“Why is it ‘one of the entities’ and not just The Living Flame?” he asked suspiciously, pulling back to watch Noble’s expression.
The man gave him a sheepish smile. “Once one of the arcana has been present in someone, it increases the risk that other entities will be drawn to them… The way Red put it is…they are a nosy bunch and like to get involved in each other’s business.”
“Seriously!?” He pressed his face back to Noble’s chest and let out a frustrated scream.
“OLIVER WISTERIA CROSS!? ON THE TABLE?! WE EAT THERE!”
Ollie flinched as his cat bellowed his full name. Glancing back hesitantly, he couldn’t help but scrunch up on Noble’s lap, in an attempt to appear smaller, after spotting Red standing in the doorway. His fur was fluffed, and he looked all out of sorts, his yellow eyes narrowed and fierce.
Ah…damn…
Would pointing out that Red wasn’t technically supposed to eat on the table help the situation? He eyed Red’s expression, which seemed to be switching from anger to disgust. Probably not…
Sitting on the floor in his small closet, tears trailing down his face, Ollie curled up into a ball as the sound of heavy footsteps grew closer. There was light on the other side of the door, but none seemed to penetrate the darkness he sat trapped in as he waited for the monster to find him.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Ollie flinched with each thud.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
How could such an even, steady pace sound so threatening? But then, why would they be in a hurry? Ollie was trapped.
He wheezed as he tried to draw in a full breath, his heart ticking away faster when he failed.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t breathe! Whimpering, he clawed at his throat as it seemed to close off. He tried to will it to work as it should, but it wouldn’t. It was like the darkness surrounding him was choking him along with the weight of his fear.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Closer—wheeze—they were getting closer! Breathe, he had to breathe!
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
But then the thuds stopped, a shadow now blocking part of the light at the bottom of the door. Ollie choked back a whimper, his fear gripped onto him tightly, and his stomach twisted as acid tried to bubble up.
Seconds ticked by, with him getting more and more lightheaded before he stopped breathing altogether, while the shadow remained right there outside his door.
Ollie glanced up at the sound of the doorknob turning, but let out a frightened scream when, between one blink and the next, the door opened and this huge, shadowy figure was on him, with Ollie fighting to get free?—
He thrashed around,screaming as he tried to get away from the monster holding him.
“Ollie!”
“NO!” he cried.
“Ollie, stop! It’s me, Noble!”
He froze at the words, tears trailing down his face, as his sleep-fogged brain finally recognized the voice, and realized where he was. Which was in bed with Noble, after directing cleaners all Saturday as they deep-cleaned the library.
Whimpering, he now clung to the body he’d been trying to previously get away from, as he began to sob, while the man held him in his arms more firmly.
“It was just a bad dream. It’s okay, Baby, it’s okay.”
“I-it’s not!” Ollie sobbed. “It’s s-so st-stupid.”
“Was it about Mikael?”
