Warning: The plot may have changed a lot or a bit. Since this is an update/rewrite.)

Warning: This book contains swears, bullying, taunting, and yelling, also crushes.. :P. Some blood violence in a dream. Some other violence, mentions of self-harm wounds/scars.

Fun fact: Part of Deceit's manipulativeness and how he treats Virgil later on in the story is based on my first/ex-friend... Also, I had this friend, who like a month ago became an Ex friend... we were friends back in 2018 when I first wrote this, and well, they turned into Caleb . Ironic. 

---------------------------------

Drenched in the filth of fear.

----

Virgil's hands dotted with sweat held firm to his purple bed sheets, muscles clicking in and out of place as he moved each and every way. Squirming the way a piglet does on a meat hook dangling over the mouth of a meat grinder. Virgil winced in his sleep, breath sharp and uneven as images unknown played before his eyes in the way an old movie does, splotchy and with no certain rhythm. There was blood in the story in his mind, most importantly the blood is on him, he was covered in it, and in his hand, he held a blunt object, it appeared to be concrete. .. There's a body he realizes suddenly, looking down with eyes that he didnt know for certain were his. .. he drops the weapon... The body...it has a head wound... that fits far too perfectly with, he catches movement with his eyes. He turns, or maybe just his perspective, to spot a person, their skin as white as paper, strange since they happened to seem as though they'd tear out of existence any second. They wavered in the world, misty and pale, only to open their mouth, they seem to want to say something so Virgil finds himself straining to hear...

There's a whine, and Virgil stills, blinking open his eyes to the frustrating light of morning, there's another whine and wetness on his hand as he blinks back the sleep in his eyes. Once clear he glances down to spot the worried expression of his dog, body pressed tight to his, as she looks up with brown eyes, once more giving him a soothing lick. "What time is it?" He asks, knowing full well that she could not answer.

He reaches for his clock, body drenched in the filth of fear ...

8:40....

Well shit.

---------------

Virgil wasn't one for Pe, he much preferred foraging a doctor's note and hanging out on the field until it was over. Except for moments like these, where he wished he at least did a bit of track and field. For his lungs ached as he reached the large doors of his school, his calves clamping up-tight as he threw it open. He had to slow his pace once in, settling for a gentle jog, eyes peeled for any school hall monitors. One could easily tell he was late for class and was near desperate to get there on time. Expect his locker had different plans, code after code and the damn thing wouldn't open. The anxious one out of desperation resorted to yanking the lock forcefully, muttering a string of curses under his breath. Letting go of the lock, and grumbling, he gave the side of the locker a nice slap and winced, pulling his hand back and cradling his sore fingers to the side of his chest. "I hate you, you know that." He hissed at it... Knowing full well the horrors these lockers held, due to being assigned to this one for two years in a row already.

Virgil slid on his heels in a turn, planning on leaving his books behind. Like a deceitful captain, abandoning his ship as his sailors drowned, well more his course work but still. Though held still, as he found that Mian stood about a foot or two away. His skin was as pale as ever and Virgil couldn't help but think back to his dream with a shudder. He bit the side of his mouth, grading the skin with his teeth as he side-eyed the halls, looking out for the guy's lurking friend, Janus deceitful.

"Do you need help?" He asked, and Virgil blinked, moving his eyes back to him. The voice was soft, even pleasant seeming. Now that he thought about it, he didn't think he had ever heard him talk before. Virgil had heard of him of course, seen him in the halls too. But nobody talked to Mian, not when his friend was one of the most dangerous individuals in the school. It was practically a death sentence and Virgil liked to keep on the down-low, rest in the shadows y'know, he honestly just wants to make it out the senior year alive, unlike his parents. Hah.. dark humour.

"Do you need help?" Mian offered again, shifting from foot to foot as he wrung out his hands.

Virgil jumped in his skin, hairs standing on end as he realized he had gone on a thought tangent. He lowers his eyes, forcing himself to finally make eye contact as he comes face to face with warm honey brown eyes. Panic felt like death often, especially when the man in front of you kind of looked like a Hollywood marketed angel. Hollywood was what Mian was though, fake, unrealistic and certainly no angel. "Uh, Hi!!... hi..." He squeaked in reply, his hand grasping his chest where his heart lay and holding still as he breathed. "You need... need..anything?" He asked, his breathing rate slow but surely returning to a half normal rate.

