"There, there, dear, calm down…"
Breathe in and hold it. Good. Just a little longer. Now exhale. Slowly --- and repeat.
Something had woken him. A nightmare, maybe. Or sound? He couldn't recall. All he knew was there were sounds and shadows all around him. He had tried so hard not to scream in fright, falling out of bed only knowing that he had to move and get away. Somehow he had managed to get back on his feet, trembling hands reaching for the closet. There he hid, knees drawn up and back against the wall with clothes hanging over him, hiding him.
Hands pressed against his face, fingers nestled among dirty blond strands and digging into his scalp. Cold sweat covered his brow and stained his shirt, adding more discomfort than he knew how to handle. He dared not lower his hands, too scared to see shapes move around the dark. They were there. They were a l w a y s there. Waylon could still hear the variants of Mount Massive. Whispers in the dark that had followed him home from the Asylum. Those first days home had been hell, his mind half convinced that this wasn't his house, that there was no safety to be found. It was all a trick. An illusion.
He'd been getting better since then. But some nights were still horrible.
Something buzzed in the background. To him it sounded like a buzz saw-- taunting him from behind the doors. Meat. Such lovely meat. Mine. Mine, mine, mine. The grip on his head tightened, nails digging into skin. He couldn't be found. Please. I can't die like this! It was a small mercy that it wasn't the Groom lurking just outside his hiding spot. From him Waylon could never hope to remain hidden.
Waylon whimpered when he heard the closet doors open. This was it. Everything would be over at any second.
Confused, he lowered his hands (palms slick with tears. He hadn't been aware he'd been crying) to have a look. He found Lisa kneeling at his side, her eyes so gentle. It was all he needed to ground him. He couldn't help but sob feeling her arms wrapped around him. His soon wrapped around her waist, holding her tight as if afraid she might vanish, face buried in the crook of her neck. He did not hear her words but just hearing her voice was soothing.
“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Lisa.”