Part 1: Denial- Episode 6

With an angered growl, Thy Bad Habits whipped around, a sickening crack coming from its neck. Its eye a shimmering black. William twitched with rage – at this point it was barely controllable. Elias turned to William, his skin shone from the drops of rain dripping through the canopy. He looked at the storm that was William, whose eyes were filled with pure, unfiltered anger.

Rage.

It took one step closer.

Thy Bad Habits’ stained claws rooted in the ground as it leaped towards the pair, its face clawed at remorselessly by Elias. His knife, roughly stabbed in the muddy ground next to him, was grasped. You wanted strength!
Elias slashed at Thy Bad Habits’ paws with all of his might. His strength coursed through his body as he felt a wave of fury pulse in his heart. Yet, nothing happened. William’s piercing hazel eyes darted to Elias, pulling him back, behind a clustered grove of tall trees.

Their position; it was awkward at the least. Elias lay against William's knees as the two shrunk behind the trees. Elias could feel William’s breath lightly brush his cheek. William turned away as Elias’ breath touched his neck for less than a second.

. . .

William sat against the edge of the bed, Abel against his chest. The feeling of their breath against each other’s skin. William was vulnerable, comfortable in the dark, only being able to see Abel’s walnut brown hair and his bright blue eyes.

“I love you,” Abel whispered, barely audibly. William’s lips brushed lightly over Abel’s forehead, holding him closer.

“I love you, Abel.”

. . . 

Elias lay against William, feeling his chest rise and fall dramatically, the two immediately scrambling off of each other as soon as Thy Bad Habits bolted after a stray rabbit. Elias kept his head down, only to squeak an inaudible “Sorry,” to William before opening the door to Hope’s house.

Hope buzzed around excitedly, scribbling the name William Moore on a beaten up, white paper bag. Elias passed Hope another bag, about the size of a regular, plastic shopping bag. Inside was a colourful array of feathers and a small box of tea berries. A grateful nod came from Hope as she passed a pack of water bottles – a six pack – to Elias, and a box of matches and the white bag to William. “There’s your medicine, and Lloyd wanted matches, yeah?” Hope smiled, “Tell him it’s in return for those fish!” Elias smiled in return, slipping his hand into his pocket, “Shit,” he muttered under his breath, “I forgot my knife outside,” He sighed, “Let’s go, we need to be back before Lloyd goes fishing anyway,” Elias beamed. William turned, beginning to walk to the door, reaching out to the door knob. “Time to carry this back,” Elias groaned, turning to leave. Hope let out a hearty laugh, “Ah-h, don’t worry about it Elias, Lloyd’s just like that. Nothing’s fair.”

Reaching down, groaning slightly as he attempted to keep ahold of the water bottles, Elias picked up his dagger. The blade was dirtied, with smudges of the thick mud smeared onto it. He slid it back onto his black, leather belt and continued to walk, stopping even more frequently than the journey here for William. He would have predicted William’s wound would be especially painful after the attack just ten or fifteen minutes prior.

The cold door knob made a unique grinding sound as Elias opened the cabin door – rust, maybe? No – that’s not right. Brass cannot rust. Elias supposed it may just be another mystery of the Whistling Woods. 

Elias walked in now, holding the heavy, wooden door open for William, who enters and places his things on the bedside table before sitting on the bed, sighing.

“Back already?” Lloyd calls. The cabin still has a feeling – the feeling of home seemed to have been erased after… the argument. Elias hums slightly to signify his agreement, dumping the water bottles on a counter and going to his bed.

Elias held the dagger, the cross guard was dull, yet still shone. The leather handle was rich and well made. He closed his eyes, remembering the feeling of sitting alone in his bedroom, his bed was soft. A luxurious life, living with his mother and siblings. He’d dropped out of university after his cousin fled to the woods. Collin is here somewhere, he thought to himself, a small smile coming across his face. Jumping down the creaking ladder, landing with a small thud, Elias moved to the bathroom. 

After 10 minutes Elias opened the bathroom door. His hair was rather wet – he’d attempted to dry it, but to no avail. He had his hoodie on, a thick black fabric with the words Devilbend written on it. Putting his toothbrush in his bag, Elias lay on his bed after climbing the ladder. His mouth was minty, a chill coming to it every time he inhaled. Elias’ head hung over the wooden railing, secretly watching William trace over and over a large scar on his forearm. Clean enough to look self-inflicted. Elias sighed, withdrawing his head and turning over, his eyelids grew heavy as he drifted off to sleep.