Math Is A Sin

"In the name of the Clave, I ask entry to this holy place…"

Though he was quite lost here. People would look at him quite judging. Well, he maybe was a little conspicuous but what else could he do about it. The big doors were opening, and he rushed into it, feeling a little strange. Something wasn’t right. Like something or someone was trying to take his place, deep inside, as if there was someone captured.

Following him inside, Colin stayed silent, watching the teenager with interest... What was he so wary off? Following behind, Colin found himself bumping into a dresser, letting out a minor cry of pain. "Jesus fucking Christ! Who puts this shit here!?" he hissed, before turning his head away as if to pretend he hadn't been stalking the young man.

Shifting in her position, she brings Colin back into her arm and holds him tight, the only comfort she knows. And by saying something only caused more stress, in which was proven when she regretted saying her last words. She wouldn’t have settled for the word “dead” but she couldn’t find any light terms for it… She ended up making the situation worse, but somehow it had gotten him to open up more about his turning.

Staring at him softly in the eyes, Cassidy pondered if ever it was possible for a ghost to kill you? Ghosts are spirits, aren’t they? How can something with no physical formation - bones and such - able to render someone dead? Things would’ve been easier to believe if she just believed in spirit boards or Quija boards and ghosts, but no. the only dark forces she believed were demons. 

Clinging tight, he let out a long sigh. "I-It's not your fault, you know..." he finally muttered as he noted her disappointment at her choice of words. He wanted to say more, but felt the lump in his throat grow ever stronger, and words were not coming to mind. He swallowed thickly and shook his head, repeating himself "It's... Not your fault."

"Ah dah gah shhhhh."

As Colin was telling her an essential part of his life, Cassidy couldn’t help but gawk at him. She watched as an endless mixed of emotions appeared on Colin’s face while he was sharing her his past, it was as if he was opening to her willingly, which is great as it means he’s comfortable enough to explain horrendous parts of his life. She knew he was probably conflicted about it, but he did and it only swelled an enormous amount of affection for Colin. And all throughout she can’t even produce a single word of comfort, all she did was nod and blink the tears away from her eyes. It was heartbreaking seeing Colin cry over it.

Like most of the residents here in the institute, Colin’s past possessed tragic occurrences and she just know her own past may not be a sufficient comparison. She watched in horror as he cursed and spat as he continued with the story, death and blood mixed in together as the story progressed. And everything unfolded right before her eyes, this very man who seemed to be very charming had a broken past. Even more tragic than hers, basically

Finally, as his story came to halt, Cassidy could only look at him with apprehension etched on her face. Suddenly, not able to look at him straight in the eyes, she lowered her gaze in the ground and breathed in. She took hold of his hand with her left hand while the other one wiped the tears that streamed down his face before cupping them with both of her hands. Knowing no word could possibly be enough to make him better, Cassidy had to try, didn’t she?

After a few moments he finally wrapped his arms around her and cried softly, tears trickling down his face unto her shirt and leaving damp patches. Despite feeling better for telling her at least half the story, there was still more to go, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to talk as his body shook violently against hers. How did this even happen to him? He let out a shaky sigh, clinging to her once more for the support and comfort he so desperately wanted and needed.

It was then he realized how foolish he probably looked before her. He hardly knew the woman before him that seemed so troubled, he hardly knew her history or her story. He hardly knew why she was a hard-case to crack. Why she was so withdrawn when he first met her… And he never even cared to ask. Or was it that he was just too afraid of the response? Others probably had their own stories far worse than that of his own.

“T-Thank you…” he said in an ushered whisper, looking back over at her. “Thank you, f-for your kind words, Cassidy.” His tears subsided, but he felt his heart clutch for a moment within his chest, skipping a beat as she trailed off. He knew what she were to say next, “That he’s dead.” Colin said flatly, his face blank for a moment as he contemplated the fact. “That I’m dead…” Shaking his head, he let out a sigh.

Frowning at him in confusion, Cassidy bit her lip and closed her eyes in concentration before reaching for his face, cupping them forcefully, but gently with both hands. She tried searching for his face, but to no avail his stare was direct literally directed at her, but she wasn’t sure if he was aware of it. If he had been experiencing something horrible, Cassidy would just be here, ready to talk to him about it. For now, she was just glad to find the tears that slipped out from his eyes dry out. There was an improvement in the situation.

However, it was replaced by frantic gibberish that came from Colin. What did he mean by real? She had seen no one inside the room, surely he was only dreaming? But how can she really believe it was a dream? The shadow world was filled with mysterious advances that deemed no answer, so who was she to assume no one was actually there? But honestly, the idea of someone looming over his bed then disappearing seemed ludicrous… unless it were something else, like a demon, perhaps?

Her hands cupped his face and he stared, his sense of dread, paranoia and anxiety was slowly slipping away, and his tense body slowly began to lax within her hold. He felt so much like kissing her lips... To pretend as if she hadn't found him like this, torn, confused and anxious by the haunting visages that seemed to loom about whenever he was alone. But he knew that would be too cruel. Too cruel to leave Cassidy wondering what had left him in this state and so he knew he needed to talk and explain.

What man... Grimacing lightly, Colin tugged his gaze away so as to focus on her question - removing any trace of distracting thoughts from his mind. After a lengthy silence, he spoke, his voice low as he told his story;

"I-It was just before I turned, Cass... I was a traveler, b-by my father's side." He bit his lip as he mentioned his only relative who had been there for him. "We were running. Hiding. I- I don't know from whom or what, but we had to, you... You know?" He listened to himself, why couldn't he just get to the point. Why couldn't he just explain it all, or better yet, make it all go away. "W-We finally found a home... A home at a friends. He was a nice man, he used to treat me so well, with gifts and all." Colin recalled "But he was evil, Cassidy. He was fucking evil." Colin spat, venom dripping from his voice, as he slowly sat up and turned his attention to Cassidy. "Sometimes... I'd forget the whole time that my father was gone. Just like that, my memory was wiped away. I never understood why. That was until my Father found me..."

So, does this mean Colin was possibly having nightmares of his past as well? Seeing as there was nobody in the room but him as she assume, he must probably be. Clinging at him, like he was, Cassidy started cooing in his ears as if he was a child having been pulled out from his mother’s grasp. “It’s gonna be fine, Colin… I’m here,” she repeated the mantra over and over while she caressed his face gently. It was cold and smooth like porcelain, that’s what probably being a vampire does to you.

They're just dreams. He shook his head continuously and stared at Cassidy, "No... No, yo-you don't understand." Colin said, his tears slowly fading away. "It's real, Cassidy. Real!" He cried, "Th-the man loomed over me. Over my bed! He spoke to me." Colin croaked, his voice shaky and unsteady from the abuse of his screams and sobs. "The man was real."