"Actually I was wondering if you need any help?" Mian replied, repeating his words as he gestured towards the lock, a slight crinkle to his eyes as he gave Virgil a half-smile.

Virgil shrugged, lifting his hands in surrender as he side-stepped out of the way. "Be my guest, it won't work.." Virgil told him with a tilted smile in return. Only to wince as he remembered he was running late, which meant Mian was running late as well now. He probably had more important things to do than this, Virgil scolded himself. He shouldn't have bothered the teen with his problems. Though this could be some big old ploy to prank him or something. Not that He'd ever been a target of Janus's before, as far as he was concerned the older didn't know he existed.

Mian reached forward, either not noticing Virgil's mental argument or chose not to. While distracted, Mian took the lock into one hand, the other holding tight to a bobby pin. He made quick work with the lock with slim fingers and twisted jabs and sat the annoying contraption aside. A proud smirk on his face. "There. Now hurry your late'' He remarked, turning towards an open-mouthed Virgil. He hadn't thought the dude would actually be able to do it. Either that kid knew his code or was skilled in breaking into things Virgil pondered. Both possibilities served no comfort.

He forced another slight smile, the lines around his eyes resting flat as his cheeks tightened. "Thanks... Uh, your name?" He asks, more out of politeness than lack of knowledge, he raises his hand as if perhaps to shake yet tucks it back.

"It's Mian.." The pale one answered with a head tilt. Hesitantly fiddling with the sleeves of their long-sleeved hoodie.

Virgil nodded, reaching for his bag and loading his books. "Thank you.." He mutters, slinging the bag over his shoulder, straps biting into the skin with the pull of the weight. "Thank you" He repeats, breaking into an awkward backwards jog before spinning on his heels and darting off down the hall to English. Passing right past Mr, destiny's class, Luckily the teacher didn't notice or else Virgil would have gotten scolded for running in the halls...Though most teachers did seem to turn a blind eye to these things.

-

Mian glanced back at the locker Virgil left wide open. Huh, the purple kid they helped must have forgotten. A soft smile crossed his face with a twinkle in his eye as they shut it for the sake of the other and turned to leave, falling still as pressure was applied to his shoulder. His wide gaze fell to spot a yellow gloved hand.

"Who was that?" The person owning the glove asks, voice slippery, as Mian follows the direction in which his eyes are held, the two of them now watching Virgil's retreating form. Mian bites the tip of his tongue and lifts his sight to his friend's eyes, catching the harsh curiosity in its golden brown hue.

"I don't know, they seem nice," Mian mumbles, now staring at his shoes, as if his thrift store sneakers were something impressive. The hairs on the back of his neck pricking as his wrist is grabbed, he bites his tongue again and holds back the urge to flinch.

"You shouldn't be talking to others, their only going to laugh at you"

"Oh."

"You're my friend right?" He demands next, grip tightening just a bit more.

"Don't be silly Janus, of course, you're my friend. The only friend. I... I ne need. " He replied in a rehearsed like fashion, a slip of the tongue, and ease of words. It wasn't often his friend  had these jealousy flare-ups but it was enough to learn when to soothe them. Though, it would have been nice if he'd managed not to stutter at the end.

"Alright." Janus's hums, fingers slipping down and off Mian's flesh. "It doesn't feel like it." He admits, shaking his head. "You have the chance to fix this though."

"I will!" Mian practically shouts, stepping forward. "I will make it up to you." His voice wavers, a shake to it, as he pleads with his eyes. He didn't feel like getting set on fire today. Thank you very much.

"You better" Janus snaps back with a turn, already gesturing Mian over and like a starved puppy, the pale one follows, his unnatural, ghostly skin glimmering in the hall light in reminiscing of what he was to become.

