you talking about?!”
“I-I-I don’t know, but I have this feeling…this feeling that if I stick around any longer, something bad will happen to you!” Skid shut his eyes tightly as he screamed.
“That doesn’t mean you can jump out a window!” Kevin held him tight.
“I’ll live, I know it! I can’t stay here!” Skid struggled in Kevin’s grasp.
Skid suddenly stopped moving. A realization hit him. He needed to go. Not only to get away from Kevin. But to meet someone.
He didn’t know where he had to go. Or who he needed to meet. But he knew he had to get out of here sooner rather than later.
Or else something bad would happen.
This was the only way he would be safe. And it was the only way he could keep others safe.
“What-?!” Kevin was cut off by Skid suddenly jumping out of his arms. Skid bolted towards the front door, but was stopped by Streber shutting the door.
“Oh, hell no!” Streber grabbed Skid’s wrist. “What’s going on?!”
Skid sighed. “I’m dangerous…but there’s somewhere I’m safe…”
“Which is?” Streber raised an eyebrow.
“I…” Skid looked away. “I don’t know.”
“Then it’s not safe! You’re safer staying here.” Kevin walked over and placed a hand on Skid’s shoulder.
“But what about you-?!”
“Don’t worry about us. You need help, so I’m gonna help you. No matter what.” Kevin smiled.
Skid was silent for several seconds. He eventually sighed and looked away.
“Ok…I trust you Kevin.” Skid mumbled.
But deep down, Skid knew he wasn’t safe. He wouldn’t tell Kevin. But he knew he still had to get away.