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Elias was curled up on his bed with a mug of caffeinated green tea like it'd do shit for him. There's not enough caffeine in it to give him slightly bit of energy, but he hates coffee so if he can fool himself into staying awake then as far as he's concerned there's enough caffeine to help him. 

[color=deeppink]You have to go to sleep eventually.[/color]

"I'll sleep when I'm dead."

[color=deeppink]Don't say that. I hate when you speak this way.[/color]

"I'm afraid it'll happen again the moment I let my guard down. We're not going back to that place, Elle. I can't."

[color=deeppink]I don't want that either, but we didn't have a choice the first time and we probably won't the second.[/color]

Another time in that hell hole, large dual sex monsters with wrinkly saggy skin woke him up the first night back. He hasn't slept in 36 hours and he doesn't plan to, until he feels safe again. It's like when Ellie-Ann died, he floated between insomnia and blacking out when his body couldn't handle it anymore. He took another sip of tea, eyes focus on the window towards the woods on the back of his house.

"Eli." His father opened his door.

"Yes, please, invite yourself in." He muttered into his cup. He's not feeling like this today.

"What was that?"

He turned to look at his old man, "Nothing daddy. How may I help you?" 

Edward was a big man, bulky, six feet, with hard brown eyes, crows feet and a full red beard, he'd shaved all his hair off when Ellie-Ann got sick and hasn't grown it back out sense. He's not the type of man to show any emotion other than anger and disappointment. Elias can't remember a time he's ever seen his father cry. According to his mother he did it when his sister was born, but he's not sure if he believes her or not. She's could've been lying to make him see some humanity in his father. His shiny scalp was the one of the few things that told him his father still grieved. 

"It's been two days. I don't know what your problem is, but you're too old to do this moping shit. Shouldn't've missed your flight. Lunch's in fifteen. Be there." He slammed the door shut.

Fuckin' can't let him be scared shitless in peace.

[color=deeppink]Not much peace, but he's right. You can't stay cooped up. Put something in your stomach other than tea, take a shower, shave your face.[/color]

Elias rubbed his chin, scraggly patchy stubble lined his chin and cheeks. Oh, eww. It's right. He needs to take care of himself. Moved slowly off his bed, dizzy from not eating and went to the bathroom in the hallway. It took him ten minutes to shower and five to shave and wash his face, and brush his teeth. Even refreshed he still looked like shit. The dark bags under his eyes didn't do him any favors. Too bad he didn't feel like putting on makeup today. He grabbed his comb and ran it through his hair, then went downstairs to join his parents for lunch. 

"Mornin' Eli." Ellen greeted, smile on her identical face and hazel-green eyes. He couldn't help smiling back and hugged her, because he felt like a toddler afraid of the things that go bump in the night and in need of his mother.

"Mornin' momma." He kept a strong hold, trying not to cry, before letting her go and taking his seat. Eggs, toasts, different jams, bacon sat on plates in the center of the table. He only took a little of each, too anxious to eat more than a few bites.

"What's wrong, baby? You're not eating. You're not getting one of them disorders, are you?"

Elias snorted, "No, momma. I just don't have the stomach for it right now." The smell of food makes his stomach roil. Eating isn't making it better.

"You're too thin. Eat more." Edward scrapped larger potions onto his plate, and it takes a lot for him not to vomit.

"I'm full. I really can't eat anymore."

"You barely ate, boy. You ain't gotta be thin to wear dresses. Eat."

[color=deeppink]Don't start a fight. Take it slow.[/color]

Slow. Right. Elias ate like a snail, chewed long between bites. Half his plate wasn't done by the time his parents finished. 

Edward put the dirty dishes in the sink, then grabbed his cap and left for work.

"Don't force yourself, babe. I'll wrap up what you don't eat for later, alright?"

"Thank you, momma." He curled up in the chair, cheek rested on his knees while he watched her pack the leftovers in the fridge. Nine years and she stills makes enough for four people. Then he got up and went to the sink to do the dishes.

"What's got you down? Is it Ellie-Ann?"

"No, it's nothing I can talk about." Without soundin' like a total nut. Last thing he needs is to be committed.

"Keepin' secrets now?" She rubbed his shoulder. "Y'know there's nothing you can say that will make me judge you, right?"

"I know." He slowed down, washing the plate in small circles. "I think it might have something to do with the weird goin' ons lately."

"You're not doin' anythin' dangerous are you?"

"Not if I can help it." 

She kissed his shoulder, then ran her hand through his hair. "Good. You're too lively, too beautiful to go before your time. Stay safe." She kissed his temple, then went on about her day. She had work in an hour.

"We can't go back there. If I die what'll happen to momma and daddy?"

[color=deeppink]I don't know, but nothing will happen to you. I didn't let it before with those monsters and I ain't going to let it now.[/color]

[center]~.~[/center]

Elias decided he needed to go out. See the town. Be social, but not too social. Approachable, but not given a second glance, so he wore a dark gray t-shirt, dark wash jeans and his teal cowboy boots. He walked around his neighborhood, ducked into the cafe on the corner for more tea and pumpkin bread. He wasn't hungry, but he couldn't have his tea without the bread. It's a habit. One started by his sister. He sat at a table and scrolled through his phone. He's gained more followers on his instagram and decided why not take a bare faced picture today. He held it up, then saw his eye bags...whatever. He'll edit it in shop. His puffed out his cheeks and poked it with a long pink nail, then snapped the selfie. To eraser the bags took two minutes, then he uploaded the photo with the caption: [b]Sometimes your face needs a break. Doesn't stop how cute you are.[/b]

He put his phone down and looked out the window. He jumped, almost yelling at the black wolf creature with red eyes staring at him through the window. No. Not through it, but replaced his reflection. What the fuck. He got up quickly, took his phone, almost finished tea and barely eaten bread, then booked it. Just for it to right outside looking at him.

"Come." It's voice deep, airy, and menacing, then it ran off in the opposite direction of his home. He noticed no one else could see it, but instinctively walked around it like walking through it would damn them.

"Uuuh, Elle?"

[color=deeppink]I don't trust it, but we don't have a choice. If it's asking nicely-[/color] 

"Demanded."

[color=deeppink]-then let's follow while it's still bein' nice.[/color]

His protector has spoken and he's not in the mood for bad shit happening because he's afraid. At least he's not back in the Outside. "Fine." Elias went after it.