---

Virgil arrived at his classroom door shortly after running into Mian. He swiftly entered the room about one minute before the bell Rang and let out a sigh of relief in making it on time. That was a close call. He told himself, plopping down onto his seat and sagging into it in defeat, causing the one next to him to stir. Virgil had sat down onto the seat next to his best friend as he folded into himself, the hood of his hoodie drawn as he attempted to ignore the intense disapproving stares of his classmates.

"Wow gurl, you almost didn't make it." His friend whispered propping his feet up on his desk, ignoring the other students' glares as he raised his sunglasses, peering down at the other. "Do tell me what caused this dilemma?"

Virgil shrugged sheepishly, crossing his arms, facing the smooth white of the table that lay covered in cut marks made by the hands of bored students and scissors. "I stayed up late scrolling through tik tok and slept in... the usual." He replied with the addition of a shoulder role as he buried down all thought of mentioning Mian or the nightmare.

"You're lucky you didn't arrive late the first day of the school year "The coffee-addicted man laughed as though amused, lowering his legs as his arms wrapped around Virgil's shoulders. "Also, try and get some sleep. Please. I care about yuuu." He dragged out the u sharply as his hold tightened in a slight squeeze.

"Yeah, Yeah, I know. let go of me, Remy." Virgil huffs pushing the other off of him gently. 'Gently'

-

The class goes silent as the principal arrives. Her black glossed lips were drawn up into a frown as she peered down at her clipboard. Like most principles, she wore a dress shirt with a long black tie. Her hair was pulled up in a professional slick bun as sharp thin glasses rested upon her long nose. She kinda looked like a fusion of miss trunchbull and miss honey if you were to ask Virgil and Remy alike.

Her heels clicked across the floor as she entered the classroom alerting everyone of her presence before the thick smog of student dread ever got the chance.

"Greeting class. This year you will have a new teacher, I wouldn't even bother going easy on him though, for he was the top of his college class." She declared glaring down at the clipboard again probably only then reading his resume knowing this school. "Logan Mind, you may enter." She announced.

Shortly after she said those words a man in formal dress pants and a black dress shirt walked in. Along with a blue tie and what very much looks like movie theatre glasses Virgil noted.

"Salutations, students. I am Logan mind and I do hope I'll be able to insert some knowledge into your small minds". The teacher introduces already turning to the board and writing his name down. His shoulder is stiff, back straight as he drags each word into existence with the smooth slide of blue chalk. If Patton was here, one of the quick puns from what Virgil had observed would have pointed out the hidden pun of sorts their new teacher made.

The soft murmuring of students that had begun to pick up stopped, falling silent as everyone really started truly taking in the sight of their teacher who looked no more than a few little years older than them in bewilderment. Especially due to the fact he insulted them first thing. The principal scanned the room, rolled her eyes and left without even a goodbye, her heels clicking across the floor as she mumbled things under her breath most probably terrible things. Remy thinks she was discussing her lunch of middle schoolers to which Virgil thinks is simply dumb.

There's a knock at the door as the only warning before a mess of curly brown hair popping into the room, a timid smile on the person's face as he slid fully in. The white hall monitor bag on the upper right of his chest, standing clear against the green of his shirt. There's a bit of movement, a hint of blue and soon someone could make out that there was another boy, next to him, much smaller in size.

"Sorry for intruding. I found one of your students locked in a locker." The guy explained, green eyes scanning the room as he led the other further in.

Logan paused "That's alright, take a seat," he said and pointed at a seat for the other to go to, right next to Virgil. Great, there goes him staying on the down-low, he and Remy were enough, he didn't want to get stuck with the kid determined to befriend everyone.

"I guess there's a bit of a bully issue in this school. Am I correct?." The teacher asked the kid in the oversized green sweater a name tag glinting in beneath the school lights.

"I guess.." The other said, looking down. "Anyways I gotta get to my class.." He mumbles, dragging his feet backwards in an awkward shuffle.

"Thank you, Caleb!" The one who was trapped in a locker spoke, flashing the other a wide smile, moving towards his seat and sitting down.

"No probs Patton." The other replied leaving the classroom.

