WARNING: abuse + blood

. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [ EUNOIA ] ࿐ྂ
chapter five.

previously:

"you need show me where tyler lives." margot demanded.

scoffing, "why would i do that?" rowan asked.

"do you want back into nevermore or not?" she crossed her arms over her chest.

the boy straightened, "fine, but you can't tell anyone i helped you. it would ruin my creditably."

_________

TYLER frantically ran around the house, cleaning everything he could find that was even remotely dirty. his dad would be home in an hour and he had to make sure that the place looked untouched. "maybe", he thought, "if he sees that's i did a good job, i can go back to work."

his heart dropped when the door opened earlier than normal. he hadn't even gotten started on cleaning the kitchen or living room yet. he drew in a shaky breath, making his way downstairs.

"you're home early.." he said as he stepped off the last step, keeping his distance.

"is that a problem?" sheriff galpin raised his eyebrow.

"no- no. it's not a problem. i just thought you got off later." tyler swallowed nervously.

"it was a slow day at the station, so i decided to just come on home."

tyler nodded, "oh okay.. uh- are you hungry..? i can make you some food."

"no i'm okay." his dad started walking toward the kitchen, grabbing a beer out of the fridge. "want one?" he asked tyler.

"um, no." he furrowed his brows, wondering why he was acting weird.

"so, what happened to cleaning the house? i told you to have it done before i got home from work." his dad said, taking a drink.

"yeah, but you came home earlier than normal, so.." tyler scratched the back of his neck.

his dad nodded, clearing his throat, "yeah, i get it. i'm not angry at you, you know, but i am going to have to find a way to punish you. you understand that right?"

the boy stared at his dad, unsure of what to do.

"i was really hoping to see this place spotless.." out of nowhere, he slammed the bottle onto the ground, the glass shattering everywhere. "i mean, this whole kitchen, everything spotless."

he grabbed a nearby glass, throwing it against the wall right above tyler head, barely giving him enough time to duck out of the way.

tyler breathed heavily, trying to process what had just happened, "you could have killed me!"

"well that was your own fault." he shrugged, acting as if he had done nothing.

"you threw a glass at my head!" tyler yelled.

"shut up! it didn't even touch you."

tyler gritted his teeth, unable to control the anger that was building inside of him. without warning, tyler started to shift into the hyde, lunging forward, grabbing sheriff galpin by the shirt.

the man tried his best to break free from the its grasp, but it was too strong. the hyde raised galpin into the air, slamming him down onto the floor, knocking the breath out of him.

galpin searched around him for something to hit the monster with. he found a glass shard, clutching it tightly, before stabbing the hyde in the arm. growling in pain, the hyde jumped back, holding its arm. it quickly regained its footing and rushed towards the man, who was now crawling, trying to get up.

the hyde rushed forward, raising his arm, slashing galpin in the stomach. he yelled out in pain as the hyde raised his arm once again.

before he could finish the man off, the front door slammed wide open as margot, rowan, and xavier ran in. taking in the sight in front of them, margot gasped, "rowan, do something!"

to be honest, the boy would rather not, but he also didn't want to watch someone get murdered today, so he threw his arm up, sending the hyde flying back into the wall, unable to move.

it thrashed and growled, trying to get to the boy with glasses, but it was unable to.

"xavier, help me with him." margot ran towards the sheriff, who was now breathing shallowly as blood soaked into his clothes and the carpet. xavier rushed over, helping pick him up, transferring him to the couch.

"here." xavier handed the girl her satchel with salves and ointments to use on the wound along with a clean cloth to wipe off the blood. once the excess blood was gone, margot started, "this is going to sting, sheriff, but you have to stay still." she wasn't sure if he could even hear her, but she wanted to warn him nonetheless.

she opened a vile, pouring the liquid into his abdomen. a cloud of smoke emerged from it as the mark began to heal slowly. the man groaned in pain, gritting his teeth as the wound disappeared.

she rummaged through her bag once again to find something to give him so he would forget what had happened. "go grab me some water." she told xavier.
he came back with a glass, handing it to her.

she poured powder into the cup, mixing it slightly, before helping the sheriff sit up to drink it. he fell asleep shortly after.

margot let out a sigh of relief, but her ease was ended seconds later when rowan yelled out in pain.

jumping up, she turned around to see the hyde crouched over an unconscious rowan. she gritted her teeth as it got dangerously close to the his face, and bared its teeth, preparing to attack rowan.

"tyler, stop!" she threw her hand towards the hyde, sending it flying into the china cabinet. margot gasped, staring at her hand in confusion.

"uh, mars..." xavier spoke up, pointing to a crumpled tyler on the ground. "grab a blanket." she told him, walking over to the boy.

xavier furrowed his brows, but followed her directions anyways. when he returned, he handed the blanket to her before checking on rowan, who was still unconscious.

margot laid the blanket over the boys body to cover himself. he moved away from her slightly, wrapping the blanket tighter around himself. this interaction was becoming far to common for the both of them.

"tyler.." she started off, "you need help."

he met her eyes slowly, his body shaking involuntary. "i hurt him didn't i?" margot wasn't sure if she was referring to the sheriff or rowan.

"he will be fine." she told him. "tyler, let us help
you."

he shook his head quickly, "you can't. no one can. we've tried everything and nothing has worked.

i don't want to hurt anyone anymore.." he tried to stand, stumbling.

margot grabbed his arm, bracing him. "i know a way for you to be able to control your hyde." she told him slowly.

he remained silent, letting the girl continue. "you need a master, but you have to choose them. they control when your hyde comes out, if necessary."

xavier and a groggy rowan listened closely from
the couch.

"and if i don't...i'll just get worse?" his question was more like a statement. margot nodded, letting his arm go.

"it's your decision." she told him. "take some time to think about it, and then-"

"you. i choose you." tyler said firmly, cutting her off.