"Do to that situation instead of focusing on today's task we are going to have a lesson on proper social behaviour and the issues of bullying," Logan spoke up silencing the muttering class again, pulling out his laptop and loading up an anti-bullying video. "I'll have you know, I do not stand for that type of behaviour."

-

Patton looked over towards Virgi, flashing him a bright smile.

"Hi, the names Patton and you are?" He asked, holding out his hand. Virgil paused but smiled back hesitantly and shook the other's hand.

"The names Virgil and that weirdo over there is my best friend Remy." He introduces, pointing towards the other who had fallen asleep drool pooling across the table.

"Nice to meet you! Do you like cats, I love cats, do you have a cat, I want a cat but I'm allergic. " The other rambled as Virgil nodded along, a headache already creeping up. Something was telling him today was going to be a long day.

---------------------

Deceit chuckled, slinging an arm over the young man's shoulder. "That was fun wasn't it!" He announced a smirk resting on smooth slips as he tugged his stiff friend even closer.

"Did we really need to skip class to stick that poor person in a locker?" Mian mumbles, his gaze resting on his shoes.

Janus let go of the other. "What do you mean by that?" He prys in question, "You have a problem with it?"

Mian froze. "No."

"That's what I thought.." The snake man smiles, wild and sharp. "Let's head to our next class then," He says, leading the other, his hand resting on the small of Mian's back to the music room where they took a seat on the carpeted floor and began chatting.

Some time passes, perhaps not even more than five minutes when-

"Hey, you're not supposed to be here!" A shouting voice was heard, causing the two to look up and spot a princely man.

"If we're not allowed to be in here, why are you?" Deceit questions, lifting his hand and deciding to inspect his nails for no real reason. His posture more angled towards Mian as they sat.

"Oh. Janus deceitful. I didn't know that was you..... " The other mumbles. Paused. Then frowned. "I'm here to get something for my drama class."

Mian looked up at the dashing man dressed up as a Disney prince, with pleading eyes, his lips mouthing: Help. He always knew roman liked to play hero and it was quite easy to use.

"Anyways I won't make you leave but I am going to report you!" Roman tsked, jotting something down on pen and paper.

"What about Mian?" Janus demands, gesturing towards his friend. "you can't just report me"

"I would never get a damsel in distress in trouble" Roman gasp, placing a dainty hand on his chest. ". . besides he's my practice partner and I believe you're the cause as to why he didn't show up." The princely man hissed, grabbing Mian's wrist to lead him away. "I don't feel like attempting to get Remus's help again. Last time he nearly drowned me with the carpet cleaner."

"Sorry about roman.," Mian whispered to Janus as he was dragged away... Offering a sad fake smile.

Janus sighed, now picking at the floor. Alone.

---------------

-------------------- (An hour or two later.)

Roman had shut his locker harder than he would have liked. It was his lunch period for pity's sake he shouldn't be that mad. But he was and it was all Janus's fault. Mian was was distracted the entire time during class, all because of that burned bastard, destroying Romans' chance of confessing his undying love to him. Mian was so sweet, gentle and lonely seeming and just begging for someone to free him from Janus's evil clutches. 'You know what roman? there's still hope you'll be able to catch the damsel next time!' He convinced himself. His brain indulging in his stupid idea of ever having a chance with Mian. It wasn't that roman wasn't handsome, he was, well.....

silence

After that little useless pep talk, roman was practically radiating with hope as he approached the cafeteria. And just like a play of luck, their Mian was sitting right outside of another classroom. 'All Alone.

Roman flushed and flattened down his clothes, fiddling with his hair as he began to approach the smaller. His face was red as he repeated his lines in his head. He pulls up his sleeves, to show the tone of his arms, steps falling silent. His eyes widen, a hot red in them as he watched Janus slide right up to Mian, place a hand on his shoulder and start leading Romans target away to a table. Man, roman hated that guy! Did he seriously have to destroy every chance he had?

_

Deceit watched Romans' defeated expression, a glint in his eyes and a perk in his step, as he increased his grip on Mian.

"Is something on your mind?" Mian winces, shrugging off Janus's grip, as he pulls his books tighter to his chest.

"Oh, nothing. " Deceit sighs, ruffling mian's hair as he stiffens, pulling away.

"Uh, Janus, could I invite a friend to join us for lunch?" The smaller decides to ask, testing his luck. '"He wears purple and I wish to get to know him better!"

"No"

"But, I-I"

"Just, no."

-

The two of them took their decided seats at a round table, resting in a crook of the room. Janus had taken to picking at his lunch food as Mian watched, not daring to touch what laid on his plate, the complimentary dish of the day, fish paste.

The day tasted off to Mian as he glanced at his food, the air prickling as though something was to happen.

-

"Hurry up kiddos we gotta get a seat before they're all filled up!" A joyful voice bursts in sound as the two tired fellow students behind him groaned.

"But I'm tired gurrllllll..." One of them exclaimed, dragging their leather-heeled boots across the floor.

Mian recognized the silent one in purple, he helped that boy open their locker. Deceit also seemed to be looking in the same direction as Mian because he himself also noticed his victim from earlier this day, Patton's heart! A man too cheerful for his own good. Janus then turned his attention towards the man dragging his feet following Patton, that man was Remy somnunm a mess of a teen who was currently breaking the entire dress code. Janus glanced at Mian and nudged his shoulder.

"Seems like lunch isn't going to be boring after all." He says, coming to a stand.

"Janus.... don't" Mian pleaded.

----------------

Virgil took a seat along with Remy, and his new, found friend? Well, he seemed like a friend.

The three of them were all peacefully chatting when... Virgil stiffened, a tightness to his back as he pressed into himself, that was Janus, making his way towards them, a trouble maker since middle school. Virgil scanned Janus's face, wincing at the thick scarring that took up part of it, carved deep by fire, finally seeing it up close. Janus's lips turned upright in a crooked smile and Virgil found himself leaning towards his sleeping friend, who only seemed to snore.

"Is that a Spider on your shoulder?!" Janus yelped, a hand flying towards his face in fright as the other pointed in the direction that seemed to be about Patton's upper shoulder in a frantic motion.

Some kid dropped his lunch, while some girls laughed in the background.

Then there was screaming, as Patton flung upwards, tossing his body each way as he screeched nails clawing at his skin as he flailed. "Get it off!! Get it off!!" He yelled, jumping and twitching.

Virgil's eyes narrowed, crinkled, he didnt remember seeing a spider and with the way, the once scared-looking teen was now laughing. He was determined there never was one.

The ruckus seemed to have finally woken up Remy, who sprung up straight, nearly falling out of his seat as wide eyes jumped around. "What the fuck is going on?" Virgil shrugged.

Janus smiled, reaching forward and snagging a flailing wrist, twisting it as the man went from screaming to wincing, the blue of his sweater turning a bit pink, as wounds opened and split. "There is no spider." He spoke gently, a hint of amusement in the tone of his voice.

Patton looked up at him, his blood going cold, his arm burning in pain as he noticed the group of people who had begun swarming around his table, each one laughing at his expense. He looked around frantically looking for an exit, his face red and puffy. He had never felt this embarrassed in his life before and he just wanted to curl up in a hole and die. He pulls his arm back, tears burning at the corner of his eyes, as he breathes through the pain.

"Aw.." Janus mumbles, stepping closer. "Are you going to cry about it?" He mocks, "Is cry baby going to cry?" he takes another step, crowding him, everyone's laughter now starting to fade.

"HEY!" A voice shouted hoarse and tense, slamming their hands across the table and standing up. Startling a still tired Remy. "Who, the fuck do you think you are." They demand.

The laughter fully died out.

Janus turns, floundering in thought for a moment as a firm finger pressed roughly into his chest. "How about you pick on someone else." The voice continues. "Or maybe you just stop being a piece of shit."

The deceitful man finally gathered his thoughts, looking up at the man, fully prepared to give him a taste of hell, but as he raised his gaze, he came eye to eye with deep violet. The world came to a still, the guys rant falling onto deaf ears as his heart began to ache, some sort of spark within it as he took in a pale flush skin, hair as dark as night and firm lips that cussed him out with gusto...What was happening to him!? had he ever met this purple teen before?